₦airaland Forum

special Valentine for Nigerians this year was cleverly terminated and postponed last week by INEC. The much anticipated elections would now start on March 28 and conclude on April 11, 2015. Not to worry, life continues. No matter the motives behind it, whether genuine or mischievous, it gladdens the heart that the decision was taken in good faith by all, albeit reluctantly.
In the spirit of that renewed determination to keep our peace before, during and after the elections, we must continue to run issue-based campaigns irrespective of who we support. I was sent a very irresistible article this week by Professor Kayode Oyediran, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. I found both his intervention and topic very relevant to the present situation in our country. I believe many of our young readers have a lot to learn and enjoy in this beautifully written piece which I couldn’t stop reading once I started. On a lighter note, it seems Taureans have the gift of the pen. Professor Oyediran and I share the same birthday of May 16.



Please enjoy my very special guest this week, a most distinguished scholar and administrator…
Four recent publications in several national dailies illustrate various dimensions of discipleship which has become a topical concept not only in Nigeria but globally. They are: “The chance of prosperity versus poverty of austerity” by Bola Ahmed Tinubu; “PMS pump price reduction and the economy: My take-away” by Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN; “Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the election” by Charles Chukwuma Soludo; and “Buhari has not satisfied the constitution – Adebanjo” being an interview of Chief Ayo Adebanjo. These publications addressed several current national issues, and gave insight into the perceptions, priorities and prejudices of the respective authors, and illustrated the various manifestations of discipleship.
Tinubu’s article is a well-researched critique of the macro-economic policy of the Federal government, and a spirited articulation of his preferred strategy for the creation of wealth and jobs. Fashola similarly presented a constructive critique of the government’s policy on the price of fuel. Soludo critically reviewed the economic policies of the Jonathan government as well as the proposed policy of the opposition party, APC. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the views expressed in the three articles, it cannot be denied that each addressed issues, and articulated researched, reasoned, balanced arguments; they criticized extant policy and practice, and presented alternatives. To that extent they were in the tradition of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Indeed in his article Soludo acknowledged this hallmark of the sage.

In his interview Chief Adebanjo declared his preference for President Jonathan and his aversion to General Buhari’s candidature in the imminent presidential elections; he admonished the people of the South-West to support Jonathan in order to avoid “making a big mistake and digging their own graves”; he emphasized that his position was based on “principles”; he explained that, because he and his colleagues in their faction of Afenifere are “strictly Awolowo’s disciples”, they do not “modify Awo’s principles for our(their) own interest”. He did not elaborate on the “principles”.
Chief Adebanjo’s choice of candidate – indeed the choice of any Nigerian – cannot and should not be questioned, and he need not proffer any reason for it. However if, as in this case, he decides to give reasons for his choice, it is legitimate to examine the reasons proffered. Therefore I wish to comment on four of the reasons presented by Chief Adebanjo namely: implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 national conference, the character of General Buhari, the qualifications of Buhari, and the suitability of Professor Osinbajo as Vice-Presidential candidate.
Chief Adebanjo stated that he is supporting Jonathan “because he is the only man who can implement the recommendations of the national conference which was set-up to bring equity to Yoruba land and Nigeria”. He asserted that the conference produced the panacea for Nigeria’s problems, and “—that is why I am insisting that all the recommendations of the confab should be implemented before the elections because the inequality this country has been suffering all this while has been rectified with the recommendations of the confab. All the things that could cause us conflicts have been rectified.” It is rather simplistic to suggest that, by itself, the recommendations of the 2014 conference – or any other conference for that matter – constitute a magic wand to sweep away all the problems of Nigeria. It is also internally inconsistent to insist that the recommendations of the conference must be implemented before the elections and simultaneously affirm that Jonathan, who is yet to submit the conference report to the National Assembly six months after it was presented to him, is the only man who can implement the recommendations. Could it be that those who described the conference as diversionary are correct? Could it be a repeat of a similar exercise during the second term of President Obasanjo?
Chief Adebanjo asserted that “as a NADECO man” he cannot support a former military dictator like Buhari. He described Buhari as a “fundamentalist” whose tenure as the boss of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) was tainted with corruption. I share Chief Adebanjo’s aversion for military dictatorship. However it is possible for a Saul to become a Paul. Buhari’s track record during the current political dispensation demonstrates that he believes in and submits to democracy and the rule of law. Furthermore Obasanjo was a military dictator who became President in a civilian democratic dispensation. His re-election in 2003 for a second term was supported by Chief Adebanjo and his colleagues. Obasanjo, who set-up two panels to probe the PTF, stated publicly that Buhari’s hands are clean, but Chief Adebanjo asserted that “—Obasanjo was trying to cover him (Buhari) up” because “—the issue of the N25 billion —is all in the report”. People like me who have not seen the report would have appreciated it if he had quoted the relevant parts. Corruption is a major endemic problem in Nigeria which should be fully exposed and condemned when and as opportunity permits. It is therefore unfortunate that Chief Adebanjo stated: “When they talk of corruption in Jonathan government, I won’t say the government is clean, but those who are talking about corruption, how clean are they themselves?”
Chief Adebanjo described Buhari as an Islamic fundamentalist, and “a man who said he was going to work for the operation of Sharia throughout the country”. I do not know whether Buhari said so, but I am confident that the pursuit of such a venture would be futile. I also recall that a widely publicized allegation that Buhari had said he would make Nigeria ungovernable turned out to be false; Reuben Abati and the Guardian newspaper published an unreserved apology to Buhari in the Guardian of 11th July, 2013. However action, it is said, speaks louder than words. It is instructive that when Buhari was the military Head of State he refused to make Nigeria a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC); he cut in half the number of Nigerian pilgrims going to Mecca for the Hajj, and directed that they should be given only their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA); the majority of his cabinet and of the military governors he appointed were Christians; he had and still has several Christian personal staff (personal assistant, cook, driver etc.). Clearly the available facts indicate that the description of Buhari as an Islamic fundamentalist is reprehensible scare-mongering. It is relevant to note that, whereas Nigeria became a member of the OIC during the presidency of General Babangida, the first and only incumbent Head of State to attend a summit of the OIC was President Jonathan on 6th February, 2013 in Cairo where his host was President Morsi of Egypt, the fundamentalist leader of the Moslem Brotherhood.
Chief Adebanjo questioned the qualification of Buhari to contest the Presidential election. He asserted: “What the law says is this; you must have a school certificate before you can qualify. ———Buhari has not satisfied the constitution.” Careful reading of the relevant sections of the constitution will demonstrate to even the proverbial ordinary Nigerian that these statements are most incorrect; the expositions of several senior members of the bar in the dailies provide confirmation. Coming from a man of Chief Adebanjo’s stature, the statements are surprising, disappointing and embarrassing.

Chief Adebanjo described the selection of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running-mate as “a gimmick”. He stated that Osinbajo: “—is a distinguished lawyer and a nice gentleman—has no political experience —Tinubu brought him in as Attorney General, he was never in politics — he is from Ikenne but does he know the politics of Ikenne?” This is most amazing! Chief Adebanjo knows that Osinbajo is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who became a Professor of Law at the University of Lagos over two decades ago, served as Adviser to Prince Bola Ajibola when the latter was Attorney General of the Federation in the late eighties, and gave widely-acclaimed meritorious service as Attorney General of Lagos State for two terms from 1999. In addition he has served with distinction in several capacities nationally and internationally, including the United Nations. He is clearly a distinguished lawyer who has cognate experience of governance by virtue of his eight-year membership of the cabinet of the Lagos State Government. The point is not that Chief Adebanjo should support the choice of Osinbajo. Rather it is his implied belief that knowledge of the politics of Ikenne –whatever that is – constitutes an/the important criterion in the selection of a candidate for the post of Vice-President!
Chief Adebanjo is well-known as a long-standing political associate of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and proudly asserts that he and his colleagues are disciples of the sage. The contributions of the sage to public discourse were always characterized by focus on issues, constructive criticism, and clear articulation of well-researched balanced arguments. . The statements in the interview reviewed do not reflect these hallmarks.

A disciple is a follower of the doctrines of a leader, teacher or school of thought. The quality of discipleship is a function not only of loyalty but also the disciple’s perception or understanding of the doctrines. The availability of relevant literature promotes discipleship, and facilitates assessment of its quality. Thus the Bible and Koran make it possible to evaluate the utterance and actions of self-professed Christians and Moslems. It is a blessing that the books written by Chief Awolowo, as well as lectures which he delivered and his contributions in parliament are readily available. They make it futile for any individual or group to claim proprietary rights to the sage.
End note: my sincere thanks to Professor Kayode Oyediran, the author of the above article, for being a mentor and major inspiration since I started my writing career around 1986. Indeed, he has been a mentor and great inspiration to many of us, especially his son-in-law and my best friend, Prince Adedamola Aderemi. I will forever treasure the special occasions we spent with him and his wonderful wife, Mrs Tola Oyediran (Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s eldest daughter) at their serene home in Ibadan. I’m privileged and honoured to have you grace my page today in Thisday, one of Africa’s most influential newspapers.

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I saw this pix....and was surprise I just hope they don't forget to share generator alongside

Age of girl- 19
Age of mother - 38
Age of father 43

This photo really Amazed me

Fellow Nigerians, let me confess that I have a soft spot for men of God, especially Pastors. The reason can’t be difficult to fathom. I’m not just a Christian; I had the great privilege of being born by my heavily spiritual mum and dad in an Aladura church in Ile-Ife. That was in the good old days when men and women truly served God and prayed more than a praying mantis. We never doubted the efficacy of prayers or the supremacy of the almighty. We lived side by side with Muslims, animists, atheists and sometimes worshipped with them or indeed, practised whatever we chose to practice. That was your own business.
We celebrated every festival. We even sometimes chose to fast during Ramadan. For us, it was all fun, sitting down in the evenings, under the stars or moonlight, breaking fast with our Islamic neighbours. Or waking up in the early hours to partake in feast called Saari. Wow, my mouth and tongue are salivating together as I go through this process of recollection. We attended the same schools with the children of the privilegentsia.

The only difference was that a few of them rode to school in chauffeur-driven cars, even convertible Chevrolets and Phantom Rolls Royces like Ooni Aderemi’s children and grand children, while most of us ‘rode’ on our legs.  But it wasn’t really a big deal as we lived happily as one.

A brief recital of my family’s religious origin is even worth repeating here and now. My paternal grandparents were Muslims from Ihievbe village, in the present day Edo State, Owan East Local Government. I can’t remember ever meeting my paternal grandmother but I knew my paternal grandfather as Baba Onirungbon Yeuke (a character from one of D. O. Fagunwa’s novels) because he had that long and curly beard like a Rastafarian. He was gentle and meek and prayed to Allah endlessly.

I often wonder how my father migrated from our village and meandered his way all the way to Ile-Ife where he met my beautiful mum, fell in love and got married. It is even stranger to me how a son of such a devout Muslim navigated himself from the Islamic faith to converting to Christianity. Not just that, he picked up the name of Jacob and my eldest brother picked up the name Simeon while I was given the name Joseph at birth as if to cement the nature of my birth and foretell my future as someone who would make certain forecasts as a journalist.

The essence of my preamble is to rhapsodise about how beautiful and tolerant life was in those wonderful old days before we lost our innocence in recent times.  It is strange how things have changed since then. I think the churches in the bid to catch the new generation over-funkyfied the way we now worship. Religion has almost become an arm and leg of showbiz. And the Pastors have lost control in this era of totalitarian freedom.  Beyond that, there are too many challenges confronting our youths today. The first is the collapse of education. The second is the lack of jobs even if you manage to graduate from one of our troublesome institutions. The third is lack of social welfare. The fourth is lack of hope in the foreseeable future. The last but not the least of the debilitating factors is lack of parental care and attention.

To further compound the volatility of our combustive situation, our churches have misread and misjudged these children of hate and anger who attend services with their attention elsewhere. What I’m trying to hint at and explain is that our men of God must wake up to the shocking realities of the 21st century. These youths have acquired a massive power via information technology. Indeed it is almost akin to a god they worship.

Many of them have become so paranoid about life and our society so much that they see virtually everyone as the enemy who contributed to their misery and disillusionment.

These youths can be divided into three categories. The first are those who have managed to survive against all odds and are trudging on with the hope of a greater tomorrow. The second are those acutely frustrated who have given up on society as it is and believe they can cause a peaceful or bloody revolution in the land.

This category breaks into two parts; those who prefer the subtle approach and would encourage the democratic process and those who feel the whole system should come all tumbling down.  The last are those with inordinate ambition who feel they can only make it in life by being errand boys to every government in power. Their mission is to survive any government in power and preserve the status quo with the hope of picking up some crumbs, or even power itself, sooner or later.

To exacerbate matters, the long and short of our current dilemma is that our politicians have succeeded in tearing our social fabric apart using the instrumentality of religion. What I find most bizarre is the present game of trading ridiculous religious propaganda. The Christian politician tells us to beware of Muslims who may choose to Islamise Nigeria. The Muslim tells us to avoid Christians who are likely to Christianise the Northern Muslims. For God’s sake why are we doing this to ourselves at this time and age when smaller and less prosperous nations are doing great things devoid of religious wranglings.

Our proclivity for matters of faith seems to have assumed the most dangerous dimension in the course of campaigning for the February 2015 Presidential elections. The visit of our President to Bishop David Oyedepo’s church last Sunday was the climax of it for me. Since I joined Twitter and became addicted to it, I doubt if I’ve ever witnessed the torrents of attacks that came out of that innocuous visit. A new coinage THE GATE OF HELL went viral because it was reported by God knows who that the famous Bishop rebuked those opposed to the second term ambition of Mr President, promising to banish them to the Gate of Hell and lock them in. Till this day, I have searched fruitlessly for any such statement and found none.

I have endeavoured to watch the video of the Presidential visit which was mercifully uploaded on YouTube and nothing of the sort emanated from the Bishop unless the full footage had been cleverly edited which I doubt. I’m one of those converts to Buharism but I will never support anything that would further divide our nation. I’ve had only two encounters with Bishop Oyedepo and he left me in awe of him on both occasions.

The first was a Virgin Atlantic flight to London many years back and he sat next to me and we chatted like we were old buddies. I was impressed with his simplicity and candour.

The last time I saw him was about three years ago in Ghana at the opening of Jimoh Ibrahim’s Energy Bank. As soon as I walked into the board room and greeted everyone, I noticed that Bishop Oyedepo and everyone in the office remained standing and I said to him, “Daddy, you can’t stand up for me sir”, to which he replied, “I have to stand up for our future President.” I was truly humbled by such humility. Therefore, I’m always sad to read all those vicious attacks on this great man of God.

I have read many reports about his fabulous wealth, his private jets, his expensive universities, etcetera, and concluded that the Bishop is a victim of success. Chief MKO Abiola had a way of putting it succinctly: the bigger the head, the bigger the headache.  I don’t know of anyone who would tell the number one citizen of Nigeria not to attend his church for fear of a political backlash. And if the President comes, his duty is to bless the august visitor. Even our Lord Jesus Christ did not discriminate against anyone.

What has happened is that many of our young folks want to know where our Pastors stand today and that can’t be an easy task. They want to know if our respected clergymen feel what the rest of society feels. This is the basis of all this agitation.

In fact, I don’t envy our Daddy G O, Pastor E. A Adeboye  of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Many of these young guys have been asking how neutral can he be now that a senior respected Pastor under his mentorship, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN is now the Vice Presidential candidate of APC. The dilemma is further compounded by the fact that the President enjoys a warm relationship with Pastor Adeboye. It is not going to be easy but God will guide His men aright. They will still pray for everyone fortunate to come in contact with them. I was a beneficiary of such blessing during my own Presidential campaign. We need to appreciate the enormity of their responsibilities to society at large.

Our leaders also have some lessons to learn from this debacle. They should try to visit Pastors as anonymously and incognito as possible. I did so when I contested in 2011 choosing to visit one of the most revered Pastors Daddy Adeboye in his office at the Camp, unobtrusively after one of the Church’s major celebrations.
It would be terrible if we open up our icons to public odium because some leaders want to exploit the Pastors’ spirituality and popularity to electoral advantage. The religious card being played is fast becoming ineffective and divisive.

A top Pastor sent me a few messages which I intend to consolidate and paraphrase and share with you because of their relevance given the climate of religious hatred being fomented by our politicians.

“Good day people, vote your conscience. Don’t be manipulated. If your Pastor says don’t vote for a Muslim, ask him if Daniel served a Saint, whether Modeccai did not serve King Ahasseurus and if Joseph was not a Prime Minister under Pharaoh. This election is not about North versus South, nor is it about Christian versus Muslim.

It is about Nigeria and good governance. Don’t allow politicians to divide us. When they share money, they don’t talk about religion. When they want donation from Aliko Dangote, they don’t remember he is a Muslim. When they enter an aircraft, they don’t ask the religious faith of the pilot… They and their wives go to Dubai to spend money. Dubai is in the United Arab Emirate but they have no problem buying houses there. But when it comes to politics back home, they say their opponents want to Islamise you…

“Vote for your conscience. If you want to vote for Jonathan, vote for him based on your conviction that he has performed in your estimation and not because he’s a Christian. If you want to vote for Buhari, vote for him because you feel disenchanted with the Jonathan government, not because he is a Muslim. Say no to bigotry. God bless Nigeria…”

There is nothing more to add. The choice is yours. Decide on who your preference is. It shall be well with our nation… !

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has
confirmed that Juan Cuadrado will not play for
the Viola on Saturday, with the Colombian winger
finalising his permanent move to Chelsea.
Cuadrado is expected to undergo a medical in
London on Friday with Fiorentina’s permission
after both clubs agreed a transfer fee for the 26-
year-old.
Fiorentina are expected to receive €31 million
and as part of the deal, Chelsea’s out-of-favour
forward Mohamed Salah will be moving on loan in
the opposite direction.
When asked about Cuadrado’s potential move to
Chelsea, Montella told his club’s website on
Friday afternoon: “It was a sale that had to be
done.
“The club has done the right thing because we
are also getting a very good player.
“Naturally, we need to understand how long he
(Salah) will need to adapt to our football as it’s
different from the English and Swiss leagues.
“From a defensive standpoint, Cuadrado
guarantees us a lot more than Salah.
“Cuadrado is a player that has always arrived
with a smile and given everything to Fiorentina.
“I am convinced that if he could have played
tomorrow he would have.
“I’m happy for him because he is going to a big
club. ”
Cuadrado joined Fiorentina in 2012 from Udinese
and has been a regular in Montella’s side since.
The Colombian has scored four goals and set up
four more in 17 league appearances for
Fiorentina this season.
Cuadrado, who was one of the stand-out players
alongside James Rodriguez for Colombia in last
year’s World Cup in Brazil, was tied to the Viola
until June 2019.
Fiorentina play at Genoa on Saturday.
The Florence outfit have qualified for the quarter-
finals of the Coppa Italia and will take on
Tottenham in the last 32 of the Europa League
next month.
Chelsea have signed Fiorentina’s Colombia
forward Juan Cuadrado according to the Italian
club. Photograph: Maurizio Degl’Innocenti/EPA
Topics: Sport Soccer English Soccer
James Rodriguez Juan Cuadrado
Fri, Jan 30, 2015, 16:28
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Buhari

This so poor for six years

Buhari

Since the alleged statement credited to Bishop
David Oyedepo that he would open the gates of
hell for those against President Goodluck
Jonathan or his government hit the net, there
has been many reactions.
But one is standing out, and it is allegedly
coming from Baba himself, ex-President
Olusegun Obasanjo. He was said to have replied
Bishop Oyedepo and cautioned him against such
partisan prayers.
Obasanjo through his twitter handle on Monday
said that no pastor could tell Nigerians who to
vote:
“We all want #CHANGE. Vote based on
what you know not on religious or tribal
sentiments! No one has the key to hell!
Don’t be threatened!"
“Has Bishop Oyedepo spoken out to
condemn the legalised looting of Billions of
Dollars taking place under the watch of
President Jonathan?"
“Did Bishop Oyedepo condemn the failure of the
President to rescue the Chibok girls 9 months
after they were kidnapped by the insurgents?
“Did Bishop Oyedepo speak out to condemn the
manner in which the almost 300 Chibok girls
were kidnapped?
“Did Oyedepo speak out when ASUU & ASUP
were on strike twice in 4 years thereby leading
to the loss of almost 2 years in the academic
calendar?”
Obasanjo was not done. He tweeted: “How many
of the Pastors that are telling you to vote for GEJ
have children who are unemployed graduates
sitting at home?
“A man of God that does not have the key to free
our beloved Chibok girls from captivity, [said he]
has the key to hell... GOD HELP US!"

Bigchief46:
Stop spreading fake & false news. I wonder why you APC Aparatchiks are so in love with anything fake, whether certificates or news

What make u think is rumour, why don't you try and confirm! Am not sure that is why I decide to ask

The principal of
Government Secondary Katsina Alh. Isyaku
Bello who Released d Certificate of General
Muhammad Buhari has been Killed few hours
Ago. May Allah have mercy on his Gentle soul
and Make him among d Dwellers of Al-Jannah.
May Allah expose d evil perpetrators.

I received this message from a friend who live in kano just now. I don't know true it is!

temitemi1:
Buhari, where is ur certificate ... GEJ till 2019!!!

Am sure u just borrow that username u are using.....u must be NWAKA or CHISOM

kay1one:
Nna your english na wah oh! You sef show certificate!

Isn't pidgin u use to reply,.....clown like u

I think with this we should be certisfy that is qualify

Few days there was a picture that show the state of nigeria railway during Buhari regim, but the only different I notice is the colour.

Balistic
Langorous
Orchestration

Guy, enter Lagos well u go see ham.....cos his hear in Ikorodu but we won't vote for him

I wonder oooo, why da are always moderating trash from PDP, and neglect our own reasonable ones

Na so

Are You Aware?
• That Skye Bank Plc Chairman, Chief Tunde Ayeni
led a phoney consortium to buy Nigeria's moribund M-TEL/NITEL for $252M?
Are You Aware?

• That Skye Bank Plc Chairman, Chief Tunde Ayeni
bought the Ibadan (PHCN) Disco Distribution?
Are You Aware?
• That Skye Bank Plc Chairman, Chief Tunde Ayeni

donated a whopping N2Billion to President Goodluck's
re-election fund on Saturday 20th December?
Are You Aware?
• That President Goodluck Jonathan just after 2 days of
receiving # 2B donation from Skye Bank Plc chairman,
has approved increase in tariff of PHCN?
......
Its unfortunate that people who supports Jonathan
misrule to continue thinks they are doing Buhari harm.
The only harm being done is to themselves and every
other Nigeria.
By 2019, our country would have been completely sold to
the highest bidder and nothing will be left for us honest
and hard-working Nigerians.
If you hate Buhari because he is a Muslim, at least look
at his Vice, he is a Pastor.
If you hate Buhari because he doesn't have a "Primary
Six certificate", as some are claiming, look at his Vice, he
is a Professor of Law.
If you fear that as a formal military leader, Buhari may
have the tendency of not upholding the rule of law, then
look at his Vice, he is a distinguished Lawyer and a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Even if you think Buhari has nothing to offer, he cannot
be as hopeless corrupt and harmful to Nigerians as
Jonathan's Government.
You have no reason to allow this corrupt administration
to continue till 2019 when you can booth them out now.

President is being hypocritical over railway revival , love for SW – APC.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of being hypocritical over his persistent claim of reviving the railway when in actual fact he has bluntly refused to grant the necessary right-of-way approval to the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) for the construction of its redline light rail project from Iddo to Ifo in Ogun state with a capacity to carry one million passengers per day, this is in-spite of the fact that investors were ready to invest over one billion dollars in the project.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said in failing to grant the approval, which has been pending since May 2013, President Jonathan premised his action on the fact that Lagos is an ”enemy state”.

”President Jonathan is simply being hypocritical when he listed the revival of the railway as part of his Administration’s so-called achievements, during the kick-off of his electioneering campaign in Lagos, and during which he also tried to project himself and his party as friends of the South-west in general and Lagos in particular. His words and actions since assuming office six years ago do not support that

”He claims to have revived the railway but did not tell Lagosians how he has stopped, in its tracks, the LAMATA Red Line Light Rail Project that would have alleviated the suffering of Lagosians as they commute daily across the densely-populated city,’not to talk of the loss of over 30,000 jobs that would have been created by the project, it said.

APC said there is no stronger indication that President Jonathan holds the South-west in general and Lagos State in particular in contempt than his failure to grant the right-of-way approval for this project, considering its massive benefits that include ease of transportation, the decongestion of the city, the creation of at least 30, 000 jobs and the attraction of huge investments that the project, if approved, would have brought to the state.

”What about the new economic activities that would have been generated along and in the vicinity of that corridor of the new rail line if the President had granted the right-of-way approval? If indeed Mr. President is now a convert for economic growth and progress of Nigerians of all tribes who live in Lagos, as he pretended to be during his electioneering campaign flag-off, he should grant the approval today,” the party said

It said contrary to the image of friendship with the South-west in general and Lagosians in particular, which Mr. President sought to project during his electioneering campaign in Lagos, he has nothing but contempt for the people of the region.

”During the protests over the fuel price hike in 2012, President Jonathan dismissed those complaining as the sons of rich men in Lagos who have more than one car. Earlier in 2011, he described the South-west leaders as ‘rascals’, and he has since followed up by ostracizing the region in the allocation of government appointments and infrastructural development, just to mention a few instances of his contempt for the region.

”The latter-day construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is a vote-winning gimmick that has back-fired as the project has only progressed at snail speed apparently for lack of much-needed funds, while Nigerians have continued to die and suffer daily on that road,” APC said.

The party reminded the President that no one is deceived by his hypocrisy as far as Lagos and the South-west are concerned, because he has shown in actions and words the disdain, at times bothering on pure hatred, which he harbours towards the people of the region.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, Jan. 10th 2015

SUBMARINE:
Op

It is government properties and not his

So go and ........

Or are you saying if another president comes in, he won't use it.

Am not saying he should not buy private jet, but he should equip our Air force. Especial in this condition when they need him most

Emmydo360:
Choi.... oladele.... hw much buhari don pay u now...?

Lol....when you are enacting for change, u don't ask for KOBO, so is like salvation FREE

segzyj:
Thrash

Thrash u call it! Read it again my guy

is the poor who would be used as political canon-fodder while the children of the rich would be far away from the theatre of war.

The one man I expected to rise above the petty squabbles of electioneering campaigns is the President and Commander-in-Chief.  Indeed, at the inauguration of his Presidential Campaign Team on Tuesday President Jonathan urged his campaign team and Party faithful to be decorous in their language, focusing on issue and not personalities.  However, barely two days later he was doing the exact opposite of what he had preached.  It is unfortunate that the President chose to go back on his words as he joined the fray two days later as he practically exploded in public during the flagging off of his re-election bid as President. The tone and tempo of his speech was stylishly vituperative. It could easily have been described as spitting fire and shooting from the hips. He appeared to me like a man who was under intensive pressure and didn’t really know how to off-load the heavy burden on his chest.
I should have suspected that something unpleasant was about to happen after I read the news that the Presidency had responded in kind to the myriad of attacks and salvos fired at Dr Goodluck Jonathan by former President, General Olusegun Obasanjo, who has since become a loose cannon in the PDP. The former President has arguably become a one man riot squad against the second coming of President, was savagely and mercilessly described as a "motor park tout."
For me, this was the climax of a long-drawn battle between father and his godson. We've witnessed such bitter altercations and mutual insults in the past but this recent one took the cake. It is sad that this are the canapés we are being served before the main dishes of sloganeering begin. The global community must be wondering what manner of country ours is where elders throw decorum to the wind in the presence of infants and toddlers. What examples are we setting for the youths we all claim to love so much when we can't tolerate ourselves in the political arena?
All eyes are on Nigeria and in particular the President who is at present the father of the nation. This position is the highest in the land and it was apparently freely handed to him by the good people of Nigeria in 2011. Even before then, the same people had shown him immense love at a time he was being harassed by the proverbial cabal. At that time, no one complained that we hated the North just because we rallied round a man from the Niger Delta. Most of those claiming ownership of Mr President today were nowhere to be seen then. It is strange how success instantly catapults a man into a different level and planet. All manner of claimants would suddenly surface from nowhere and chase everyone away. It is the tragedy of power in our clime where the man on the throne has to go through this terrible, and self-immolating, process of deification. This is why most leaders often fail in office because they are usually far removed from reality.

This trait became very obvious as I watched the President deliver his speech in Lagos days ago at the start of his 2015 Presidential campaign. His party leaders were not in short supply. Everyone came to pay homage to the man with the power to turn water into wine over 2,000 years after such a miracle was performed in Galilee. One speaker after the other eulogised the President in superlatives. They raved about his transformation agenda which in their dream or reality must have transfigured Nigeria into a Paradise on earth. Listening to those incredible guys one would have thought they were describing some far-flung places and a true reincarnation of Lee Kuan Yew or a Chairman Mao leading the industrial revolution in Nigeria.
The President himself did not waste this moment, he was visibly pleased with the adulations which in reality were not meant by many of the speakers who had mastered the art and science of lying to anyone in government. I had waited patiently for the President's speech. I was certain he was going to take a very subtle and conciliatory approach but I was very wrong. The moment he took the microphone till he finished, the President was on the offensive. It was certainly not a charm offensive but one laced with pent up frustration and anger. He came on like a Heavyweight boxer chasing the World Heavyweight title. The President did not pretend about his intention which was to jab at his challenger using mostly unlawful blows and pummel him to a corner for a possible knockout.
President Jonathan sounded angry and agitated. He made generous use of the literary style of rhetorical questions. He threw many of such posers to his jubilant crowd who must have wondered at the physical transformation of their candidate. If the President was known to be gentle and somehow taciturn in the past, he was the exact opposite on Thursday, January 8, 2015. He was clearly in an upbeat mood and it reflected in his grandstanding.

Let's now go to the meat of his speech and try to examine the merits of the self-glorification, whether vain or otherwise. The summary can be put simply thus: Mr President blames his predecessors for all the woes that have bedeviled Nigeria. I wonder if he forgot that as at the last count, his political party has been in power for 16 years and he has been the only Nigerian permanently in power since our return to democratic rule in 1999 as Deputy Governor, Acting Governor, Governor, Vice President, Acting President and President. 16 years is a very long time in the life of a nation. Nigeria must have spent more money in those 16 years than all the different Republics and regimes put together but sadly without commensurate results. Moreover, he also appears to have selectively forgotten that most of the predecessors that he is lambasting like Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, are card carrying members of his Party, the PDP, and thus their failings are the failings of his Party and by extension himself.
The President spoke repeatedly about the youths and referred to himself and others as being too old and half-dead. If so why is he contesting when there are many brilliant young people in his party? But it was a subliminal message to discredit General Muhammadu Buhari as being too old to rule this generation. "I do not want to address old people like me because we are spent already."
Unfortunately, it seems the President is not in tune with the current mood of the nation and his supporters are not likely to give him the true picture. Many of us don't care if the man coming is going to rule from a wheelchair. We all run to the elders of the house in the days of tribulations. I wish to assure Mr President that unlike in the past when the PDP propaganda was able to truncate Buhari's mission of rescuing Nigeria from the doldrums the story has changed miraculously today. The youths have chosen to follow his crusade even if his enemies decide to change his age to over 80. They believe the younger leaders have not done any better than the gerontocrats we all love to deride as causing our failure. Therefore playing the kite of old age won't fly this time around.
The President boasted that he has been able to conduct credible elections. I daresay that is not his doing but the action of the People of Nigeria who have resolved to protect their votes.  Besides, he forgot to add that after wasting billions of naira on data capture machines they were abandoned. The Nigeria Governor’s Forum held an election of 35 people which saw a winner emerge with 19 to 16 votes yet our President recognised a loser choosing 16 above 19. He said he believes in the rule of law yet the law is being desecrated and there are too many sacred cows in PDP. I dare our security agencies to storm any PDP Secretariat and carry away their computers and staff the way they have been doing to APC. It is pitiable that a supposedly impartial State security and intelligence outfit will give one reason for carrying out such a dastardly unconstitutional act but then recant and give another wholly diametrically opposed justification for such a raid.

The President is proud that Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa but people are asking how that has affected the lives of the people. The Agricultural revolution being trumpeted is good no doubt, but it is not yet Uhuru. The question is where is the food? What are the Prices? Where is the income that should flow from such agricultural miracle. 
The President claims that he has done a lot for the security situation in the country.  However, it seems that the President is fantasising about another country. At no time in Nigeria’s history has insecurity reached the level that it is now.  There are regular killings, bombings, kidnappings, abductions, raping not to mention the unresolved saga of the Chibok Girls. A country whose military has received endless praise on many peace-keeping missions overseas cannot deploy the same military to effective use in finding almost 200 girls who remain missing.  That is an indictment on the President which no whitewash can hide. The simple truth is that our people feel unsafe, even those few who have turned our much maligned police force and soldiers into personal ‘maiguards’!
The President claims that one of his achievements in the petroleum sector is that Nigerians no longer queue for petrol.  Although that is incorrect because there are still regular intervals when there is petrol scarcity the truth is that Nigeria as an oil producing nation has never had it so bad.  The price of petrol and petroleum products are the highest they have ever been.  Even when the world crude oil prices have fallen by more than 100% and the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealla admits that there is no longer any subsidy on petrol, the price has remained the same.  Her justification, which I referred to previously, is too puerile to repeat because it is an insult on the intelligence of Nigerians.

As Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola said in his own reaction to the President’s speech:
“I spent about an hour this afternoon listening to the President in my State and, for almost the same period, I saw a very angry President. I saw a President who was recriminating about people recriminating about people criticising his job performance and was blaming all those who ruled before him forgetting that he had been on this job for six years. 
And he kept saying that, ‘They say we don’t have a plan.’ But for 25 minutes, he did not reveal a plan on power; he did not reveal a plan on security; he did not reveal a plan on corruption.

Now after six years, without being able to articulate what he is doing and what he will do, and he keeps blaming everybody, forgetting that he is the Commander-in-Chief, if the kitchen is too hot, as it is becoming of late, you must get out of the kitchen.”
I’m almost certain the President will receive more knocks from other stakeholders for this newly acquired belligerent disposition. My advice as usual is very simple. A man should never change what has worked wonders for him all his life. The President’s gentle mien had always been his secret weapon. A man who did not lift a finger to become President need not wage a war to retain it. Elections are never won by abusing potential voters but usually through the use of persuasion. Those who are misleading the President are not helping him. All they’ve succeeded in doing is to alienate the electorate and paint him as someone who is very desperate for power.
I advise the President to maintain his calm dignity instead of fighting real and imaginary enemies on all fronts. There is nothing more he wants from God. He has been very lucky but there is no need to overstretch that luck. If perchance he is defeated on FEBUHARI 14 (as some people have described the election date), the President should accept his fate graciously and return home triumphantly. Anything else may wipe out all that he has effortlessly achieved.
Mr President, there is life outside government.

We need change

How Victor Ikpeba feels about APC candidate, Buhari
Posted: about 1 hour ago

By ‘Dayo Showemimo


In a tweet today, Victor Ikpeba has said he is putting his vote where his mouth is. Photo: Filed

As the February 2015 Presidential election draws nearer, more Nigerians are making their opinions known as regards the state of the nation.

Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, fondly called the Prince of Monaco is the latest to join the trend.

In a tweet today, which has gone viral online, Ikpeba has shown he is obviously not pleased with the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan-led administration and has thrown his weight behind the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. 

The said tweet by the former Monaco striker reads: ‘Even if Buhari present NEPA bill as certificate, I will vote for him. E don reach that level.’

And just to underscore the groundswell of support for his opinion, the post has been re-tweeted 684 times as at the time of filing this report.

AltarBoy1:
Just heard in the news that GEJ, through Rueben Abati condemned the wednesday attack in Paris, calling it barbaric and uncalled. Within this week, alone there have been series of attack and ransacking of villages in the North East and yet GEJ hasnt said anything about it. Why cant he take a leave from what is happening in France. Just 12 pple died and the whole nation is on high alert. The president has to put all resource together so as to get the terrorist. But here in Nigeria, hundreds die every and GEJ goes around as if nothing happened.

Guy no be hundred died, but thousand

olusolaj:
Could APC be the Nigerian version of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Party? Check out this:
1. Party Leader - North: Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Muslim).
2. Party Leader - South: Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Muslim).
3. National Chairman: Abdulkareem Bisi Akande (Muslim).
4. Deputy National Chairman: Aminu Bello Masari (Muslim).
5. National Secretary: Tijjani Musa Tumsah (Muslim).
6. Deputy National Secretary: Nasir El-Rufai (Muslim).
7. National Publicity Secretary: Lai Muhammad (Muslim).
8. National Treasurer: Sadiya Umar Faruq (Muslim) 9. National Financial Secretary: Alhaji Shaibu Musa (Muslim).
10. National Youth Leader: Abubakar Lado (Muslim).
11. National Legal Adviser: Muiz Banie (Muslim).
12. National Deputy Auditor: Bala Jibrin (Muslim).
13. National Women Leader: Sharia Ikeazor (Muslim convert).
14. EX-officio Member: Muniru Muse (Muslim).
15. EX-officio Member: Alhaji Yemi Sanusi (Muslim).
Yet, these people want us to believe they are PROGRESSIVES and that APC is a national party. I think APC has a hidden religious agenda..Be guided people!

Share to all Christian you know to vote wisely.

Incase the national chairman of APC is a christian John Oyegun from East,

GEJ said he queued for 2 night to get a milk in 1983 during Buhari Regim

Did u believe this kind of lie?

When he said he has no shoe, how can someone that have no shoe think of buying milk