[quote author=IGBO-SON]All I ask for is a chance for Soludo to contest the elections in November.....under any party logo! We can then leave it to the savy Anambra voter to pick who they feel is best able to take them where they ought to be in this 21st century!

The wicked forces gathered against him know in which direction the pendulum will swing come the day, and thus they feel it's expedient to take the 'final say' away from the people and reside it with a few conniving, self-centred bastards in Abuja and Awka.

If Soludo gets the ticket with another party, he should try and calm GEJs nerves over '2015' and Anambra.[/
quote]

That is why I can never fathom how some people reason at all. So you mean to say despite all GEJ overtly and covertly has done to undermine Soludo's aspirations via all the landmines he has in connivance with the regressive forces laid along his path, soludo should still work for GEJ ambition?? Is nt politics a game of mutual interest? So you are telling him to still work at delivering anambra to GEJ/PDP as if Ndi Anambra's political salvation lies with GEJ alone

touch4mony: he won ngige in the last elections and with him still seating dear he can win it for whom ever he want,belive u me that Anambara nxt governor will not b a house hold name.

So in the vision you saw the next governor would neither be a Chris Ngige or an Andy Uba nor an Ifeanyi Ubah but probably a Willie Obiano-a stooge,a Yes man and a puppet

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is a development wizard! He has a knack for doing amazing things with the mindset of a visioner.

The most ludicrous issue of this 'dead or not dead' about this Shekau man is that the military apparachiks are saying he might have died of gun shot wound sustained since June yet they are just telling us in August...who do we believe

While I do not regal in the nauseating act of savagery being committed by Shekau and his goon,it will do our military authority a world of good to be clinical and nearly spot-on with their pronouncements....the use of the word 'MAY' in the 'killing' of Shekau leaves much to be desired

God save our souls

Abusidiqu.com

Boko Haram Leader, Abubakar Shekau Not Dead

Posted by Editor

Information reaching 2 47ureports.com from a usually reliable source indicates that the recent newsbreak of the possible death of the leader of the dreaded Jihadistgroup, the Boko Haram may have been based on faulty intelligence.

According to recent news reports, the Boko Haram leader was shot in June when Special Forces of the Joint Task Force [JTF] raided the forests of Sambisa in Borno State – from where he escaped to Mali – where he was placed on treatment but the injury became worse and had to be moved to Cameroon by some of his members before he died.

However new emerging details indicate that the forest of Sambisa was deserted by the members of the Jihadist group longbefore the JTF raid in June 2013. It was gathered that the Jihadist group had dispersed from the forest location into other locations in attack formation targeted at other preselected targets in Northern Nigeria – while a significant number relocated out of the country to other brother Jihadists camps in central/eastern Africa for training, fund raising and safe-keeping.

It was also revealed that the leader of the dreaded Jihadist group, Abubakar Shekaunever nears the war front or theater of activity. In words of our source, “he doesn’t go to war fronts” thus debasing the news report of his being gun down at the forests of Sambisa in Borno State.

The source pointed to the release of a video message last week by the Jihadist leader – in which he carried a Sallah message – and a debunk of the story of his death. The source indicated that the factional leader who had claimed responsibility for the gruesome attack on minorities in Sabon Gari Kano – and had been thought to have shot Shekau – confirmed that Shekau was still alive.

But in talking to the JTF spokesman in Maiduguri, Lieutenant-Colonel Sagir Musa, he discounted the video released on August 13 by the Jihadist leader as a fake video. He called it propaganda to encourage the group carry out more violent attacks. But the Director of Defense Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade was not as forthcoming. He refused to confirm the story.

Following the declaration of a state of emergency at the three northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe by the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan, the leadership of the Jihadist group, reportedly, deserted the sensitive areas ofthe aforementioned states – and dispersed to safer areas where they were reported to re-strategize, reequip – and have begun launching attacks – the-likes witnessed of recent on the security forces stationed in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.
-247ureports

Abusidiqu.com

How Atiku Teamed Up With Jonathan, Registered PDM to Weaken APC’s Growth in the North

Posted by Editor

Few days ago, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced the registration of two new political parties, one of which is the Peoples Democratic Movement, A political group that has former vice-president Atiku Abubakar as its leader.

Although Atiku Abubakar acknowledged that the the political group was transformed to a political party by his associates, he maintained that he remainsa member of the Peoples Democratic Party on the ground that he cannot stop his associates from going ahead with theirdecision of forming a political party.
Checks have however revealed that the registration of the PDM is a ploy between the President Goodluck Jonathan and Atiku Abubakar to weaken the newly registered All Progressives Congress, especially in the north which is seen to bea threat to the 2015 ambition of the president.

According to a report by 2 47ureports.com, competent sources within Abuja politicalcircles indicate the former political foes inthe persons of the former Vice President Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and President Goodluck Jonathan may have closed ranks and made up against the upcoming 2015 presidential elections.

This it said saw to the accelerated registration of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), which transformation from a political group to a political party. The registration was said to have been completed within 12 days the application was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a development that has begun to raise eyebrows among informed spectators of the ongoing political mechanizations, especially when compared to the length of time it took to process the registration application filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC).

While the new party may have been formed by friends to the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the processing may have received assistance from top players near and/or within the presidency. According to a source from Abuja who hails from Bayelsa, the transformation of the PDM toa political party was the idea of President Jonathan’s men, the report said.

The source according to report revealed that the President’s men and associates ofAtiku in a bid to stop or slow down the progress of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the north began consultations into forging a working relationship. The idea of PDM transformation was then hatched during one of the meetings, where the Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the People Democratic Party [PDP], Chief Tony Anineh was said to have attended.
READ: Tony Anenih Linked with Newly Registered Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM)

READ: Atiku Abubakar Releases Statement on Report of Floating A New Political Party
Chief Tony Anineh was reported to have worked out financing for the new PDM to enable it set up political structure across the nation. As gathered, the financing was sought through a ‘white elephant’ contract awarded to one of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku’s many mushroom companies. In particular, a $2.6billion oil and gas related contract was hurriedly awarded to Intel Oil Services. The contract award came in early to middle ofJuly 2013.

The PDM, as designed, is to present a northerner for Presidential candidate, most likely Alhaji Abubakar Atiku. The vice presidential candidate is said to be reserved for a south westerner. The north/south west president ticket adoptedby the PDM mimics that of APC.

In talking to a top ranking member of the APC who hails from the north east on whether it is true that the PDP may have funded the registration of the PDM as a political party, he affirmed that the conspiratorial marriage between the PDP and PDM to be true. But he discounted the move as a failure because Atiku has lost his following in the north. His words, “Is true, but they forgot that Atiku no longer commands respect in the North. His followers were already in APC”. The Malam went on to add that “they must have struck a deal with him”.

But an aide to Alhaji Atiku discounts the allegation as a figment of the author’s imagination. In his words “Its figment of their imagination. It’s not true. The truth is that PDP has been hijacked by non-founders except few and they won’t even allow us know what they are doing. I don’t even why my boss is doing in that party. PDM is a transformation of a movement into a legal political entity”. The aide went on to promise that new developments are in the works, “just watch developments in the not distance future, just watch and look”.

Another member of the APC who hails from the south west and a member of the interim national executive spoke regarding the alleged assistance received from Jonathan’s PDP. Interestingly, he discounted the alleged marriage as a ‘nonstarter’. “Atiku was never part of us. In 2011, he voted PDP”, said the APC executive member who carried on to state that in their calculation during the formation of APC – that they never counted on Atiku or his radius of political influence. “If anything, the emergence of PDM will adversely impact the PDP, not the APC”, he explained while adding that the PDM will be breaking away from the PDP not from APC. “But if they join us, wewill welcome the development as a plus”.

Sincere 9gerian: The source-less cock and bull super story is NOTHING but "a tale.Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing"

I'm heart broken that Soludo was disqualified but the propaganda that it was the president that stopped Soludo in APGA cannot fly.

The president did not stop ACN from picking Oshiomole as its flag bearer at the last Edo election. The president did not determine the PDP candidate at that same election. The PDP candidate at the Edo election was the anointed candidate of Tony Anenih not that of the president. The president did not stop Olusegun Mimiko of Labour party at the last Ondo election, neither was the president directly involved in the selection of the PDP candidate for that election.

In fact, of all the elections conducted so far, the president has been directly involved only in that of his home state.

So why should that of Anambra state be different? Was the president not thinking of 2015 when elections was conducted in Ondo and Edo? Why should the president bypass PDP to determine what happens in APGA?

Even if Peter Obi is close to the president, what about Victor Umeh, who has the party structure in the bag and who is not known to be a close associate of the president?

And what will be the benefit if the president picks a candidate for APGA? Will the president conduct the election and announce APGA as winner?

If the president picks candidates for APGA in Anambra, who will then pick the PDP candidate?

And what does Peter Obi or Victor Umeh stand to gain by allowing the president to pick candidates for APGA? Is APGA looking for more federal appointments or what?

The whole cock and bull story does not make sense. APGA does not owe the president ANY favour. On the contrary, it is the president that is indebted to APGA, courtesy of the bloc votes the he gathered from Anambra in 2011. It is the president that should fulfil all the promises he made to APGA before the 2011 elections.

What is playing out in Anambra state is local politics. Peter Obi seems hell bent on handing power over to Anambra north.

If the president, who should be working hard to pay his debt to APGA based on the 2011 elections pact, is crossing party lines to determine what happens in APGA, then ALL the people in Anambra APGA are FOOLS.

Insincere9gerian....spin master extraordinaire

Check this out '' Anambra 2014: Real Reasons APGA Disqualified Soludo…The PDP, Fidelity Bank Connection http:///PU7GFC7Vjn"

eGuerrilla:

While your disappointment is perfectly understandable, I think we need to educate ourselves about precisely what a sponsored bill connotes in Nigerian parlance.





Source

Assuming Soludo remains keen on putting his popularity to the test in the upcoming elections, the only other realistic choice at this stage is to move across to a different party platform.

Bless u Bro for pulling those from the archives!!!

mikeansy:

SERIOUSLY ? anti-gay bill

off all the problems being faced by his constituency, anti-gay bill? what an important priority!

Mazi u sure don't want to grant any respite to Onwa as regards his senatorial performance?? But the crudest fact is that there is little a legislator can achieve whether we like it or not. Even if you sponsored or authored the best bill,you have a herculean task convincing the rest 108 senators to support it before it becomes a law and that is even after the president must have assented it. And don't tell me you don't know the many laws the legislators have passed in which almost all our presidents starting from OBJ down to GEJ have refused to assent which becomes stale after 2yrs unless the bill is vetoed. There is a whole lot of encumberance placed in front of the legislator. There is nothing like executive power...u want to do a road,build classrooms,pay salaries,grant bursaries etc u only have to 'explain to the house of assembly n pronto it is passed. Ngige has unfinished business in the Govt house and I feel he should be assessed based on his ability,competence and experience rather than the party he represents

mikeansy:

were you in Nigeria when Ngige accepted to follow his fellow man to swear before a shrine that he will criminally and illegally remit a certain amount monthly into Chris Uba's account? Just because he wanted to be Governor?

That's what desperation looks like! Grown up men with wife and children at home should be above board on some things they indulge in!

We are talking about a man who to this day has not conceded defeat to have lost the last governorship election and still has an ongoing case in court challenging Peter Obi's re-election but meanwhile since then has contested for Senate and preparing to contest for Governor in 2013. If this is not desperation what does desperation look like?

We are talking of a mean who for 2 years in the Senate has not done much in terms of sponsoring bills, which makes me wonder whether the so called record he had in his short stint as Governor was so that he can drag the people into his personal fight with his estranged Godfather even though his so called wonderful record falls short of the basic duties of an average Governor!

While not holding brief for Ngige a la the Okija shrine thing...I believe he has more than bounced back from whatever that occassion portrayed him to be. Thereby warming his way into the heart of the electorates while his tenure lasted which is still being spoken about till today as a benchmark for success no matter how relative

As for the new fad of misinformation going on about his not having sponsored or authored any bill, I beg to disagree as the Anti-Gay Bill and NHIS bill(amended) is co-sponsored by him. Moreso there is a lot to being a legislator than saying 'ayes' or 'nays'....a very important aspect of their job is lobbying that a federal govt project favourable to their state or constituency be inserted in the appropriation act....you can sponsor a bill n speak all the english under the heavens in the hallowed chamber,if you don't have a capital project lobbied and attracted to your constituency..to me you have failed!!

gtrust: This is a cooked-up rubbish!

Soludo and GEJ are pals!

What is this one saying? Soludo and GEJ pals? You don't seems to know the meaning of the word 'pals'-someone who will always be there for you?? Has GEJ been there for Soludo at any point in time? He commissioned the EFCC to take him up on a contract scam during his tenure as CBN gov(don't tell me the president thru the AGF didn't know that Soludo his pal is to be question or investigated), he gave the go-ahead to his Special Adviser on SURE-P Nze Akachiukwu Nwankpo to also vie for the same post his pal Soludo is interested in, infact Soludo left a party(PDP) his pal is the president Do all those occurences add up or are just mere coincidences to you

Soludo to me has an aura of an accomplished personality who is not likely to kowtow for anybody hence the discomfiture of both Obi and GEJ to wanna trust him with an executive position

I shudder to think how remotely impossible Igbo presidency agenda could ever be actualised when those who are even supposed to champion it dispassionately are the ones negotiating it away

The mannerisms of the APGA high command is akin to a man holding down his daughter for outsiders to come and rape

I can't imagine the president a PDP member tele-guiding Peter Obi an APGA man who should or should nt be given the ticket!!! Yet it is this same man that wants to kill Amaechi for anti-party activities!!!

Peter Obi's body language and demeanour all this while shows that he has a lot to hide! Why on earth will he sponsor 3 governorship candidates just to protect the stench he is trying to hide. He alone asked Willie Obiano,Charles Idigo and Oseloka Obaze to contest with a view that at least one will succeed

Peter Obi is a deceiver-In-chief

Anambra 2014: Real Reasons APGA Disqualified Soludo…The PDP, Fidelity Bank Connection

Few days ago, the screening committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the 2014 governorship election screened out former Central Bank Governor, Chukwuma Soludo and five other on the ground that they do not possess voters card, have issues with their tax remittance and also do not have evidence of sufficient fund to prosecute campaigns for the election.The disqualified six proceeded to the appeal committee of the party which re-affirmed the decision of the screening committee.

While the reasons of the disqualification by the screening committee may have yet to be fully understood by the spectators in the polity, it has been gathered through a consortium of highly competent sources that the disqualification of the six [6] would-be aspirants has more to do with the sedation of APGA as a potent political party – than mere disqualification of a few candidates.

The details point directly to the noxious mix of intrigues emanating firstly, from the desire of the national ruling party to ‘recapture’ Anambra State – and secondly, from the desire of the veiled godfather of Anambra State Governor, Fidelity Bank, to maintain their financial grip on the State.

As a caveat, the background to the surprising disqualification reaches far to the period when Governor Peter Obi and APGA National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh were at loggerheads over the control of APGA – and over what the fate of APGA would be post Peter Obi administration. It was popularly believed Governor Peter Obi wanted to anoint a political godson to take on the controls of Anambra – while Chief Victor Umeh wanted for a more sellable individual to be presented as the APGA candidate. The divergent desires by the two men caused a fracture within the party.

Governor Peter Obi and his men immediately halted all monies [N20million monthly] normally paid by the Anambra State government to Chief Victor Umeh for the upkeep of the party. Chief Victor Umeh reacted to seek refuge with a shady oil mogul by name Chief Ifeanyi Uba – the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil. Chief Ifeanyi Uba was reported to have aspirations of become the governor of Anambra State under the APGA banner. He was said to have taken over catering of the party’s [APGA] day-to-day expenditure. Some quarters indicated he may have remitted N250million to Chief Victor Umeh.

The fracture within the APGA led to the creation of two factions of the party – one led by Governor Peter Obi and his associates – the other led by Chief Victor Umeh and his executive members. The fractionalization then turned into a war of gutter-words between the two factions.The quarrel turned into litigation – and the Peter Obi faction, in their bid to diminish Chief Victor Umeh’s credibility, hurriedly held a midnight convention to remove him as the National Chairman of APGA. One Maxi Okwu was ‘elected’ as the national chairman of the Peter Obi led APGA.

It then became a litigant’s affair. Both Peter Obi and Victor Umeh joined issues at the federal and state high courts. In summation, it was Chief Victor Umeh who scored the final legal knockout of thePeter Obi led group – by his victory at the Federal Court of Appeal in Enugu, Enugu State. Chief Victor Umeh’s group was thenlegally recognized as the group to field candidates for the upcoming gubernatorial and local government council elections in Anambra.

But prior to the legal knockout meted to the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. PeterObi, a group of top stakeholders in Igboland who were concerned over the uncomplimentary fate of the APGA following the death of Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu – and the bickering between Umeh and Peter Obi – decided to take it upon themselves to convene ‘closed door’ meetings over how to resuscitate APGA. The personalities consisted of top ranking monarchs from across the five south east states [including Asaba] and other top personalities – to mention a few are – former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former Central Bank Governor [CBN], Professor Charles Soludo, former Police Service Commission [PSC] Boss Chief Simon Okeke, MASSOB Leader Ralph Uwazurike, Chief Emeka Offor amongst others.

The meetings which were held at the home of Ken Nnamani sought avenues to create a viable and lasting South Eastern party to stand to reap the dividends of democracy to the south easterner in the manner the north and the south west have successfully done. They wanted to join forces and to close ranks to hoist APGA as the logical party for the south easterner. During one of the meetings, Chief Victor Umeh was reported to have attended to table his desires for the party.He was said to have been received well and to have impressed the attendees withthe issues he tabled. With his presentation, he [Victor Umeh] became part of the group.

It was through the groups’ assistance thatChief Victor Umeh secured the favorable Federal Court of Appeals judgment against the Peter Obi led APGA.

Following the court victory, Chief Victor Umeh immediately sought refuge under the wings of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo – ‘pleading’ with him to join the party – and to vie for the gubernatorial ticket. It took Chief Victor Umeh’s sustained pressure in cohorts with other prominent Igbo personalities –who impressed on Soludo that his candidacy under the APGA will jumpstart the rebirth of the new APGA. Reluctantly, the Professor agreed. But before he agreed he gave one condition.He insisted that Governor Peter Obi be brought into fold – that peace must be reached between Chief Victor Umeh and GovernorPeter Obi.

With this, the group agreed and the deal was sealed.

The peace agreement, in summary, went smoothly without much rancor. Chief Victor Umeh tabled his demands and grievances to the group in the presence ofPeter Obi – and Peter Obi did the same. Atthe end, Chief Victor Umeh demanded that the allowances which Peter Obi stopped paying should be paid in addition to other expenses he incurred as the party chairman. He pegged the amount at N1billion. But Governor Peter Obi was willing to pay N600million. After some negotiations, Governor Peter Obi and Victor Umeh agreed on N600million. Governor Peter Obi paid N300million to Victor Umeh in the presence of the group while promising to pay the remainder before the completion of the election exercise.

Governor Peter Obi’s re-introduction into the scheme – along with the peace agreement changed the program almost immediately.

The inclusion of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as a potential aspirantdid not augur well with Governor Peter Obi – who reportedly was still bent on achieving his original plans – which had caused problems with Chief Victor Umeh.

Gov. Peter Obi’s original plan was to handover power to someone that would retain Fidelity Bank as the main banker for the State – and to simultaneously deliver Anambra State to the win column for President Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan in the 2015 presidential elections. This would mean delivering the Anambra to the PDP candidate or to a Fidelity Bank friendly candidate such as Willie Obiano -a top boss at Fidelity Bank.

It was with this foreground that GovernorPeter Obi left the closed door agreement [reached with the select Igbo leaders] to meet with the President to brief him on the resolutions. He impressed on the President that Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo had been asked to join the party to contest the primaries under APGA for the gubernatorial ticket.

Following Peter Obi’s briefing of President Jonathan, the President was reported to have told Peter Obi that Soludo should not be given the ticket under APGA. The President then told Peter Obi to relay the message to Victor Umeh. Peter Obi then asked the President whether he [Peter Obi] should quote him to Victor Umeh, the President answered yes. Peter Obi then returned to Victor Umeh with the message from Mr. President.

With President Jonathan’s interjection, the previously reached agreement became nullified.

On Sunday August 11, 2013, few days remaining to the screening exercise, Chief Victor Umeh placed a call to Professor Soludo asking him to withdraw from the contest. Minutes after Chief Victor Umeh’scall, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu called Professor Soludo asking him to step out ofthe contest – that the President does not want him to contest for the elections. But Professor Soludo was unyielding. Soludo told both Bianca Ojukwu and Victor Umeh that he would not withdraw – that he rather be defeated at the primaries.

Certain that if allowed to participate at the primaries that Soludo might win, the APGA leadership opted for disqualification at the screening stage.

During the screening exercise, the actionsof the 3-man panel depicted what their real intentions were. At first, they called on Soludo to inform him that he will be disqualified based on an ‘incorrect’ answer he gave on one of the questions on the application form. The question was whether he had been arrested before. Soludo had answered no. The screening committee believed that he lied – that he had been arrested by the agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC]. To which, Soludo responded by providing the letter of invitation dated December 2012 which the EFCC had written to him requesting ofhim to visit the EFCC office to clarify someissues – the letter given him 21-days to show up. With the presentation of the letter, the committee switched and responded that since he is being investigated by the EFCC, he cannot contest for the gubernatorial elections under the APGA.

Interestingly, when one of the members of the 3-man panel raised an objection onthe grounds being illegal and unconstitutional – he was shunned by theother two members – stating that “this is not law, this is politics”.

With this, Soludo’s fate in APGA was sealed. Governor Peter Obi got his wish and President Jonathan got his wish.

It is interesting to note the uncanny connection which Fidelity Bank has in theunfolding imbroglio within the APGA andwithin the pending tussle for who to become the next governor of Anambra State.

Following the consolidation exercise, available records show that Fidelity Bank was not able to post a profitable year until Governor Peter Obi’saccession to the seat of Governor in Anambra State. Nearly one year after Governor Peter Obi became governor, Fidelity Bank posted an increase of 219 per cent profit after tax for the third quarter ended March 31, 2007. Fidelity Bank’s growth remained astronomical in the following years.

In 2013, Fidelity Bankannounced a profit before tax of N11.2 billion for the half year ended 30th June, 2013, representing 13.3 percent growth over N9.88 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2012. In 2012, Fidelity Bank announced a growth of 608 percent in its profit after tax for the financial year ended December 31, 2012.

Prior to becoming the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi held the controlling shares at Fidelity Bank and was the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. He still retains ownership of the bank..

What may or may not be coincidence is the emergence of Willie Obiano [from Anambra North] who was – Until recently, Chief Obiano was the number two man at Fidelity Bank Plc, as the Executive Director in charge of Business Banking. Chief Obiano also holds the revered title of Otunba Atayase of Ilemeso-Ekiti in Ekiti State. He hails from Aguleri.
Willie Obiano joined APGA the same day Soludo joined. He was a reluctant to join the race. But he was egged on by Fidelity Bank to join the race.

Prior to Obiano’s final decision to join the race, Governor Peter Obi had presented alternatives to the Bank – in the persons of Oseloka Obaze and Chinedu Idigo. Both are from Anambra north.

But the Bank was said to be unsure of guaranteed loyalty from the two would-be candidates. In the meantime, both Governor Peter Obi and Fidelity Bank exerted pressure on Willie Obiano to join the race. But Obiano was concerned that he may not have the financial muscle or popularity to win a general election in Anambra State. He was also unsure on whether Peter Obi could deliver him.

But Soludo’s entrance changed the desperation decibel for Peter Obi, Fidelity Bank and Obiano.
-

That is the more reason Anambrarians should vote someone who is not subservient to Peter Obi. Soludo tho untested would have been a good choice but for his latest debacle. To me Ngige still remains the best of the lot.

I extend fraternal greetings to all sons and daughters of Urhobo land, politically delineated as Delta Central Senatorial District.

My name is Olorogun (Bar.) Festus Keyamo, born and raised in Ughelli North Local GovernmentArea, but originally from Uvwie Local Government Area. Forlack of adequate space for my full profile, kindly go to

www.deltaforcesunited..

I write this solemn message to you, irrespective of your previous political persuasion or affiliation in Delta State, and irrespective of your previous biases for or against me. I urge you to keep an open mind as you read this, in the earnest expectation that your love for the growth and development of Delta State transcends party politics and even family relationship.

In the inner recesses of our conscience, and whenever we kneel before our Creator to say the truth, we will all agree that our State has been thoroughly underdeveloped by successive governments since the return to civil rule in 1999. Many of us, understandably, may not have spoken out for so many reasons.
Unfortunately, in the face of a smouldering silence, a dynasty of sorts has been created by this set of so-called leaders. And they have perfected the plan to handover from one selected ruler to another, with no interest in the real development of the
State, and without consideration for the real choice of the electorate in free and fair elections. Some of us have been helpless onlookers as our State fell tragically into the hands of brigands, petty thieves, fraudsters, and thugs masquerading as “leaders”. It is very unfortunate. Sadly, wecannot expect any drastic change under such a woeful situation where a set of corrupt and inefficient leaders produce and anoint another set of corrupt and inefficient leaders. The game of
musical chairs will continue and the circle of poverty as a result of misrule will also continue to expand.

It is in the light of this depressing condition that some patriots, early this year, floated the progressive platform, ‘Delta Forces United,’ to aggregate progressive thoughts and bring together all those who hate what is happening in our dear State. History teaches us that it is always a grave mistake not to properly berth a revolution. Consequently, the more than 5,000 registered members of the group have moved en masse into the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) with the clear aim of wrestling power from the devious clique that continues to hold us to ransom in Delta State.

After the launch of the Delta Forces United, it became publicspeculation that I was interested in the Governorship race inDelta State come 2015. Of course I had my eyes on the Governorship race whilst I was mobilizing the Delta Forces United to join the APC, and that, undeniably, still remains my ultimate goal. I will never abandon that goal. However, the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. And he,who is great in smaller things, will be greater in bigger things. In this regard, the Senate seat presents a unique and humble opportunity for me to bring to bear my enduring enthusiasm and skills for the supreme benefit of my people in public office, and to set the tone for the quality of leadership that is to come. That is why I am running for the vacant Senate seat in Delta Central. And if the people give me a pass mark, they will eventually decide whether to pushme forward, or withdraw me from the guber race. Like we say in DFU,
‘na our hand e dey’!!!

I have always been bemused to hear people say I am new to the intricate game of politics. For the avoidance of doubt, letme set the records straight. I was one of the four persons who sat down to conceptualize the National Conscience in 1994 with my late boss, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, and I
was the first Northern co-ordinator of the movement that later metamorphosed into a political party (National Conscience Party). I have also, in the last twenty-one years of my professional career, handled hundreds of cases involving inter and intra-party disputes, which gives me a rare insight into the various intrigues and shenanigans in political parties in particular and politics in general. I have often wondered whether anyone is born with “politician” written on his or her forehead; whether the likes of Comrade Oshiomhole, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Governor
Babatunde Fashola (SAN), and even President Goodluck Jonathan (who was a lecturer) and so many others were “politicians” before they decided to contest for public office.

I believe Delta State deserves a new set of thinkers, even if they are not perfect; a new set of ideas, to inject life into the politics of the State; a new beginning, just to get things right.We, as a people, deserve total freedom from the yoke of bondage. That is why I make no pretence about it
that the central theme of my foray into Delta politics is to dethrone the old order of crass corruption and bad governance and to lead a revolution of real change. We must oppose the succession plan of the PDP. I represent thatreal change because I have never been part of the corrupt system before. I am a fresh face, a clean hand with a well-known track-record. I come to town to add great value and not to destroy. You may hate me or love me; believe or disbelieve me; ignore me or attend to me; but no one can deny that in the last twenty-one years since I qualified as a professional lawyer and started my career with the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, I have always had something to standfor in the public domain. I don’t hide my views nor shirk my responsibility for the good of mankind.

The whole nation knows where I stand at every point in time. And that is a virtue supremely required for the Senate on behalf of the proud and noble people of Urhobo land, and for their profound aspirations to be given a breath of life.

What do I intend to do in the Senate? Though, we have just less than two years left in this Senate session, I intend to get down immediately to brass task. My main areas of interest would include, but not limited to:

(a)Consumer protection

There are inadequate laws in Nigeria to protect the consumers from unfair business practices in the market place. Hence I propose to immediately sponsor a bill to establish a National Trade Commission with a specialized department of Bureau of Consumer Protection. In addition, a legislation akin to the Unfair Contracts Terms Act of 1977 in England will be proposed.

(b)The fight against corruption

I have done a lot of work in this area \as a private citizen and as a lead Prosecutor to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. As a result, I have a fair knowledge of the legal huddles we face in the fight against corruption. Earlier this year, I had forwarded to the National Assembly a detailed proposal for constitutional amendment to check the delay in corruption cases, which is actually one of the major obstacles in the fight against corruption. Kindly google “festus Keyamo proposes ways to speed up corruption trials,” and you will find the details in various sites.

Little did I realize then that I would be presented with the opportunity to be in
the hallowed chambers of the Senate this year to push it through myself. I intend to do just that if given the chance.

(c)The Petroleum Industry Bill

More than three years ago, I was invited by the National Assembly, even as a private citizen, to shed light on the proposed P.I.B. I supported it because of its strong local content opportunity that will benefit my people in Delta State and Niger-Delta in general. My position has not changed, and I intend to push for the passage of that Bill on the floor of the Senate.

(d)Accountability of legislators

I intend to do a quarterly publication of my activities in the Senate to my Constituents and organise regular town-hall meetings. In addition, I also intend to propose a Bill to make it mandatory for all legislators to publish their activities on aquarterly basis. This, without doubt, is essential as a result of the motley crowd in the National Assembly that makes it difficult to keep track of the activities of each and every member of the Senate or House of Representatives. A Bill to compel them to publish their contributions every quarter will keep them on their toes and increase the tempo of activities on the floor of both the upper and lower Houses in the National Assembly.

(e)Power to Appoint Service Chiefs

In an effort to promote democracy and the rule of law, I reasoned that the military must be subjected to constitutional authority. Hence, I proceeded to court a few years ago to challenge the powers of the President to unilaterally appoint Service Chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly. A few weeks ago, the court gave judgment in my favour. I intend
to see to the implementation of that judgment.

(f)Resource Control and Youth Empowerment

I will support the age-long battle of my people in the Niger-Delta Region for the Federal Government to concede more percentage from oil revenue to the oil-producing States like Delta State so we can take better care of our social amenities, our schools, roads and to empower our youths. Youth empowerment will be close to my heart, because that is one of the key solutions to violent crimes in Delta State such as kidnappings, armed robbery, etc.

(g)Corporate Manslaughter Bill

This was a Bill that late Senator Pius Ewherido (who was my very erudite colleague at the Bar, having been called seven years after me) proposed before he passed on. Because of my vast experience in this area of practice of law, I will take a second look at its provisions, make necessary amendments,(if need be) and push for its passage in honour of our fallen
brother, the late Senator Pius Ewherido.

(h) Delta Steel Company

Though this is not a legislative function strictly speaking, I will use the position as Senator to lobby for the resuscitationof this moribund company that was once the pride of the nation. It can help to provide jobs for our teeming youths and take them off the streets.

(I)Consultations

The above agenda is not, in all, exhaustive. No man is an island. Since I represent a large and largely educated constituent, I intend to engage in constant consultations withmy people, and I will be open to suggestions and contributions from them in areas that directly affect us as a people.

So, I will not be an Abuja politician. I will be home every weekend in Uvwie to receive complaints, suggestions, and I dare say, commendations too.

To further achieve my set goals, I intend to erect billboards with phone numbers, manned by my staff, who will receive constant complaints from members of the public, which will be brought regularly to my attention.

Also, I intend to maintain a website for the Delta Central Senatorial District that will constantly update everyone as toour activities in the Senate.

I just need to emphasise that, throughout my campaign, I will not demonise any of the other Senatorial aspirants just because we are running for public office. After all, these areall prominent sons and daughters of Urhobo land. Aspirations for public office should never be a license to destroy our kith and kin who, otherwise, would have been our mentors and heroes. I urge all my supporters to be decent and courteous, but blunt. We are only presenting Festus Keyamo as the BEST’ qualified aspirant, not the ‘ONLY QUALIFIED’ aspirant, for the exalted position.

I am also not at loggerheads, politically, with anyone. All the talk about other political figures cut no ice with me and has not deterred me from holding firm to my unfailing belief of equity and justice for all. I am primarily concerned about doing what I believe would be of great benefit to my people.If emotions run high and my supporters make negative comments publicly or in the social media about other aspirants, please forgive them, but do not attribute those comments to me. I will not descend to name-calling. Throughout my career, I have been bold, constructive,
courageous, but courteous in my engagements. We intend toremain so. We will gladly accept constructive criticisms and comments. But we will not hesitate to reply to any or all negative and false criticisms or comments about me. We may ,unavoidably, be acerbic or caustic (but not abusive) in our reply, but that will be done to serve a germane part of the game.

We are confident that you will share in our unbridled optimism, and we count on your prayers, support and encouragement as we embark on this onerous task. Please remember that one more voice, one more vote, one more support and encouragement from YOU can be the difference.

It is time to take a stand regarding our State, not because the crowd says NO or YES, or the power-brokers say NO or YES or because the ruling party says NO or YES, but we urgeyou to take a stand because YOU BELIEVE IN OUR CAUSE. It is a matter of conscience.
May God guide and guard you as we count on your support.

Yours most trusted,
OLOROGUN FESTUS EGWAREWA KEYAMO

I am surprised there isn't much comment about this topic as of now,it goes to show most youths are very oblivious of the real issues about governance

All they are concerned about is ethno_religious gossip and divisive news! We versus Them mentality...and that is why when crunch time arrives,you will see them take decision based on the flimsiest of all considerations like 'he had no shoes', he is from the minority', make the SS people sef chop their oyel money small', he is ordained by God cos his name is Goodluck', I voted for personality and not the party' only to come and whine just d next day after the election by the time d full import of their peurile decision stares them in d face 4d next 4years

While I will not be totally dismissive of a few truth in dez guys assertions,the fact remains that constant flying of the minority/victim flag will not cut it for me. Does being a minority equals abysmal performance with massive corruption and wilful assistance via inaction to steal crude oil,granting pardon to convicted felons and hobnobbing with every shady characters all in the bid to clinch a 2nd term what a so called minority man can offer?

I refuse to be hoodwinked by the shrill cries of a victimised pussycat....this is not the best we can ever muster as a country. So if the. Next president is gonna come from NW,NE,SE,NC is immaterial. The basic thing for me is ability to shake this country from North to South n deliver a great nation to us after the first 4 years!

There is nothing GEJers will not do all in d desperate bid to control the party apparatus at gun point!

We have seen 16 >19 scenario
They have also toyed with the 5>27 debacle
The present one ongoing is unleashing the moribund EFCC to do 'ojuju calabar' for chidi Lloyd

While the latest experiment is to wrestle the governors to the nomenclature 'Leader' of the party

Pray what is Dictatorship if not this

Methinks someone is mega jittery in all its entirety about 2015!!!

alexchiny:
You said a lot without making much sense! Like i posted earlier, all we Igbos need do is to make APGA the dominant force in the South East and not join a hopeless party like APC. During the merging talks, Tinubu and co reached out strongly to CPC and ANPP, why? because they are/were the dominant force in the north(somehow). Now if APGA where to be a very strong party down east, we can look anybody in the face and say "what do you have to offer"?. Therefore, i call on all well meaning Igbo to massively support APGA and make it a dominant force down east.

Keep deceiving yourself...if u are not careful,your APGA is likely to be subsumed even before you know it and guess who the undertakers would be Same Conservative Igbos in PDP who detest the Regional brand of politics APGA is being positioned to play...Anambra is very shaky at d moment as the PDP dinosaurs are strategizing how to reclaim Anambra again.How can u even explain the volte-face and double-speak of Peter Obi that Power must shift to Anambra North thereby propping up Oseloka Obaze only to start singing a discordant tune after allegedly striking a pact with Charles Soludo. APGA is currently being pulled by the trouser to align with the PDP to support GEJ without any clearcut concession to the Ndigbo as a whole via APGA. I still submit that a plan B is desirable cos even trite law tell us not to put all our eggs in one basket. Is it until d Ndigbo wail,roll on the floor and cover their head with sack clothes before PDP will know that u pipo are being shortchanged

Silly liars! History have it on record that it was Sen Ayo Arise and his cohorts who were arrested with already thumbprinted ballot papers @ Oye Ekiti....when they were discovered,accosted and snapped...the journalists were beaten to a state of coma,their camera n equipment distroyed with a view to distroying vital evidence that the Fayemi govt later used to get the election cancelled and a rerun ordered...!!!

PDP and Hell-sending lies!

What a pity!!! Am sure Orji Uzor will be eternally regretting he foisted this guy on Abians!

alexchiny: @OP. Why are you ashamed of your ethnicity? because its obvious you are not igbo. Now coming to your point, Igbos dont really need APC, all we need is a strong APGA or PDP. Why should we join a regional and religious party like APC? What would be our bargaining chip?. All we Igbos have to do is to make APGA a force to reckon with down east and then use it as a bargaining chip to achieve a collective goal which is the betterment of our people in this hell called NIGERIA!

APC a Regional and Religious party Am sure that is what you have been made to believe...but if u allow common sense,pragmatism and openmindedness to reign you will see the fact that in life,there is always the need for a Plan B in life...in as much as I av no problem wt a strong PDP but do u tynk APGA as presently fragmented,factionalised n disjointed can ever be used as a bargaining chip in PDP? What as PDP availed u since 1999?

The smartest and politically expedient move is to have one-leg in APC from the word go as presently being done by Rochas,Onu,Ngige,Izunaso,Annie Okonkwo cos if ever positions from Presidency downward is to be deliberated upon the SEners would @ least have a say but to think as you people are presently suggesting that d SE can only support the APC unless the presidency is given to u on a platter of Diamond is the height of political naivety!

The PDP/GEJ u have elected to sink or swim with have u extracted a firm promise from him to use the party machinery to support the SE presidential aspiration come 2019 if he fortutiously wins a 2nd term? A promise I know can neva come to fruition owing to the fact that GEJ is not even in control of the entire PDP machinery cos if he were,he himself will not be running from pillar to post to clinch his party primary ticket

nedu666: PEOPLE THINK THEY KNOW THE NORTH VERY WELL YET THEY DONT. ONCE POWER ENTERS THEIR HAND THRU APC. MARK MY WORDS IT WILL NEVA LEAVE THE NORTH. EXCEPT THE YARADU EVENT REPEATS ITSELF. RIGHT BEFORE TINUBU EYES THEY WILL SEIZE THE PARTY, REDUCE HIM TO OBSERVER MISSION, DEAL PDP A FINAL BLOW, POPULATE THE PARTY AND ENTHRONE THEMSELVES AS KINGMAKERS. I PITY WHOEVER IS VICE PRESIDENT THAT PERSON GO SEE SHEGE. BEFORE HIM EYE THEY GO RECOGNIZE EMIR BEFORE HIM. YORUBAS THINK THAT NORTH HAS FORGIVEN THEM FOR THE STUNT OBJ PULLED ON THEM TRU YARADUA.

I know u wrote that from the deep seated animosity you harbour against the hausas hence ascribing every evil machinations against them

Whereas I see the Northerners as fairminded politically...their clamour for power and grouse under the PDP is politically legitimate irrespective of whatever we thot OBJ did or ddnt do to their chance by imposing an invalid on them.

Be that as it may,I know the average northerner doesnot see a yoruba man as an enemy even if they detest OBJ....what they are trying to do which is their constitutional right is to use their numerical strenght to win back political power....others may align or choose not to align with them

But d dangerous trend noticeable in d present Igbo politics of 'e no go beta 4 both Hausa n Yoruba' will lead them to nowhere as 100% votes of the SE n SS can neva deliva 2u d presidency.its best u align n scheme from d inside like d SSners who having tasted power and are now bluffing and throwing tantrums like a spoilt child

Billyonaire: Mr. President wife lost the mum and we got no condolences from Fashola, but this President is examplary in all his ways. I am so proud of him. Meanwhile, may the Souls of all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of the Gods rest peacefully, including Papa Fashola's.

Your heart is full of filth!

It is standard official courtesy and protocol to commiserate with a bereaved iconic personality even if the person is your staunch enemy

That Fashola's or Opposition letters were not published to score cheap and silly political points does not mean they didn't do it

If you have ever worked in an official setting you won't even come up with peurile statements like this

It is people like you who have been putting GEJ in d eyes of the storm all his life by helping him to garner myriad enemies

Even if they do,some people's heart has been sired with iron never to have anything to do with APC and are ready to brand anybody who does so a fool,slave,traitor and all sort of insultive names

Lastline-Ndigbo can not get the presidency on a platter of inaction,insult of other ethnic groups and thru politics of alienating themselves from perceived enemies

ssii: How do they intend to pay off these loans? If our resources are properly managed, do we need to borrow like this? Money lost to oil theft alone is enough to build these infastructure. Truly, we need an upright, God fearing leader that will rule with an iron hand and fight corruption.

We sure need an upright man with a fist of iron cos the way these people are leading us, am not sure we can get to the eldorado

We are currently losing close to 150million dollars everyday to crude oil theft but to one's eternal chargrin,d GEj govt only just whines about it while criminally refusing to do anything about all the economic/militant saboteurs who are being paid billions of Naira as pipeline protection fees yet dis grand theft has not abated for even a second

Even the more than N1 trillion of fuel subsidy money criminally paid out to subsidy thieves have not been recovered yet GEJ prefers to borrow our tomorrow away

God just like u answered our prayers under the yoke of Abacha...pls deliver us from d burden of dis profligate taxmaster!

ba7man: Oga, calm down. Don't you sense the sacarsm in my post??

My bad....sorry for the outburst! I was consumed by a righteous indignation to shoot down that comment which I thot was literary!

Chop Knuckles!!!

ba7man: You're so right, the Presidency specifically told those companies to open up shop in Ogun State and gave them land to operate on.

The market population and ports aren't far off and Ogun isn't as Congested as Lagos.....So its only right that's the next destination for investments.

Filthy liar! 'Presidency specifically told them to open shop in ogun state' u said? What happened to him taking them to Bayelsa state? And gave them land I laugh in Ikale dialect u sure don't know jack about The Land Use Act hence u can shamelessly lie about d Fed Govt giving land to companies....who will iisue them C of O?

bloggernaija: Only a fool will allow this drunkard and his to drive the country into a ditch.
The signs are ominous .
There is a state of emergency in the north now after much hesitance
Why is there no state of emergency in bayelsa where law enforcement agents are being murdered everyday and considering the threats to the national interest.
The economy is in a free fall. Mostly propped up by an artificial oil boom.
Rampant importation has killed almost all the country's industry and is presently killing off the vegetable oil industry(sectional/tribal industry).
For the first time in the country's history, the nation has a confirmed tout has minster of education.
A comfirmed certificate forget as member of the board of university education

In view of all said,d most nerve wracking issue is that Nigerians won't lift a finger when d chips are down.

They will rather die than get rational and think with clarity when choosing a leader