₦airaland Forum

;DThis is the most insightful article I've read in recent time. This has shaped my opinion
Atiku is a confirmed rogue. He was practically d president during Obj's first term when baba was busy residing abroad. Within that short period of time, he sold virtually all govt assets to himself. We can never forget Elrufai's exposition on him. They are part of our power, and communication wahala. NITEL gone, power practically dead except for GEJ'S commitment to repositioning the sector.

Just few days ago, his group gave GEJ some conditions for peace to reign and guess what: that GEJ should stop EFCC from probing corrupt politicians especially thise that are his men and that he should renounce his ambition. This is a man that wants to become president. Today, he Isn't president and he is defending corruption, if he become president what will happen to our money? Now I dread him

With Atiku and Baraje-led faction of the PDP requesting President Jonathan to renounce his presidential ambition come 2015, as a condition for peace, isn't it obvious that all the gladiators have come to the realization that GEJ enjoys public goodwill and would win every time he contests? They are scared abi?

I just the laff oooooo

W-A-R-N-I-N-G!

Nigeria Will Burn If What Happened At Offa Repeats Itself —Femi Fani-Kayode.

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned that Nigeria would burn if what happened during last weekend’s local government re-run election repeats itself during the 2015 presidential polls.

Whereas the Kwara Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, AbdulWaheed Olanipekun, as winner of the election held on Saturday, APC insists that its candidate, Saheed Popoola, was robbed of victory.

Writing on his Facebook page minutes ago, Fani-Kayode, a one-time Minister of Aviation, said:

“APC won the election in Offa yesterday. They won by a landslide in every single ward. Sadly it has been announced that PDP won. If this happens in the 2015 Presidential election Nigeria will burn.”

Nigerians witnessed how flawed the Local Government election held in Lagos and Edo states were, but the ruling party, the PDP, did not threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria. - Hope For Nigeria.

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Are Northerners born to rule and dominate? Are other regions not part of the corporate body called Nigeria? Why do we always make leadership an issue in the country. Why can't all regions support whoever is at the helm of affairs just for national growth and development? God help us

Recent discoveries and interception of arms and ammunition in some parts of northern Nigeria has raised fears and alarm in security and southern political circles as to the goals of the forces behind the smuggling of arms. While similar arm discoveries had happened in some southern states in recent past, the frequency of such discoveries in the North in recent days has reportedly increased the level of intelligence shadowing and surveillance in the area.

As insurgency remains a major headache in the Northeastern part of the country, the growing cases of arm stockpile in the North-West states are said to be giving security analysts sleepless nights, especially as clues as to the motives of the masterminds are yet unclear. As of the time of filing this report, security agencies are said to be focusing on both local and external sources in their bid to unravel the sudden surge in the trafficking menace.

Sunday Tribune was told that the initial suspicion was that the importation of arms was due to transnational islamist terrorists arming local jihadists, as well as using Nigeria as a transit route in the Sahel arms and related smuggling trade. This line of thought was reported to be the main preoccupation of the security agencies for sometime until in the last one month when political motivation reportedly entered the review process.

While analysts are yet to find direct linkage between political actors and the arm storage and smuggling, there are fears that threats from key leaders suggest a zone preparing for war depending on the outcome of the 2015 race. An insider told Sunday Tribune that the intensity of arm stockpiles correlates with the heightening of tension and mounting attacks on the presidency by political opposition and political dissenters within the ruling party.

It will be recalled that the arm cache found in Kano is still a mystery despite the ongoing prosecution of the Lebanese involved in the entire saga. The security agencies are also said to be at a loss over what alleged Hezbollah Shiite agents will be doing with the Sunni-led Boko Haramists on the arms stockpile. Boko Haram is said to belong to the Sunni school of Islam, attributing a link between them and the Lebanese under trial over the arms cache is said to be proving very difficult among intelligence analysts in the country. Though it is being suggested that the Shiite group could have its own separate mission in the country.

The Kano arms discovery, therefore, is reported to have given rise to many theories, one of such is the possibility of a non-religious involvement, with political undertone being the chief reason. This theory was said to have gained ground after the Zamfara State government got embroiled in an arm importation controversy, claiming it wanted to arm vigilance groups in the state. The way and manner the state government imported the arms allegedly without police approval had since become a subject of investigation which is said to be attracting attention of many within the security circles.

A security official confessed under the condition of anonymity that importation of arm without prior approval is a violation of the law. Said he: “for a state government to have done that, it is a matter to be taken seriously”.

Though the Zamfara State government had since justified its action on the need to combat criminal gangs operating freely in the state, keen watchers of the 2015 drama, however, pointed out that arming vigilantes in the countdown to 2015 sent mixed signals. Many people believed that once Zamafara succeeded on this matter, other state governments would follow suit, leading to proliferation of arms in the country and a potentially explosive electoral year in 2015.

While the controversy over Zamfara arm importation is still boiling, a tanker filled with assorted arms and ammunition was impounded between Kebbi-Zamafara axis with the source of the importation still unknown.

With hundreds of such tankers in remote parts of northwestern Nigeria, fears are spreading that there may be a deliberate programme to acquire arms by some unknown elements in the northern parts of the country ahead of 2015 elections.

Four days after the tanker was impounded, another arm cache was discovered in the sleepy state of Jigawa with exchange of fire between security agencies and those described as Boko Haram operatives. Security analysts, however, faulted the reference to Boko Haram, as Jigawa has never witnessed any Boko Haram attack since the insurgency started. Others claimed the exchange of fire did not explain the owner of the arms or who masterminded their stockpile in the state.

Another source told Sunday Tribune of the fear being nursed in that sector, saying “the situation is scary. We cannot say for sure that all these arms are imported by islamists. We cannot prove that. We can also not prove that politicians are behind the caches of arms for electoral purposes. All what we know for sure is that there is an arms build-up in the core North”, the security, a security official, said.

While the real motive behind the huge arms stockpile is still under investigation by security agencies, the statement credited to the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadohme, warning against civil war is cited by other analysts to argue that the presidency already has more facts over security situation in the country and, particularly, about arms build-up in northern part of the country than it is letting out. Oghiadohme had called attention to the tragedy of the last civil war, warning that leaders and elders should beware of actions and utterances capable of plunging the nation into another conflict.

The arms build-up situation has become an open issue within the Nigerian military, which is battling insurgency in the North-East. Though the military is not ruling out political opportunism, it howver suspects the Islamists to be behind the arms build-up, while the wider intelligence community are fingering political forces as being neck-deep in the menace.

Sagir Musa,spokesman of the Joint Task Force in Borno, while confirming the arms proliferation gave greater insight into the problem facing the North and the country as a whole in a recent statement on the issue.

Said he: “Nigeria’s borders are massive with hundreds of footpaths crisscrossing to neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger with links to Mali, Libya and Sudan. From conservative estimate by locals, there are well over 250 footpaths from Damaturu/Maiduguri axis that link or lead direct to Cameroon, Chad or Niger. These paths, which are mostly unknown to security agencies, are unmanned, unprotected and have continued to serve as conveyor belts for arms and ammunition trafficking into Nigeria.

“It is disheartening and unfortunate that the “merchants of death” have since devised methods to beat security agencies at the borders, chief among them, through the footpaths. These methods include the use of camels, donkeys and cows to traffic arms, ammunition and drugs such as cocaine into Nigeria. The fact that the weapons are small, light and collapsible makes it easy to be concealed and moved on camels and donkeys’ backs in a specially crafted skin or thatched bags mainly meant for the illegal “expedition” undetected. Similarly, some cows and grains merchants in the North- East sub – region of the country device means of hiding cache of arms and ammunition in empty fuel tankers, vehicle engines and bags of grains.

“The “grains” are transported in large number via trucks, trailers, lorries and old model pickup vans and Jeeps with little attention given to them by security agents. The use of Jega-type of tricycles (KEKE-NAPEP) as well as camels, donkeys, and cows (moving in flocks) to deceive, hide and conveniently traffic arms in some parts of the North are ways hitherto unknown, not well known”, Musa noted.

He explained further that “the Libyan and Malian rebels are desperate to exchange arms for money to Boko Haram terrorists, their financiers and collaborators as the sect has since been affiliated to Al-Qaida in the Maghreb. This has added to the overwhelming challenge of the influx of illegal aliens, arms, ammunition and sophisticated IED materials into the country and an efficient and effective fight against terrorism”, Musa had stated.
Sunday Tribune was, however, told that the political angle is already taking the center stage of discreet investigation into the discoveries. Already, it was gathered that investigation into the Kano arm caches has been extended to foreign soil, while the security agencies are said to be mounting pressure to ensure that Zamafara vigilantes are not armed with weapons.

As the arms influx expands, the questions on the lips of keen security analysts are many. Who is preparing for war? Is the North becoming a Somalia? And is the South too secretly building up its own arms,and /or has not been undetected? Could the flexing of muscles by politicians a subtle declaration of war over 2015?

Source Nigerian Tribune

Only a thorough investigation by the security agencies can provide the necessary answers.

http://www.nigerianorth.com/arms-stockpile-north-prepares-for-war-over-2015/

Rawdeal: I didn't see the pix of Shekau's corpse. No one did so I'll safely assume he's alive

Americans didn't see Osama's corpse either. But the main issue is that Shekau is dead

We all know that one of the factors that endeared Americans to President Obama especially during his reelection bid was the killing of Osama Bin Laden. His death signified Obama's avowed opposition and fight against terrorism. Domestically, President Jonathan appears to be doing the same. He has not relented in his fight against terrorism and insurgency. His commitment has led to the death of Shekau, the acclaimed leader of Boko Haram. Now that 2015 is fast approaching, will this count in his favor if he decides to run?

Akwa. Ibom ado ok

It's not about 2015, it's basically about the transformation Agenda

Nigerian CiVil Right MoVement
**GOOD JOB!!! TO THE PRESIDENCY!**
Confusion As Jonathan Invites Ministers.
Perform Or Be Kicked Out - Jonathan To Minister.

There was panic among ministers yesterday following the invitation of some of their colleagues by President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was learnt that some ministers, who were out of Abuja, were recalled for “consultations” on Monday.

The sacked Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdul-Kadir, bade the ministry’s staff an emotional farewell.
He said he learnt a lot within his short stay in office.

According to sources, the President has kept all the Ministers on their toes after a mid-term assessment of their performance.

It was gathered that the President is now paying attention to the performance benchmark set for all the ministers.
A source said: “There is pressure on Ministers to perform or leave. The President is not ready to grant permission for any local or foreign trip, unless it is necessary.

“As a matter of fact, there is panic among Ministers because some of their colleagues were summoned on Monday by the President alongside the sacked Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdul-Kadir.”

Some ministers, who were recalled, made it to the Presidential Villa. Abdul-Kadir was held up at the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

It was not immediately clear yesterday what the President discussed with the ministers.

A source said he asked every cabinet member to increase his “project delivery pace without compromising quality”.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the change of administrative style by President Goodluck Jonathan in the last few days has also made the ministers to be jittery.

It was learnt that instead of announcing changes from the Presidential Villa, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, is now in charge of such announcements.

**Dont wast time kick them out if they cant deliver!!
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There Is Need To Change The Way We Live, How We Live And What We Live For.

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There is no need for ASUU to continue strike – Jonathan

on August 27, 2013   /   in News 3:27 pm   /   Comments


President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said there was no need for the Academic Staff Union of Universities to continue with their industrial action.

Jonathan said this at the inauguration of the Federal Government sponsored-Transformation Projects at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

Represented by Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai, the Minister of Education, the president said N30 billion had been released for the payment of earned allowances in all public universities.

The president said that the inaugurated projects were in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to providing quality education in the country.

He said the projects were based on the need assessment exercise conducted by the Federal Government in universities.

Jonathan urged the university administration to engage in research for national development, while stressing the need for proper maintenance of completed projects.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chidozie Asiabaka, in his speech, expressed joy at the completion of the structure.

Asiabaka noted that the projects had gone a long way in tackling the dearth of basic infrastructure in the school.

“The dearth of classrooms, lecture theatres, power supply, student hostels, office accommodation, library space and facilities are major challenges my administration faced when I assumed office two years-ago,’’ he said.

The vice chancellor said with the intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the university got 1000 sitting-capacity lecture theatre, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies Building.

He said the inaugurated projects are the new Engineering Technology, School of Environmental Technology Building, Centre for Nuclear Energy Studies and Training and the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology building complexes.

The others are the School of Environmental Technology building, landscaping of the campus and the provision of solar energy lights on the campus.

He also commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on the completion of the giant student hostel building in the university.

He lauded the Federal Government for the release of N1 billion for the development of capital projects in each public funded university. (NAN)

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/there-is-no-need-for-ASUU-to-continue-strike-jonathan/#sthash.ZAbB052l.dpuf

BREAKING; Ondo Governorship PollS: Supreme Court strikes out ACN from appeals

By Abiodun Badejo on August 27, 2013
Pin It
Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN)

The Supreme Court in Abuja, at its hearing of appeals on the October 20, 2012 governorship election in Ondo State this morning, struck out the name of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) from the case on the ground that the party is no more in existence.

ACN, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Political Change (CPC) and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) recently merged to form a new party called All Progressives Congress (APC).

Following this, Lawyers representing Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Labour Party (LP), Chief Wole Olanipekun and Yufus Alli (SANs) respectively urged the court to strike out ACN’s name from the appeals since no party at the moment bears such name, saying that “ACN as a political party was dead”.

However, Wole Aina (SAN), who was the leading counsel to the defunct ACN candidate. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) at the court responded that the matter of the death of APC was a matter of evidence, insisting that the CAN still exist.



Yufus Alli particularly said the death of ACN was a notorious fact, saying the judges should at a matter of urgency take judicial step to address the issue.

But Aina, who applied orally for a change of ACN name to APC, was immediately tackled by Olanipekun who said the application lacked merit and that even it has any merit it ought to have been made by the APC or its counsel not Aina, who is a counsel to a candidate.

The Mimiko’s lawyer said “could APC had sponsored a candidate 2012 when it was not in existence”?

In his ruling shortly after a recess, Justice Waltal Umoughen said the Apex Court has no competence to grant the application of Akeredolu’s Counsel, stressing that ACN name was hereby struck out from the case.

Akeredolu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olusola Oke are both challenging the victory of governor Olusegun Mimiko in the last governorship election in the state.

Their evidences relied on the fact that the 2012 voters register used for the poll was loaded with illegal names which was confirmed by the Appeal Court, but ruled on the ground that the evidence was not substantial enough to nullify the poll.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/08/27/breaking-ondo-governorship-polls-supreme-court-strikes-out-acn-from-appeals/

Speculations. The NRC is yet to make a statement on that. People should desist from unfounded insinuations

The beginning of their downfall

INEC disqualifies APC from Cross River LG polls

By Wale Odunsi on August 26, 2013
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The Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission has disqualified the All Progressives Congress, APC, from fielding candidates for the September 21 local government elections in the state.

Chairman of CROSIEC, Mr. Patrick Otu, made this disclosure over the weekend after a meeting held at the Commission’s office in Calabar with registered political parties.

He said the Commission took the decision after considering all legal implications to forestall complicity, adding that the electoral law, stipulated that “if parties merge, that party can only stand election after 90 days”.

“The Commission cannot postpone the election because of a newly registered party. By September 21 when the local government elections will take place, the stipulated 90-days period would not have been met by the APC in the state. Therefore, no candidate can be fielded to run on the platform of the APC.



“Everything about the election is law and nothing can be done outside the law. The former parties that merged to form APC are by law dead. What emerged will have to pay the price as no law covers what you were before the merger. By law, APC is disqualified from fielding candidates for both the chairmanship and the councillorship positions in the forthcoming elections”.

Merging parties including the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, Consensus for Progressive Change and Action Congress of Nigeria, were unable to harmonise their list of candidates.

Although a representative of the APC, Mr. Ayei Akpang, at the meeting appealed for an extension, the CROSIEC boss noted that there were Lawful conditions for postponing or extending the time for the election, which did not include new registration.

“There is no state of emergency in the state that would warrant an extension of time. When in 2004 we had a state of emergency because of the political situation, then it was understood. Election timetable is very important, especially to any election management body,” the electoral boss said.


http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/08/26/inec-disqualifies-apc-from-cross-river-lg-polls/?wt=3

Felix Festus: Questioning the sincerity of ASUU

By Felix Festus on August 26, 2013
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The threat to academic stability in the nation’s ivory towers because of the current strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has attracted headlines in the dailies. The media has also been awashed by many criticisms, most of which have been directed at the Federal Government in which President Jonathan is the representational character. However, it appears many of the critics have failed to consider the other side of the coin, which is one of the essentials in a debate on such a controversial issue.

Therefore, the focus of this piece is to examine the purpose of the present ASUU’s strike and their sympathizers’ rage against the FG.
Firstly, ASUU came up with the issue of autonomy for universities. The FG approved the idea of autonomy so long as the universities would generate internal revenue to offset their expenditure, including salaries and allowances. This government’s position provoked ASUU members. They poured venom on the government for merely supporting the idea of autonomy – existence as an independent body! Having realized the illusion surrounding university autonomy, members of the academic union played down their demand. This raises a question on the sincerity of ASUU’S demands.

On the issue of Federal Government’s assistance to state universities, this writer supports the idea of assisting the state universities. But must the Federal Government be compelled to render support to universities established and owned by state governments? Methink helping state universities should be as necessary as the state governments are required to support the federal institution located in their domain. Needless to say that state governments collect tenement tax from federal institutions sited in their states.

The idea of compelling the federal government to offer help to state-owned universities is borne out of the fact that academic staff from state universities are also part of ASUU. The truth must, however, be told. The Visitors to state universities are the state governors. Academic and non-academic staff of state-owned universities are employees of the state governments. Compelling the FG to assist state universities no doubt negates the principle of federalism. It only brings to fore the overdependence of constituents on the government at the centre.

The progressive increase of education budget to 26% between 2009 and 2020 is another contentious issue in the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement. The agitation for increase to 26% in budgetary allocation, as recommended by UNESCO for developing nations, is a legitimate one. So tere is need
to improve the current 8% total budget to education by the FG.

However, while the FG should be chastised for its current 8% budget to education, one needs to remind discerning readers that in nations where huge budgetary allocations are committed to education, members of the academia engage in scholarly research that help to solve societal needs. Only a few of our academics engage in fruitful research capable of solving the needs of our society. Most of the university teachers set their target in journal publication that would help them gain promotion in their academic career even when such is far from rendering solution to our societal needs.

Akin to increase in budgetary allocation is the issue of earned academic allowances for university teachers. Allowances are stimulants that reinforce positive inclination towards work. While government is working out modalities to pay earned academic allowances to deserving university teachers, the Dr. Fagie led ASUU is kicking against such, insisting that allowances should be paid across board, even when not all lecturers merit such allowances.



My experience as an undergraduate and post-graduate student in one of the first generation universities showed that not all university lecturers deserve mention in the earned allowance, particularly the absentees. It is an open secret that some of the lecturers who are fulltime employees in the federal universities abandon their duty posts to shuttle between federal and private universities. They stagger their responsibilities in multiple roles as
lecturers–in-charge in both public and private universities sacrificing quality of delivery in the process, at the expense of unsuspecting students in public universities.

These ‘abroad’ lecturers hardly attend classes to teach in the public universities. When they return, mostly towards the end of the semester, they engage the students in lengthy, patchy lecture hours in a bid to cover a course work that ought to have been concluded before the time of exams. Any student who dare challenges lecturer’s absenteeism in public universities are often victimized with a threat of carry-over of the course handled by the lecturer or delay in graduation.

At the post-graduate level, the situation is even more unpalatable.
Many post-graduate students fail to complete their programmes in line with the academic calendar due to lecturers’ negligence. They hardly
spend quality time to guide and mentor their students in their long essays. With this domineering posture, a percentage of the students either incur extra year(s) or abandon their programmes out of frustration. If you would not grow grey hair while undertaking a Ph.D degree as a student, you have to not only be hard working in your research pursuit, but also be willing to worship the deified characters in lecturer’s garb! Let me add here that a considerable number of the lecturers have passion for their calling. Those ones always act right by performing their duties without compromising
standard; they deserve their earned allowances and should be rightly rewarded.

The influx of private universities became more pronounced during the regime of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo. Yet, thousands of university
applicants seeking admission could not either gain admission into the universities or afford the luxury of high fee demands of the private universities. In fulfilling his campaign promises in 2011, President Jonathan established nine federal universities and further established three to make it twelve. The establishment of federal universities provided succour to admission seeking candidates. Besides providing admission to deserving applicants, it also signaled a massive employment into the education sector. Jonathan will go into the history books as one whose regime established most federal
universities in a single tenure.

The prolonged quagmire and the sit tight approach of ASUU members are having devastating effects on Nigerian students, undergraduates and post-graduates. The rot in the education sector as claimed by ASUU should not be further fertilized by ASUU’s hard-line posture. The standstill caused by ASUU/FG impasse could have been resolved if only ASUU and FG would shift ground and make concession, at least for the sake of the students who bear the brunt of the face-off.

Already, the Federal Government has made a spirited effort to get the striking lecturers back to work. The government recently released a whopping 130billion naira in response to ASUU’s demand for infrastructural development in public universities. According to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim, 100billion naira is for infrastructural development, while the remaining 30billion naira has also been disbursed as part of FG’s attempt to defray the backlog of the earned allowances.

That means the federal government has shifted ground in this regard, so what is ASUU waiting for?

*Felix Festus is a PhD student in one of Nigerian federal universities.
http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/08/26/felix-festus-questioning-the-sincerity-of-ASUU/

berem: Criminals will always endorse Jonathan for a second term. Am not surprised!

I jus d laff. Una go ginger until 2019 wen Jona don finish his second term.

This man is on point. Me too

A former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has declared that he would not relax his support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

The embattled former governor stated this yesterday in Sagamu, Ogun State while welcoming over 200 political actors, leaders and participants, drawn from across the three senatorial districts of the state, to a three-day workshop.

The well-attended workshop was organised by a non-governmental organisation, Political Academy, in collaboration with the Gateway Front Foundations.

Recently, the Labour Party in the state confirmed the ex-governor’s membership of the party, just as the Peoples Democratic Party in the state insists that the Federal Government should withdraw all the privileges being accorded the former governor due to anti-party activities.



However, while addressing participants at the workshop with the theme, ‘The Role of Political Actors in Democratic Process’, Daniel said he remained committed to the Jonathan project and would continue to support the President’s aspirations “wherever and whenever.”

He therefore urged all Nigerians to continue to support Jonathan administration at all times.

“Let me state ahead that this sessions are not partisan in any way, but I wish to reiterate for the avoidance of doubt that, as a person, I remain irrevocably committed to the Goodluck Jonathan project, and will continue to support his aspirations wherever and whenever. I wish to urge our people to continue to provide visible support for the administration,” Daniel said.

The former governor, however, lamented the current situation, where many people would veer into politics for their own selfish interests and “not for the common good of the people.”

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/08/21/jonathan-deserves-another-term-i-will-support-him-gbenga-daniel/

It has been confirmed. APC now sponsoring ASUU http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/asuus-n87-bn-cant-be-renegotiated-says-apc/
They have forgotten that d govt has approved 400 billion for infrastructure, beside the 100 billion that Gabriel Suswam raised to support developmental projects in our varsities.
Also, that 30billion has been released for their allowances is enought to send hem Back to school. Now we know the enemies of Nigeria
Isn't ASUU being selfish? I thought they were fighting for infrastructural developments? Now they've exposed themselves.

payless: Arindin! Now let me lecture you on what you don't know.

Not every politicians in PDP are bad. There are many PDP politicians who mean well for Nigeria but the leadership of PDP won't allow them to act in proper manner to help the masses. When those politicians refuse to play ball with the party leadership, they are marginalized and humiliated. There is nothing wrong with those politicians to associate with other parties who share their political beliefs. Most of the politicians who crossover from PDP to APC are the one the PDP perceive as threat to Jonathan's second term. APC have no right to stop anyone; including criminals from being party members. It is left for the leadership to prevent any criminal elements who came from PDP to APC from contesting an election. That is freedom of association guaranteed by the constitution.

You are kidding yourself if you think APC will be giving Presidential ticket to Tambuwal. Buhari will be the nominee of APC.

Ode!

Buhari has nothing to offer, he should retire- Elrufai http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/buhari-has-nothing-to-offer-should-retire-says-el-rufai/

In recent times, d media has been awash with reports accusing the PDP of stagnating d country, as no feasible projects have been allegedly achieved since they came to power. For instance, the common question on the social media is " what have u people achieved in the past 14yrs"? And then the person ends it with a statement like "wait and see, we will push PDP aside come 2015 and give Nigerians the desired change". While Nigerians remain desirous of more change, i believe it is wrong for opposition elements to finger the ruling party party as d bane behind Nigeria's purported stagnation, moreso that development requires the collaborative efforts of the leaders and followers. Let's drop this for another day.

The pertinent question that troubles my mind is, what moral justification does the APC have to accuse d PDP of stagnating d country? How much development has d party brought to states under its radar? When foolish people reveal their foolishness, identify it for them and allow them use their head.
1. The APC has continued to celebrate the presence of some Prominent PDP stakeholders in their midst. Now they are begging d likes of Amaechi, Babangida, kwankwaso, Lamido to join them.
2. The APC today has in its fold Audu Ogbeh who was the National Chairman of the PDP for several years and part of the years they are accusing the PDP of abusing
3. Tomi Ikimi, d man who made his mark during the PDP presidential primaries that brought back Obj ( Obasanjo, Obasanjo and Obasanjo) is now celebrated within the ranks of APC, yet they see nothing wrong in challenging d PDP.
4. These men they celebrate today as APC members were part of the party they are condemning today. If they are saintly, why didn't they effect the change when they were in government? Or is change possible only in APC?
Now they are begging Tambuwal to come and fly the presidential flag, another PDP card carrying member. Is the APC an appendage of the PDP? Do they have any moral ground to talk?

El-Rufai in pain because he's not in govt -- Presidency
2013-08-18 00:24:15
The Presidency on Saturday said 70 per cent of members of the newly registered All Progressives Congress were those the Peoples Democratic Party had rejected.

The, APC, it added  was destined to fail because the emergence  was based on  personal hatred  for President Goodluck Jonathan even when the President was yet to make up his mind for the 2015 race.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin  Okupe, stated this in an interview on Liberty FM, Kaduna,  which  was monitored by our correspondent on Saturday.

"They just go around gallivanting and parading themselves. Who are they? Seventy per cent of their members are former PDP people. So, what new thing are they coming up with?" he said.

He also said the crisis rocking Rivers State was the over dramatisation of the preparation towards the 2015 presidency, claiming that Governor Rotimi Amaechi "is a willing tool, very rich, wealthy, so he is very useful to the opposition."

Besides, he alleged that Amaechi's inability to use the police to harass, intimidate and punish people unjustly also aggravated the situation leading to his hostile relationship with the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu.

"Because Mbu has refused to be a tool in the hands of Amaechi and has refused to bend to the unjustified high handedness of Amaechi, now because he is supported by the opposition, he now presents Mbu as a villain. It is not true. Mbu is a professional man, he is a man of dignity who has remained steadfast," Okupe said.

He  insisted that the APC would collapse because it was built on a faulty foundation which could never stand the test of time.

Okupe said, "They are people that PDP had thrown away. When I said in the newspapers that APC is full of expired politicians, I didn't  mean they are old, no. You can be a young man and be expired.

"They are people whose ideas are no longer relevant to where Nigeria intends to go in the nearest future. They are people who cannot contribute or redirect the ship of state; people who have no fundamentals within them; people who have no ideology except hatred or ethnic chauvinism or personal aggrandisement.

"This is not the change Nigeria wants, these people can definitely not be called messiahs. This is mega nonsense, period."

He took a swipe at former Lagos State Governor and leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, saying Tinubu had conquered the South-West and was out to expand his empire.

"Like Napoleon and others who were on expedition, they want to expand their frontiers. He wants to come to the national stage and expand his business empire," Okupe said.

On the 2011 presidential candidate of the defunct, Congress for Progressive Change, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the president's aide said, "Buhari believes that since (former president Olusegun) Obasanjo was a military head of state and was later elected civilian President, he should also be able to get power under a democratic set up.

On former Minister of the FCT, Nasir El-Rufai's castigation of the President, Okupe said, Nigerians should not take him serious because "he is under excruciating pain that he is not in government."

"If I castigate him, I am doubly qualified to do so. I am his brother and we have very strong family ties that dates back over 21 years. When we were in Lagos, if we were eating inside with his senior brother Bashir, El-Rufai will sit outside.

"So I am not his friend, he is my younger brother and I am in a position, going by the African way, I have the moral right, I have the age, I have the knowledge, I have the experience, I have the position to tell El-Rufai that he is wrong and I am saying it on this medium that El-Rufai must check his ways," he added.


http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/el-rufai-in-pain-because-hes-not-in-govt-presidency/

After his releasen Al Mustapha hhas reportedly visited several prominent nigerians, perhaps to show appreciation for their support. While in detention Or to ultimately announce his return. Emirs, Sultan, Claark, Asari, Fani-Kayode, Gumi, I think Gowon also. The question is, why has He carefully avoided IBB, Abdulsalami, Atiku, and others? Is there bad blood

As 2015 general elections draw closer, political gladiators appear to have taken over some, if not all the media houses and platforms including our beloved interactive forum "NAIRALAND". undeniably, Nairaland used to be an objective site where Nigerians and Foreigners cross-pollinate ideas all in a bid to evolve a new and improved Nigeria. But it appears all these are now history.
Following the registration of APC, moderators of the forum, especially those controlling the politics section have not hidden their disdain for those perceived to be rivals or tend to expose the internal wranglings of the APC. such threads are either closed or removed...does it mean Nairaland collaborates with APC?
below is a link containing a conversation between:
https://www.nairaland.com/938835/lets-complaints-suggestions-enquiries-here/185
https://www.nairaland.com/938835/lets-complaints-suggestions-enquiries-here/186
1. Demdem (m);
2. alaxchiny;
3. take dat; and
4. Moderator Afam4eva
that led to the closure of the post:
https://www.nairaland.com/1399531/pastor-tunde-bakare-blasts-new

Although the office of the first lady isn't a constitutionally recognized position, one cannot deny the popularity that Dame Patience enjoys in the country. Undeniably, she accounts for the mass support the husband enjoyed in the last election, as she was seen traversing almost all the states in the country, campaigning for d husband. Just yesterday, she hosted woman empowerment rally and the whole down was agog.

During the last election, she promised to give women a voice and the issue of 33% affirmative came up. Today we have women occupying key public offices including ministries of Education, finance, Aviation; SEC, CJN, etc. similarly, the orphans, widows and less privilege have benefitted one way or the other from her magnanimity.

Are these the reasons why she commands followership?