₦airaland Forum

Following the recent violent attack on the Agbaji community in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, a group, Kwara Progressive Front, KPF, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of resorting to violence after its failed “O to ge” campaign.
Over 55 cars were destroyed in the attack leaving two people dead.
The group said the APC in Kwara had made it very clear that this election is between Dr. Bukola Saraki and their various candidates contesting various political offices.
“From their gubernatorial candidate, to the senate and House of Representatives candidadates, down to the each and every House of Assembly candidates, all of them seem to have a common opposition candidate in the person of Dr. Bukola Saraki. If you approach any candidate contesting under the APC for any political office in Kwara state and ask about his/her plans if he/she is elected and you’ll be so surprised that they have nothing to offer,” Kwara Progressive Front said in a statement made available to the press.
Speaking further, the group said the “O to ge” campaign is to specifically stoke hatred within the polity “which has proved to be counter-productive because the people do not know their candidates as much as they should.”

“For example, little or nothing is known about Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, the Kwara APC gubernatorial candidate compared to his counterpart in the PDP - Hon. Razak Atunwa. The PDP in Kwara state has taken the time to campaign and sell their various candidates. So while the APC is busy attacking Dr. Bukola Saraki and resorting to violence, hoping that this will win elections in Kwara, the PDP is busy talking to the people and marketing their candidates.

“As the election draws closer, one thing is clear - the “O TO GE” message has proved unsuccessful and Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Kwara PDP have not been riled by it. Polls taken by various individuals, and political groups have all pointed to the fact that Dr. Bukola Saraki’s base and the Kwara PDP supporters have remained intact. The gap is so huge - The PDP (then APC) polled over 70% of the valid votes cast in 2015, and all the other opposition parties put together polled less than 30%. With these figures, one would expect the opposition to engage more in talking to the people rather than stoking hatred within the polity and attacking the person of Dr. Bukola Saraki who one can safely say is greatly loved by over 70% of the population as we can see from the 2015 election results.

“No matter which side of the political divide you fall, one thing is evident in Kwara State - Dr. Bukola Saraki is greatly loved by the people. Of course, just like any other political figure, he has his enemies and those that do not like him but those are not as much as the people that love him and rally round him. That is why 30% of the electorate cannot shout “O TO GE” enough to silence the loud roar of “KWARA FIRST” and “SAI BUKKY” coming from over 70% of the electorate.
“As the elections draw closer, the APC in Kwara are gradually starting to realize that the “O TO GE” message in itself is not enough to win the hearts of the people, that the “O TO GE” message cannot win election.

The group further stated that the APC who claim to want to rescue the people of Kwara is in disarray.

“They also have the problem of sharp divisions within the party. Their gubernatorial candidate - Abdulrahman Abdulrazak emerged as a result of some serious permutations within the party. A lot of promises were made, some candidates stepped down because they were promised that their camp would produce the deputy governor.

“The APC in Kwara cannot handle the realities on ground and that is why they are desperate and have resorted to violence to cause panic and commotion within the state. It is common knowledge that violence is in the DNA of the APC but no one would ever think that the APC would bring their violent tendencies into Kwara state: The State of Harmony.

“The APC in Kwara state have turned our dear State of Harmony into a State of Anarchy because of their desperation to seize power by all means. By doing that, the APC has just won the election for PDP and Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Recall that barely 6 days ago there was pandemonium at the APC Lagos state rally where several people were shot and robbed of their possessions. Journalists, cameraman and innocent electorates were not spared as APC thugs stormed the venue with guns and other dangerous weapons.
A Similar event played out in Imo state during the APC rally as various groups clashed with dangerous weapons causing injuries to so many, and loss of properties.

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A Twitter user by name Muhammed Manu Shelleng has decried what he described as hate speech against Christians and supporters of Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate. In his tweet, he stated that the sermon which was preached by Sheikh Dr. Jalo Jalingo on behalf of the (JIBWIS), in the presence of all members of the JIBWIS and VIPs such as Governor Abdullaziz Yari of Zamfara State, Governor Bindow of Adamawa State, Senator Yarima Bukura, Sarki Abba (SSA to the President), Garba Shehu (SSA to the President), and Dr. Jalal Arabi (Perm Sec, State House), was at best policized.

Muhammad stated that Sheikh Jalingo accused the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that the body is responsible for the kidnappings, the killings, in the country because they want to tarnish the image of President Buhari. They also stated that there is no Boko Haram insurgency, and that was all the doings of CAN to make President Buhari seem bad. The Sheikh further stated that he was going to send the sermon to other Imams so they can preach it the Friday before the presidential elections. The Imam further stated that they will not support Atiku because CAN is supporting him.

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By Olawale Abdul-Fatah



Barely 50 days to gubernatorial election in Lagos State, All Progressives Congress, APC candidates, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his People Democratic Party, PDP counterpart, Jimi Agbaje, clashed on different issues and vowed to tackle the Apapa gridlock immediately they assumed office.



The candidates spoke at Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI interactive session with private sector themed Private sector Agenda for Lagos, Post-2019 election, held on Friday in Ikeja, which was also attended by Musiliu Obanikoro and others.



At the debate moderated by publisher of Business Day Newspapers, Frank Aigbogun, while Adewale Adegbite, Niyi Yusuf and Fayo Williams accompanied him, both candidates were applauded by their supporters; embellishing the exercise.



The debate which started peacefully with both candidates reeling out their Curriculum vitae and their vision for the state, at midway, resulted into attacks, forcing the moderator to caution them to concentrate on explaining solutions to the audience.



They stressed that strict measures must be adopted to end the perennial gridlocks that had crippled business opportunities within Apapa ports, stressing that the challenge would be tackled head-on when they assumed office as governor.



However, both candidates could not reach agreement on specific date at which they could solve the perennial gridlock within Apapa Central Business District, CBD.



I will solve Apapa gridlock in 60 days-Sanwo-Olu



Speaking on the perennial traffic gridlock on Apapa-Oshodi expressway, Sanwo-Olu emphasised that his administration would solve the gridlocks within the first 60 days of his administration because he has done the needed study on it.



While reeling out five things that would be done by his administration within the first two months, the APC candidate argued that the axis was important to his government and wants to restore it’s glory.



“Apapa is a nightmare and there are some individuals that we need to have strong conversation with. Those trucks were somewhere before now. So we will go there are ensure they return to the previous status.



“I don’t know the commercial entity that has caused the trailers to leave for the roads. We will reach out to Nigerian Port Authority, NPA so that they can return to the ports.



“We will embark on a pooling system. And Ogun state will be useful in this. We will asked that the trailers park outside the state and coming when they have been called. We will have tough conversation with the owners of the trucks owners,” he added.



On strategy to prevent same scenario from Lekki as more industries shift towards the end, Sanwo-Olu disclosed that “regional roads to complement the existing roads within the axis.”



.No specific timeline



Agbaje, on his part, stressed that zero tolerance would be adopted by his administration on the gridlocks, but did not state specific timeline to end the Apapa CBD challenge.



“Apapa traffic is very sensitive to me because I live within the axis and my office is there. And it is sad that for over 20 years we have been talking about the trailer park and it hasn’t materialized. Aside the life that is been put in danger within Apapa, the activities of these trucks are affecting the economy.



“The bridges could go down anytime if we don’t take the required measure to end their continued parking on the bridges and road. And I don’t know how we can build them again.



“It is important that we give zero tolerance from where they are presently. We must have a rail system that can help move good out 9f the ports rather than rely on the roads,” he added.



.Clash intensified



The clashed intensified when the moderators asked that they express their views on Lagos economy and solutions to the challenges that had affected it from competing favourably with other megacities.

Agbaje said: “Mr. Sanwo-Olu has alluded to the fact that the economic strategy is not working in Lagos because he has tried his hands in the private sector before and because of the issues in that sector, he couldn’t survived and left for politics. It is the same way that we all must look at the issue of economy and ensure that the private sector is considered as partners to the government and not mainly source of revenue.”



In a swift response, Sanwo-Olu said: “It is clear that Agbaje has not done well in politics all this while. And that is why this made it the third term he is contesting for the gubernatorial post. I have done both and I know what is obtained in them. And I have solution to address them.”



ON EDUCATION



The PDP candidate lamented that the state of education was appalling and must be addressed immediately for Lagos to breed the needed workforce that could address its present and future challenges.



“It is sad when you examine the state of education in Lagos State. This is a megacity where only 20 percent of the students have passed West African Examinations Council, WAEC. So to correct that, we will do so much on education far above the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO percentage.



“All children in the public schools must have access to the internet. This is one of the basic that is required for better and improved education. And the over population that is still prevalent in Lagos schools will become a thing of the past when I assumed office. It will take a chunk if not the largest of the state budget,” he added.



Replying, Sanwo-Olu faulted Agbaje, saying the statistics peddled by the PDP candidate were apparently not correct.



“The 20 percent pass is incorrect. Away from that, I remember that as commissioner, I often trained hundreds of teachers in the state. And that is because we believe that when the teachers get quality training, they will be able to impact on the students.



“Part of the problem that we have is because we have challenges with enumeration. And that is why we had a meeting with about 5,000 private school operators in the state to listen to their challenges and how they could be solved. It is a strategic gap that they are filling. And we have decided that we would grade the schools into categories. This will afford us to streamline their charges and parents get value for their fees,” the APC candidate argued.



But frowning at the strategy raised, Agbaje stated that the Alh. Lateef Jakande administration had foresight on education and never segregate schools, saying, “We must go back to the strategy used by that administration, that is, government must drive the educational process. And get rid of private schools that are not up to standard.”



Clarifying his stance on education, Sanwo-Olu argued that the model of education his administration aimed to introduce has been adopted in different societies that were more complex than Lagos.



“In United State, they have different categories of schools and that has helped to address the previous challenges they had in education. It will be unfair for parents sending their children to different schools furnished with different standard of facilities to pay same fees. This is a huge economy that we cannot get rid. We have to accommodate them and that is what we are saying.”

…As Enugu Legion hails gov for support

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Thursday paid glowing tributes to the nation’s fallen heroes for the ultimate sacrifice they made for the peace, safety and security of the country and her citizens.

Gov. Ugwuanyi who spoke during the launch of the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblems in the state, noted that “these great patriots” deserve to be honoured and given credit, reassuring those in service “that the country would never forget their sacrifices nor forsake them in their own hours of need”.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and the nation’s Armed Forces for the gallantry of the servicemen as well as the successes that they have continued to record in their efforts to surmount the security challenges currently confronting the country.

“We offer them our sincere gratitude, solidarity and unrelenting prayers”, he said.

Gov. Ugwuanyi also commended the leadership of the Enugu State Council of the Nigerian Legion for the bold initiatives and the efforts it has continued to make towards improving the welfare of its members.

He therefore, reassured the council of the continued cooperation and assistance of his administration to ensure the realization of its noble objectives, calling on all citizens, corporate organizations and civil institutions in the state to also lend their support to the Legion to ensure the proper rehabilitation of its members and the dependants of the fallen heroes.

Earlier, State Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Barr. Emeka Igwesi expressed gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi “for the outstanding support he has been giving to the Nigerian Legion” especially the recent financial assistance to hundreds of widows of the fallen heroes living in the military barracks in Enugu to start business of their choice.

“Your Excellency, we thank you and assure you that we and our dependants, both those living in the barracks and those outside, are fully behind you in your endeavours”. #amokelouis

Sun Governor of the Year 2018 Award: Gov. Ugwuanyi Receives Notification Letter

The Board and Management of The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday Sun and Sunday Sun, yesterday formally presented a letter to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State at the Government House, Enugu, notifying him of his emergence as The Sun Governor of the Year 2018.

Presenting the letter, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Eric Osagie, classified the award as “the biggest and best media event in Nigeria” that was started 15 years ago to strengthen the sacred role of the media as the watchdog of the society.

Mr. Osagie stated that “the award is not for sale or for the highest bidder”, stressing that “the high integrity and premium we place on this award” have remained the secret of its success.

He therefore, disclosed that the Board of Editors voted Gov. Ugwuanyi “in recognition of the remarkable transformation you have brought to bear on infrastructure, security, education, healthcare and rural development, among others, in Enugu State since you assumed office on May 29, 2015”.

According to him, “we note your popularity among the people of Enugu State, which manifested in 2014 when you easily emerged as a consensus aspirant from your Nsukka zone of Enugu State and your overwhelming endorsement of all the zones in the state thereafter, ahead of the 2015 elections”.

“As governor, you have shown great vision, determination and drive to change the fortunes of the people of Enugu State, as you have delivered the dividends of democracy in all facets of the state’s life”.

Highlighting the numerous urban and rural roads Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration has constructed and rehabilitated across the three senatorial districts of the state, the Managing Director of Sun Newspapers, noted with delight that “workers’ salaries and pensions are paid on time even when allocations from the Federation Account are still being awaited”.

Speaking further he said: “Hospitals have been built and equipped, just as security agencies have been given requisite facilities and logistics support to better secure Enugu State.

“You have also ensured harmony and stable polity in Enugu State through your political maturity and accommodating disposition, in your excellent belief that after elections governance should supersede every other thing”.

“It is for these feats, among others, that The Sun has deemed it appropriate to celebrate His Excellency”, he stated.

Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi who welcomed the Managing Director and his team to the Government House, thanked the media outfit for the honour and accepted the award.

The award presentation ceremony is scheduled to hold on Friday, January 25, 2019 at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos at 5pm.

Enugu State is truly in the hands of God! #amokelouis

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The stage is set for epic bouts that will determine those who would lead Nigeria for the next four years. Political activities are already picking up waves and gladiators are strategising and mobilising their structures to ensure that their chosen candidates prevail in the various elective contests, and more importantly, for the presidential seat, which is up for tussle in the February 16, 2019 poll.

Expectedly, the two leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have fielded candidates for the available positions, and are locked in a stringent battle to outwit each other and outmanoeuvre the electorate to settle for their candidates when they cast their ballots. The political atmosphere is becoming torrid, in terms of whether the APC will retain power at the centre or the PDP will outdo its setback and reclaim the power it lost four years ago.

However, a few weeks into the conduct of the general elections, the integrity of the polls is facing severe questions. The main opposition PDP was the first to raise dust, querying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s readiness to deliver free and fair elections. The party’s doubt may have started from the appointment of a national commissioner of the electoral umpire, Amina Zakari, to head INEC’s Advisory Committee and Presidential Election Collation Centre Committee.

PDP was succinct in pointing out that Amina Zakari shared a blood relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, who will be on the ballot for the February 16, 2019 presidential election, protesting that having her in such role in the election supported its consistent alarm that INEC may be collaborating with certain interests in the APC and the Presidency to compromise the election and manipulate its outcome to favour Buhari.

In a clear tone that questioned the integrity of the general polls, the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said “You will recall that we have been raising the flag on how the Buhari Presidency, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some individuals at the echelon of INEC have been seeking ways to compromise our electoral processes and open the way for the allocation of fictitious votes to President Muhammadu Buhari, having realised that he cannot win in a credible, free and fair polls.”

“Today, we have been informed that Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, apparently in furtherance of the plots to rig the presidential election, has appointed Mrs. Amina Zakari, a blood relation (niece) of the APC candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Chairperson of INEC Advisory Committee and Presidential election Collation Centre Committee,” he added.

This disclosure evoked protests from Nigerians, who wondered why INEC, a supposedly independent umpire, would make such a decision and expect citizens to be assured of its impartiality. Many Nigerians, including the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), rejected any role for Amina Zakari in the presidential election, alerting that her involvement may compromise the integrity of the results that may be derived from the electioneering process. There were also trends on social media platforms impressing on INEC to recuse Amina Zakari from having any impact on the 2019 polls, and even more properly, advised her withdrawal from the electoral umpire, to restore confidence in INEC’s neutrality and commitment to free and credible polls.

foraminifera

Obviously lost on an answer to the relationship between Buhari and Amina Zakari, INEC tried to allay fears of the influence of the controversial senior officer of the Commission, in relation to the 2019 presidential poll. While it could not deny that Amina and Buhari are indeed related, INEC, through its director of voter education and publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” that, “The committee is primarily in charge of welfare. She (Zakari) was also very involved in negotiating with ICC management in 2015 for the use of the facility so her duty is to ensure the facility is ready. She has no role whatsoever with the process of collation.”

In another unsuccessful attempt to wave off the opposition that had trailed Amina Zakari’s appointment, the Presidency struggled to dispute linkages between President Buhari and the INEC commissioner. In fact, a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, gave credence to the controversy, as he noted that “President Buhari and Commissioner Amina Kazaure don’t share a family relationship. An inter-marriage occurred in their extended families, so the imputation of blood relationship between the president and the electoral commissioner is a simple lie.”

How more confusing can the Presidency sound with this lame defence? Inter-marriage is beyond ordinary, especially in Africa, where it has created bonds that have lasted generations. Even in time of war or dispute, inter-marriage is one potent tool that is readily explored to restore peace and stability. So, if the Presidency is trying to pass off “inter-marriage” as a no issue that should not warrant the criticisms that trailed the appointment of Amina Zakari in the presidential election, maybe it could explain how she (Amina Zakari) featured prominently in the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under Buhari. Or, was it just mere coincidence, as her appointment in INEC is?

As the controversy lingers, there is no denying the fact that Buhari and Amina Zakari share some relationship. Even when the INEC commissioner moved to quash the upsurge of voices against her appointment by telling the BBC that, “I’m not [Buhari’s] niece,” she was swiftly countered by a professor of Communication, Farooq Kperogi, who pointed out that Buhari’s biological sister was once married to Mrs. Amina Zakari’s father. Kperogi stressed that, “At some point in his youth, Buhari, who lost his father at young age, came under the guardianship of Amina’s father, the late Alhaji Hussaini Adamu, who was emir of Kazaure, Daura’s ‘next-door neighbour'”, shedding more light on how deep the connection of the duo is.

The foregoing is a weighty revelation that INEC cannot easily sweep aside, except it wants to reinforce the perception of the opposition on its commitment to free and fair elections. From the available information so far, there is no disputing the linkage between Amina Zakari and Buhari as being strong enough to compromise the upcoming elections. Unless the electoral umpire is creating an impression of oncoming skewed polls, there is no defence strong enough that could sufficiently assure Nigerians on the integrity of INEC when Amina Zakari plays a critical role in the election delivery process.

INEC’s insistence on retaining Amina Zakari casts doubt on its integrity and commitment to credible polls. Or, would it be ideal for a referee with an “inter-marriage” tie to, say, Portugal to be handed the whistle in a football match between the European country and Argentina? What happens to conflict of interest if INEC is ignoring wise counsel on its fatal and indecorous choice of retaining Amina Zakari for the general elections? Her linkage to Buhari is enough motivation for bias and invariably, the distortion of fairness and equity in the discharge of her duty.

The argument that Amina Zakari won’t be able to sway poll results in favour of Buhari and his party, APC, is not tenable. Nigerian democracy is still in a developmental process and allowing such unthinkable anomaly to taint the electoral umpire is something INEC must seriously avoid. This is why Amina Zakari should be excused from the elections, so that INEC can maintain its impartiality. The 2019 general election is another litmus test for our democracy and INEC should not be the albatross to its entrenchment.

Oke Umurhohwo is a political analyst and strategist. He tweets @Stalyf

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News has filtered into the Nigeria media space, of the defection of a former PDP member in the Northeast; Alhaji Babayo Gamawa, who has since been accused of stealing 500m Naira from the nation’s collective patrimony. The former PDP member’s corruption has always been a talking point in the North East. His reputation sought to throw mud at the PDP’s reputation in the Northeast. At a point, the National working committee of the PDP had to summarily suspend him, pending his acquittal in court from a case against him by the EFCC. However, the PDP sought to give him a soft landing by terming the reason for his suspension as “Anti-party activities.”

To the surprise of Nigerians, the President; Muhammadu Buhari was on standby, to welcome the rogue member. This is the same President who could not attend the burial of 100 plus soldiers killed in Metele. This was the same president who could not attend the burial of 5 Airforce officers who were shut down by Boko Haram. The President’s behavior did not come as a surprise to Nigerians who are in the know, since the President has always focused more on returning for a second term, rather than fighting corruption, securing lives, and creating jobs. The PDP whose mantra is ‘Power to the People’ understands that the voice of the people is the voice of God. The PDP had to bow to the will of the people of the North East concerning the integrity of Alhaji Babayo Gamawa. As such, they had to cut him loose.

For unassuming Nigerians, this would be a rude awakening, seeing the allegedly anti-corruption champion; Buhari, receiving with an open arm, a person seriously accused of stealing 500m from the coffers of the nation. Just like every other ‘saint’ in the APC, there would never be a case against him from the EFCC. Nigerians have been aware of the APC’s affinity to corrupt individuals, and this is the final straw.

PDP Rivers Chapter Flags off Campaign in Grand Style

The Executive Governor of Rivers State; Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has since flagged off the PDP Campaign Rally in grand style. The campaign was flagged off Tuesday 9th January 2019 with more than 100 buses clearly embellished with campaign posters of the PDP presidential candidate; Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi. Governor Wike has since debunked rumors of a non-existent feud with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, with this singular action. This comes at a time propagandists have been peddling rumors against the PDP’s unity instead of campaigning on their non-existent achievements. This is a statement of the PDP’s unity in its collective bid to get Nigeria working again. The PDP has never been this strong and the people of Nigeria have never been this committed to calling out and rejecting the failure of the Buhari administration, than now.

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*APC: ADVENTURE IN POWER FAILURE*

*(As published in Nigerian Tribune of Tuesday, January 8, 2019)*

The All Progressive Congress was formed as a political party on February 6, 2013, being a merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change and All Nigeria People’s Party, in anticipation of the 2015 general elections. It was not making any headway as a viable alternative to the ruling People’s Democratic Party, until it succeeded in wooing some prominent but disgruntled members of the PDP, then christened newPDP. Since its victory at the polls, it has been a case of wobbling and fumbling, for the party of strange bedfellows.

The ideology of the APC as a centre-left party is Federalism, Progressivism, Social Liberalism and Social Democracy. It had no choice than these ideals as that was the only way it could win the sympathy of voters at the time in 2015. The APC would then proceed to enthrall Nigerians with a catalogue of promises rolled into a very attractive but deceptive manifesto, as a binding covenant for implementation upon assumption of office. Given the lackluster performance of the previous administration, hopes were high indeed, that the APC would be a party of true change, but it didn’t take too long, for Nigerians to notice some foot dragging, when six months after its inauguration, the APC government could not constitute its main cabinet and governance was dragging and the economy was bleeding seriously. Unknown to many, this was only but a tip of the iceberg.

Generally, the political ideology of the APC is slightly pro-masses, favouring a strong and active role for government regulation. The thinking then was that since a good number of its political leaders subscribed to the social democratic political philosophies of Obafemi Awolowo and the socialist and anti-class views of Aminu Kano, the masses would benefit from the government of the APC, whose political support base was mainly in the South West and Northern parts of Nigeria. Prior to the 2015 general elections, the APC was known mainly for its sloganeering and frequent chorusing of fiscal federalism, restructuring, devolution of powers, state police, resource control and such other populist policies of social nationalism. But this was mostly chanted by its leading figures of Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande, as its main presidential candidate, Mohammadu Buhari, cleverly avoided these cores issues. It has since turned out indeed that the CPC wing of the APC is less inclined to the idea of true federalism and devolution of powers.

Months rolled by and years started counting, but nothing seemed to be changing for the ordinary Nigerian, as promised by the APC. To be sure, the main agenda of the APC into the 2015 election was mainly restructuring, as stated clearly in its manifesto thus:

“THE CONSTITUTION

Initiate action to amend our Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit.”

In this short covenant of the APC is the mandate for restructuring, which made many Nigerians to rally round the party in 2015, with the expectation of true change, from the known status quo. The three cardinal issues in this manifesto of the APC are: (1) Constitutional Amendment; (2) Devolution of Powers; and (3) True Federalism.

The APC betrayed Nigerians upon assuming power, given that the leading lights of its CPC wing, Muhammadu Buhari and Nasir El-Rufai, were not inclined to this agenda and since the CPC controlled the APC in the real power equation, the idea would soon hit the rocks. The President lashed back at his own people and rubbished the APC manifesto, by describing the proponents of restructuring as lazy people, effectively silencing the radical wing of the so-called progressive party.

Sensing the internal contradictions that would later rock the APC, the newPDP wing outsmarted the leaders and took control of the National Assembly, signaling the beginning of the end of a once promising party. It was only a matter of time for the APC to self destruct. Its founding chairman, Odigie-Oyegun, was up in arms with the governors, most of who wanted to control their domains in the states, to be able to cover up their tracks when out of office. Whereas it paraded a national leader in its ACN wing, the CPC wing ensured that it was not documented on record as such, and would later contest that nomenclature as inconsistent with the office of the President. Meanwhile, the opportunist policy of “president for everybody and for nobody”, would soon begin to hurt the party, as this led to mini emperors in various segments of the APC, all of whom were now taking advantage of the President’s desperation to retain power. The founding Chairman had to pay the ultimate price and soon became a casualty of intense political power play.

The consequence of this was that the APC lost focus, it became a party without a goal in mind, unable to assert or proclaim any specific principle or ideology, at times even groveling to absorb the very people that it had pilloried and lampooned as thieves and corrupt leaders. So it was that the APC died a natural death, and became a dumpsite for power mongers and avengers. The economy paid dearly for it, the political space became turbulent and things fell apart, without any center at all. In Ogun State, the incumbent governor had surreptitiously registered Allied People’s Movement, whilst in Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, himself the chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, had registered Action Alliance, with strong branches in Ondo and other States, that were battling the national executive of the party, for positions. In Ogun and Imo, whereas the governors are both candidates of the APC for the senatorial elections, they effectively outsmarted their parties by retaining all its structures in another political platform for the governorship and legislative elections, once they were able to assure the President of their support for his personal ambition. In places like Zamfara and Rivers State, the APC may not even be able to present any candidate for the coming elections, due mainly to internal strife.

Perhaps because it had not tasted power at the federal level, the APC soon became overwhelmed with the burden of governance, always latching on to the ‘wasteful 16 years of PDP’, as if that in itself should earn it a second term in office. Unable to satisfy Nigerians why there is still blackout after three years in office, the APC would deny that it ever promised uninterrupted supply of electricity, with the Minister of Power chiding Nigerians to stop expecting power supply from the government since the power supply chain had been privatized. Meanwhile the killings assumed a new dimension, with the damning Amnesty International report showing cases of compromise by security agencies. At the last count, Boko Haram had become more emboldened, now overrunning military and police barracks. The insecurity in the land got to its peak when the former Chief of Air Staff was gunned down some weeks back and the Governor of the President’s home state of Katsina cried out that bandits had taken over the entire state.

To the APC, Nigerians should see good governance as a privilege and be grateful to God that APC fielded Mohammadu Buhari for elections at all, expecting that his name alone should pay the school fees of their children, put food on their tables and transform their lives completely, whereas as of the end of year 2018, it was reported that about 80 million Nigerians now live below the poverty index. The economy is so bad that even the affluent has become a victim. What of education? Better summarized with the current strike by university and polytechnic teachers, which has shut the gate of tertiary education in all public schools across the country. Can you hail the APC for the judicial sector? Court orders are disobeyed at random, the President himself stated that the judiciary is his headache and that he has not succeeded in office because of the ‘system’, referring to due process of law and democratic principles. Do we talk about the aviation sector, where even the government itself misled Nigerians on its so-called air carrier?

In the political arena, the APC has taken Nigeria to the era of inconclusive elections, which in truth is symptomatic of any election in which the ruling party suspects it may not win, using INEC to buy time to manipulate the outcome in its favour. We now have vote buying, intimidation of voters and re-run elections, all over the place. And even in the coming elections, there is so much uncertainty and confusion. What about human rights and opposition politics? Better explained with the encounter of the Shiites with military in Kaduna and Abuja. And you can ask Olisa Metuh, Ayodele Fayose, Deji Adeyanju and Dino Melaye and many others, what it means to be against the ruling APC. There is so much hunger, insecurity, uncertainty and anger, all over the land, to suggest that the APC is just a misadventure in governance.

So, the questions to ask are these: Are we safer now than before? Are we richer now than before? Do we have better electricity supply now than before? Do we now organize free, fair and credible elections than before? Are we as a people, more united in tribes and tongues or in faith? Are our rights and freedoms better protected now than before?

Let me call in aid Pastor Tunde Bakare, to answer some of these questions, through his recent statement:

“What many people are saying is that there was corruption under Jonathan, yes, but life was better. At least we were able to get this, but this man cornered all the money, locked it up…. The allegations by the Nigerian public is that those around the president are also stealing, and some names have been mentioned. You cannot be a clean man surrounded by rogues. If you don’t deal with those rogues, they would colour you with the same tar.”

That is APC, a complete power failure.

Appreciating Ugwuanyi’s passion for his people

Louis Amoke

Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, through his recent assistance to victims of fire outbreaks in the state, to enable them overcome their challenges, has indeed reaffirmed his long-held belief that the greatest objective of government is to alleviate the suffering of the people.

When the unfortunate incidents occurred, Gov. Ugwuanyi as responsive leader, sensitive to the plight of the people, did not only visit to sympathize with them, he also offered financial assistance and relief materials to ameliorate their pains.

For the assisted victims who include widows, petty traders, tricycle operators, commercial bus driver, furniture makers, homeless tenants and labouring landlords, “our humble and compassionate governor has wiped away our tears, and given us a new lease of life when all hope was lost”.

As a humble leader, given to kindness and compassion towards the needy, lowly and downtrodden, with firm commitment to peace, vision and good governance, Gov. Ugwuanyi who is seeking re-election in March this year, has continued to keep faith with the people and the promises he made to them to “deploy government services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen to make a living, create wealth, educate our children and enjoy life in a peaceful and secure environment”.

Despite the state’s lean resources, the governor’s acts of magnanimity, love and compassion, his new ethos of leadership and development trajectory have rekindled the confidence of the people in participatory democracy as the true heroes of democracy - giving them a sense of belonging.

His rising profile as a great achiever, faithful servant of God, man of peace and the most popular and acceptable leader in the annals of the state, with all the trappings of patriotism, among other indicators, stand him out as the candidate to beat in the coming election in Enugu State.



Appreciating his swelling popularity, His Eminence, The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, had described Gov. Ugwuanyi as a popular leader widely celebrated by both indigenes and non-indigenes because of his humble disposition, closeness to the people and commitment to peace, security and good governance.



The governor’s unprecedented achievements and unusual style of leadership remains outstanding beyond the horizon of politics, positioning him as a unique brand on the positive side of history. It is on record that his administration has so far spent close to N50 billion on road construction and rehabilitation in the past three years and half years, covering about 450 kilometres.



This landmark achievement is in addition to bold initiatives in other sectors of development that have positively impacted the lives of the people. Some of these include qualitative and affordable healthcare delivery, sound education, peace and security, workers and pensioners welfare, human empowerment, investment promotion, et cetera.



All these exemplary leadership qualities informed the people’s unflinching support and solidarity as well as the gale of endorsements for his re-election by virtually all spheres of the society, including the political, religious and traditional institutions - both in the state and beyond.

For instance, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, during the recent prayer session at the Government House, Enugu, to herald commencement of work after the New Year celebration, declared that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s re-election “is going to be a walkover by God’s grace”.

The outspoken cleric, who had earlier endorsed the governor for a second term in office on different occasions, described him as a peaceful leader who is good to everybody irrespective of class, religion or political leaning, saying: “Gov. Ugwuanyi is the Joshua of Enugu State who will lead us to the Promised Land”.

According to him, “there is no alternative to Gburugburu (Ugwuanyi) in 2019. He has done well and therefore, No Vacancy in the Lion Building”.

Also recently, the 21 autonomous communities in Enugu South and Nkanu West Local Government Areas that make up Awkunanaw, presented ‘Ofo’ to Gov. Ugwuanyi as a symbol of their solidarity and endorsement of his re-election bid and proclamation of more successes in his political career.



The people who also conferred on the governor a Chieftaincy title of “Omereoha of Awkunanaw” by the traditional rulers of the autonomous communities, at Obuoffia Square, the ancestral home of Awkunanaw, expressed delight with the governor’s peace and good governance initiatives.



They pointed out that the newly constructed road leading to Obuoffia was remarkable being the first road project executed in the community. They therefore declared that “Gov. Ugwuanyi is the only governorship candidate the people of the state are sure will leave office in 2023 for power to rotate to Nkanuland, Enugu East Senatorial District”.



A few days after, 12 autonomous communities in Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA, also unanimously endorsed the governor for a second term in office for his uncommon leadership style and giant development strides across the state, especially in ‘Nkanuland’.



The people applauded the governor for the construction of Ndiagu-Akpugo road, which they noted was the first state government road project in their land and for rehabilitating the Ameze Water Scheme as well as appointments of their sons and daughters into sensitive positions.



Besides the overwhelming endorsements by the people, another factor that is working for the governor is the strength of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State. Enugu State, since 1999, has remained a PDP-controlled state, whole and entirely, with its candidates occupying all the elective positions at the national, state and local government levels.

This enviable PDP formidable strength in Enugu State coupled with the popular quest for continuity and consolidation of the existing gains of democracy have indeed sunk deep into the hearts of the people of the state, who have virtually endorsed the governor’s re-election bid and patiently waiting to defy rain and sunshine to ensure that their votes count for the good works to continue.

This commitment could be easily extracted from the prayers and encomiums poured on Gov. Ugwuanyi recently by the victims of the fire outbreaks he assisted.

The jubilant beneficiaries, while on thank-you visits to the Government House, after receiving the governor’s donations, displayed different dance steps and praised God and thanked the governor for the surprise package. It was indeed a harvest of gratitude and jubilation for them as they described the day they received their donations as “the happiest day of our lives” and prayed fervently for the governor’s victory at the polls.

Excitedly speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries of replaced burnt tricycles and commercial bus, John Obalezi, said: “We are here because the Governor of Enugu State visited when our keke and bus were burnt and asked us not to cry again that he will wipe our tears.

“We are here because he invited us today and bought new keke for us and bought a bus for the bus driver. We came to thank the governor and pray for him and his victory in the coming election to complete his 2nd term”.

According to the bus driver, Sunday Ugwu, “I am very happy. Today is the happiest day of my life. I did not believe it was going to happen like this. I don’t have much to say than to thank the Lord and the governor. I am overjoyed. I did not know that my bus will return again. I thank the Lord and my God. I thank the governor, Gburugburu. Let him continue to lead us in Jesus Name. Amen”.

Other beneficiaries were also dumfounded at the governor’s milk of human kindness and empathy towards them, proclaiming that his re-election bid will surely end in praise for Enugu State is truly in the hands of God!#amokelouis

With the undenied serial revelations of the alleged private opinions of the Director General of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Nigeria’s Minister for Transportation and self-styled dictatorial leader of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, it has become clear that embattled Candidate Buhari, seeking re-election for the office of the President of Nigeria under the APC does not only lack the support of the majority of Nigerians as prevailing evidence shows, but has suffered a nervous-breaking vote of no confidence by his campaign organisation as revealed by its DG in the various audio files now in public circulation.

What this implies is that, as DG-Amaechi leads the Buhari Campaign organisation across Nigeria seeking to sell APC’s Presidential candidate and secure the support of Nigerians for his re-election, they would be doing so knowing that the candidate lacks the requisite leadership competence to administer Nigeria’s national government or deliver on their promises, as has been seen in the last 3 years. The DG was quoted to have said the President does not read and does not care probably about repercussions or the consequences of his poor performance in government. In an extended version of the audio, the Director General of the Buhari Campaign reeled out all those bedeviled by the misgovernance of the Buhari era and derided the current bad state of the economy, which has now been adjudged the World Capital of Poverty.

Amaechi’s prescribed solution to the problems of Nigeria, which he describes as hopeless and helpless, according to the leaked audio is to kill all Nigerians. It is beyond being shocking that this is the thinking of someone who has had long years of leadership exposure both locally and nationally in government.

What these shocking revelations imply is that the current national drivers of Nigeria are admittedly hopeless, helpless and clueless as to how to turn the fortune of the country around for the best. It is no wonder things are at their very worst under them. From security to the economy and corruption, which were their major campaign points in the 2015 General Elections, in addition to many fancy promises that have virtually failed to see the light of day, the APC has left Nigeria worse than they met it and do not have a solution to the myriad of problems bedeviling the nation.

National statistics show unprecedented rates of joblessness, inter-ethnic and ethno-religious killings within the country, fallen standard of education and poor working conditions for those who manage to have one. For instance, Youth unemployment which the Jonathan government reduced to a single digit of 8.05% as at 2015 has nearly doubled to a whooping double digit of 13.41% as at 2017. In 2015 inflation rate was at a single digit of 9%, in 2017 it was at 16.5%. In 2015, our national debt in relation to our GDP was 15.98%. In 2018, it was 24.77%. Things have definitely gone worse. Yet, the President has been said not to be peeved by these shocking data by the very man that leads his campaign organisation. If the President won’t care about the bad state of things, we Nigerians must, and by that, take our destiny in our hands.

Given the damning admittance of the President’s lack of capacity to administer governance, something most Nigerians have known for a while, but which his own campaign organisation, by the undenied words of its Director General as heard across social media and read in the mainstream media, has now confirmed, it is crystal clear that President Buhari does not deserve the support of the majority of Nigerians and in fact should be widely rejected to enable the country make true progress.

Nothing short of this, should be the result of the mind boggling but bold and daring admission of Buhari’s Campaign DG on Buhari’s widely acknowledged incompetence. It is in Nigeria’s best interest to vote this team out, having woefully failed on all their promises and respectfully acknowledged it. Since no one forced the Campaign DG to make the confessions, it should be seen as his own patriotic contribution to national development. Let’s get Nigeria working again.

Suspicion as Buhari Declines Airing Live Interview


Nigerians who read news from This Day newspaper and other sources, publicising the Presidential interview, were happy that they could finally see their president on live TV. However, the joys of Nigerians were cut short, when Buhari declined the live interview. Instead, the president opted for a recorded interview after which he will give the tape to Channels TV to air it. This comes at a time the president’s health is being questioned; whether he is mentally and physically fit enough to continue as president. As at yesterday being 7th of January 2019, the president had handed his campaign over to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an APC chieftain and leader. This act raised questions on the health and stability of the president in the minds of people who were aware that the president had been sick and spent up to 106 days in the hospital, abroad.

In the interview, the president was asked several questions on the economy, agriculture and security of the nation, which in fact are the burning issues in the upcoming presidential election. The president stated that the nation no longer imported rice. However, this is not in line with a Vanguard publication that Nigeria, following the activities of 2018, will become the second largest rice importer in the world in 2019. On security, the President insisted that Boko Haram is not holding any territory in Nigeria. This is coming at a time the Nigeria Army attacked Daily Trust Newspaper for publishing their strategy to reclaim Baga; a town that fell to the dominance of Boko haram last week. On deaths, he stated that the number of people killed in Zamfara and Benue supersedes the number of people killed in Taraba. This seemed like the president was comparing lives and deaths, without knowing that even a single person that lost his or her life in the country is his responsibility. On the reason why he has not sacked the security chiefs even when they have performed badly, the president admitted he was afraid of the unknown and did not know the intentions of the new people that will be appointed.

The decline of a live interview by the president put a dent on the whole interview, because it is assumed he has even enough time to prepare politically correct answers in line with the questions being asked. This did not stop the president from making some irregular assertions concerning security, agriculture and the economy, as exemplified above.

The people of Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, comprising 12 autonomous communities have unanimously endorsed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for a second term in office.

Rising from a meeting of the leadership of the town union of the autonomous communities, constituent villages, major markets and all the kindred families, the Akpugo people commended Ugwuanyi for his “uncommon leadership style and giant development strides across the state,” especially in their area. The people applauded Ugwuanyi for the construction of Ndiagu-Akpugo Road, which they noted was the first state government’s road project in their land. They also lauded the governor for the rehabilitation of Ameze Water Scheme and appointments of their sons and daughters into sensitive positions, such as Commissioner, Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, and Executive Secretary of Local Government Pensions Board, among others. Moving the motion for the endorsement, a former Federal Commissioner with the Public Complaints Commission, Afam Nnaji, after highlighting the good works of the governor, his penchant for peace and special love for the people of Nkanuland, stated that his re-election “will ensure continuity and consolidation of the developmental strides and positive economic expansion of the state.”

He also moved for the endorsement of the candidature of their son, Nnoli Nnaji for Nkanu West/East Federal Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as well as other candidates of the party in the senatorial district. Seconding the motion, the President General of Ndiuno Uwani Autonomous Community, Chief Moses Aniemeka, opined that “the unparalleled peace that exists in Enugu State needs to continue”, stressing that “this cannot happen if the Governor is not reelected in office”. Consequently, the meeting adopted the motion as moved and unanimously endorsed the re-election of Gov. Ugwuanyi and the election of their son, Chief Nnaji and other PDP candidates, including Senator Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani and Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu. In his remark, the Royal father of the day, His Royal Majesty, Igwe John Ideyi, prayed fervently for the unity and Progress of Akpugo and for God to grant of the people their wish for Gov. Ugwuanyi, Hon. Nnaji and other PDP candidates at the polls. Speaking earlier, while welcoming participants, the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, an illustrious son of the town, Hon. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, explained that the essence of the gathering was to bring the leaders of the people together in unity, to continue to forge a common front for socio-political and economic development of their area in particular and the state in general.

Hon. Ogbu-Nwobodo thanked the people for their unceasing prayers, solidarity, goodwill and support for Gov. Ugwuanyi and the emergence of their illustrious son, Hon. Nnaji as the PDP candidate for Nkanu West/East Federal Constituency, and solicited more support for their landslide victory at the forthcoming general election. Also speaking, Hon. Nnaji while thanking the governor for his love for Akpugo, called on the people to “imbibe the spirit of love for one another to move Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA and Enugu State forward”. He promised that if elected he will give them quality representation. An elder statesman and the Deputy President General, Ihunekwagu Autonomous Community, Chief Paul Igweshi, thanked the participants and the entire people of Akpugo for their cooperation and sense of direction towards the progress of the area and the state.

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The people of Kogi State were filled with joy as the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and his running mate, Peter Obi stormed Kogi State for a Presidential Mega rally. The candidate who is riding on the wings of job creation and security, has since stated that in order to get Nigeria working again, there is need to stop the job losses. This will be achieved by partnering effectively with private sectors and civil societies to move Nigeria forward. In attendance, were three former governors of Kogi state; Idris Wada, Ibrahim Idris and Clarence Olafemi. Also sited were PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus, the Campaign DG of the PDP, Dr Bukola Saraki and many other party stakeholders.

While speaking, Idris Ibrahim, a former governor of Kogi State, stated that “Atiku is here to end the suffering. Nigerians have suffered enough,” he said. Dr. Bukola Saraki in his speech, stated that the only hope of Nigerians for job creation is through voting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as President of Nigeria, who is a seasoned job creator and a good manager. Atiku took the podium and reminded the people of Kogi State that most of the major infrastructures in the state, are PDP legacy projects. He went on to name examples, ranging from the Stadium used for the rally, to the Ajaokuta Steel complex, to the two power plants in the state. Atiku promised to complete the abandoned Kogi Inland port, which was started by the PDP, but abandoned by the APC. In addition, he called for the freedom of Senator Dino Melaye who has been incarcerated wrongly by the police.

This rally comes at a time the state is hit with recent loss of jobs in the economy, including the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Industry. Also, the state is part of the North central which has seen a rise in the death by killer herdsmen, up to 4000 in 2018. These and many more are amongst the plans of Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi to get Nigeria working again. The speakers took their time to wish the incarcerated Senator Dino Melaye, a happy birthday, while protesting for his release.
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Justice Adeniyi of the FCT High Court Apo, Abuja has declared that Senator John Owan Enoh is the Authentic Candidate of the APC in the 2019 governorship elections in Cross Rivers State.


The FCT High Court had this morning (Monday 07/01/19) delivered judgement on Usani vs APC, INEC & Owan-Enoh. The judge dismissed the suit for the following reasons:



1. Usani's case found to be full of contradictory claims and forgeries. Usani's certificate of return found to be irregular. Usani's affidavit in support of originating summons declared unreliable. Usani found not to be an aspirant and his case not justifiable.

2. Etim John's primaries declared illegal and contrary to APC's constitution and primary guidelines.

The Petroleum Act 1969 (as amended ) gives full authority or discretion to the minister of petroleum to grant licenses for the exploration, prospecting, and mining of oil, and empowers the president to “cause the farm out of a marginal field If it had been left unattended for a period of not less than 10 years from the date of its first discovery”.

Unlike other countries where the management of oil resources are transparent, there are no legally mandated processes or oversight mechanisms for the allocation of blocks or marginal fields in Nigeria.

Due to the discretional powers given to the President and Minister of Petroleum in the Petroleum act, Oil licenses are perceived as the biggest reward for political patronage in Nigeria, with many oil blocks now owned by politicians, ex military rulers and government cronies.

A report by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) in 2017, stated treat the weakest link in the nation’s oil and gas industry, especially in terms of value addition, is in the area of licensing. Only 30% of the previously allocated oilfields (oil blocks) have reached commercial production.

Most of the oil blocks are suffering from “acreage sitting” where bid winners do not develop the oil blocks gotten as a result of political patronage, they usually lack the technical and financial capacity to develop these oil blocks.

Historical Perspective.

The last bid round for marginal fields was held fourteen years ago with 24 fields awarded to 31 indigenous companies. A marginal field is any field that has reserves booked and reported annually to the DPR and has remained unproductive for 10 years.

The Obasanjo administration tried to increase the nation’s oil reserves and production capacity from 2.5m bpd to four million bpd and one of the first things they did was to hold licensing rounds. Four licensing rounds were held during his administration- in 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2007, they were marred with controversies and several short comings.

The timing of the 2007 round- just two weeks before a change of government scared investors off who feared the new administration might reverse some of the deals, coupled with the perception in some quarters that it was the last chance for Obasanjo to favor some people.

The 2005 round attracted huge bids from unknown firms that didn’t pay up, while that of 2006 caused a scandal after a block after a block left unclaimed at an auction was later awarded in private to an unknown firm that sold it on for $35m.

Out of the 24 marginal fields awarded in 2003, only eight are currently producing, according to the Department of Petroleum resources. The DPR also stated that 76 out of the 77 oil blocks awarded in 2005, 2006 and 2007 rounds were largely dormant.

In a Chatham house report titled ‘Thirst for African Oil: Asian National Oil Companies in Nigeria and Angola’ it was revealed that the 2006 bidding list included indigenous consortia with little or no experience in the oil industry, such as Transcorp in which the President was rumored to have had shares.
The report stated that Taiwan’s Chinese Petroleum Corporation was in a joint venture with Starcrest Nigeria Energy, which was only registered just days before the round without history and credibility as an oil company. Due- diligence investigation showed that Starcrst was owned by businessman Emeka Offor, while the LCV on the block was given ti Shorebeach Nigeria, a company co-owned by Offor and Emmanuel Ojie.

Yar’Adua, whose administration revoked some of these blocks died after a long illness that dampened his effort to restructure the industry.

In November, 2013 President Jonathan launched a marginal bid round with 31 fields up for grabs. The DPR stated that the process would commence in December 2013 and end in April 2014. The round was highly anticipated but it failed to come on stream without any official reason.

Regulatory Reform.

The biggest obstacle to reform in the licensing process is President Buhari’s failure to sign the Petroleum Industrial Governance Bill, after 17 years in the National assembly, the Bukola Saraki led 8th Senate finally took the bull by its horn and delivered a promise by passing the PIGB.

President Buhari named himself as the Minister of Petroleum resources so as to control the discretionary powers involved with the allocation of oil licenses, the President complained that signing the PIGB will whittle down his powers and he has since renewed a license for Seplat limited without any official bid round and the Minister of state for Petroleum just announced a bid round just before elections.

How will PIGB solve the corruption and opacity involved in Licensing? . The PIGB looks to create a new regulatory body called the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC) that will serve as the umbrella supervisory body for the Nigeria oil and Gas industry.

The NPRC will replace the PPRA and DPR and collapse them into one body since they currently have a huge overlap in duties, creating too many red tapes and bureaucratic problems, the PIGB will solve this issue.

The Minister of Petroleum resources will no longer be allowed to issue oil licenses at will as the minister will answer to the NPRC that will be governed by a 9 man board with a fixed tenure. The NPRC will hold licensing rounds and supervise the entire industry.

This new agency will be funded from the appropriation act through the National Assembly. President Buhari is withholding his assent to this bill that will open up the licensing process in the Oil sector.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, Nigeria is losing $15bn every year from our failure to sign the Petroleum industrial bills into law.

As elections approach, it is important for Nigerians to understand how this opaque licensing process affects our every day life and creates an avenue for corruption in the country’s top revenue earner.

The most important choice Nigerians have to make

Every new year, for the first month at least, most Nigerians experience a word I made up called “Janumism.” It is a portmanteau of “January” and “Optimism.” We are generally positive about having a fruitful, prosperous year, we make resolutions that make us feel hopeful, and we project our minds to December with a vision of accomplishment. Reality starts to set in in February and the mood dissipates but for the first month of the year at least, people tend to believe they have a shot at a better year ahead.

Off the back of a turbulent 2018, I’m not sure how many Nigerians have the Janumism spirit within them. It was a very challenging year. Back in june of 2018, it was reported that Nigeria had surpassed India to become the nation with the most people living in extreme poverty. 87 million Nigerians against 71.5 million Indians. What makes this particularly mind-blowing is that India’s population is more than six times Nigeria’s: 1.3 billion people compared to 190 million.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2018 was weak. GDP is the market value of all goods and services produced within Nigerian shores. From 2.1% in the last three months of 2017, it slowed to 1.9% in the first three months of 2018. It slowed again to 1.5% in the second quarter of 2018, before picking up to 1.8% in the third quarter. The main takeaway from this is that our dear nation is not growing fast enough economically to lift its people out of poverty.

Population growth in Nigeria is at an annual rate of 2.6% which exceeds our GDP figures. Think of a family woman making N50k monthly with two children to care for. Assume she adds another child every year but her N50k salary doesn’t rise. The burden of supporting a growing household with stagnant wages is what Nigeria is facing with millions of her citizens bearing the brunt of weak economic growth.

There has to be a better way because none of the problems we are facing will magically disappear in 2019. A hopeful solution can be found in making the right choice in the upcoming February 2019 elections. Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Peter Obi look very much like the proverbial light at the end of a pitch black tunnel.

Mr Abubakar and Mr Obi intend to transform Nigeria into a modern economy that is people-centered. How do they intend on doing this? By, among other things, attracting much needed investment funds into the nation. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria has fallen in recent years: since peaking at $718m in the third quarter of 2015, it fell to a low of $118m in the third quarter of 2017. In the 2nd quarter of last year, it reached $261m. Point is, we need more money. We need more investment coming into Nigeria to boost our infrastructure and Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are the best placed candidates to get Nigeria back on track.

For foreign investors to be comfortable enough with Nigeria to send more funds our way, they have to be confident that they will operate in an environment that is conducive for business. Atiku is a businessman. Obi is a businessman. They both believe in a healthy private sector that is attractive to foreign investment. Much work needs to be done to improve the business environment. The World Economic Forum ranked Nigeria 115th out of 140 countries for Global competitiveness. Infrastructure was ranked 124th. ICT adoption ranked 123rd.

The more investment dollars Atiku and Obi can convince to come into Nigeria, the stronger the Naira will be. It is a case of demand and supply. More investment dollars flowing into Nigeria means the supply of dollars increases. This reduces the cost of acquiring them which makes the Naira appreciate. The Naira has not had it easy under this administration. Thanks to the recession of 2016, dollar scarcity got so bad that one dollar was going for N500 back in February of 2017! Things have moderated but are still expensive. The Central bank’s official rate is N305 but the dollar goes for N366 on the parallel market.

Nigeria had a chance last year to boost its currency position by increasing trade with our African sisters and brothers via the African Continental Free Trade agreement. It was signed last year by 44 of the 55 member nations of the African Union in Kigali, Rwanda. President Buhari pulled out of his trip to Kigali at the eleventh hour, saying he had to consult with stakeholders. Why he didn’t consult with them ahead of time is part of why we are where we are today and in need of practical, pragmatic leadership from Abubakar and Obi.

Practical, pragmatic leadership accurately highlights inefficiencies in a system, as Mr Obi did when talking about Nigeria’s expensive fuel subsidy. He called for funds used in subsidizing fuel for Nigerians to be used in improving our education sector. The more we hear about the subsidy, the worse things seems to get. The Guardian recently reported that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) which has the responsibility of determining the pricing template of petroleum products imported into Nigeria, has been unable to do this over the past two years! Their website has been dormant for the last two years with no updated information on how much it costs to bring refined fuel into Nigeria.

As at last year, the daily consumption figure for petrol consumption in Nigeria was pegged at 50 million liters by the NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru. There has been no one at the PPPRA to verify this information. The Guardian reported that the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has taken over the required calculations from the PPPRA. This was confirmed to the Guardian by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division (GPAD) of the NNPC. When he was asked to confirm the 50 million liter per day consumption figure, all calls entered voicemail.

The Guardian went ahead and used the most recent data available to calculate what the subsidy cost and arrived at a staggering figure of N2.43 billion per day. You can read it here https://guardian.ng/news/petrol-subsidy-hits-n2-43b-daily/

So we’re spending an astounding N2.43 billion per day on subsidy, we don’t know if Nigerians consume more than 50 million liters or more of fuel per day, and the Agency tasked with calculating this information has not done so for two years. If that doesn’t spell inefficiency then I don’t know what does. Mr Obi was spot on.

Nigerians are suffering under an incompetent, inefficient administration with misplaced socialist tendencies that are not improving matters. We need leadership that can identify our issues, proffer bold solutions, and be courageous enough to see them through. That leadership comes in the form of Atuki Abubakar and Peter Obi and come February 16th at the polls, Nigerians have to make the all-important choice of sending them to Aso Rock to turn things around.

Our entire future depends on it

There was elation at the Government House, Enugu on Thursday when three victims of the recent fire outbreak at a petrol station in Trans Ekulu, Enugu whose commercial bus and two tricycles were burnt during the inferno took delivery of replaced ones donated by the governor, in fulfillment of his promise when he visited the scene.

Briefing Government House correspondents, after the bus and tricycles were formally handed over to them by the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs. Nkechi Eneh, on behalf of the governor, the jubilant beneficiaries who displayed different dance steps, praising God and thanking the governor for the surprise package, said that today was the happiest day of their lives.

They added that Gov. Ugwuanyi has wiped away their tears and prayed fervently for God to continue to grant him success in all his endeavors, especially his victory at the forthcoming elections.

One of the tricycle operators, John Obalezi said that “we are here because the Governor of Enugu State visited when our keke and bus were burnt and asked us not to cry again that he will wipe our tears. We are here because he invited us today and bought new keke for us and bought a bus for the bus driver. We came to thank the governor and pray for him and his victory in the coming election to complete his 2nd term”.

According to the bus driver, Sunday Ugwu, “I am very happy. Today is the happiest day of my life. I did not believe it was going to happen like this. I don’t have much to say than to thank the Lord and the governor. I even thank the Aunty (Mrs. Eneh) and everybody. I am overjoyed. I did not know that my bus will return back again. I thank the Lord and my God. I thank the governor, Gburugburu, let him continue to lead us in Jesus Name. Amen”.

It would be recalled that the governor had earlier redeemed his promise to the other victims of the incident, accordingly.

Enugu State is truly in the hands of God! #amokelouis

By Olawale Abdul-Fatah

As Presidential election gather steam, National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), have commenced plans to end the age-long rift between them in order to strengthen Yoruba’s grip of South West.

The move, the Guild gathered, was initiated by late founder of the Socio-Cultural group, Fredrick Fasheun, before his demise, after realising that the Yoruba race were persistently short-changed in Nigeria’s political activities.Vice President, OPC, Wasiu Afolabi, disclosed the plan at the party’s Lagos State gubernatorial candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, at Ikeja, where he led 5,000 members of the group to endorse the party.

Afolabi hinted that part of the plan was to assist APC claim all available seats during forthcoming election in South West.

“We are fully ready to ensure APC win through our votes. Aside voting, we will ensure that no one disrupt the electoral process across the state,” he added.

The Vice President hinted that the official declaration would have happened before demise of Fasheun but efforts to actualise it broke down due to miscommunication.

He stressed that their visit was to officially declare their loyalty to APC and Sanwo-Olu, saying, this is the dream of our late founder, Fredrick Fasheun.

Afolabi added that the aim of the late founder was to partner APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to protect the interest of Yoruba race in the country.“

The APC party leadership played a role in bringing the dream of our founding father, Fredrick Fasheun, to reality towards the formation of OPC, so we are glad to be back home as a progressive people.



“It is a of joy and great achievement for OPC that our late founding father Dr fredrick fasheun has resolved to put his difference aside with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and work together for the common interest of the Yoruba race and the whole South West.”

https://theguildng.com/assets/IMG-20190103-WA0020.jpg

By Olawale Abdul-Fatah
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos state gubernatorial candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu campaign has received external boost from 5,000 Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) members’ who endorsed him as next governor of the state.
OPC endorsement came barely days after the Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obefemi Hamzat, shelved their holidays to extend their campaign across the state for all APC candidates including President Muhammadu Buhari.
Director General, Independent Campaign Group (ICG), Tayo Ayinde, said that the endorsement would serve as a boost for the party to achieve maximum vote during election.

Details soon

January 2, 2019.

PRESS STATEMENT

Amosun deserves our sympathy
- Ogun APC

The Ogun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State deserves to be pitied and prayed for as his recent comments against the APC Governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, bothers on “outgoing syndrome, emanating from political amnesia and loss of touch with reality”.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday and signed by the Publicity Secretary to the Ogun APC State Executive Caretaker Committee, Comrade Tunde, Oladunjoye, the party said that the governor actually deserves sympathy.

The statement reads in part:
“But for the fact that the reported outbursts of the governor was reported by a credible online medium, we would not have taken him serious ; and for the fact that friends in the media have been asking for response, we would not have reacted.”

“However, rather than exchange words with the governor, we would call on members of the public to please sympathize with the governor and pray for him, as he is obviously manifesting outgoing syndrome resulting from political amnesia, loss of touch with reality and fear of life after office”.

“For an individual to attempt to play God, and assault the collective intelligence of the well informed people of Ogun State by telling them who the next governor of Ogun State will be, as if he has already written the results, shows that such person deserves our pity; we don’t need to exchange words with him, but to actually sympathize with him on his present state of paranoia on Prince Dapo Abiodun.”

“The constant, unceasing and monotonous attacks on Dapo Abiodun by the governor and his minions shows that our candidate is the leading contestant and his imminent victory is only a matter of weeks. We challenge the governor to publish the recent survey he commissioned and which he read to some leaders in his house last week, wherein it was revealed that his preferred governorship candidate will not only lose the election, but also lose in the governor’s hitherto strongholds of Ifo, Ewekoro and Ado Odo Ota local governments.”

“Our party and candidate will remain focused, maintain decorum and continue to sell out policies and programmes to the good and discerning people of Ogun State, even as we are sure of victory”.

E-signed
Tunde Oladunjoye
Publicity Secretary