Eggcelent:
BobNeli. I'll choose not to dispute with your view that Buhari's Town Hall meetings were stage-managed. However, I won't agree with you that there is a popular clamour for a Presidential debate among Nigerians. That is as far from the truth as you might wish to think.

True, there wasn't exactly a clamor,
but once the idea was put forth, a lot more ppl were inclined towards having a debate than not....
and as a democracy, it wld 've given the process a good dose of legitimacy.



Town hall meetings,like rallies, aren't trustworthy not where politics is concerned.

Eggcelent:
Ok. As to assets declaration, it'll be the height of naivety to believe that Buhari has only a million naira in his account. At least, he is entitled to N23 million monthly as a former Head of State. He can't just spend it all. And as a 72 years old man, there is no doubt he'll have well-to-do children who are contributing to his welfare. As to the APC leaders having skeletons in their cupboards. Yes, they do. And so are their PDP counterparts. Same applies to public/civil servants. THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ASKING AS CITIZENS HERE ARE; has the PDP government done enough in the past 16 years given the resources available to deserve another 4 years? is the APC presenting a better alternative given the competence of personalities therein & understanding of the challenges at hand?

Talking about the competence of personalities there in the APC party. Can you actually pinpoint them? If I may ask? Do you truely have the score-cards of Bola Ahmed Tinibu? And I want to tell you that he, rather than general Buhari, is the real God-father and image of that consortium. His influence on that party is so overbearing that his words are bonds in there. Remember that Fashola contradicted him on the choice of the Lagos state APC gubernitorial candidate but was only disgraced at the primaries. The choice of Osibanjo as Buhari's running mate was also his mastermind. Admist, news being awash how he brokered a deal with Osibanjo to resign and step down for him after six months. Knowing that picking up the ticket from the begining would hampere their ambitions, since the idea of a moslem to moslem ticket would not sale. If you take your calculations very well, you will arrive at, his calculated attempt to become nigeria's president before 2019. Judging from Buhari's age and health conditions that is being kept obscore. However, the most important fact I'd like you to understand about this "change" mantra is that, there is no reality of it contained in their manifesto. They are mere deceptions. Or, can you tell me how a "change" proponents are fighting against the major element that is going to bring about that change and yet wish to use change as a smoke screen to deceive many? The implementation of the national conference resolutions is the sure element of change we need, but these people are against it. If we vote them in. All those efforts and resources put at at the confrence would be null and void. The status quo will remain thesame and it will be dificult to fight and subdue corruption within the context of the 1999 constitution. Remember that if you want to fight corruption, corruption will fight you back. And when corruption has some ingredients from your constitution to fight you back, it becomes practically impregnable to be defeated. So my brother, let us vote for the real change or transmformation as anyone may choose to call, and not a deceptive one. Lets not waste this opportunity to reposition our dear father land. I am a patriot not a political jingo.

BobNeli. It is interesting how you claim not to be a political jingo. However, it isn't really important because I consider you civil & intelligent, though set in your opinion that PDP deserves to remain in power. Everybody can't be for any particular political party. Another thing I find interesting is PDP members fixation on Tinubu & his perceived influence on the APC. If the man were all you say he is, why hasn't the PDP-led FG with its law enforcement agencies arrested, prosecuted & imprisoned the man? At least, that would have weaken the opposition enough to give PDP a clear ride to ASO Villa. The point here is that a political party is bigger than an individual. We - I mean enlightened people like you & I - shouldn't join others in trivialising our political institutions. In matured democracies, institutions are bigger than individuals. Tinubu shouldn't be singled out & made an issue. Talking about corruption, what has GEJ done about it in the past 5 years? A President who defended a minister serving under him by downplaying the issue with his infamous "ordinary stealing isn't corruption" isn't someone to trust to spearhead a war against corruption.

Eggcelent:
BobNeli. It is interesting how you claim not to be a political jingo. However, it isn't really important because I consider you civil & intelligent, though set in your opinion that PDP deserves to remain in power. Everybody can't be for any particular political party. Another thing I find interesting is PDP members fixation on Tinubu & his perceived influence on the APC. If the man were all you say he is, why hasn't the PDP-led FG with its law enforcement agencies arrested, prosecuted & imprisoned the man? At least, that would have weaken the opposition enough to give PDP a clear ride to ASO Villa. The point here is that a political party is bigger than an individual. We - I mean enlightened people like you & I - shouldn't join others in trivialising our political institutions. In matured democracies, institutions are bigger than individuals. Tinubu shouldn't be singled out & made an issue. Talking about corruption, what has GEJ done about it in the past 5 years? A President who defended a minister serving under him by downplaying the issue with his infamous "ordinary stealing isn't corruption" isn't someone to trust to spearhead a war against corruption.

Eggcelent! Eggcelent!eggcelent. Before I butress my points the more, I'd like to start by saying "whenever, you want to believe something. You only seek the arguements for it and become blind to the arguements against it." such is the state of human mind. Everybody seems to be stereo-typed. Once you've said NO or YES. Your whole muscles conract to defend, not just your opinion now, but your ego and sense of importance. That is why I personally do not enjoy indulging into convincing people against their wills. I'm only doing what I'm doing here because the consequences of the kind of costly mistake we might be making in bringing APC into power will prove to be grave. Let me clerify you the more. Have you asked your humble self, the source of the APC financial support? How much was it they realised during their public funds raising party? Can you compare that to their spending capacity so far? From where comes the exces? Okay, maybe, you do not have an inklin. The various governors who decamped from PDP to join up with APC in their respective states, are suffocating the economies of their states for APC. Refrence from governor Rochas Okorocha of imo state. Go to Imo state today, no bank in Imo state lends money anymore. Do you know why? Because governor Rochas Okorocha has been unable to pay contractors who borrowed money from the banks to execute their respective contracts. These banks beeing owed now, no longer have confidence in sponsoring contracts with the hope of getting their dividends. Recently, these contractors held a prayer session against the governor. That not withstanding, he just disolved the council of chiefs as well as Local government care-taker chairmen. Citing lack of funds. He said that these organisations can no longer hold because Imo state is owing. Inquire from Imolites and find out yourself. Well, the question is. Why is Imo state owing under his watch? The answer is not far fetched. Most of the funds ment for the day today running of the state's affairs have been diverted to the sponsorship of APC. And one fact we must all be abreast of is. Before the APC party, making us a promise of fighting corruption starts doing anything on that note, they will first of all remit all these misapropriated funds. That on its own will amount to steeling from the fedration accounts. But we all were aware when the PDP's campaign funds raising was done. Even the APC who became intimidated by the figure, tried to instead castigate it and hopped to achieve political points by so doing. What I want to establish here is to enphasize on the adage that "the devil you know is better than the Angel you do not know". Morever, talking about fighting corruption by the present administration. If you are an adroit person, you will understand with me that tactical approach to issues, offers better chances of triumph than force. If you can refer back to during Obasanjos regime, when the issue of Niger Delta millitancy was in vogue. With all his forcefull military might, could he stop it? The famous Udi massacre wich is tantamount to genocide could not do anything to reduce it. Not until an educated Yaradua came and deviced the amnesty program. If you check into the encyclopedia of renowned world leaders who at one time or the other changed the course of events withing their jurisdictions. You will find out that, they have achieved such feats through diplomacy and tactis rather than abuse of power like some people are clamouring. Such tactical and adroit approach is what president goodluck Jonathan has employed. First, he disengaged the oil cabals by removing subsidy which we all did not understand but fought to stop. Today, we have all come to terms with the benefits of that. He also has disegaged ghost wokers.

Ok. I guess your point all along is that we should follow the devil because we know him. That isn't surprising to me cos I once told a friend that while majority of Nigerians ain't satisfied with the Jonathan Administration, they'll still not vote him out because Africans, Nigerians inclusive, are too conservative. They are generally afraid of the unknown. MEANWHILE, I'LL LIKE YOU TO GO THROUGH ALL MY SUBMISSIONS ON THIS THREAD AND TELL ME SINCERELY IF YOU COULD SEE ANYWHERE I EXPLICITLY CONDEMN THE PDP AND/OR PRAISE THE APC. I DOUBT IF YOU'LL FIND ANY COS I DON'T HAVE SYMPATHY FOR EITHER, BUT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY & NIGERIANS WHO WILL BENEFIT IF GOOD GOVERNANCE IS ENTRENCHED IN A DEMOCRATIC SETTING. It is my well-considered opinion that the PDP-led FG hasn't done as well as it is possible. Therefore, it will amount to a celebration of mediocrity if it is voted into power again. APC may not prove to be better, but you'll never know for sure until it's given a chance. FINALLY, I DON'T HERO-WORSHIP ANYONE/POLITICAL PARTY BECAUSE I'M CONVINCED THAT A DAY WILL COME WHEN I WILL BE THIS NATION'S PRESIDENT ON THE PLATFORM OF NEITHER THE PDP OR APC. Consequently, I try to see things not as a follower seeking some pecuniary gains in the short-term, but as a leader who takes a longer-term view of issues. Thanks for your time.

Eggcelent, your last comment realy is wonderful. I must commend that kind of understanding. No disputes on anything you said there. And to assure you of my indipendence, I wished we had something better than Buhari in APC. Buhari's antecedents do not speak good of him. And his present actions have not bettered the records either. Forget the words. I wished we had somebody like Tambuwal as the presidential flag bearer there. I also wished Bola Ahmed Tinibu is not the leader of the APC. Please remember to reach me after the elections. Because I'm certainly sure that just immidiately after the elections, whether APC wins or looses, we must see cracks along the cohesive lines of that party. Their case is synonymous with theives who on operation, show solidarity. But when once the loot is ready. Greed ensures and puts them at variance with each other. I already foresee some of its hierarchy abandoning what they afore-hand, believed in. There will be so much greed and manipulations which Buhari at his age and mental capacity now, may not be able to handle, if they win. However, the most important reason I would still want to vote Goodluck Jonathan, maybe, not just PDP, is because I see transformative agendas in him that this country truely needs to excel. Talking about (1) The implementation of the National conference resolutions which the opposition are hard-bent on scuttling. (2) the railway system that is comming in to being again. (3) the SME empowerment policy that is sure to help diversefy the economy and create better employment. Because all it will take, is one, having a business idea then, apply for finance. I do not see any better policy than this. The second Niger bridge will reduce trafic congestions on the East-West, East-North routes and enhance cheap and equitable transportation of goods and services. (4) The Agricultural empowerment policy which has seen our Agric sector gearing up to meet with exporting capacity. (5) the Industrialization policy, which unlike during Obasanjo's regime, gave monopoly to Aliko Dangote, has giving well meaning business Nigerians, licences to operate. A single act that unequivocally, has unemployment death warant, signed. We now see cement factories like Ibeto cement, dangote cement, eagle cement, etc. Enhancing competition and productivity. Just take a look at the price of cement in the market today. We see the INNOSON automobile manufacturing company in existence. Something that has been denied Nigerians by previous administrations. How about foreign investors like the NISAN automobile company and so on and so forth? And today we have our GDP grown, projecting Nigeria to one of the fastest growing economies in the world. (6) this government has taken a good stride in the fight against corruption though tactically. As we can see in the agenda behind the removal fuel subsidy; extraction of ghost workers from pay roll. Check out the long lasting impase between the govt. and ASSUP. An eye opener that brougth to our notice, the level of misapropriation of funds by that body. All these and more had been happening under our nose but by the adroit leadership of our transforming president. Let's not be swayed by the unconfirmed allegations of the angered few whose selfish intrests, imbue to raise dusts, so as to discredit a performing leadership, in a bid to turn the people's mind against it for the fulfilment of their personal agrandisements. During Sanusi's allegations saga, it was from N20b to N10b and later N30b, yet, none was confirmed. With the exception of stella Odua who was equally deposed of her duties. None of those allegations had ever been confirmed. Meanwhile, it will also be pertinent to educate ourselves that the change we are talking about is an one that will surely take us 4 years back from here because it has been an antecendent in this country that opposition hadly supports and carry on with its predecessors work on ground. So, to move Nigeria fowards from here, we need continuity.