₦airaland Forum

The beauty of any vibrant political system lies in the ability of the system to be fair to all and sundry regardless of any primordial mindset. Since the advent of Nigeria’s democratic rule in 1999, the rule has seemingly shifted to favour only those with godfathers or have the financial muscle to bankroll their nomination. The development has brought so much tension within the country’s political party structures. The scenario has become so perverse that the foundation of democracy came under intense threat of annihilation. The lack of internal party democracy is no doubt one of the major problems facing the current democratic dispensation. It has been used as a campaign weapon by political parties. It was a sing song of the All Progressive Congress (APC) during campaigns for the 2015 General Election and the party has continuously insisted that it is the only major party in the country that practices internal democracy. Many believe that the crisis rocking the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today is the absence of internal democracy which led the party to impose candidates on the people for elective positions in the past.
During the build-up to APC presidential election, the party released its guidelines for the primaries. One of the issues on the guidelines is direct primaries adopted by the Party for its Presidential primaries. Many have praised the national leaders of APC for endorsing modified direct primaries for producing the party's presidential candidate. Many who didn’t have interest in APC started developing keen interest. Many were of the opinion that with this development the APC has now fully democratized and boosted its democratic credentials and credibility. Describing the move as a victory for democracy, political analysts praised the APC leaders for responding to the aspirations and wishes of the people. According to them, internal democracy is essential to the entrenchment of democracy. It said the APC has set a standard, which all political parties should emulate. It explained that this move would go a long way to reinforce people's confidence in the APC as the alternative platform for better change in Nigeria. They said internal democracy is about respecting all diverse interests within a political party to ensure fairness and transparency, which are necessary conditions for unity, harmony and internal cohesion. Before this very time, APC as a party adopted the same measure in 2013 Anambra Governorship election primaries, where Governor Chris Ngige defeated Chief Ezemo during the primaries. Many hailed the process as being transparent and fair.
Political parties are traditionally blamed for overt injustice in denying other candidates the opportunity to test their strength in states, where the incumbent governor will be seeking to renew his mandate or where a candidate has been anointed by some forces outside the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for instance, had said before the 2015 general elections that it only printed one form for the presidential post, meant for the then incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan. Expectedly, some members of the party, who also wanted to contest the presidential election, threatened to head to court to challenge the party's stance. On the other hand, though the APC also tried to reward its members, especially the defecting members of the National Assembly, who, alongside their governors, crossed over from the PDP, the APC was quick in understanding that a level playing field was necessary for a healthy competition.
In the build-up to the last general elections, pundits believe that flagrant abuse of internal democracy was responsible for the dismal outing of the PDP. In many states, members of the PDP were barred from contesting in elections to appease some people. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) repeatedly lamented how political parties breach and disrespect their constitutional provisions and mistreat their members. INEC said most of the election-related petitions were products of the near absence of internal democracy in the parties, which largely paved the way for the myriad of litigation after the 2015 general elections. This was evident in the House of Representatives election of Ado/Ogbadibo/Okupokwu constituency of Benue, where a PDP sole candidate was declared winner by INEC, but was later disqualified by court, soon after the inauguration of the National Assembly, and returned Rep Hassan Saleh Anthony, as the substantive member representing the constituency.
During Governorship election in Bayelsa State, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, the sole aspirant challenging Governor Seriake Dickson for the PDP governorship ticket in Bayelsa State, was disqualified by the party's screening panel. Paulker, who is a serving senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, was the only aspirant to head for a primary election with Dickson, after the withdrawal of the other aspirant, Chief Ebikintin Diongoli, the former local government chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma in the state, from the race. Although reasons for his disqualification were yet to be ascertained, there are indications that the panel took the decision over alleged "inconsistent tax clearances." Director-Deneral of the campaign organisation of Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Ayakeme Whisky, described the decision as "unbelievable and laughable".
Pundits believe that the APC, which started the process of the 2015 general elections with an interim leadership, was cautious in its approach to issues ahead of the elections held early this year. According to them, the party, under the Bisi Akande interim leadership laboured to organise congresses at wards levels which produced states' delegates. There were little or no reports of any disaffection. Even where there is disaffection, the Party nullified the congresses in those states and re-organize another one like the case of Edo State. The APC organised two national conventions, including the one that produced the incumbent national chairman of the party, John Oyegun, who was elected at a rain-soaked convention in Abuja. Though the outcome of the convention led to the defection of Ali Modo Sheriff, the former governor of Borno State, and Tom Ikimi, the APC quickly picked its pieces and strategised for the last general elections. Today, APC is a success story as a political party. Another convention headed by Zamfara State Governor Abdul'aziz Yari in October 2014 was called by APC to amend its constitution, where it inserted a sub-section that allows new entrants to contest elections under the party's platform.
Political watchers believe that the successes of the party within a short period may not be unconnected with spirit of team work among those at the helm of its affairs. "The secret of the APC is teamwork," an insider said. "We have national, zonal and state officials and nobody feels that his arguments are sacrosanct. Whenever there is an issue, it is adequately debated by key stakeholders to ensure that the best decision is taken." The success of our party revolves around adequate planning," said a senior official of the party. "At our national headquarters in Abuja, we have an office that organises the party's primaries and other activities since the inception of the party. And that is why most of our conventions and primary elections are adjudged to be credible." He said what transpired in Kogi recently was a good example, adding: "All the aspirants who lost out were appreciative of the process and even congratulated the winner, Late Prince Abubakar Audu.
"It was a simple arithmetic for us to conduct the primary election in Kogi. We said Governor Nasir el-Rufa'i should go and do the primary because we believe in his credibility. The tendency is that nobody can bribe a governor." Another APC official said: "Our style is different from that of the PDP where someone will keep all the membership cards of the party in his house and distribute them to the delegates that he feels will favour him. "For example, in the case of Kogi, we went ahead and said we are going to do accreditation of delegates by using PVC (Permanent Voters Card) or international passports or national identity cards or the national driver's license. "With these ID cards, the real delegates entered the stadium. We didn't even say our own membership card because somebody can go and fabricate the card. Dr Ismaila Ali, a political analyst, said it is wrong for political parties to always blame INEC for one wrong doing or the other, adding: "You cannot expect INEC to do magic when most political parties lack internal mechanism that will ensure a level playing ground for its members." He notes that handlers of the APC have enshrined discipline in their party. Barrister Yunus, a legal practitioner, said: "When you look at most of the election tribunals across the country, you rarely see problem within the APC family and we believe this is due to the transparent manner candidates for various positions were produced." He says that other political parties need to entrench internal democracy if they want to make impact in subsequent elections.
Moving down to Anambra APC primaries, many politicians in the state are embracing the party in order to slug it out with Dr Willie obiano of APGA. INEC has fixed November 2017 as an initial date for the election. Onething that has remained in the lips of People mostly APC faithful is how will APC conduct its primaries? Will the party stick to its old tradition of direct primaries (internal democracy) which has made the party a beautiful bride among youths and people with sound political understanding? Or will the party reverse to old PDP way of doing things, where they party will be bought over and new executives and delegates will emerge to participate in primaries where a particular candidate will emerge? Information has been going on that National working committee of the party wants to dissolve all the ward and state executive members and conduct a fresh congress, where loyalists of a particular candidate will emerge as executives both at the State, Local and Ward levels. Among the aspirants in the APC, many of them did not believe in Grassroot politics. They believe in taking it from the up. Onething APC must not do as it plans to conduct its primaries in Anambra State is to give anybody ticket from the above. We are not Ondo people. They may try it in other places and succeed. Anambra is a different ball game. They should be transparent and allow the original delegates to nominate a candidate for us. APC is like a forbidden fruit in this State, but today it is people on ground that has been working around the clock to market the party. The success of these efforts can be seen from the registration the Party did in the State. Why many people still believe in the party in this state is because of the discipline in the party. They should try to maintain it. Any aspirant that wants to contest should visit all the Wards, Local Governments and State. Let him have an interaction with party faithful.
As a country and party, we should have a truly transformed heart of genuine and dedicated service instead of focusing on the things of the world and political power that will not last forever. Our Leaders should not see elections as their ultimate destines and then become desperate. Rather focus should be what will truly be financial to the people and the nation. At this, many Nigerians are looking back on their lives and sensitizing that many years of opportunities has been stolen from us through our land that was divinely assigned with grand economy and greatest Nigerians. Those with right mind can recount panorama of leadership errors, self centeredness, incompetence, besetting transgression, corruption, fraud and untrustworthiness had outsized administrative impact in many years of the country’s independence. We do not need such in APC Anambra State. Anambra Election is for the party. Actions and inactions of the party today will determine the success story of the party in November 2017 election. There is no better time to take over the Leadership of this state than this time. The party Leadership at the National level should not succumb to money bags who never believe in internal democracy, who wants to hijack everything from the top. They should allow the old executives who are the original delegates to participate in the process. The rumuor is everywhere that they want to change them in order to accommodate an interest of a particular aspirant. What APC as a party should do is to organize a special congress and replace those ward executives who might have died or have left the party instead of doing a wholesale change or better still stick with those already with the party. Then at the end of the whole electioneering, they can change those people at the appropriate time.
Paschal Candle, a graduate of International studies and Diplomacy, University of Benin, a Public affair analyst writes from Awka, Nigeria.

The APC candidate of the just concluded Etsako Federal Constituency House of Representatives bye election, Hon Johnny Oghuma has been declared winner of the election.
The election was contested by Com Jude Imagwe of PDP from Etsako East.
Total results collected and declared by INEC is as follows.....
Etsako West
APC : 17446, PDP : 4886
Etsako Central
APC : 9,823, PDP : 5364
Etsako East
APC ; 12610, PDP : 4672
Grand total
APC 39,879
PDP 14922
Diff 24957 votes.....
APC still getting stronger, while haters still mourning their loss

As a graduate of international studies and diplomacy, i will take this issue bit by bit so that we do not get issues twisted. Secondly, I am not President M Buhari spokesperson, but this opinion is entirely mine. To address this issue, let me take a recourse to section 5 sub section 4 of 1999 constitution as amended, it states that,' (a) the president shall not declare a state of war between the federation and other country except with the sanction of a resolution of both Houses of National Assembly sitting in a joint session, and (b) except with the prior approval of the senate, no member of the Nigeria armed forces should be deployed outside the country for a combat mission. from the above, the president is under obligation to seek approval before the deployment of Nigeria Armed men for internal or external armed combat, war or conflict as the case maybe.
However, there is a a rider to section 5 which read thus, notwithstanding the provision of section 5 subsection 4 of this section, the president in consultation with the National Defence Council , may deploy members of the armed forces of the country on a limited combat duty outside Nigeria if he is satisfied that the National security is under threat or danger: provided that the President shall within 7 days of actual combat engagement, seek the consent of the senate and the senate shall within 14 days thereafter give or refuse the consent.
Now, from the community reading of the above provisions, it is also clear that the approval of the National Assembly may be sought proactively or retroactively. In other words, the president is at liberty to seek such approval before or after deployment of army, provided he suspects that there is a threat to national security. obviously, that is the question of fact.
Another angle to the issue is to examine the rationale or reason for the deployment of the army inside or outside the country. is the deployment for "combat", "war" or "peace keeping"? if the rationale for deployment is for war or combat, then the above provisions will always apply. No doubt about that. if it is for "peace keeping", then it does not seem the President would need the approval of the National Assembly. it can be argued therefore that the president may only need the approval of the National Assembly where He has declared a combat mission or war internally or externally. In that case, it would seem that any deployment for peace keeping such as under the ECOMOG, UN or AU mandate may not require the approval of National Assembly. This is more so there are an extant bilateral or multi lateral agreements, ratified by Nigeria for such joint military action either at regional or global level. By such extant bilateral and multi lateral agreements, there are a number of them such as the ECOMOG Army under the ECOWAS Treaty Of 1975, it would seem that the President already has a blank cheque for deployment from time to time. The only exception here may be where such foreign intervention is a sole Nigeria Expedition.
Finally, the President Buhari is under every obligation to respect any treaty, bilateral or multilateral, to which Nigeria is a signatory. ECOWAS Treaty, AU Charter and UN Charter are few examples of such agreements. Nigeria is going to Gambia under ECOMOG which is a creation of ECOWAS treaty. Its goal is purely for peace keeping not for combat. To Me, President Buhari should be encourage to restore Nigeria to continue to play its role as a Big Brother in Africa Politics.

As a graduate of international studies and diplomacy, i will take this issue bit by bit so that we do not get issues twisted. Secondly, I am not President M Buhari spokesperson, but this opinion is entirely mine. To address this issue, let me take a recourse to section 5 sub section 4 of 1999 constitution as amended, it states that,' (a) the president shall not declare a state of war between the federation and other country except with the sanction of a resolution of both Houses of National Assembly sitting in a joint session, and (b) except with the prior approval of the senate, no member of the Nigeria armed forces should be deployed outside the country for a combat mission. from the above, the president is under obligation to seek approval before the deployment of Nigeria Armed men for internal or external armed combat, war or conflict as the case maybe.
However, there is a a rider to section 5 which read thus, notwithstanding the provision of section 5 subsection 4 of this section, the president in consultation with the National Defence Council , may deploy members of the armed forces of the country on a limited combat duty outside Nigeria if he is satisfied that the National security is under threat or danger: provided that the President shall within 7 days of actual combat engagement, seek the consent of the senate and the senate shall within 14 days thereafter give or refuse the consent.
Now, from the community reading of the above provisions, it is also clear that the approval of the National Assembly may be sought proactively or retroactively. In other words, the president is at liberty to seek such approval before or after deployment of army, provided he suspects that there is a threat to national security. obviously, that is the question of fact.
Another angle to the issue is to examine the rationale or reason for the deployment of the army inside or outside the country. is the deployment for "combat", "war" or "peace keeping"? if the rationale for deployment is for war or combat, then the above provisions will always apply. No doubt about that. if it is for "peace keeping", then it does not seem the President would need the approval of the National Assembly. it can be argued therefore that the president may only need the approval of the National Assembly where He has declared a combat mission or war internally or externally. In that case, it would seem that any deployment for peace keeping such as under the ECOMOG, UN or AU mandate may not require the approval of National Assembly. This is more so there are an extant bilateral or multi lateral agreements, ratified by Nigeria for such joint military action either at regional or global level. By such extant bilateral and multi lateral agreements, there are a number of them such as the ECOMOG Army under the ECOWAS Treaty Of 1975, it would seem that the President already has a blank cheque for deployment from time to time. The only exception here may be where such foreign intervention is a sole Nigeria Expedition.
Finally, the President Buhari is under every obligation to respect any treaty, bilateral or multilateral, to which Nigeria is a signatory. ECOWAS Treaty, AU Charter and UN Charter are few examples of such agreements. Nigeria is going to Gambia under ECOMOG which is a creation of ECOWAS treaty. Its goal is purely for peace keeping not for combat. To Me, President Buhari should be encourage to restore Nigeria to continue to play its role as a Big Brother in Africa Politics.
Paschal Candle, a graduate of International Studies and Diplomacy and Public affairs analyst writes from Awka Anambra State Nigeria.

REALITY OF OUR TIME: Never apologize for being correct, or being years ahead of your time. If you are right and you know it, speak your mind. Even if you a minority of one, the truth is still the truth. truth sounds hate to anyone who hates truth. Also no one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.For freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

at freeze or whatever you call yourself. All i can see you do on nairaland is to attack the messenger not the message. i want you all to dissect the message and prove me wrong. if you have seen this piece anywhere,just tell me. then i will know i copied it somewhere. stop fooling your self. for record purposes,you freeze cannot stand me when it comes to grammatical expression. i will lecture you well.

NIGERIA ECONOMY AND THE REST OF US
Before going into the details of this article, let me just give out some drama that has played out over the years.
ACT 1, SCENE 1:
THESE NIGERIANS PREDICTED TODAY'S ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY today. THEY WERE CALLED NAMES...
Over 20 billion dollars unremitted to federation account. Nigeria economy will crumble if nothing is done ...........HRH Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi .
Bingos: He is an alarmist.
Whoever wins 2015 will never find it easy. Over 30 trillion is mismanaged, unaccounted for or missing under Jonathan. ...... Prof Charles Soludo.
Bingo's : He is desperate .
Our reserve is depleted and our savings squandered. Our nation is in trouble. ... Dr Oby Ezekwesili.
Bingo's : She is an alarmist looking for appointment.
For seven months, NNPC did not remit any money into federation account. When I called as a sitting governor and major oil producing state, Deziani Alison Madueke refused to take my call....... Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Bingo's : He is trying to please Buhari.
I wanted to save but Jonathan have no political will. That is why we are in crisis because we squandered our boom. .... Okonjo Iweala. ...
Bingo's : She doesn't want to be arrested
Dear Noisy Bingo's,
Whatever is the state of economy today was prophesied by our own Nigerians long time ago. The only problem is that your memory capacity is less than 1 milibyte. Prof. Soludo wrote to Nigerians what they will suffer irrespective of the party that will win. Why then are you celebrating IMF recession? You ignored Emir Sanusi warning. You ignored Oby Ezekwesili warning. You ignored Prof Soludo warning. You ignored Akpabio confession. You ignored Okonjo Iweala testimony. You are now celebrating IMF diarrhea. Your idiocy is amazing! !!!
Before this very time, when Ex-president Olusegun handed over power to Late President Shehu Musa Yar’dua. Chief Olusgun Obasanjo left for the in-coming Government almost 50 Million Dollars in Foreign Reserve and over 30 Million Dollars in Excess Crude Account. This was at a time when the price of crude oil was at 50 Dollars per Barrel. When Late Yar’dua took over it increased to 60 dollars then, 70 dollars per barrel. By the time Ex-president Goodluck took over a president in 2010 and his election in 2011, the price of oil in the international market was 90 dollars per barrel, then by 2011 it increased to 120 dollars and later on to 140 dollars per barrel. During this time in question, our official bench mark for oil in the budget was 60 dollars per barrel. The out put which we sell in the international Market is 2.2 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY, though you and I knew there back door sells in NNPC over the years. From the budget proposals of oil Bench mark, we are having an access of 60 dollars per barrel. As at the time Goodluck took over, there is over 42 Billion dollars in foreign reserve and over 31.1 Billion Dollars in Excess Crude account. From the output of 2.2 Million Dollars per day, Nigeria have extra 60 dollars per day average. When you multiply, 60 dollars by 2.2 Million barrels per day. Tell me the figure. That is what is supposed to enter into Excess Crude Account per pay. Then multiply it by 5 years plus when Ex-president Goodluck was there. Tell me what is supposed to be in that account. But instead of this account to be appreciating, it was depreciating. In less than 9 months, we squandered over 10 Billion on no capital projects.
In one of Prof. Soludo’s letter to Former Finance Minister, Olusegun Aganga in 2010, he told the minister that He assumed office when oil price was about $75 per barrel and external reserves stood at about $42 Billion: within 9 months you (Chief Aganga) have earned a world record as the Head of an Economic Management Team (EMT) that lost $10 billion in Foreign reserves at a time of unprecedented export boom, with oil price now above $100 per barrel; (2) While the Economic team I (Prof. Soludo) belonged to got Nigeria debt relief, you get the world record as a Finance Minister who had the fastest rate of debt accumulation in Nigeria’s History, even at a ime of oil boom and presented a budget where not a kobo of oil revenue is spent on infrastructure, power etc, but 114% of revenue spent on consumption; and (3) as head of economic team when literally all international ratings for Nigeria worsened even worse than during the global crisis of 2008 and 2009, and for the first time in several years, the outlook for the economy adjudged NEGATIVE, with FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) collapsing ( a clear indication of loss of confidence by international investors), etc. Prof. soludo went ahead to congratulate the Minister on these records.
Also when the signs were visible that the economy was going down. The next Finance Minister after Chief Aganga was Dr. Okonji-iweala kept lying to us that all is well with the economy. It was at this point that Prof. soludo strike again. He challenged the Minister to debate. Let me tell all Nigerians the truth.
Prof. Soludo then challenged claims by Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, that the Nigerian economy is doing well. He accused Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala of running the country’s economy aground. “You are brilliant Madam, but you need serious help,” he said while reeling our data to show the porous state of the Nigerian economy. “Having spent all your life in the World Bank bureaucracy largely in administration/operations, no one will blame you if your economics has become a bit rusty. There are firebrands Nigerians all over the world to draft to service. It is certainly embarrassing to Nigeria for you to be bothering World Bank economists to help you with most basic economic analysis.” He also accused her of forging Nigeria’s national economics statistics. Mr. Soludo said, “What worries me is that this government ( Dr Ebele Jonathan’s government) is the first in our history to attempt to manipulate our national statistics under Dr Okonjo-Iweala. When NBS published the poverty figures in 2011, she felt indicted and incensed. She called upon the World Bank to come and examine the ‘methodology’ and get NBS to ‘review’ its numbers. Dr Oby Ezekwesili (as VP Africa Region rejected the call to try to tamper with a country’s statistics). Once Dr Oby left, the ‘World Bank’ started talking about ‘new figures’, without conducting any new surveys.
I was told about it by a World Bank economist, and I cautioned that it was a dangerous gamble that would damage the credibility of the NBS. If you want to ‘review methodology’, you conduct another survey but you can’t change ‘methodology’ because you don’t like the published figures. No government in our history has tried it: even Sani Abacha allowed a poverty survey that put poverty at 67% under his regime. At this rate, who will believe statistics coming from the Nigerian government again? Is it now the World Bank that sits in Washington and allocates poverty numbers to Nigeria? Something smells here. When prof. Soludo raised these issues. He was attacked as usual by Government officials.
In His response, He said I read some of the responses to my article, “Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the Election”, and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the debate. I am glad that the debate has finally taken off. I have decided, for the record, to re-enter the debate if only to set some records straight and hopefully elevate the debate further. Whom do I respond to? First, let me thank Ex-Gov Kayode Fayemi for his very mature and professional response on behalf of the APC. It forms a great basis for deepening the conversation. Pat Utomi, Oby Ezekwesili, Iyabo Obasanjo, and thousands of other patriotic Nigerians have raised the content of the debate. Femi Fani-Kayode made me laugh, as usual. The Gov. Jang faction of the Governors’ Forum played the usual politics, although I know what most of them think privately. Who else? Oh, Peter Obi. Well, since he can’t write and designated Valentine as usual to write for him (who never disputed the NBS statistics that Obi broke world record in the pauperization of Anambra people but instead focused on lies and abuses) I won’t dignify him with a response here. His third class performance in Anambra will be the subject of a comprehensive article later.
Prof. Soludo challenged Dr Okonji-iweala’s attempt to blame others for not saving for the rainy day. It is not a virtue when you are quick to appropriate all the credit when things are going well, but shift the blame when they go wrong. You blame the state governors— who, according to you, have taken the Federal Government to the Supreme Court—not that a Supreme Court judgment forced your hands. For your information, the governors have never agreed to savings and always threatened court action even under Obasanjo. Why did we save under Obasanjo but not under Jonathan? Two keywords explain it: leadership and integrity. Governor Amaechi said the governors insisted on sharing the funds because they found out that you were illegally fiddling with the savings. So, as Nigerians still wonder, if billions of dollars are now ‘missing’ under your nose, why should governors trust you to keep their money? Do the states that have taken the federal government to the Supreme Court and refused to save also include the PDP governors—who are in the majority? If so, then it is fatal: even governors of your own party, PDP, do not trust you to keep their money!
Furthermore, did the governors also stop the Federal Government from saving part of its share? If you ran a surplus budget at the Federal level, you would have had credibility to blame others or to say they did not listen to your advice. The key point is that since you were running huge deficits yourself, it was also in your own interest to share the ECA. You did not show leadership or credibility, full stop!
Prof. Soludo also told Dr Okonji-iweala that He felt embarrassed for him to read that one of the reasons for declining forex reserves is ‘oil theft’. Under you as Minister of Finance and coordinator of the economy, the basket of our national treasury is leaking profusely from all sides. Just a few illustrations! First, you admit that ‘oil theft’ has reduced oil output from the average 2.3 – 2.4 million barrels per day (mpd) to 1.95mpd (meaning that at least 350,000 to 450,000 barrels per day are being ‘stolen’. On the average of 400,000 per day and the oil prices over the past four years, it comes to about $60 billion ‘stolen’ in just four years. In today’s exchange rate, that is about N12.6 trillion. This is at a time of cessation of crisis in the Niger Delta and amnesty programme. Can you tell Nigerians how much the amnesty programme costs, and also the annual cost for ‘protecting’ the pipelines and security of oil wells? And the ‘thieves’ are spirits? Come on, Madam! Second, my earlier article stated that the minimum forex reserves should have been at least $90 billion by now and you did not challenge it. Rather it is about $30 billion, meaning that gross mismanagement has denied the country some $60 billion or another N12.6 trillion.
Now add the ‘missing’ $20 billion from the NNPC. You promised a forensic audit report ‘soon’, and more than a year later the Report itself is still ‘missing’. This is over N4 trillion, and we don’t know how much more has ‘missed’ since Sanusi cried out. How many trillions of naira were paid for oil subsidy (unappropriated?). How many trillions (in actual fact) have been ‘lost’ through customs duty waivers over the last four years?
As coordinator of the economy, can you tell Nigerians why the price of automotive gas oil (AGO), popularly called diesel, has still not come down despite the crash in global crude oil prices, and how much is being appropriated by friends in the process? Be honest: do you really know (as coordinator and minister of finance) how many trillions of Naira, self- financing government agencies earn and spend? I have a long list but let me wait for now. I do not want to talk about other ‘black pots’ that impinge on national security. My estimate, Madam, is that probably more than N30 trillion has either been stolen or lost or unaccounted for or simply mismanaged under your watchful eyes in the past four years. Since you claim to be in charge, Nigerians are right to ask you to account. Think about what this amount could mean for the 112 million poor Nigerians or for our schools, hospitals, roads, etc. Soon, you will start asking the citizens to pay this or that tax, while some faceless “thieves” were pocketing over $40 million per day from oil alone.
Your response on the poverty issue is deeply troubling. You accuse me of using “2011 statistics on poverty by the NBS to support his argument, while ignoring more recent figures”. At least you did not refute the NBS figure as valid. In the next sentence, Madam went ahead to note that “as stated in the Nigeria Economic Report 2014 by the World Bank, poverty in Nigeria has dropped from 35.2 percent of population in 2010/2011 to 33.1 percent in 2012/2013”. Did you notice that you have quoted two figures for poverty for the same year as being equally correct? So, for 2011, was poverty 71% (according to NBS) or 35% according to the World Bank? To the best of my knowledge, the last published household survey by NBS was in 2011. The World Bank does not conduct household surveys in member states to determine poverty incidence. So, when and by whom was the survey that gave the World Bank figures?
Madam alleges that the NBS—as a parastatal under the National Planning Commission (under me) departed from the ‘international standard method of poverty measurement’. How and when, Madam? I was in office at National Planning for 11 months from July 2003 to May 2004. A poverty survey was conducted in 2004 and the results computed and published in 2005/2006— more than a year after I had gone to the Central Bank. Or perhaps, it was a clever way to divert attention from your manipulation of published economic statistics. The NBS published its poverty data in 2006 when you were Minister of Finance, and you did not question the ‘methodology’ because the figures looked good. In 2011, the poverty numbers (using the same methodology as in 2005/2006) indicted the government and suddenly, the ‘methodology’ is wrong. Interesting times!
Now that you decide which economic statistics published by NBS to accept and which ones to ‘change the methodology’ to give favourable figures, you can keep feeding your manipulated figures to your international media circus for the vain glorious awards to sustain an empty hype, while Nigerians groan under hardship. We can actually ask Nigerians whether they are getting better off now contrary to your bogus figures. This is the kind of lies Nigerians want to hear from a woman that does not understand practical economics. Today, some so called Economist and Elites who are no longer benefitting from the system are blaming President Buhari while they are celebrating people who ruin this country.
Paschal Candle, a public affairs analyst and a graduate of international studies and diplomacy University of Benin, writes from Abuja Nigeria.

also reno, do not cry for us in south east. our christmas was very peaceful and calm. many accidents were not recorded unline before. there was security everywhere. no kidnapping.no bank robbery. so where did you get your facts. before military launch the finalbattle at sambisa,they knew boko haram members will escape. and south east might be the possible destination and south south. the essence is to checkmate the inlow of them. we are happy with what they did. the regret there was traffic they cause in some strategic places.

reno, you are not ashamed of yourself. did you read newspapers today? did you see what court told 3 banks about alison money? you cannot fool us again. you are working for your pocket not for nigeria people. I stand with Buhari. You should go and stand with dangote

I have watched and read all the comments. It is clear that many people in this country are not well informed. everybody just pen laptops and talk anyhow. I am not suprised at the action of these men dismissed from Nigeria Police. I might not have been there to know what actually happened. But one man in the midst of these men actually proved that all these men are guilty of the offence. The man on white kaftan, who has been a notious Police officer in Fegge Police Onitsha. He committed a lot that we thought he has been dismissed long ago. His name is iv. F/No. 385870 EX. Sgt. Orji Nwoke. I am not suprised by the actions of these police men. In fact, Nigeria Police Force should check the records of those Officers with some notorious Governors in this country. They are security threat in those states. If you want to know about these Officer in question, I want you all to visit Fegge Police Station in Onitsha and asked them about this young man when he was in Fegge between 2000 and 2009 when he was not even a sergeant. how did he reach that rank. may God have mercy on this country. I wish I am still in Anambra and Onitsha to be precise, I would called party to celebrate it. The souls this man wasted wil never allow him to have peace.

I have heard people refer to this Great country in many terms, some remarkable and good while others are depending on the feelings of those passing the judgement/verdict,very disparaging. Passionately, I have heard people call Nigeria our little Jerusalem, a place of sanctuary, one that stands taller than its every challenge each and everytime. Yet, at other times, it is not uncommon to hear those at the wrong end of the country’s shortcoming refer to it as a geographical expression that parades nothing good but a collection of incongruent nationalities.
But of the many descriptions, one that tends to sit well in my heart always despite its tendency for misinterpretation is the assertion that Nigeria is barrack of some sorts. Don’t be in a haste to kill me for daring to say/admit that the barrack moniker thrills me. I am making the appeal here given the mental picture of depravity which we all have of the average Nigerian Barrack as made possible by those give the responsibility to keep our uniformed men and women well quartered. For their roles, our barracks tend to be citadels of the absurd, places fit only for animals of lower intelligence. Whereas our dear Country is, in more ways than one, similar to this barrack, it certainly not the one I have in mind. For all intents and purposes, my barracks is the one that is an eternal edifice; one that will outlive every uniform men and women. Indeed, the barrack I mean is the one every average soldier sums up as “soja comes, soja goes, and Barrack remains”. In this Nigerian Barrack, you and I live in and leave behind very intact or as Governor Wike puts it, Nigeria is a country whose unity is non-negotiable. We need every part of the country to succeed. Count Niger delta out of the plans of those who want to divide the Country.
Despite the debilitating odd that appears to push nay Sayers into venting their anger with calls for the fragmentation of Nigeria, the country will remain one barrack that will outlive all of us. Amalgamation of Nigeria is never in any way a mistake no matter how you are offended or thought of it. This is the point we must appreciate even as those that ought to know better are stoking the flames of discord just to heat up the polity. We must realize quickly that we have many things to loose in the event of break up. If nothing else, history is replete with examples. The case with South Sudan is very instructive. Evolving development in South Sudan, the world’s newest country, lai bare the fact that those who masterminded its birth were motivated more by selfish interest than patriotic fervor. The reasons are not far to seek because the actors are today, battling the same ghosts they fought against in the name of self-realization. Let me point out quickly here that this opinion of mine is not against those fighting for equity or fair play. It is about the need for all of us to be wary of politicians who disguise their selfish interests in patriotic colours while making calls that are motivated more by inordinate ambition.
Since this Great Country came into existence as one decades ago, history has it on records that genuine patriots have, in their numbers (and for infallible reasoning) harped on the need for all of us to continue working for the Country’s unity. In the First instance, they make the call convinced that God did not make any mistake in pulling together the different ethnic divides that make it up as one. To that extent, they were not and still not wrong in asking that we pull more the strings of unity than those that divide us. Therefore, it is not asking too much to expect that every well-meaning Nigerian and the country’s well wishers, politicians in particular, must think more of building on the beauty of those things that unite us rather than fan the embers of discord which tend to magnify and aggravate the discontent inherent in our divide. This is the point Governor Wike made in Sokoto when he recently reminded Nigerians most especially my brothers from South East that as part of the well deserved honour accorded those who paid the ultimate price for the unity of this Great Country, all of us must learn to understand that its unity is non-negotiable despite all the odds.
The import of the statement by Governor Wike is better appreciated when juxtaposed against recent statements and happenings coming from My South East especially from IPOB, MASSOB and other elites. In the past few months alone, a number of them are associated with comments which seem to suggest that they are working earnestly for the fragmentation of the country, sadly, for selfish reasons. For instance, before 2015 election a good for nothing politician from South East, in one of the interviews granted to one of the country’s leading tabloid was unequivocal in stating that Nigeria may collapse if Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is allowed to contest the 2015 election or he didn’t not complete his term. Put differently, he is telling us that the continuous existence of this great country hinged on the ambition of one individual or ethnic region. To me, in actual fact, he was not speaking the minds of Nigeria. He is speaking because something has entered his pocket. This is a man who was on verge of joining his ancestors before Ex-President revive him with appointment and Federal Contracts.
If the truth must be told, he needs to be reminded that though every individual is entitled to his or her opinion, he or she must be mindful of the fact that no opinion should underscore the supremacy of the country over and above ambition of one individual or region. This is the point he must remember at all times because forgetting this point will undermine the sacrifices of people who paid the supreme price that the country may be one, it will equally amount to a disservice to their sacrifices. This is the point Governor Wike made clear in his statement at Sokoto. Onething Nigerians should know is that president and Governors will come and go, Nigeria remain because we will fare better as one.
Indeed, the need for all of us to work for the country’s continuous existence cannot be over-emphasized. First, we must not loose sight of the fact God himself did not make mistake in allowing the conglomerate called Nigeria. More fundamentally, we must be mindful of the lessons history has taught us. As much as we can recall, records of fragmented entities have no pages dedicated to the fulfillment of dreams. If evidences of history are anything to go by, the most obvious signs of fragmentation are stories of failed dreams and hopes. As it was in many of the continents so-called independent nations, so it is already manifesting in its newest nation. As it is the case with South Sudan, those that engineered its emergence are already at each other’s throat, fighting the same monster they wasted their time fighting to bring into existence. I see this scenario playing out in South East if Biafra comes. This is because an average anambrian does not see Ebonyi man as an Igbo man but as ‘onye Abakiliki’, even a man from Enugu as ‘onye Nsukka’, ‘onye wawa’. That oneness and love as one people is not there. How possible is it then for them to live as one people when the Biafra comes. Even in today’s Anambra State, if you are not from that state despite being an Igbo man, you are not allowed to contest for any elective post even in market politics.
Rather unconsciously in the case of South Sudan, they have made it abundantly clear that their reasons for fighting its creation have nothing to do with the collective aspiration of its people. It is clearer still that they were guided more by selfish interests rather than sincere nationalistic urge. In our case, are there signs that what we are fighting at the federal level are not replete in our different regions? The answer is clearly ‘no’.Even among IPOB and MASSOB and other groups fighting for the so called Biafra, have shared positions among themselves. Some called themselves GOVERNORs, Chief of Army Staff and what have you.
Clearly, we can tell from events unfolding right now in South Sudan that the people are being taken for a ride because they failed to be discerning. For that reason, they were not able to differentiate between the seeming patriotic fervor of the present political protagonists and their selfish interests. For that same reason, they succumbed to the actors’ guile manipulations. These realities are clearer now because as the saying goes, you can fool some people some time but you cannot full all the people all the time.

Paschal Candle, a public affairs analyst and a graduate of international studies and diplomacy University of Benin, writes from Abuja Nigeria.

[quote author=edebemba post=52511670]Rubbish post! If you have nothing to write, why don't you read other people's post and learn something.
If PDP said Book Haram's flag is fake, does that make it fake if in fact it is authentic? During the 2015 election campaign, Buhari said that there was nothing like oil subsidy payment by the Jonathan administration. Did that comment make oil subsidy payments by Jonathan fake? Did Buhari not make some oil subsidy payment himself? [
did you just go through your post before posting. PDP said that the flag is fake. at least they know the original. they would have shown us the orginal. Buhari said he didnt understand oil subsidy payment? has he not shown nigerians that the subsidy is a scam. so PDP should show us the original flag and Koran. It takes a person who uses dollar to know which one is fake and original.

It has been proved. PDP said that the flag presented to President as Boko Haram flag is fake. I begin to wonder. if anyone says around you that the Boko Haram flag presented to PMB is fake, never you look at the person face for second time before you Ben Johnson.
.Na only thief fit sabi the foot part of another thief on the rock oo. President Buhari should not look further.
.
E fit be Boko Haram member ooooooo. Nigeria should watch out for PDP members. They may attack you any moment. These people are bunch of fools. They thought we will buy their bad market. Just passing by..

This Niger delta Militants are taking more than they chew. Enough of this rubbish. Mr President, this is an open declaration of war against Nigeria state. This is an act of terrorism. They must be dealt wiith.

If there was ever a time I felt very proud and content with my ignorance, it was last on Friday 4th April, 2014. I felt so proud I knew next to nothing in economics. That was the only way I could stomach what was happening that day, as I sat glued to the TV.
Speaker after speaker praised Nigerian Economy. Yes, this same economy the rest of us cannot differentiate its head from tail. They even clapped for themselves. But looking round the hall that fateful day, I could see the ‘why’ of the plaudits. Both the Speakers and their audience were witches from the same coven- Harvard Business School, Breton-wood Institutions, London school of Economics etc.
They said they had ‘rebased’ the GDP. And suddenly we moved from less than $350 Billion to $510 billion GDP. Hard as I tried to listen, all I kept hearing was ‘rebasing the economy’. I consulted my favourite Dictionary (MICHAEL WEST), but there was nothing like ‘rebasing’ there. The only other book I ever read that had such ‘big’ English was ‘Veronica My Daughter’- from Onitsha Main Market Literature Series. But I lost my copy of that great book in 1999 and have never seen another copy anywhere else. So I was left with only my Laptop, which was an American product, is not a great teacher of Queen’s English. But I still typed in ‘rebase’ and, lo and behold, it threw back ‘debase’ at me as the proper word.
I refuse to accept that all these people gathered to debase our GDP. In fact, I suspect that there must be something good about this rebasing, especially if it gives all these our ‘book people’ so much feeling good feeling. Yes, this thing that didn’t seems to make sense to me, they all seemed to agree, is what Nigeria needs to be done to be taken seriously by the rest of the statistics-crazy world. Our partner agencies and donor countries are always asking for facts and figures, now they have it. Even Dr Oby Ezekwesili, whom I expected to tear it apart then, threw her weight behind it. But then I remembered they are worshipped at the same cathedral.
So, I was then also celebrating this ‘rebasing’ feat, even when I feel it is merely using statistics to rub insult into the injury inflicted by our prostrate economy. So I was rolling out the drums then to celebrate. Nigeria is then better than Austria and South Africa. Shame on the people who, only in the month of March 2014 ranked Nigeria among the poorest countries in the world. One good way to prove our new status is to offer free Austrian and South African Visas to Nigeria and see if 100 million Nigerians, living below poverty line will not jump at it… Mtcheew.
It appears this our economy is becoming an Ali Baba economy, whereby only good people (by that, we mean people in government or those enjoying government patronage) can see all the positive signs. Then in 2014, there are the only ones who see that the economy is growing, inflation is coming down, jobs were being created at the rate of 1.6 million a year etc. Suddenly a country that does not who is going to school and who is not or which school are graduating students or which school is on strike, has suddenly come up with figures of those entering job market every year. Rebasing, indeed!
Let them change the marking scheme as much as the like. Let then doctor it to suit our poor performance, we were still where we were. It is just like establishing NECO when it dawned on us that our children could no longer pass WAEC. Yes, our children now have better As and Bs- but have standards not continued to go down? It’s like doubling the width of the goalpost in a football match so that we can score more goals but even if we score more goals eventually, does it still make us a better footballers?
They can rebase or debase like I said then in 2014 as many times as they like. They ( Dr. Ngozi Okonji-iweala and her team) can even take a futuristic base year of 2017, it is all good if it makes them feel to be performing better then. But the bottom line remains: we are still hungry. We still do not have electric light. The fuel that our land is drowned in by providence is still scare at the gas stations. And, by the way, we still cannot trace the NNPC money, the pension funds and the larger chunk of our EXCESS CRUDE ACCURALS. Our treasury is getting leaner and leaner, as we make more and more money then through our crude oil sales. That for me to borrow D’ Banj’s words, is the koko of the matter. Anything else, including rebasing this reality, amounts to debasing our collective intelligence. It would, as Yorubas would say, amount to telling us that this dog we are all seeing clearly today is a monkey. It is economic masturbation.
As for me, I am currently out of my Eastern Base, I rebased to Benin City to witness my good friend and fellow comrade swearing-in as Deputy Governor of Edo State. In fact, I suspect we just want to make this 2020:20 target of government by hook or crook. I am sure by the time we rebase in another five years, and bring in new sectors like kidnapping, pipeline vandalisation, armed robbery, pen robbery, political robbery, 419, MMM, drug trafficking and baby factories, which were not captured in the last rebase, we would move from 26th to 20th or even 10th displacing countries like France, Sweden, Belgium etc. it makes some people feel good. And there is no law that says we cannot feel happy on empty stomach, especially on the eve of general election. That is why when we are placed on oath in court, they ask us to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This rebasing idea then is the truth, but, I dare say, it is not the whole truth. Since Dr. Okonji-iweala was made a minister, a lot of statistics have been forged just to please our donor countries and agencies. I believe we should take a critical look at our economy and plan on how to move it forward. They should re-visit this rebase idea of 2014 and know the true position of things. I rest my case
Otimkpu Paschal C, a public affairs analyst and a graduate of international studies and diplomacy University of Benin.

Maybe you are not in nigeria. read 2016 budget and you will the contract there. also google money released so far for capital projects and you will the amount released for this road. enugu-onitsha road is on going. go and call GEj

i want you guys to googgle miss anambra and that chidimma okeke video. these are two different individuals. i took time to do some investigation into this matter. that girl is innocent. although the damages have been done,but the truth is that it is not the same person. i am not her spokesman. i am not from her state,but the person that did these thing to this girl will never know peace. i have not watched porn before,but her story made me to go into details of this matter. i learnt Obiano's wife has collected the girl's official car. how can a mother if truly you are one do such thing without getting your facts well. you can assemble a team of detectives and video experts to analyse the video for you before rushing to take decisions just because someone wants to pull her down. google her pictures and the video. then i leave you to judge yourself.

ozoemenaca:
We must note the fact that these highly placed Judges cannot be telling lies against Amaechi. At their levels they stand to gain nothing by mentioning him trying to bribe them. So Nigerians should wise up. APC fighting corruption is mere witch haunt of the opposition and that is basic

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you are wrong. see ICPC ACT.
The Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act states in

Section 23 (1) Any Public officer to whom any gratification is given, promised, or offered, in contravention of any provision of this Act shall report such gift, promise or offer together with the name, if known, of the person who gave, promised or offered such gratification to him to the nearest officer of the Commission or Police Officer.

(3) Any person who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with subsections (I) and (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both fine and imprisonment.

Why are they saying this things now....are they not Judges of the Apex Court in Nigeria, if the people charged with upholding Justice and Sanctity in Nigeria can't pursue the prosecution of a crime that they claimed took place in front of them... then they are infidels undeserving of the position they currently hold.

These Supreme Court Judges are fools. I do not blame them. In case you are wondering,this is what the Law says and these useless judges cannot interpret our laws very well and do the needful here. The Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act states in

Section 23 (1) Any Public officer to whom any gratification is given, promised, or offered, in contravention of any provision of this Act shall report such gift, promise or offer together with the name, if known, of the person who gave, promised or offered such gratification to him to the nearest officer of the Commission or Police Officer.

(3) Any person who fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with subsections (I) and (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both fine and imprisonment.

Why are they saying this things now....are they not Judges of the Apex Court in Nigeria, if the people charged with upholding Justice and Sanctity in Nigeria can't pursue the prosecution of a crime that they claimed took place in front of them... then they are infidels undeserving of the position they currently hold. ICPC should arrest these judges and fine and imprison them without delay

Weldone Mr President. We need you to take more serious actions against these bad elements in our Nation Judiciary. I stand with you. It is now that we have a Leader who is capable of taking decisions,critical ones. This might not go down well with some people, but do you people know that I have been a victim here. There is a case that is pending in Supreme Court for the past 2 years now. A pre-election matter betweeen Hon. Barr Anthonia Tabansi-okye vs Lynda Ikpeazu in the last national Assembly elections. what is holding that case,we do not know. May God bless President M. Buhari

PASTOR IZE-IYEAMU, LUCKY IGBINEDION AND EDO ELECTION 2016
As a Country, we should have a truly transformed heart for genuine and dedicated service instead of focusing on the things of the world and political power that will not last forever. Our Leaders should not see elections as their ultimate destines and then become desperate. Rather focus should be what will truly be beneficial to the people and the nation. At this ,many Nigerians are looking back on their lives and sensitizing that many years of opportunities had been stolen from us through our land that was divinely assigned with grand economy and greatest of Nigerians. Those with right mind can recount panorama of leadership errors, self centredness, incompetence, besetting transgression, corruption, fraud and untrustworthiness had outsized administrative impact in many years of the country’s independence.
As Edo State prepares to go to Poll to elect who will continue from where Comrade Governor stopped or who will take Edo State backward to where it was 8 years ago. Onething has been running through my mind. Where is Chief Sir Lucky Igbinedion, the Former Governor of Edo State, One time Chairman of Oredo Local Government, whose His former PA and SSG to The Edo state Government is contesting for the Governorship Slot under once almighty Peoples Democratic Party. I believe that these two individuals are like Rice and stew. One cannot do without the other. Why hiding the influence of Chief Lucky in scheme of things. Is it because he is a bad market? That the Our Pastor Governor does not want him to spoil his market for him. It is clear fact that whatever Our Pastor Governor was, is and will be, Chief Lucky hands are in it. I expected Chief Lucky to lead the campaign instead of leaving it for old Generals whoever want to leave the stage for the younger generations. Even at over 70s, 80s and close to 90s years of old, these Old Generals of looting still want to lead the campaign for Our Pastor Governor to be. Why castigating Chief Lucky in the morning and dinning with him in the night updating him on the Journey so far and how the campaign is unfolding. Finally, on Thursday 15TH SEPTMBER 2016 WHILE ADDRESSING THE PRESS DURING HIS FATHER’S BIRTHDAY, Chief Lucky has come out to say that the Next Governor of Edo State MUST come from their Political family and this leaves us with no other person, Pastor Barr. IZE-IYAMU.
Even in the context of constant flux and the implication that everything is perpetually evolving, the latest contribution by Chief Lucky Igbinedion, a former Governor of Edo State, to the business of image laundering,or more precisely, reputation laundering, stretches imaginative elastic to yield a point. Ahead of 57th Birthday on May 13th 2014, I could vividly recalled what Chief Lucky declared in an interview he granted with Journalists in His Abuja Residence, where he said and I quote:” in the darkest of days when I was the governor and the state was broke and could not pay salaries, I would run to these two individuals and they would borrow me money. They borrowed the state money”. Then the lenders in question, excuse Igbinedion illiterate usuage, were his father and Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and the Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees then, Chief Anthony Anenih. In case anyone needed corroboration, Chief Lucky said,” Chief Anenih is around here, you can go and ask him whether I borrowed money from him or not”. What about his father? Should not he also be asked whether he actually lent money to Edo state through his son?
His claims prompt disturbing dimensions, including reflections on the riches of the named individuals, their motives, their possible gains from such deals, especially in economic terms as well as in relation to manipulative influence in the corridors of power. It stand to reason that Chief Lucky Igbinedion may have unwittingly provided insights into the phenomenon of political godfatherism, long identified as a major drawback of the country’s politics, with negatively weighty implications for socio-economic development. It also stands to reason that Chief Lucky and His team of Administrators then led by the SSG to Edo State Government, Pastor Ize-iyamu were colossal failures. In issues of Governance, states in Nigeria now need a man with innovations, visions and creativity to govern states now. It is very clear that what is coming from Abuja is not enough to pay salaries talk more of providing basic infrastructure for the people. Today in Edo State, comrade Adams Oshimole does not owe salaries to state Government workers, he is not borrowing from individuals to pay salaries. Rather most of the borrowing of the Comrade Governor is for infrastructural Development. Any government that wants to succeed must not borrow to pay salary. Not only is Comrade Governor not borrowing when other states are doing so, He has set a standard in the country for being the only Governor that is paying N25,000.00 as a minimum wage, when most Governors in Oil Rich Niger Delta Region are owing salaries ranging from 5, 6, 8, 10, 13 months respectively. What this has shown is that Oshimole is a blessing to the people of Edo State. This is because He was not elected by the people to lament, but to provide the leadership which the state has lacked over the years. It stands to reason that the Comrade Governor and His team of administrators led by the past and current SSG and His economic adviser led by Dr Godwin Obaseki were genius in management of the affairs of Edo people. They will not satisfy everybody, but with continuation of those agenda by someone who is inside the government is a very big advantage.
Back to the issue of discussion, from a more perspective, Chief Lucky’s revelations, hint at illegalities, particularly on account of the implied non-official nature of the process, which is why they have the character of disclosure. Apparently, the stated deals were known only to a closed ring of collaborators ( Chief Luck, Pastor SSG, Esama and Chief Anenih), outside the view of lawful institutional structures that should otherwise be aware of, if not endorse such course of action. Some people were wondering what these old generals were doing at Our Pastor Campaign flag off. They are the one to coordinate the campaigns, so that they may likely get the monies they borrowed Chief Lucky back since Comrade Governor has refused to dance to their tones.
From the look of things, Chief Igbinedion manifested not only social anxiety, but perhaps also a sense of guilt. Seven years after he left office following two four-year terms from 1999-2007, he seems to have suddenly awakened to the fact that his track record needed clarification, especially in the light of superlatively superior governmental performance by Comrade Adams Oshimole, who is on the final stage of his government, with an agenda: FINISHING WELL. Indeed, Chief Luck’s power years pale into insignificance, expect as a model of ineptitude when compared with Oshimole’s tenure, which is widely acclaimed as demonstrative of good governance and an example of competent administration. Moreover against this background, it is possible that Chief Luck may have a guilty conscience for frittering away his time in power, which is general acknowledged as an era of wastefulness and wasted opportunities of Edo State. Sadly, he cannot turn the hands of clock, but he believes he can use our Pastor to get what is left for them in Edo State or if possible recover those monies they borrowed without following the due process.
Chief Lucky’s defensiveness mirrored a subconscious burden conveyed by his words. “for you to loot, he declared,” there must be something. Edo state had no money”. This latter logic is contradicted by the fact that in January 2008, he was declared wanted by EFCC concerning 142 counts of financial fraud. Specifically, he was alleged to have embezzled 24 MILLION DOLLARS using front companies and he gave himself up in the same month. Furthermore, in December 2008 he was convicted by the Federal High Court, Enugu, on corruption related charges. He was actually fined 3.5 MILLION NAIRA after peading guilty to a one-count charge of neglecting to make a declaration of his interest in account in a new generation bank. So Edo people, hope you are reading this, if all I stated here were not facts, I want somebody to counter me. Astoundingly, Chief Lucky said,” if anything, it is EDO State that owes me money and not me owing EDO State”. Wonders shall never cease. If the borrowing and the lending were open only to him and his collaborators, as the picture he painted suggested, it is intriguing that he has an obviously misplaced sense of the state government’s financial indebtedness to him. It is unclear whether he implied that he also lent money to the state, which he did not recover before he left office. If he did lend the money on his path at that time, what his occupation and monthly salary income before he became a Governor.
This character took hyperbole to a new heights with his claims that somewhere along the line, he got tired of the office of the Governor and desired to quit before the end of his tenure, which would have been unprecedented in the country’s political history and earned him a place in the pantheon of frustrated patriots, if he could be dignified by such description. Then he somersaulted, uttering words that expressed absolute nonsense. :first and foremost, ”he began,” you do not have the money to do some projects you want to do even though there was no way I would have completed the projects with the whole money in the whole world”. Tragically, this declaration unveiled his unpreparedness for helmsmanship as well as fundamental visionlessness. Without intending to do so, he also betrayed the fact that he ran a government of uncompleted projects, meaning that he left a legacy, if it could be so called, of inchoateness, which amounts to nothing.
This article is not a propaganda issue; I want you to look for his interview on the Nation newspaper 12th and 13th May, 2014. I leave you to judge more from that side. Onething that is very clear in this Election, the two major candidates has been in power before now. One served as SSG to Chief Lucky and the other as Chief Economic Adviser to Comrade Governor. It is also on records that the Chief Economic Adviser to the Comrade Governor never collected a salary for those eight years. What a man of impeccable integrity. Putting Edo State first, before his personal gains. I have not seen a leader like this. The good people of Edo state, I am leaving you to make your choice. Are you to move forward or backward? Your vote will determine that. This is another challenge to you. I was in University of benin during 2007 and 2012 elections. I saw the true spirit of Edo people. Now that Chief lucky has made this point that the next Governor must come from their Political family. What were his reason? Is it to recover what was left? I rest my case.
PaschalCandle, a graduate of International studies and Diplomacy, University of Benin, a public affairs analyst writes from Abuja.

On 14th May 2014, for desecrating a holy land, a former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to six years in prison. The judge also fined him one million shekels about 289,000 dollars and ordered that 560,000 shekels in his assets be seized. Olmert was found guilty by the Tel-Aviv District Court of accepting a 500,000 shekel bribe from developers of a controversial apartment complex known as HOLY LAND after which planning and zoning laws were changed, and another 60,000 shekels for another project, and sentenced accordingly.
The 68 year old prime Minister was convicted in March, interestingly not necessarily for crimes he allegedly committed as a Prime Minister, but in connection with the real estate deal that took place while he was Mayor of Jerusalem. The sentencing must have humbled the man who left power in 2009, following a gale of alleged corruption charges. That he is now going to prison for a bribe he took as a Mayor many years is pointer to the fact that there is nothing like just a little sin. It also tells us that no matter how long it takes to be discovered or decided, crimes should always be punished. More significantly, it is pointer to the fact that laws should be no respecter of persons no matter the status in the society.
Former prime Minister Olmert’s regret would have been that he did not have an opportunity of plea bargaining or soft landing, two major concepts that have been widely abused to shield influential Nigerians from Punishment for stealing and other corrupt practices. Even more worrisome is that the people that will be leading to beg on behalf of these people are religious leaders, Bishops, cardinals, traditional rulers and educated elites and some educated illiterates, who will tell you why it didn’t it start from this person. This person is a thief, that person is a thief. He is a member of that party, that is why he won’t be touched. As a matter of fact, Former President Goodluck Jonathan as a judge could have dismissed his crime as stealing and not corruption. How could accepting a mere 500,000 shekels have amounted to corruption?
Unfortunately, Former Prime Minister Olmert is not a Nigerian. In Israel, there is no academic or legal gymnastic of trying to make any distinction between stealing and corruption; just as there are no safety nets for corrupt individuals, no matter how highly placed. Indeed, the Trial judge, Judge david Rozen who was disgusted by Former prime Minister Olmert’s crime made a profound statements while delivering the judgment. According to the Judge, bribery offences contaminate the public sector and cause the structure of government to collapse. He added: “people who receive bribe give rise to a feeling of disgust and cause the public to despise the state’s institutions. The taker of bribes is like a traitor who betrays the public trust that was given to him- trust without which a proper public service cannot be maintained. How much in Nigeria where people do not only take bribe, kick back from Contractors, but also loot Public funds with impunity. There are a lot of revelations in the last one year. Some call it witch hunting, some call it ethnic cleansing. Some say it is one sided. But none of these individuals have denied not receiving money nor betraying public trust.
Yes the Judge acknowledged that Former Prime Minister Olmert had made a large contribution to the country, he nonetheless had no choice than to sentence him because his offences were noxious and he was guilty of moral turpitude. Under Israeli laws, this precludes Former Prime Olmert from running for public office for seven years after finishing his jail term. His only hope is for his appeal to be upheld. The former Prime minister’s comportment in the court room was also instructive. He reportedly stood quietly in the court room and his head bowed.
Nigeria has many lessons to learn from almost everything about Former Prime Minister Olmert’ trial and conviction. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who served as Olmert deputy Prime and Foerign Minister said: “It is a difficult day when a former prime minister is sentenced” adding “ I have complete trust in the court and law enforcement officials.” Here political, religious or ethnic undertones would have been read into the case and everyone else, excluding the criminal, wouldhave been blamed for the crime. Some will call it witch-hunt.
Some gullible Nigerians will being to ask questions that makes someone sick. Why starting from these persons. Why not start from this person and that person. Why prosecuting only members of these parties, why not the ruling party? Is Amaechi not corrupt? Is Tinubu not corrupt? Is Fayemi and Fayose not corrupt? What of Babaginda’s wife, What of Turai Yar’dua? What of Buhari’s wife Hand bag and wrist watch? And so may oher annoying and useless sentiments. I am not the spokesman of these individuals. But the little information I have, Tinubu was investigated during PDP Government, if they have evidence against him, they would have nailed him. If they have but did not use it, that shows how gullible that Government was. In the case of Amaechi, I believe the current Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike should copy from Benue State Governor and do the needful as the man is doing with Gabriel Suswan, instead of whipping cheap sentiments. Also the APC as a party has challenged the Opposition PDP on many occasions to provide to the public all those corruption charges against their members. Then let it be on record that they did not do anything.
That we suffered a collective national economic and social rape under The Former President Goodluck Jonathan is sad. For patience, His wife who has no known history of visible work or commerce too brazenly and boldly attempt to legally claim ownership of $31.4 Million, obvious proceed of corruption, in our increasingly volatile country induces a breath-taking psycho-economic depression into our national psyche. It did not only reveal the shocking ignorance of a thief who is merely validating her criminality; the audacity of the claimant calls into question EFFC’s investigative and prosecutorial prowess. In the same breath, it portrays our society as an unstandardized society moving towards a dialectical inequality in pursuant of justice. If not, Patience Goodluck should have been on trial for corruption like her allies in crime that have been arraigned in court. Corruption is only an economic crime. It is a crime that lays foundation for the commission of other crimes.
Nigeria’s complex crises are difficult to understand without accepting corruption as a species of violence. A people bounded by Boko Haram in the north, avengers in the south-south, Biafra in the East, Herdsmen on rampage, Kidnappers on the loose, and Armed Robbers on the road have a lot to understand about evolution of violence. They need to know all forms of violence work together for worse for any society that loves oppression, embraces injustice and promotes inequality. They need to know what the persistent ubiquitous violence is sub-cultural reaction to the Twin Towers of Evil of Unjust Wealth and Unjust poverty that corruption has built! Corruption destroys the basis for equality and equity, weakens institutions and structure in order to enthrone and sustain perversion of justice. Corruption shrinks resources available for development. It makes access to education difficult. It blocks the road to healthcare and frustrates path to security and welfare. It replaces government with mafia and rights with might. It re-configure a state and imposes on it a pyramid of disaster. When a country becomes a pyramid where a tiny conical top are occupied by few who corner all available resources leaving the broad base of the pyramid to the many who are condemned to poverty and misery, such a country is ripe for any form of violence; whether of economic or of value!
The State prepares crime that violence perpetrators merely commit. When you open window for corruption, you inevitably shut the door against peace. Corruption negotiates people out of existence. It creates a new world where self-help is attractive by manufacturing people that will use all means t fight back at a society that has taken them off radar of equal opportunity and enforced the de-marketization of their citizenship. Corruption humiliates its victims, who often are the poor who become poorer and make a society ripe for committing violent crimes. It provides the motivation, the opportunity and the environment that violence needs to thrive.
If we want peace, we must steer away our country from this entanglement.
We cannot afford or sustain a country where people draw inspiration from their own callous oppressors; a nation where thieves are heroes; and blood thirsty criminals are mentors! A nation that can no longer differentiate between evil and good; between righteousness and sin! A nation that uses the prism of tribe to determine who is just or unjust. A nation whose scale of justice stands on ‘Mudus’ of corruption. A nation whose people are being stripped unclad!
In saner climes, crime suspects hardly want to go to courts. In Nigeria, they want to be swiftly charged to court because they know that our courts are often citadels of corruption-propelled injustice! We cannot continue to have a ruling class using corruption to weaken all apparatuses of social and legal justice, destroying the capacity of Judges to dispense appropriate justice and damage a whole legal system of a country; and worse still, turning around to benefit from its own willful incapacitation of justice administration architecture under the guise of human rights.
James Ibori was discharged and acquitted under our corruption-damaged legal process only to be convicted for the same offence in the United Kingdom. President Buhari must never again allow our country to be so ridiculed under his watch. Not even with the ‘human rights’ blackmail that has become the battle cry for the liberty of the lawless.
A nation cannot continue to build the barometre to measure human rights on what happens to this that are too defended and too protected to uphold national trust. Doing that amounts to isolating legal justice from social justice. It is not what happens the out-of-control power merchants that counts. The truest form of justice seeks to protect the weak from the strong; not a cannon fodder for cruel violators of all that is decent about humanity.
Economy, security and corruption are still issues on the front burner of Buhari’s agenda. While the war against corruption is catching global attention with a noticeable margin of success at home, the same cannot be said about the economy and national security. Buhari must design his war against corruption in a way that ensures that recovered loot breathes life into the comatose economy.
Buhari’s inaugural speech a year ago assured justice to all. A pledge to be loyal and faithful to all without owing allegiance to anybody or cabal. It stuck the core of national depreciation and ignited a wow for redemption and remediation. Based on it, we can say that we have a president who is not unmindful of the national challenges and the travails of Nigeria but also willing to protect the integrity of his oath of office. He must make the country work for all, especially the poor who have become the nation’s traditional burden bearers. He must stop listening to witches and their sorrowful songs. All the witches must be hunted down. It is in my bible that we should ‘suffer not the witch to live’. If you have stolen Nigeria’s money, you are a witch that must be hunted down. Your witchcraft has led to the death of many on the bad roads and in ill-equipped hospitals, among others! Buhari must not submit to blackmail. It is not in the constitution that fighting corruption is subject for Federal Character. It is neither a gender issue nor a party affair. The question is, did you steal or not? Great that Nigerians are increasingly owing the war against corruption. They are now speaking against their oppressors. Their oppressors are tagging their arrest and prosecution, ‘witch hunt’ as if ‘witch-hunt’ is a defense in law. They are emotionally blackmailing the government that put them on trial under legitimate legal process and procedure. We must ignore them and focus on taking back our country. No state buys gun for her police if the intention is not hunt down her witches; the vampires that criminally suck the blood out of her economy, and invariably her citizens, among others. A state that has been turned to a criminopolis by larger-than-life vampires must adopt all available strategies, including witch-hunting, to vanquish the nest of her witches. Let those who calle their criminal trial political know that it is not for joke that Aristotle called man ‘a political animal’! Where there is politics of mindless stealing, there must be proportional politics of ruthless consequences.
We must make it clear to people that we can end terrorism and other extreme violence and crime, not with a barrel of bullets, when w e build a country where no single person takes what belongs to millions of people; a nation that gets worried when individuals and groups are growing taller than law and fatter than justice. To achieve this in our country, change begins with Patience Jonathan!
Corruption is a monster that has slowed the development of this country. We must join the fight against it. Had it been the way APC under President Buhari is fighting Corruption, that PDP under President Goodluck did the same, I believe we would not have been where we are today. Any Nigerian no matter his status in the society caught in any corrupt practice should be dealt with. I am not a fan of plea bargaining or soft landing. Our Judges should help us to deal with this monster. They should not entertain all these frivolous motions and delay tactics of some so called Senior Advocate of Corrupt Nigerians. I believe our Judges should learn from this judge of Israel who gave this landmark judgement.
Otimkpu Paschal, a graduate of International studies and Diplomacy, University of Benin, a Public affair analyst writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

atlantic breeze or whatever you call yourself,stop misleading the public. Obiano has not contributed a single metre talk more of a kilometre on this road.this road was started by peter obi. the only thing obiano did on enugu-onitsha road was the three flyovers he did and the white marking on that road. learn to appreciate what peter did in anambra. it is almost three years now,we are yet to see obiano's impact. it is only in social media that willie is working. stop taking glory from peters work in the name of apga did them. let your principal do his own. i wish people liike ben bruce and others will visit this state for once. stop telling s what we know more than you guys. we are yet to see the impact of 5million dollars ugu export. many lies and lies.. we will not be deceived again when the time comes. elections are not won on social media. ask Jonathan Goodluck

I saw this post in Build up Nigeria with this statement.Some were thanking channels televison.The distribution of capital projects in the 2016 budget mirrors President Muhammadu Buhari's electoral victory of 2015. I actually thought he was joking about the 97%-5%, but hey, you can't argue with facts. Thank you Channels Television for this expose, but i disagree with these statements. there is no fact in what is presented here.
i have seen this post during budget presentation before. you do not need to blame buhari here. i have said it time without number,our senators from south east needed to be recalled. they do not know what they want there to do. they are frustrating this government not to make in road to south east. i have evidences. for example,Buhari included 2 Niger bridge in 2016 budget. he included enugu-onitsha road,enugu-port harcourt road. but do you know that our senators were there, the budget provisions for these projects were slashed and some even removed,none of them uttered a word. if not that buhari insisted that his original budget be returned. these figures you see here will be very low. also, on the issue of amount, we have 5 states to compare others with 6 states. this year,we have a better share to compare what was given to us in 2013,2014,2015 and 2016 budget. i am not defending buhari. i am not his spokesman. but as a player in this field,i know what i am saying. In 2013, bayelsa state has only 8 Local Govts. do you know how much they got. what was given to bayelsa state as a state is more than what was given to south east as a zone.
Also, you have to look at the projects the govt wants to execute. in the south east, we have 2nd Niger bridge,enugu-port harcourt road,enugu-onitsha road,nnewi-okigwe road,aba-itua-calabar road and the completion of dualization of owerri-port harcourt road. these are the projects they have for us in 2016 budget. most of these zones you see,it is only south east that has no rail project. the north central you see is the middle belt and they central to all parts of nigeria.most of the roads there needed to be completed so that people travelling to other parts of nigeria will have access to good roads and that is where saraki comes from. it is not buhari zone. and most of these projects were not new projects. what these government wanted to do is put in money and complete them before moving into new projects. download the budget from budget office website and see. look at that Kaduna-abuja railproject. it was not built by Buhari. but he made sure it is completed and put to use. look at enugu-onitsha road,they have done 30% work there. buhari voted 5billion for it to be completed. look at 2nd Niger bridge,there was no money for the project,but buhari voted 13 billion for it.
Also did north central gave buahri his highest vote in 2015 election,the answer is no. it is northwest and north east. even what buhari got in south east is more than south south. so there is no basis for this article. my people are not well informed. What we want as a group is that let the ones appropriated be completed and new ones set up. also in considering new projects, we want Mr President to look at the possibilities of giving us railway from aba-onitsha and from onitsha to abakiliki. Thank you all

rubbish article and i believe gullible people like you will believe it. state the source of your article or you remain silent for your life

senator Sani, you are a confused fellow. Are you sure you are in Nigeria? Do you use to read your newspapers and follow events. For clarification purpose,Soludo has ceased to be a member of PDP since 2010 after the Governorship election which he contested and lost. He left and joined Apga. When Apga robbed him of the mandate. he resigned and decided to be on his own. Secondly, When Soludo came in to join Obasanjo Government, He was first economic adviser to Obasanjo. He worked with others to exit Nigeria from PAris debt. He was moved to CBN as Governor,His records there have not matched. Soludo never worked with any government in Nigeria when a barrel of oil was $140. Senator Sani, go and check your records very well. You do not know anything. i am so sorry for yoour senatorial zone. Right now, Nigeria needs people like Soludo to reposition the economy. The ploicy framework for CBN was tagged FX 2020. it was developed by Soludo. Had it being that Emefiel was being used, he would have continued from Sanusi

this fayose is not worthy to be a local govt chairmen. was APC the people that made you and wike to bring in Sherriff to become the national chairman in the first place. this shows you have been working for APC. Mr Governor,go and hide. you are a disgrace to PDP. you and wike are cause of what is happening in PDP today. Go and tell your boy, Sherriff to resign and find a way to compensate him

freeze stop using fake identity. i have seen your posts and what you represent. you can say all you care. attack the message and not the messenger. besides i dont argue with educated illiterates who does not have anything to say on issues only to whip cheap sentiments

As a Country, we should have a truly transformed heart for genuine and dedicated service instead of focusing on the things of the world and political power that will last forever. Our Leaders should not see elections as their ultimate destines and then become desperate. Rather focus should be what will truly be beneficial to the people and the nation. At this ,many Nigerians are looking back on their lives and sensitizing that many years of opportunities had been stolen from us through our land that was divinely assigned with grand economy and greatest of Nigerians. Those with right mind can recount panorama of leadership errors, self centredness, incompetence, besetting transgression, corruption, fraud and untrustworthiness had outsized administrative impact in many years of the country’s independence.
As Edo State prepares to go to Poll to elect who will continue from where Comrade Governor stopped or who will take Edo State backward to where it was 8 years ago. Onething has been running through my mind. Where is Chief Sir Lucky Igbinedion, the Former Governor of Edo State, One time Chairman of Oredo Local Government, who His former PA and SSG to The Edo state Government is contesting for the Governorship Slot under once almighty Peoples Democratic Party. I believe that these two individuals are like Rice and stew. One cannot do without the other. Why hiding the influence of Chief Lucky in scheme of things. Is it because he is a bad market? That the Our Pastor Governor does not want him to spoil his market for him. It is clear fact that whatever Our Pastor Governor was, is and will be, Chief Lucky hands are in it. I expected Chief Lucky to lead the campaign instead of leaving it for old Generals whoever want to leave the stage for the younger generations. Even at over 70s, 80s and close to 90s years of old, these Old Generals of looting still want to lead the campaign for Our Pastor Governor to be. Why castigating Chief Lucky in the morning and dinning with him in the night updating him on the Journey so far and how the campaign is unfolding.
Even in the context of constant flux and the implication that everything is perpetually evolving, the latest contribution by Chief Lucky Igbinedion, a former Governor of Edo State, to the business of image laundering,or more precisely, reputation laundering, stretches imaginative elastic to yield a point. Ahead of 57th Birthday on May 13th 2014, I could vividly recalled what Chief Lucky declared in an interview he granted with Journalists in His Abuja Residence, where he said and I quote:” in the darkest of days when I was the governor and the state was broke and could not pay salaries, I would run to these two individuals and they would borrow me money. They borrowed the state money”. Then the lenders in question, excuse Igbinedion illiterate usuage, were his father and Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and the Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees then, Chief Anthony Anenih. In case anyone needed corroboration, Chief Lucky said,” Chief Anenih is around here, you can go and ask him whether I borrowed money from him or not”. What about his father? Should not he also be asked whether he actually lent money to Edo state through his son?
His claims prompt disturbing dimensions, including reflections on the riches of the named individuals, their motives, their possible gains from such deals, especially in economic terms as well as in relation to manipulative influence in the corridors of power. It stand to reason that Chief Lucky Igbinedion may have unwittingly provided insights into the phenomenon of political godfatherism, long identified as a major drawback of the country’s politics, with negatively weighty implications for socio-economic development. It also stands to reason that Chief Lucky and His team of Administrators then led by the SSG to Edo State Government, Pastor Ize-iyamu were colossal failures. In issues of Governance, states in Nigeria now need a man with innovations, visions and creativity to govern states now. It is very clear that what is coming from Abuja is not enough to pay salaries talk more of providing basic infrastructure for the people. Today in Edo State, comrade Adams Oshimole does not owe salaries to state Government workers, he is not borrowing from individuals to pay salaries. Rather most of the borrowing of the Comrade Governor is for infrastructural Development. Any government that wants to succeed must not borrow to pay salary. Not only is Comrade Governor not borrowing when other states are doing so, He has set a standard in the country for being the only Governor that is paying N25,000.00 as a minimum wage, when most Governors in Oil Rich Niger Delta Region are owing salaries ranging from 5, 6, 8, 10, 13 months respectively. What this has shown is that Oshimole is a blessing to the people of Edo State. This is because He was not elected by the people to lament, but to provide the leadership which the state has lacked over the years. It stands to reason that the Comrade Governor and His team of administrators led by the past and current SSG and His economic adviser led by Dr Godwin Obaseki were genius in management of the affairs of Edo people. They will not satisfy everybody, but with continuation of those agenda by someone who is inside the government is a very big advantage.
Back to the issue of discussion, from a more perspective, Chief Lucky’s revelations, hint at illegalities, particularly on account of the implied non-official nature of the process, which is why they have the character of disclosure. Apparently, the stated deals were known only to a closed ring of collaborators ( Chief Luck, Pastor SSG, Esama and Chief Anenih), outside the view of lawful institutional structures that should otherwise be aware of, if not endorse such course of action. Some people were wondering what these old generals were doing at Our Pastor Campaign flag off. They are the one to coordinate the campaigns, so that they may likely get the monies they borrowed Chief Lucky back since Comrade Governor has refused to dance to their tones.
From the look of things, Chief Igbinedion manifested not only social anxiety, but perhaps also a sense of guilt. Seven years after he left office following two four-year terms from 1999-2007, he seems to have suddenly awakened to the fact that his track record needed clarification, especially in the light of superlatively superior governmental performance by Comrade Adams Oshimole, who is on the final stage of his government, with a agenda: FINISHING WELL. Indeed, Chief Luck’s power years pale into insignificance, expect as a model of ineptitude when compared with Oshimole’s tenure, which is widely acclaimed as demonstrative of good governance and an example of competent administration. Moreover against this background, it is possible that Chief Luck may have a guilty conscience for frittering away his time in power, which is general acknowledged as an era of wastefulness and wasted opportunities of Edo State. Sadly, he cannot turn the hands of clock, but he believes he can use our Pastor to get what is left for them in Edo State or if possible recover those monies they borrowed without following the due process.
Chief Lucky’s defensiveness mirrored a subconscious burden conveyed by his words. “for you to loot, he declared,” there must be something. Edo state had no money”. This latter logic is contradicted by the fact that in January 2008, he was declared wanted by EFCC concerning 142 counts of financial fraud. Specifically, he was alleged to have embezzled 24 MILLION DOLLARS using front companies and he gave himself up in the same month. Furthermore, in December 2008 he was convicted by the Federal High Court, Enugu, on corruption related charges. He was actually fined 3.5 MILLION NAIRA after peading guilty to a one-count charge of neglecting to make a declaration of his interest in account in a new generation bank. So Edo people, hope you are reading this. Astoundingly, Chief Lucky said,” if anything, it is EDO State that owes me money and not me owing EDO State”. If the borrowing and the lending were open only to him and his collaborators, as the picture he painted suggested, it is intriguing that he has an obviously misplaced sense of the state government’s financial indebtedness to him. It is unclear whether he implied that he also lent money to the state, which he did not recover before he left office. If he did lend the money on his path at that time, what his occupation and monthly salary income before he became a Governor.
This character took hyperbole to a new heights with his claims that somewhere along the line, he got tired of the office of the Governor and desired to quit before the end of his tenure, which would have been unprecedented in the country’s political history and earned him a place in the pantheon of frustrated patriots, if he could be dignified by such description. Then he somersaulted, uttering words that expressed absolute nonsense. :first and foremost, ”he began,” you do not have the money to do some projects you want to do even though there was no way I would have completed the projects with the whole money in the whole world”. Tragically, this declaration unveiled his unpreparedness for helmsmanship as well as fundamental visionlessness. Without intending to do so, he also betrayed the fact that he ran a government of uncompleted projects, meaning that he left a legacy, if it could be so called, of inchoateness, which amounts to nothing.
This article is not a propaganda issue; I want you to look for his interview on the Nation newspaper 12th and 13th May, 2014. I leave you to judge more from that side. Onething that is very clear in this Election, the two major candidates has been in power before now. One served as SSG to Chief Luck and the other as Chief Economic Adviser to Comrade Governor. It is also on records that the Chief Economic Adviser to the Comrade Governor never collected a salary for those eight years. What a man of impeccable integrity. Putting Edo State first, before his personal gains. I have not seen a leader like this. The good people of Edo state, I am leaving you to make your choice. Are you to move forward or backward? Your vote will determine that. I rest my case.

I have always stand on the path of truth. I only want to address issues and not sentiment. I am not from Edo state, but I have spent most of my life and time there. During this Electioneering campaign, PDP led by Tony Anineh and Dan Orbi brought to the fore the issue of marginalization of Esan Land. They accused the Comrade Governor of not doing anything in that land which in fact was a lie. Most of my friends here like Nkemakonam Olman Nwonwu, chigozie nwokocha and many others i cannot mention can testify how uromi,iguben,ewato,ubiaja,ohordua,ewohimi,ekpon and host of other communities around these places look like and how edo state mostly benin look like, even auchi. most of these my friends are outside the country. i do not think if they come back,they will recognise these places today. It has been a success story in all these communities and even their schools. I stand to be corrected.
Now on other issues about these Esan land, i want to people to judge who is against Esan land here. ‪#‎TRUTH_ONLY‬.
THE ISSUE OF MARGINALISATION HAS TAKEN A NEW DIMENSION IN EDO STATE POLITICS PARTICULARLY EDO CENTRAL.
5 MINISTERS PRODUCED BY ESAN SINCE THE PAST 16 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA: Edo Central Senatorial District in focus. Esans (The two blocks that makes up the district .
AGBAZILLO AND OKPEBHOLO.)
AGBAZILLO
*ESAN N/E- UROMI
*ESAN S/E- UBIAJA
OKPEBHOLO
*ESAN CENTRAL - IRRUA
*ESAN WEST - EKPOMA
*IGUEBEN - IGUEBEN
1) Chief Anenih - Minister for works (from Uromi) Agbazillo
2) Sen. Ugbesia - Minister for Environment (from Ubiaja) Agbazillo
3) Dr. Itotoh - Minister for States Internal Affairs (from Uromi ) Agbazillo
4) Arch. Onolelemen - Minister for State Environment (from Uromi) Agbazillo
5) Arch. Onolelemen - Minister for works (from Uromi) Agbazillo.
FEDERAL JUICY APPOINTMENTS
1) Prof. Ibadin - GMD UBTH (From Uromi) Agbazillo
2) Prof. Okojie - Secretary NUC (from Uromi) Agbazillo
3)Prof. Onoheabhi-Rector, Institute of Building
Technology, Uromi. (from Uromi) Agbazillo etc.
"Why must Esan people vote PDP when in Esan, most of us have been
marginalised while Uromi remains the Israel," he said.--Onojie of Okpoji
Who is marginalizing Esan people in Edo State, who is marginalizing Esan people in Esan Land?

i do not join issues with some educated illiterates on this nairaland. i have made my point. i went to school to acquire knowledge for service. none of you have disputed the facts i stated in my article. i did not collect any kobo from anybody and i am not expecting you to like my write. one problem you guys have is that you will not attack the message but the messenger. elections are not won on social media. if it being won on social media,jonathan would have still being president by now. i dont know oshimole. he does not know me. look at my profile and all my posts. it has been well written and precise

As a Country, we should have a truly transformed heart for genuine and dedicated service instead of focusing on the things of the world and political power that will last forever. Our Leaders should not see elections as their ultimate destines and then become desperate. Rather focus should be what will truly be beneficial to the people and the nation. At this ,many Nigerians are looking back on their lives and sensitizing that many years of opportunities had been stolen from us through our land that was divinely assigned with grand economy and greatest of Nigerians. Those with right mind can recount panorama of leadership errors, self centredness, incompetence, besetting transgression, corruption, fraud and untrustworthiness had outsized administrative impact in many years of the country’s independence.
As Edo State prepares to go to Poll to elect who will continue from where Comrade Governor stopped or who will take Edo State backward to where it was 8 years ago. Onething has been running through my mind. Where is Chief Sir Lucky Igbinedion, the Former Governor of Edo State, One time Chairman of Oredo Local Government, who His former PA and SSG to The Edo state Government is contesting for the Governorship Slot under once almighty Peoples Democratic Party. I believe that these two individuals are like Rice and stew. One cannot do without the other. Why hiding the influence of Chief Lucky in scheme of things. Is it because he is a bad market? That the Our Pastor Governor does not want him to spoil his market for him. It is clear fact that whatever Our Pastor Governor was, is and will be, Chief Lucky hands are in it. I expected Chief Lucky to lead the campaign instead of leaving it for old Generals whoever want to leave the stage for the younger generations. Even at over 70s, 80s and close to 90s years of old, these Old Generals of looting still want to lead the campaign for Our Pastor Governor to be. Why castigating Chief Lucky in the morning and dinning with him in the night updating him on the Journey so far and how the campaign is unfolding.
Even in the context of constant flux and the implication that everything is perpetually evolving, the latest contribution by Chief Lucky Igbinedion, a former Governor of Edo State, to the business of image laundering,or more precisely, reputation laundering, stretches imaginative elastic to yield a point. Ahead of 57th Birthday on May 13th 2014, I could vividly recalled what Chief Lucky declared in an interview he granted with Journalists in His Abuja Residence, where he said and I quote:” in the darkest of days when I was the governor and the state was broke and could not pay salaries, I would run to these two individuals and they would borrow me money. They borrowed the state money”. Then the lenders in question, excuse Igbinedion illiterate usuage, were his father and Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and the Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees then, Chief Anthony Anenih. In case anyone needed corroboration, Chief Lucky said,” Chief Anenih is around here, you can go and ask him whether I borrowed money from him or not”. What about his father? Should not he also be asked whether he actually lent money to Edo state through his son?
His claims prompt disturbing dimensions, including reflections on the riches of the named individuals, their motives, their possible gains from such deals, especially in economic terms as well as in relation to manipulative influence in the corridors of power. It stand to reason that Chief Lucky Igbinedion may have unwittingly provided insights into the phenomenon of political godfatherism, long identified as a major drawback of the country’s politics, with negatively weighty implications for socio-economic development. It also stands to reason that Chief Lucky and His team of Administrators then led by the SSG to Edo State Government, Pastor Ize-iyamu were colossal failures. In issues of Governance, states in Nigeria now need a man with innovations, visions and creativity to govern states now. It is very clear that what is coming from Abuja is not enough to pay salaries talk more of providing basic infrastructure for the people. Today in Edo State, comrade Adams Oshimole does not owe salaries to state Government workers, he is not borrowing from individuals to pay salaries. Rather most of the borrowing of the Comrade Governor is for infrastructural Development. Any government that wants to succeed must not borrow to pay salary. Not only is Comrade Governor not borrowing when other states are doing so, He has set a standard in the country for being the only Governor that is paying N25,000.00 as a minimum wage, when most Governors in Oil Rich Niger Delta Region are owing salaries ranging from 5, 6, 8, 10, 13 months respectively. What this has shown is that Oshimole is a blessing to the people of Edo State. This is because He was not elected by the people to lament, but to provide the leadership which the state has lacked over the years. It stands to reason that the Comrade Governor and His team of administrators led by the past and current SSG and His economic adviser led by Dr Godwin Obaseki were genius in management of the affairs of Edo people. They will not satisfy everybody, but with continuation of those agenda by someone who is inside the government is a very big advantage.
Back to the issue of discussion, from a more perspective, Chief Lucky’s revelations, hint at illegalities, particularly on account of the implied non-official nature of the process, which is why they have the character of disclosure. Apparently, the stated deals were known only to a closed ring of collaborators ( Chief Luck, Pastor SSG, Esama and Chief Anenih), outside the view of lawful institutional structures that should otherwise be aware of, if not endorse such course of action. Some people were wondering what these old generals were doing at Our Pastor Campaign flag off. They are the one to coordinate the campaigns, so that they may likely get the monies they borrowed Chief Lucky back since Comrade Governor has refused to dance to their tones.
From the look of things, Chief Igbinedion manifested not only social anxiety, but perhaps also a sense of guilt. Seven years after he left office following two four-year terms from 1999-2007, he seems to have suddenly awakened to the fact that his track record needed clarification, especially in the light of superlatively superior governmental performance by Comrade Adams Oshimole, who is on the final stage of his government, with a agenda: FINISHING WELL. Indeed, Chief Luck’s power years pale into insignificance, expect as a model of ineptitude when compared with Oshimole’s tenure, which is widely acclaimed as demonstrative of good governance and an example of competent administration. Moreover against this background, it is possible that Chief Luck may have a guilty conscience for frittering away his time in power, which is general acknowledged as an era of wastefulness and wasted opportunities of Edo State. Sadly, he cannot turn the hands of clock, but he believes he can use our Pastor to get what is left for them in Edo State or if possible recover those monies they borrowed without following the due process.
Chief Lucky’s defensiveness mirrored a subconscious burden conveyed by his words. “for you to loot, he declared,” there must be something. Edo state had no money”. This latter logic is contradicted by the fact that in January 2008, he was declared wanted by EFCC concerning 142 counts of financial fraud. Specifically, he was alleged to have embezzled 24 MILLION DOLLARS using front companies and he gave himself up in the same month. Furthermore, in December 2008 he was convicted by the Federal High Court, Enugu, on corruption related charges. He was actually fined 3.5 MILLION NAIRA after peading guilty to a one-count charge of neglecting to make a declaration of his interest in account in a new generation bank. So Edo people, hope you are reading this. Astoundingly, Chief Lucky said,” if anything, it is EDO State that owes me money and not me owing EDO State”. If the borrowing and the lending were open only to him and his collaborators, as the picture he painted suggested, it is intriguing that he has an obviously misplaced sense of the state government’s financial indebtedness to him. It is unclear whether he implied that he also lent money to the state, which he did not recover before he left office. If he did lend the money on his path at that time, what his occupation and monthly salary income before he became a Governor.
This character took hyperbole to a new heights with his claims that somewhere along the line, he got tired of the office of the Governor and desired to quit before the end of his tenure, which would have been unprecedented in the country’s political history and earned him a place in the pantheon of frustrated patriots, if he could be dignified by such description. Then he somersaulted, uttering words that expressed absolute nonsense. :first and foremost, ”he began,” you do not have the money to do some projects you want to do even though there was no way I would have completed the projects with the whole money in the whole world”. Tragically, this declaration unveiled his unpreparedness for helmsmanship as well as fundamental visionlessness. Without intending to do so, he also betrayed the fact that he ran a government of uncompleted projects, meaning that he left a legacy, if it could be so called, of inchoateness, which amounts to nothing.
This article is not a propaganda issue; I want you to look for his interview on the Nation newspaper 12th and 13th May, 2014. I leave you to judge more from that side. Onething that is very clear in this Election, the two major candidates has been in power before now. One served as SSG to Chief Luck and the other as Chief Economic Adviser to Comrade Governor. It is also on records that the Chief Economic Adviser to the Comrade Governor never collected a salary for those eight years. What a man of impeccable integrity. Putting Edo State first, before his personal gains. I have not seen a leader like this. The good people of Edo state, I am leaving you to make your choice. Are you to move forward or backward? Your vote will determine that. I rest my case.