odikimi:

What about Olalekan and Owaifo?

Mind you this communique was released before EFCC, again cleared Danladi. I already stated that the interest of the two retired jurists is enough to warrant suspicions. I have nothing against others

Some of these 'eminent lawyers' have interests in the Saraki case. Justice Belgore(rtd) is like a father to Saraki and both from Ilorin and so has to protect anything affecting Saraki. Justice Oguntade(rtd) also has an axe to grind with Danladi Umar. It was Justice Oguntade who introduced Rasheed Taiwo to Danladi asking that Danladi should help quash the CCT charges against him. Trouble only started after Danladi ruled against Mr Taiwo after Danladi's P.A had allegedly collected almost N2million bribe from Mr Taiwo that he was going to help influence the case.

These two interested parties already tainted the submission of the so called 'eminent lawyers'.

I thought as much

How is APC to know the real Shekau, when the PDP-led Government has killed Shekau more than 3 times. Is PDP trying to reincarnate Shekau again?

This was Okurounmu in 2007. Guess he is now one of the beneficiaries of the N21billion PDP largesse.




In this February 2007 exclusive interview with
Uhuru Times’ ALEX ADESINA in his Abeokuta,
Ogun State home, the then General Secretary of
pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere,
Senator Femi Okurounmu, argued that former
military dictator, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was
the only one among the presidential candidates
that could salvage Nigeria. Excerpts:
SENATOR Abraham Adesanya was at a social
event recently despite his ill health. What is his
state of health and how much does he still
contribute to the running of Afenifere’s affairs
today?
His state of health is, I would say stable. As you
know, his illness is not physical. So, he can walk
around. And he can appear at social functions. You
know that at a time he had stroke. Even if you are
not a medical doctor, you should know that stroke
can have many side effects. Even loss of memory
and things like that. Some of the many after effects
of stroke have made it possible for him to be very
inactive in Afenifere affairs. And that was why he
appointed an acting leader. The circumstances of his
health since he came back (from abroad) are such
that he cannot resume fully. But he is still our
leader. But he cannot participate fully in running
the affairs (of Afenifere). He doesn’t have the
physical strength or the intellectual capacity now to
do that.
The leaders of Afenifere are advancing in age. Yet
the challenges being faced by the Yoruba in
Nigeria does not seem to have changed. How
does your organisation intend to face these
challenges given the fact that your leaders are
not as agile as before?
It is unfortunate that the stereotype of who is a
leader is an old man and I think that is a very wrong
stereotype. In fact, Afenifere must be credited for
taking the initiative many years ago to groom a lot of
young men who can take the place of these aging
people as they aged. But you will see that most of
the Afenifere problems have come from these young
men who Afenifere has been trying to groom.
Unfortunately, nowadays young men are impatient.
They want to do things in such a way that they want
to become leaders overnight without even going
through any learning or grooming period. The
problem of Afenifere in the last three or four years
have been caused by the young men who we
believed that we are recruiting, grooming to take up
leadership positions. But they thought that the
leaders themselves must go and die and to
immediately give way for them. A leader should be
glad to go and retire if these young men learn to
stay along the right path. If they absorb the right
lessons of politics and practice the philosophy of
Afenifere. Then of course the leaders can sit down
and retire like any other father and say that, well
my son has taken over, he will not derail. But
unfortunately, a lot of these young men simply saw
Afenifere as a vehicle that they could ride to archive
their immediate political ambitions. They did not
absorb the discipline. They did not absorb all the
ideals of Afenifere. As a result of that, many of them
got lured by the transient attraction of money and
power. They became indistinguishable in the way
they behaved from those who are not Afenifere.
They begin to go after money. They go after some
body who is in power because; you think you can
use him to get to power yourself even though you
don’t agree with his philosophy. Many of the
young men we were trying to groom became
attracted to instant power and so whoever had
money was always right, whether the person was
acting in accordance with the principles of Afenifere
or not. This has been the tragedy of Afenifere. Many
of the young men we were trying to groom derailed.
And they did not have the patience of absorbing the
proper lessons and discipline of Afenifere.
A successor generation is often proof that the
leadership of an organisation like yours has been
successful. But we are aware that some key
younger elements of Afenifere were responsible
for the split in the organization. What is the
future of Afenifere vis-a vis the younger
generation that would succeed the current
leadership?
I think the future of Afenifere is very bright. Even
the young elements we are talking about and the
younger elements generally are already witnessing
the failure of their own approach to politics in
Nigeria today; that is the politics of using material
things you have to acquire power. We see that it has
failed us. That is why the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) government has failed us. I have no apologies.
The government has failed because the leading
positions in politics today were attracted to power
more because of money, more because of instant
wealth. A lot of our young Afenifere men who
followed them are beginning to see that the people
they follow have nothing to offer. The society is
collapsing right in front of their eyes. Even their
generation is becoming more and more hopeless
because of their own misbehaviour. We must go
back to the path of righteousness. Righteousness
helps a nation, so says the Holy book. A country
where there is no righteousness, where all we have
is greed for materialism, such a country is heading
for catastrophe. That is what Nigeria is doing today.
If I may mention, Gov (Bola) Tinubu of Lagos State
became the only surviving Alliance for Democracy
(AD) governor and earns a lot of money. Of course,
coming from such a state that is very rich, he has a
lot of money to throw around. So, a lot of the AD
people believe that whatever thing Tinubu did was
right, especially those who wanted power. Many of
them followed him, now you don’t need to ask
them before they tell you that Tinubu is a dictator.
When Tinubu criticises Obasanjo, that Obasanjo is
dictator, Tinubu is a worse dictator; seven times over
that of Obasanjo. Tinubu as a critic of Obasanjo
combined Obasanjo in Tinubu himself. He has
worked with two deputy governors unsuccessfully.
He started with Kofo Bucknor-Akerele and now Femi
Pedro who has now decided to chart his own course
independently. Many of his commissioners are now
disillusioned that this is not the kind of man they
can follow.
The result of the recent nationwide census has
been released. What is your assessment of the
figures as it concerns the Yoruba?
I have looked at these figures then seen trends
which contradict. For example, it is an established
fact that a lot of people are migrating towards Lagos.
Lagos is becoming more and more congested
everyday. Without talking of absolute numbers, just
talking about the growth of population, it is common
sense that the fastest growing area in the country
should be Lagos State. I am talking now not in
numbers but rate of growth. For a result to now say
that Lagos is not growing as fast as Niger State not in
absolute numbers now but in growth that must be
fiction. Take the case of Yobe and Borno States; they
are being threatened by the desert. The desert is
encroaching more and more on their territories. The
people are being forced to migrate downwards. But
this census figure is telling us that the north is
growing more than the south. If you look at the
figure they allocated in 1991 and the one they have
allocated this time. they indicate that the entire
southern region is not growing as fast as the north.
This is contradiction.
Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was elected
on the platform of the ruling People democratic
Party(PDP) has defected to the newly registered
Action Congress (AC). How should his case be
handled given the acrimony it has generated in
the polity?
The whole system of governance has been
corrupted. There is not enough regard for decency
and morality any more. Once people abandon what
is right and what is wrong, and they do what is
expedient, all sorts of thing will begin to happen. In
any decent society, a Vice-President who find out
that he can no longer work with his boss either
because they disagree in principle or for whatever
reason, the decent thing to do is to resign. You
cannot stay on as Vice-President to a President,
refusing to leave office and then leading the
opposition against him. It is immoral. On the legal
approach, the constitution says that a president and
Vice -President must come from the same party. One
the Vice-President has abandoned that platform and
has gone to another party that is a violation of the
constitution. But it should be left to the courts to
interpret.
You are a leading member of the newly
registered Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA).
How prepared in specific terms, are you for the
April general elections?
The Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) is a party of
people who believe that through thick and thin, you
must stand for the principles of politics of service,
not politics of opportunities. DPA stands for politics
of service, politics of non-compromise with evil,
politics of decency.
In a surprise move, General Muhammadu Buhari,
was recently adopted as DPA’s presidential
candidate. Critics believe he should not be given
a chance because of his conservative approach to
national issues. Beside, it is believed that your
organisation committed a similar blunder in 2003
when it adopted President Olusegun Obasanjo as
its candidate. What is your reaction?
Human beings must make choices between the
available options. For the Presidential race this year,
the Yoruba race is not in the position to say it will
contest. We have looked for a candidate among the
other political philosophy. Our initial bias was to say
that it is the turn of the south-south to get to the
office of the President. Ever since Nigeria attained
independence, the south-south has never ruled in
this office for one day. But when all the south-south
aspirants themselves withdrew under pressure from
President Obasanjo, we cannot force them to
contest.
Why didn’t DPA come up with one candidate
then?
We can’t just go and pick someone like Obasanjo
that picked Yar’adua. To support a man for
President, he must be a man who has been thinking
about the job, who has been thinking about what he
wants to be the president for. Who has been
working very hard to study the situation in the
country and how he can improve it. Not a man
sitting down enjoying himself, you will now go and
call him to come and be the president. We have to
look at the active aspirants. We have to look at the
active aspirants. We need a president with certain
qualities. Certain level of patriotism and
commitment. But as a result of intimidation all of
them said, we give up. We are now limited to look
towards the north. Buhari, Atiku and Yar’dua.
From these three which one best represents the
progressive ideals? I think it is Buhari.
Questions are being raised about Buhari’s
culpability in the death of some leaders of the
defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). These
include the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo and Prof.
Ambrose Alli. Both men were among scores of
politicians detained in prison when Buhari
aborted Nigeria’s Second Republic. How would
you situate your support for him today with what
he did to these politicians in 1984?
Like I said, you have to choose one that best
approximates your ideals. None of the three leading
candidates form the north is perfect. Every one has
his minus and plus. But the one that best
approximate the progressive ideals is Buhari. The
reason is this: When you talk of human rights record
of Buhari, I agree he might have gone a little too far.
If Buhari had ruled this country for up to eight years
Nigeria will not be the stench it is today. It will not
be an undisciplined country it is today. It will not be
the corrupt country it is today. The Buhari regime
came out to fight all these ills. Even the Bible said
where the evil men are suffering some innocent
men are bound to suffer in the process. I myself I
suffered under Buhari’s regime. I went before
his military tribunal for trial. Fortunately for me I
had enough evidence to proof my innocence and I
was left off. I know as a nationalist and a patriot that
the idea of stopping corrupt people is a very good
one. In fact it is one of the reasons why we need a
Buhari. Nigeria is a country of indisciplined people.
It is a land where people think they can go into
government to steal money and later be crying
human rights. Now when you arrest rouges they talk
of human right, they go to court and ask that EFCC
should not arrest them. I don’t support that kind
of right. The person stealing has violated the right of
millions of people. It is the right of Nigerians to have
free education, free health care services, to live a
good live. Today it has become acceptable that
everybody in high office must steal. We must stop
that, and if that is going to stop, it is someone like
Buhari who can stop it with the cooperation of the
society. When Buhari was Head of State. he did not
steal money compared to Babangida who came to
reverse everything, institutionalize corruption and
all the bad things we have today. Secondly when it
comes to human rights, everybody matures. Buhari
was in his early forties when he became head of
state. He has now had some opportunity to mature.
In the 2004 general election, he believed he was
cheated. He knows what it is to have a democracy.
He contested the result of the election
democratically and constitutionally to the highest
level, the Supreme Court. There are events in life
that changes one’s life. He now knows the
importance of democracy and civil governance. As a
president, he will not combine all the executive and
legislative powers he combined as military Head of
State. In 2005, we marched together in Abuja, and
Buhari, Balarabe Musa, Braithwaite, Ojukwu, and
other progressive were on the streets of Abuja
demonstrating against the dictatorship regime of
Obasanjo. We were being chased by the police. If
you look at Buhari’s programmes, restructuring is
one of his programmes. This is what we have been
calling for. On another note, if you say Buhari did
something to Awolowo it will be wrong to support
him, when we look at those who have done Awolowo
some wrongs, is there any person who is worse than
Obasanjo? What Buhari did to Yoruba progressives
can not be as bad as what Obasanjo did to them. It
was Obasanjo who deprived Awolowo of victory in
1979 and gave it to somebody who was not even
interested in the presidency because an Obasanjo
was not interested in an Awolowo presidency. The
same Obasanjo is who Ebenezer Babatope is
working for today.
A Yoruba has been in the saddle of the nations
affairs for almost eight years now. What is your
assessment of the last eight years and what its
aftermath portends for the Yoruba?
Eight years of Obasanjo administration has been a
complete disaster. Several Yorubas have talked
about Yoruba going to mainstream. Now Yoruba
went into the mainstream with the PDP supposedly
and for the last eight years how has it benefitted us
in anyway? The road between Abule -Egba and
Sango-Otta is impassable after about eight years of
Obasanjo’s rule with Obasanjo in power. Look at
the problem of petrol, in eight years he could not
build refinery that we need to service our people.
We are still importing fuel. Today the refineries are
not any better than he met them when he took over.
Nigerians are still suffering today. Those who
imposed him on us are eager to take power back.
They did not expect him to spend eight years. Many
of them believe he has stepped on their toes, they
are waiting for revenge. As soon as Obasanjo leaves
the place, they will want to exact some pounds of
flesh from us because they believe that Obasanjo
deprived them of certain privileges. The
consequences is that we are going to suffer for his
offences and crimes against those who gave him the
presidency. Obasanjo is now trying to appeal to
them; part of the appeasement is to install Yarâ
€™adua at the expense of the nation. Yar’adua
cannot be a good president for the country. Part of
this appeasement is the census results that have
been released. All these are being done to see that
he remains in the good books of the North and at
the expense of the Yoruba Nation.
The DPA and AC romancing Buhari. How do you
intend to work in a harmonious relationship with
the elements in AC, who you do not seem to like?
The Action Congress has its own presidential
candidate. Neither one is going to step down for the
other. That alliance died the day they were singning
it. There is no way Atiku will step down for Buhari
and there is no way Buhari will step down for Atiku.
They are going to contest against each other.
What is your assessment of INEC’s
preparedness for this year’s election?
When people talk about INEC I laugh because
Obasanjo is INEC. INEC is just an institution
recognized by the constitution. INEC is just as
independent as the police. Obasanjo is INEC.
Obasanjo is the Inspector General of Police. I donâ
€™t believe we can have free and fair election in
Nigeria this year. Already, Obasanjo has decided
who his successor is going to be. He said his policy
must be continued. He has set up a campaign
committee. He is the chairman of the campaign
committee. The president controls INEC. He controls
the police.
But he is an outgoing president……
He will still be there until new president is sworn in.
Until the day the next president is sworn in he is
still the president. Whether Yar’adua wins or he
doesn’t win, he is going to be declared the
winner.
If that is the case, why are the opposition parties
bringing in candidates?
Nigerians don’t face reality.
Are you admitting defeat?
It is not a matter of admitting defeat; I am admitting
reality. If the opposition parties are to live up to
what the people expect of them, they should begin
to protest before the election. In other countries
they would have start protesting right from now.
Performance is hardly a yardstick in assessing
political office holders in Nigeria today. How can
we return the polity to that period when office
seekers will be assessed based on what they
want to do with power instead of the current
practice?
There are three things we can do. First is to reduce
the incidence of corruption and money politics.
Secondly the level of poverty must be reduced. Get
people jobs, get them the means of living. Thirdly,
political education, politics should be what am I
going to do. Make a promise. It is a covenant with
the people. If you vote for me this is what I will do
for you. The people who bastardized the country
deliberately impoverish the people to make the



http://uhurutimes.com/only-buhari-can-save-nigeria-senator-femi-okurounmu/

WombRaiders:
The Shagari Regime Religious Crises (1979-1983)

Although the Sharia provisions were not included in the 1979 Constitution in exactly the same way the Muslims demanded, they at least saw the election and swearing-in of President Shehu Shagari as Allah’s will for Nigeria. With Shagari, a Sokoto prince and a Muslim, Muslims felt that the stage was set for the achievement of the will of Allah: effective Islamization of the country.

And did the Shagari regime Islamize Nigeria? Or did he implement Sharia? Political Sharia only came into existence under a christian President(OBJ). Remember that there are muslims supporting Jonathan's re-election bid. Don't use your hated filled bigoted mind to discourage Jonathan's muslim supporters. For Jonathan to be president, he needs the votes of both christian and muslims

The publication titled, OAU: Reality or Fiction is by itself Fictitious. It is non existent.

Isn't that what he is creating?

Natureboyraph:

I can't help but shed tears after reading ur comment....you use your head, think put sentiments aside...then read your comments again and I'm sure you will see it makes no sense. People fought for our unity, people suffered to keep us united. And now one man is threatening it and you obviously keep seeing these facts from a political point of view......it is not!!! Buhari is Nigeria's problem and he is on a revenge mission to sieze power by all means.....he is xo desperate that even the blind can see and th deaf can hear it

You get brain at all? Reasoning of a wimp.

What happened to the Aviation intervention fund of N300billion, N200billion small and medium guarantee scheme, N75billion grooming enterprise leaders business intervention fund, N100billion textile industry bailout, N200billion for indigenous pharmaceutical companies and many other intervention funds? They have all been siphoned away. This is another food for the boys

We have been growing at an average of 7% in the last 10years but only able to reduce poverty rate by 2.1% and also an increase in unemployment rate by 2%. So how is the economic growth been beneficial to most Nigerians?

awodman:

Don't be shy,go straight to the point...GEJ has nothing to do with our economy experiencing fast economic growth right? The economy is on auto-pilot abi

Did we just start to experience economic growth? Are we even experiencing economic growth or more of jobless growth? Has the economic growth translated into poverty reduction?

Nigeria have been one of the fastest growing economies in the last 10years but is it proportionate in terms of development? No. Economic growth without commensurate development is nothing. Our economic growth has not translated into poverty reduction. What is have is more of jobless growth.

In which sectors were the jobs created? Some people are extracting figures from their anus and creating jobs on paper.

awodman:

China and Qatar are also on the list,what do you have to say about that?

Have we not been experiencing fast economic growth in the last 10 years? Has it translated into any meaningful development on ground? China and Qatar both have responsible leadership.

Another PDP format. Looking for all means to discredit the opposition. PDP dividing Nigeria along religious and ethnic lines since 1999.


When PDP campaigns in the South, they accuse Buhari of fanaticism and trying to Islamize Nigeria. When PDP campaigns in the North, they accuse Buhari of trying to Christianize the North that he has chosen Osinbajo a Christian controlling 5000 churches ad his running mate.

Is it not an irony that poverty stricken Bangladesh and war torn Iraq are also considered as fast glowing economies, meanwhile many in both countries and Nigeria are swimming in a vast ocean of poverty. A paradox

Absolute truth

Ngozi is an honest woman

Demdem:

Vatdaft, Retardeen right

Demdaft

Ile-Ife:


eff you and your President

eff you too. Respect my president

Demdem: Shame on Jonathan.

daftman respect our presido now

Are we going up or down

Ok

Tewonde George, go and sin no more

Otseh: Our president funny oooo. instead of him to tell us how he is dealing with tompolo for not do the work the Govt paid him to do, he is lamenting. what does he want us to do now. he should better be serious before nigeria is completly finished.

N1.5b a day Na wao. Jonathan suppose shame

Nigerian politicians lie for a living

Confusion break bone