₦airaland Forum

Political Parties
In order for this to happen, the vehicle
of politics, the political parties must be
developed as first class institutions. The
first thing to seek is the “idea” behind
governance (this is often contained in
the program of a political party). This is
very important because the extremes of
left and right ideologies have now
converged around the centre.
If China and Russia are democratizing,
no matter how imperfectly, it is clear
that the communist or socialist ideologies
of economic exchange have proven to
become unsustainable. Conversely,
capitalism in its purest sense has also
had to reinvent itself to remain viable.
Therefore it moved from cash to credit
and credit almost killed it.
The question of ideology is important
because it lies at the heart of choice
making for the people who participate in
election to choose their
representatives. At all times, the welfare
of the people is the central theme for the
canvassing of votes. It is the ideology,
often on economic outlook, sometimes on
social outlook that helps to crystallize the
difference between the political party
machines.
Before concluding on party ideology
(because it can be the subject of a full
lecture itself) let me say that while some
people still delude themselves that there
is no difference between our political
parties, especially the ruling party and
the main opposition, the differences are
emerging daily for those who are
discerning enough to notice.
If on major policy issues such as power,
security, agriculture, corruption and
unemployment the main opposition has
disagreed with the party in Government
and has criticized its choices, I wonder
what else the party needs to do to prove
that there is a difference.
If you look at the level of progress and
development (World Bank poverty
index) in the States governed by old and
new opposition Governors, there is clear
daylight in terms of development. For
example, it is no coincidence that only 2
(two) States, Lagos and Rivers, governed
by APC Governors are executing rail
projects on their own as a mass transit
solution.
The party in government has lied about
when there will be stable electricity for
16 years, and an APC state, Lagos led the
way in showing what is possible with its
power initiatives in Egbin, Akute, Lagos
Island and Alausa. Ikeja and Lekki will
be commissioned this year.
Other APC Controlled states are clearly
Pack Leaders in service delivery across
the religious landscape.The party in
power prefers to continue to import fuel
with the attendant disruptions, and
monumental corruption. It cancelled its
own concession of moribund refineries.
Lagos believes that in a strategic
partnership where it provides land for a
refinery, Nigeria can produce enough
petroleum products for consumption and
still have some to export in 4 (four)
years. The ruling party is now sending a
clear message to the people.
This is what they are saying:-
“We care about you, but you do not need
development so we will not do any
developmental work in 3 (three) years.
In the 4th (fourth) year we will give you
money, kerosene, and rice. Please vote
for us, and use the money we give you to
provide your own roads, schools,
hospitals and security, until we see you
again in 4 (four) years”.
In the last election in Osun, the APC
candidate sought the peoples vote on a
campaign anchored on first his record of
4 years, and a clear developmental and
economic agenda to empower the people
if elected. For the candidate of the other
main party, the election was going to be
a war. So said no less a person than the
Vice-President of our country. A leading
member of that party. The candidate
therefore anchored his campaign on an
intention to CAPTURE Ekiti. For me there
is clear daylight between these two
approaches. Anyone who still pretends
not to see this major economic
ideological difference will not see the
tallest building in the world even if he
stands in front of it.

http://247nigerianewsupdate.co/explosive-must-read-for-all-nigerians-babatunde-fasholas-inspiring-speech-that-shook-presidency/#

“THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNANCE”, BEING TITLE OF
LECTURE DELIVERED BY THE
GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE, HIS
EXCELLENCY, MR. BABATUNDE RAJI
FASHOLA, SAN ON THE BIRTHDAY
ANNIVERSARY OF HIS EXCELLENCY
TIMIPRE SYLVA
I think it is too elementary to attempt
any formal definition of democracy.
It will serve our purpose to say that it is
participatory governance in the sense
that we all have a say, whether we vote
or not. It is also useful to remind
ourselves that participation is largely by
representation; in other words, those
who are old enough to vote and those
who are not, are represented by people
elected to speak, think and act for us.
This part is very important because we
all cannot be in Government, especially
the Executive and Legislative arm, so we
must elect or otherwise choose people to
go there on our behalf.
The problem is compounded by size.
Can you imagine what a Senate or House
of Representatives where all 160 million
of us can sit will look like? From this
point we can see the inherent challenges
that lie in a process of collective decision
making.
In order to further highlight some of the
challenges that lie in democratic
governance, I will share with you a
report of developments across the World
published by Newsweek Magazine on
August 23 & 30, 2010 edition titled “the
Best Countries in the World”, Newsweek
Top 100.
An article by Rana Foroohar posed the
following question before delivering the
report of a survey of 100 nations:-
”If you were born today, which country
would provide you the very best
opportunity to live a healthy, safe,
reasonably prosperous and upwardly
mobile life?”
In the answer, Finland was number 1,
Nigeria was number 99, Ghana was
number 86, South Africa was number 82,
Brazil was number 48, Singapore was
number 20, USA was number 11, United
Kingdom was number 14. Greece, with
its recent economic and debt crises was
number 26, Russia was number 51.
The United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar
and Saudi Arabia, that are not
democracies in the contemporary sense
of the western conception were rated 43,
53, 54 and 64 respectively.
Out of the 53 African countries on the
continent, only 18 made the ranking, the
highest being Tunisia 65, Morocco 67
and Egypt 74.South Africa, which is
reputed to be arguably the best
democracy in Africa and at the time, the
largest economy ranked lower than these
“undemocratic” North African countries
at 82.
As if this was not bad enough, earlier
this year on a business trip to Abu
Dhabi, I was forced to enter into
conversation with a middle aged man of
Arab extraction.
It was in the evening in our hotel. He
had come out to the restaurant to dine
and unwind. I ended up on the same
table with him and he was insistent on
making conversation while he drank a
glass of red alcoholic wine.
In the event he sought to know where I
came from and when I said Nigeria, he
accused our Government of pauperizing
our country when we have oil like his
own country, Saudi Arabia.
When I told him that he was not
supposed to drink alcohol he asked me if
I was going to report to his country.
When I reminded him that his country
was not democratic, he hit me where it
hurts most.
He asked what the value of democracy is
to my own countrymen when his own
countrymen can build hospitals that we
bring our own ailing presidents to.
As if this was not enough, he rounded off
by saying to me that in his country they
see what their leaders are doing with
their money, building roads, bridges,
new airports, schools, hospitals, rail,
shopping malls and generally driving
development, and he at least did not
care about democracy.
Although I felt hurt that he thought very
little of my country, the idea of
freedoms, to think, to speak, to act and
to ask questions is too valuable for me to
exchange for development under an
autocratic or undemocratic government.
So I worry as we must all worry, when I
hear some people say that it is part of
their achievement that they allow us to
express ourselves. Utter Rubbish!
They seek to re-define the relationship
in the social contract. They are to serve
us and not the other way round. It is not
a privilege for us to complain when they
do not deliver.
If the only options left to choose from
were between freedom and
development, I for one will rather
surrender development than freedom.
However, I am however convinced
beyond doubt that democracy can
deliver development and this is the
central theme of my presentation.

To be continued.....

space booked.
comments later

alabiyemmy: U don't seem to know the way Naija politics is played.

Sir why don't you point out, what you feel I don't understand about Nigerian politics. it's a personal though

SirElaw: Nice write-up. Did you write this? Kudos to you if you did.
I however want to draw your attention to a fact Ribadu stated after his defection which a lot of Nigerians have decided to neglect..."The APC is not different from the PDP".
You have, in your protracted denial stage failed to accept this fact but it is a true a day.
Both parties incubate two classes of individuals
1. The power hungry (Ribadu falls in this class)
2. The extremely greedy (who have no interest of the masses at heart rather the interest of pockets)
Many fall into the intersection of these two classes. These men will do anything for their personal interest even if it entails jumping from one party to another and breaking hearts of poor men like you.
Once again...nice write-up

Thank you very much sir.
In Nigeria, it's just about politics of interest, ideology is far from it.

It was like a day dream, it was a day i hoped never came to pass, it was a day i can describe as one of my most shocking moments as a passive active player in Nigerian politics. The rumour has been rife at an alarming rate for weeks, infact the reports of meetings and counter meetings have been tiring, at a point i prayed so hard silently that this nemesis never came to pass.
Alas, on Sunday 17th August 2014, the news spread like wildfire, national and international news agencies alike broke the news, the social media was agog with the shocker of the moment, it was now crystal clear that the former presidential candidate of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria A.C.N, mallam Nuhu Ribadu has finally decamped from the opposition All Progressives Congress A.P.C, to the ruling People's Democratic Party P.D.P to contest the 2014 Adamawa gubernatorial election.
As a keen observer of the Nigerian political terrain for years now, the decamping of Nigerian politicians from one party to the other Is no more news and is always not surprising as we have seen ridiculous decampings in recent years, but sincerely speaking i was astonished by this, may be because of the track record of Ribadu, or because i supported and campaigned for him vigorously in the build up to the 2011 presidential election, it's so shocking because this is the first time if i am not mistaken a politician will decamp when the party needs him most.
We were all witnesses to the break up of the new PDP, and their subsequent decamp to the APC, some might argue that it was also painful, but those ones left because they have grudges with the party, and they seem not needed anymore there hence their departure. Infact, the party mechanism in various states were against most of them. But in the build up to this, Ribadu was the beautiful bride of Adamawa's politics, his party needed him most to outweigh the PDP over there, likewise prove another point politically in the north, the PDP also needed him to curry favour from the people there to show that it's also a credible party, it was as though, Have Ribadu in your party at all costs and win the Adamawa gubernatorial election.
Personally speaking, i don't fancy politicians who move from one place to the other, though sometimes i support those moves especially when you become an unknown being in your party. That is why i will forever appreciate the Asiwaju of Lagos, who has always been in the opposition even when faced with stern oppositions.
I would have supported Ribadu, if he's faced same treatment in the APC, but this was never the case.
This was a Ribadu, whom most have identified as the future of Nigerian politics, whom championed a change in government in order to rescue Nigeria from what it's currently going through. This was a Ribadu, who identified with progressive Nigerians that the major problem of Nigeria is the People's Democratic Party misrule of our nation. This was a Ribadu who did a very good job in the probe of the Subsidy scam as the head only to be swept under the carpet by this same government. This was a man that was lampooned by the presidency when he complained that the country was a sinking ship, after his probe into the subsidy was waved aside. This was a man who was bold enough to navigate the length and breadth of this country to show everyone that he's popular enough to lead Nigeria.
Is Ribadu now telling us that the PDP is good after all. Is he now telling us that all he said in 2011 and after were all lies? Is he telling us now that the problem of Nigeria is not the PDP? Is he telling us that all he did then were all gimmicks to get our vote and he never meant his words after all? Is he telling us now that he's not popular in his state that he needs to move under the umbrella to remain relevant? Is he insinuating that he was just concentrated on ruling Nigerians no matter what? Is he not bothered of how he gets to power?
I remember vividly in 2011, when some analysts said that Ribadu needs to prove himself from his state, before testing popularity nationwide. Then, i thought it was a usual opposition heresy, but i just realised the gravity of such statement and what it means. I now realised that Ribadu was just a joker in the 2011 election, who could not stand tall when he's needed most.
Finally, Ribadu can become the governor of Adamawa state come October 2014(I don't want to imagine him not winning), but he should realise that he's wronged most of us who were his active supporters, he disappointed us and fell for the gimmicks of the PDP, he bid us farewell when we needed him most, and most importantly played on our intelligence in the 2011 elections. Let him realise that he's left a vacuum in the APC, but we remain resolute and still have a firm belief that 2015 will be our year, we can't just put behind us this tough time, but we will continue moving as we firmly believe that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

Barcanista you said some people have already made up their mind about Buhari, while you have also made up your mind against him.
Now, let's accept that Buhari is not the Messiah,
Who are your purported messiahs.

Well shizzle it's unfair for you to abuse the General unfairly, Can't you make your points without abuse?.
barcanista it's either you are not in Nigeria or you don't understand Nigerian politics well. It seems you've forgotten that Nigerians still vote for religious or tribal sentiments.
In contesting against the PDP, the APC really needs a candidate who already has a support base and can pull more votes with the party's hard work. You think just the APC governors can garner those votes neglecting the fact that PDP is very much on ground and has a more popular candidate in GEJ.
Have seen you clamor for kwankwaso in some quarters, well we all know there's a clear difference between the two and we all know who's more popular. The APC have experimented with Ribadu in 2011 and he performed woefully, they won't like to make same mistake this time around with a new candidate.
Unless if PDP is coming with another new candidate apart from GEJ, then APC can do same.
But as it stands now, Buhari is still the only candidate that can give GEJ a run for his money.

barcanista in as much as I strongly disagree with most of your points as they are not factual enough, I want you to realize that the battle to rescue Nigeria from the hands of PDP is never an easy task and shouldn't be taken with levity.
Your assertion that buhari is a fanatic needs to be substantiated unless you also believe that APC is a Boko haram party.
That said, APC is in a fix, and the best they could do now is to present a formidable candidate which is also very popular, especially in their stronghold which happens to be in the north. They should also look for a very good candidate that will divide the PDP votes in the south east and south south because GEJ can never win the south west come 2015(mark my words).

Personally I will really be disappointed in Ribadu if
he joins the PDP for the forthcoming Adamawa
gubernatorial election. But, sincerely this is politics
in Nigeria, anything can happen no matter how
disgusting and silly it seems.

You didn't mention that pathetic liar chino

Yes, the APC is doing a great job here in osun as they show their supremacy here. The people have spoken with one voice and have shown that the people will ultimately have the final decision.
Am really happy today. Aregbesola congratulations in advance.

IGBOSON1: ^^^What change again are they chanting for? The guy has been their governor for the past 3+ years yet they're still chanting for 'change'!

It's like you don't get the drift. This is APC's party slogan. APC CHANGE!!! Just like PDP POWER!!!
Do you understand?

Sincere9gerian: APC "change" ke? Is APC no longer the incumbent in Osun?

Mr man don't behave like an educated illiterate. The slogan of APC is CHANGE!!!

APC has been leading so far in Ede, and people are rejoicing so far in Ede chanting APC CHANGE!!!
It's really celebration galore here in Ede I tell you.

Some confirmed results from Ede:

1.ADC 2 lp 1 ppa1 APC 97 PDP 97 POLLING UNIT 006. OLOGUN AGBAAKIN

2. APC 87 PDP 62.
3.APC 163 PDP 85
4.OJORO UNIT
APC 302 LP 1 PDP 86
5. APC 164 PDP 156

dguyindcorner: RT @gambomanzo RT @DOlusegun: Ballot box snatched in Ife south ward 7. unit 9 #OsunDecides kindly take note @inecnigeria @PoliceNG&mdash

God finish your job.

Hmm na Wa oo

Some results from Ede north:
AJIBOLU UNIT EDE NORTH
PDP 48 APC 150 PPA 1 VOID 17

WARD 3Unit 12 Ede North
APC 128 PDP 55

Well have been to four polling units here in Ede so far at Olusokun ward. Voting is still in progress and has not been concluded. Expecting results very soon

Just4mide: Posted by: OS3002005 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 69; PDP 22; LP 1; OTHERS 97
Poll Unit: 5, IFELODUNG STREET II Ward: ATAOJA 'B' LGA: OSOGBO
Posted by: OS1705010 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 54; PDP 19; LP 0; OTHERS 45
Poll Unit: ST. JULIUS PRY. SCHOOL II Ward: ISEDO II LGA: ILA
Posted by: OS0710002 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 23; PDP 19; LP 0; OTHERS 50
Poll Unit: 33, OJULAREDE ST. (OPEN SPACE) Ward: JAGUN/JAGUN EDE LGA: EDE NORTH
Posted by: OS1101015 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 55; PDP 61; LP 0; OTHERS 291
Poll Unit: ORANMIYAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL Ward: ILARE 1 LGA: IFE CENTRAL
Posted by: OS1011010 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 25; PDP 25; LP 1; OTHERS 53
Poll Unit: MOLOSANOWO VILLAGE Ward: INISA II/AFAAKE/AYEGUNLE LGA: EJIGBO
Posted by: OS3015003 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 52; PDP 3; LP 4; OTHERS 84
Poll Unit: OPP. OLOMU MOSQUE Ward: EKERIN LGA: OSOGBO
Posted by: OS3001010 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 1; PDP 0; LP 0; OTHERS 1
Poll Unit: LASINMI VILLAGE I Ward: ATAOJA 'A' LGA: OSOGBO
Posted by: OS0505007 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 55; PDP 48; LP 0; OTHERS 152
Poll Unit: OSORO/AJEGUNLE VILLAGE Ward: GBELERU OBAALA II LGA: BOLUWADURO
Posted by: OS0505008 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 42; PDP 46; LP 1; OTHERS 79
Poll Unit: BUDO KIRIJI VILLAGE Ward: GBELERU OBAALA II LGA: BOLUWADURO
Posted by: OS2008005 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 57; PDP 25; LP 0; OTHERS 39
Poll Unit: ANIYAN Ward: ELERIN 'B' LGA: IREPODUN
Posted by: OS1201002 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 35; PDP 52; LP 0; OTHERS 0
Poll Unit: L.A. PRY. SCHOOL II Ward: OYI LGA: IFEDAYO
Posted by: OS0307016 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 28; PDP 44; LP 1; OTHERS 0
Poll Unit: ELEKIRI BALOGUN OMOLE, ELEKIRI BALOGUN Ward: GBONGAN RURAL LGA: AYEDAADE
Posted by: OS0609002 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 17; PDP 17; LP 0; OTHERS 43
Poll Unit: OKE MAYE Ward: ISALE ASA IREE LGA: BORIPE
Posted by: OS1502007 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 35; PDP 65; LP 9; OTHERS 94
Poll Unit: OLOBA/BALOGUN Ward: EDUNABON I LGA: IFE NORTH
Posted by: OS0505006 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 73; PDP 25; LP 0; OTHERS 67
Poll Unit: KAJOLA/OGUNDEJI VILLAGE Ward: GBELERU OBAALA II LGA: BOLUWADURO
Posted by: OS2007008 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 35; PDP 30; LP 0; OTHERS 0
Poll Unit: UNITED XTIAN PRY. SCHOOL I Ward: ELERIN 'A' LGA: IREPODUN
Posted by: OS0506007 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 76; PDP 3; LP 0; OTHERS 56
Poll Unit: ARAROMI EDI VILLAGE Ward: OBALA ILORO LGA: BOLUWADURO
Posted by: OS0707009 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 65; PDP 28; LP 0; OTHERS 212
Poll Unit: AGBALE VILLAGE Ward: SABO/AGBONGBE II LGA: EDE NORTH
Posted by: OS2010009 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 75; PDP 45; LP 1; OTHERS 82
Poll Unit: C.A.C PRY. SCHOOL, ERIN Ward: ELERIN 'D' LGA: IREPODUN
Posted by: OS3013009 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 71; PDP 16; LP 4; OTHERS 10
Poll Unit: 20, OLUGUN STREET Ward: EKETA LGA: OSOGBO
Posted by: OS2111018 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 69; PDP 58; LP 0; OTHERS 0
Poll Unit: BAPTIST DAY SCHOOL, ONIKAN VILLAGE Ward: IKIRE 'K' LGA: IREWOLE
Posted by: OS0310001 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 52; PDP 65; LP 2; OTHERS 10
Poll Unit: GBOGBO VILLAGE, GBOGBO VILLAGE, ORILE OWU Ward: ANLUGBUA LGA: AYEDAADE
Posted by: OS1711008 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 53; PDP 44; LP 0; OTHERS 49
Poll Unit: EJIGBO ORANGUN MARKET SQUARE Ward: AJABA/EDEMOSI/ABA ORANGUN LGA: ILA
Posted by: OS1701008 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 47; PDP 24; LP 0; OTHERS 0
Poll Unit: IGBONNIBI TOWN HALL II Ward: EJIGBO I LGA: ILA
Posted by: OS2001012 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 51; PDP 10; LP 0; OTHERS 30
Poll Unit: OPEN SPACE DAGBOLU (III) Ward: OLOBU 'A' LGA: IREPODUN
Posted by: OS0508004 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 30; PDP 31; LP 1; OTHERS 0
Poll Unit: AJEBANDELE VILLAGE Ward: OKE-OSUN LGA: AYEDIRE
Posted by: OS2802005 Aug 09, 2014 View Comments
APC 42; PDP 17; LP 1; OTHERS 59
Poll Unit: IROKIN COMM. Ward: ERIN-IJESA LGA: ORIADE
Posted by: OS0508004 Aug 09, 2014 View Comme

Hmm na Wa ooo.
please what's this OS..... you are posting

Neyoor: Just finished voting here in PU004, ward 02, Irewole local government Ikire with not more than 20 people left on the queue.

Counting 'll soon commence here.

I really appreciate your passionate reportage in this election. You are really a bomb. Let me go out to see what's happening in some smaller polling units.

Well am not here to argue with anybody about APC or PDP, ola6 you have your views, though I don't agree with most of it but I respect it.

So guys what's happening in your units.

ola6: Na only APC dey contest? Why are APC lairs? Is APC the only political party in Osun?

Yes they v are not the only one contesting. But they Are PDP's main challenger. Do you think other parties are viable. you must really be dreaming if you think so, Have you heard of PDP arresting other parties, because they are less significant in the election.
It's not fair for you to accuse APC of lieing because this is real and is happening in the state.

ola6: Some people believe they are the only ones contesting this election. How come no other political party has complained about rigging except APC. They should just shut up because they will be voted out today! By GOD's Grace.

Mr man shut up, as if all the complaints are not true after all. The fact is that it's a fight to finish between PDP and APC. And so far, they have been unleashing the terror on APC.
No matter what the outcome of this election is. The fact is that this is not the democracy we bargained for. unless something drastic happens, we can't really say what will happen next in this country.

Voting has commenced successfully in most polling units in Ede.
I will try to go to some small polling units to check if they have concluded very soon.

Some people just come here and say trash. We are reporting what's happening in osun and you say allegations.
From the reports in the state, it's clear that the PDP are trying to truncate the whole process. Imagine the arrests made from midnight till this morning are alarming. Even two commissioners from the state were not spared, and even the APC spokesman.
In Ede here, there are reports of intimidation of APC party agent in Arin ward 4, just because Adejare bello is voting close to there.
If you want to Analyse issues it's better you do it objectively. Or do you expect the APC to keep quiet when everything is going wrong.

Election has also commenced in some polling units here in Ede at Olusokun ward

The reports making round has not only been scary but intimidating. The PDP are really heating the polity up. Arrests of commissioners and other APC stairways Is unwarranted and uncalled for.
They should please play by the rule and allow the wishes of the people to prevail.

Have been to about 3 polling units about some minutes ago. And I can confirm that, the INEC OFFICIALS are currently on ground. Preparations are in top gear and the party agents are also on ground. People are also coming out for the elections

That's the news in town here in Ede. Imagine Adeleke left his house I.e country home so as to sleep in his family house, but despite that they still went there to ferment trouble.

Why are they so desperate to arrest Adeleke?
Hmm yeye dey smell

^^…
This is straight from the horse's mouth, Let's wait and see as things unfold.