₦airaland Forum

Some members of the Senate and House of Representatives on Monday disagreed on the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission to seek time extension for the 2011 elections.



The senators, who spoke separately on the issue with our correspondents, were the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Chief Ayogu Eze; and the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Mr. Victor Ndoma-Egba.



The House members were the Minority Whip , Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; the Deputy Chairman, Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Mr. John Kalipa; and the Deputy Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Labaran Dambatta.



While the senators said that only Nigerians were in a position to decide on time extension, Gbajabiamila, Kalipa and Dambatta said the House would consider any request for such (time extension) by INEC.



INEC had in a statement after its two-day retreat in Calabar, Cross River State, on Sunday, noted that the timeline for the implementation of voter registration and the general elections was too tight.



According to the timetable released by INEC two weeks ago, political parties are to conduct their primaries from September 11 to October 30, 2010. The registration of voters will take place between November 1 and 14. The first set of elections is scheduled to begin on January 14, 2011.



But Eze, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said that time extension would not be decided by the National Assembly but by Nigerians.



Stating that INEC had not forwarded a request for time extension to the Senate, the Senate spokesman said that the request (time extension) would require the alteration of the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act.



“I think we should wait for INEC to formally make its request; we can then begin to consider it from there on its merit,” he said.



On his part, Ndoma-Egba, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said that INEC was not likely to get the support of the National Assembly.



He explained that the issue of time extension would mean that the 2010 Electoral Act and the amended 1999 Constitution would require another alteration.



Ndoma-Egba said, “The timelines are embedded in the constitution and the Electoral Act 2010. It is unlikely that the extension will be possible because members will be having their primaries in a number of days from now.



“If most members don’t get their tickets to return to the National Assembly, you may not have them around after the primaries and you know that to amend the law, a two-thirds majority is required.”



He advised that instead of asking for time extension, INEC should do all within its powers to keep up with the timeframe provided by the law.



“I advise that INEC should go round the time frame that they have now to ensure that the elections are held,” he said.



Gbajabiamila, Kalipa and Dambatta, who also admitted that the new electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution would be amended to accommodate the time extension, said they were optimistic that the House would grant the request.



The three officers of the House of Representatives, also said that the May 29 handover date must be sacrosanct.



Gbajabiamila said that every member of the National Assembly seeking a free and fair election should be able to support the move.



Dambatta said, “Both the 1999 Constitution (First Amendment) and the new Electoral Act specify the number of days elections must be conducted before the inauguration of a new administration.



“So, for us, the amendment should not be a problem, especially if it will lead to credible, free and fair elections.”



Kalipa also said that the House was ready to amend the relevant laws if INEC forwarded a proposal to it.



Kalipa, a lawyer, suggested two options. One, according to him, was for the National Assembly to make a law suspending the current provision on election dates to allow INEC conduct the poll on dates convenient to it (INEC).



The second option, he said, was to go for a wholesale amendment of the provision.



Kalipa said, “In this case, we have to go through the whole process of constitutional amendment again by involving the state assemblies; same for the Electoral Act 2010.



“In whichever way we want to do it, an extension of time must involve changes in our laws.”



The plan by INEC to seek an extension was also supported by the Peoples Democratic Party, the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties.



In different comments by their National Publicity Secretaries — Prof Rufai Alkali(PDP), Alhaji Lai Mohammed (ACN) and Mr. Osita Okechukwu (CNPP) — they described the decision by the electoral body as a timely one.



Alkali, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said that the PDP believed that there was nothing wrong in the decision by INEC to request for the extension of time.



He said that if the request was granted, the PDP would have enough time to campaign.



He said, “Though the party observed that the timetable released by INEC was tight and difficult to follow, it kept quiet so as to avoid being accused of pursuing a third term agenda, but now that the electoral umpire has come out to say it, we will support whatever INEC says.”



The ACN expressed its delight that INEC had finally listened to the voice of reason, especially as there was no way it could adequately prepare for the elections in January.



It, therefore, renewed its call on the National Assembly to suspend the amended constitution so that the commission could have more time to get a new voter register ready.



It said, “For example, by the Action Plan, it would take all of 190 days, starting from August 26, 2010 to be ready for the elections, which means the earliest time it would be ready.



“We must not allow N87bn to go down the drain just because we want to organise elections in January, a date that INEC had to choose just to comply with the law, rather than with reality.”



On its part, the CNPP described INEC’s request for extension of time as genuine and legitimate, adding that in order to get it right this time, it was crucial that the proposal be approved.



The CNPP said, “We had earlier in league with all patriots, the clergy, professional bodies and civil society organisations endorsed the national consensus, which canvassed for an extension of time without prejudice to May 29, to enable the new INEC leadership to do a thorough job.”



When asked if the request for time extension had been forwarded to the National Assembly, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said the commission was still consulting.



He, however, explained that his principal, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had not said elections were not possible in January.



Idowu said, “My boss has said it severally that we can still conduct an election in January 2011 but that if given more time, we can do a better job considering the enormous task ahead.



“As part of our consultations, the Commission is meeting with the leadership of political parties on Tuesday (today) to iron out these issues.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009211574123

KAI MALLAM ATIKU, USA NA KIRA, KANAJI KWO. DAN BARAWO. GO & CLEAR YOURSELF FROM USA, YOU ARE A THIEF THAT SURPOSE TO SPEND THE REST OF HIS BEHIND BAR. IT IS BETTER YOU KEEP SHOT RATHER THAN THINKING OF COMMING TO STEAL MORE MONEY TO CARE FOR YOUR TEENAGE COMCUBINE YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE YOUR GRAND DAUGHTERS.AGBA IYA.

A former National Security Adviser, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau (retd.), and erstwhile Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, have expressed optimism that they will emerge victorious at the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential primaries on October 23.



Gusau and Abubakar on Monday, in Abuja, said they were not discouraged because a sitting President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) was also in the race.



According to them, it is on record that sitting presidents, even in West Africa, have lost elections.



Gusau, who spoke with journalists after meeting with Jonathan in Abuja, said he had resigned as NSA to play an “active part in the 2011 electoral process.”



Though he once contested the Presidency and lost, he stressed, “I will give it a shot again.”



The ex-NSA was in company with his former deputy, Col. Kayode Are (retd.).



His encounter with the journalists ran thus:



Congratulations sir,



It’s not me you should congratulate, it’s him (pointing to Are).



You once ran for the presidency. Why are you running again?



Well, I contested before and I lost the primaries; but I consider that now that I have a chance, I will give it a shot again.



Are you not going against your very good friend, President Jonathan?



No, no, no. This is democracy. This shows how democracy works.



What of your previous association with former military President, Ibrahim Babangida?



It’s excellent. If you go to England, you will find Ed Milliband and David Milliband who are of the same parents contesting.



Are you sure of defeating President Jonathan at the PDP convention?



Well, we will go there, you can’t say you are going to lose.



You have been on this route before, why do you want to try again?



Yes, because I was there, I know how rough it was, I know how it works.



If you win, what will you do for Nigerians?



Many things. I don’t have the time now to narrate all I am going to do. So, when I come for my declaration, I will unveil my plans for Nigeria.



Shortly after he spoke with the journalists, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said that Jonathan had accepted Gusau’s resignation.



Niboro, in a statement added that Gusau, in his resignation letter, informed the President of his intention to play “active part in the 2011 electoral process.”



Niboro’s statement explained that the letter was dated Thursday, September 16, 2010.



The statement noted that Gusau’s resignation took effect from Monday (yesterday), when Jonathan acknowledged the NSA’s wish to quit the government.



The four-paragraph statement, reads, “President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted the resignation of the National Security Adviser, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (retd.).



“Lt.-Gen. Gusau had in a letter to President Jonathan dated Thursday, September 16, 2010, informed the President of his desire to play an active part in the 2011 electoral process.



“Consequently, he requested the President’s permission to vacate the Office of National Security Adviser.



“His resignation takes effect from today, Monday, September 20, 2010.”



The statement was silent on a replacement for Gusau, although it was learnt that he handed over to Are.



Jonathan’s acceptance of Gusau’s resignation on Monday finally laid to rest speculations over the NSA’s position in the government.



Also in Abuja on Monday, Abubakar stated that he would beat Jonathan in the contest for the party’s presidential ticket.



Abubakar, in a statement by his campaign office, declared that he was in the race to win.



He said, “We are in the race to win. And by the grace of God we shall win. We have the most organised, the most democratic and the most competent campaign structure in the country.



“Don‘t let anyone intimidate you that we cannot defeat an incumbent president. I will beat Jonathan in a free and fair contest.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100921201243

This is the most foolish thing that public officers tell us - that Graduates should seek sef employment. Even after years of looting our treasury, our politicians and their children do not seek self employment rather they will kill to get government employment. This same guys will turn around to tell poor half baked graduates (worn out from different strikes) to seek self employment. Meanwhile no developed country and I stand to be corrected tells that to its youths even though it is encouraged. Why does America, Britian etc track unemployment. they should just tell them to seek self employment. It's government's business to provide conducive environment for job creation. Should our numerous Doctors, Engineers seek self employment while the Chineses, Polish and co take over jobs. It's even sadder that Government is not doing anything about vocational training, very soon we won't have artisans again, all Nigerian youths will be capable of doing is ride Okadas

The education minister, Ruqayyatu Ahmed-Rufai, has urged fresh graduates not to depend on white collar jobs after leaving school, saying government alone could not meet the challenges of unemployment in the country.

Mrs. Ahmed-Rufai, who gave the advice at the weekend at the 31st convocation ceremony of the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, said few vacancies that existed in the civil service could not meet the demands of thousands of fresh graduates searching for gainful employment.

She, therefore, charged them to embrace entrepreneurial skills and develop initiatives for self-employment generation, noting that no nation can develop without adequately investing in human capital development.

Represented by the permanent secretary in the federal ministry of education, Oladapo Afolabi, the minister said the education sector was presently being repositioned to enable it play the very important role of providing the much-needed human capital to transform the country to a better place to live.

“The Federal Ministry of Education has taken various steps to transform the sector. One of such steps is the unveiling of the Road Map for the sector in March, 2009,” he said.

“The aim of the Road Map is to provide the much needed qualitative education and to address the four cardinal points of Access and Equity; Standards and Quality; Standards and Quality Assurance; Technical and Vocational Education; Training, as well as Funding and Resource Utilization.”

Upgrade the school

The chairman, governing council of the institution, Grace Ekong, lauded the ministry for its recent move to upgrade the college to a university status. She urged the Federal Executive Council to approve the proposal to elevate some federal colleges of education in the country to degree awarding universities, stressing that efforts had been made in the past towards upgrading the college to an autonomous degree awarding university of education.

“We will still work towards attaining the status. Adeyemi College of Education, no doubt, has on ground, facilities suitable for a university of education and it is already producing degree graduates,” she said.

About 6, 669 students of the institution will be presented with degree certificates, while 4, 068 will have their Nigeria Certificate of Education.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5620989-147/education_minister_advises_graduates_to_seek.csp

She is all to me !

warrior01:
@OP
Whatz this ranting all about? are you ok at all? Can you expatiate on what made them more democratic than others or you just want to post something for 'posting sake'? Please try and take your drugs this morning or kindly go back to sleep.

If you don't have something better to say it will be okay for you to keep your month closed, for i don't see any normal person that will get up in the morning and keeps on saying things that don't make sense at all. feel you are the one that need to take your madness drugs

Mr Goodluck all the way

ibb and atiku should go to bed and sleep! nigeria is not for sales

The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji, has said the north stood to lose should either Gen. Ibrahim Babangida or ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar rise to power again.



The presidential aide also said that President Goodluck Jonathan would spend only one term if elected in 2011.



He said this in an interview in Abuja, on Sunday. According to him, the 2011 presidential race was one between the forces of progress and those of retrogression.



According to him, the aspiration of Jonathan was based on his conviction that Nigeria had stagnated for far too long and needed to be taken to the next level.



Abba-Aji expressed the opinion that Babangida and Abubakar had nothing to offer Nigerians.



He said, “The north in particular and Nigeria in general stood to lose should any of the two assume the presidency.”



However, spokesman for the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu dismissed Abba-Aji’s postulations.



According to him, “It is obvious Abba-Aji does not even know that is happening in his own camp.



“The general consensus is that by 2015 the South-East which has never produced the president should produce one who will be in office for eight years, so what is he (Abba-Aji) talking about?”



Shehu explained that the former vice-president was the man to beat because he had all it took to make Nigeria great.



However, Abba-Aji said President Jonathan was a law abiding Nigerian who had the best interest of the nation and its citizens at heart.



The special adviser said the aspiration of Jonathan was devoid of the baggage of regional ethnic or religious sentiments.



According to him, “President Jonathan is seeking office not for himself but to move Nigeria to the next level.



“The President will be spending only one term after which power will move back to the north.



“Both Babangida and Atiku know that age is not on their side by 2015 that is why they are also saying ‘we will spend only one term.’



“They feel threatened by the possibility of a Vice-President Namadi Sambo coming on board as presidential candidate after the Goodluck presidency. So, they want to short change the north by seeking office in 2011.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009201581779

The Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation has called on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to ignore the call on them to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the party’s presidential primaries.

Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign Organisation, Mr. Sully Abu said the letter by former Finance Minister, Malam Adamu Ciroma and his confederates on Jonathan’s presidential aspiration was a mark of disrespect for the party.

According to him, “The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP has already taken a decision that President Goodluck Jonathan was constitutionally qualified to contest for the 2011 presidency.

“The decision was a product of thorough deliberations and due considerations which benefitted from input by the leadership of the party at the levels of the National Caucus, Board of Trustees, the NWC and the NEC.”
He said the respected northerners who styled themselves “Concerned PDP Members” were acting contemptuously of the capacity and wisdom of the party in resolving the zoning controversy.

Abu stated, “The PDP NEC resolved to maintain the zoning policy and that was a well-thought out decision to accommodate all parts of the country while not undermining the provisions of the constitution by precluding the right of anyone to aspire for the presidency.”

He said he believed that the party would “simply ignore the letter by these northerners” because “having taken a decision on the zoning issue and the propriety or otherwise by President Jonathan to run, the party should be forward looking on the conduct of the congresses and primaries at all levels of elective public office.”


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/sept/20/national-20-09-2010-003.htm

With the spate of declarations of intent to contest the presidential seat in next January’s elections last week, a game of wits, brawn, and strategies has begun. The short time frame especially for party primaries makes it a photo finish. In the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the real contenders are locked in a titanic battle to set the pace.

The self –styled Africa’s largest party is quaking from their mobilizations and win-win obsession. Visible cracks are emerging within the fold. Leaders and members are switching camps with the speed of light. Stability has taken flight. Groups metamorphose and gravitate towards greener pastures like a rolling stone.

Rules are changing. Calculations are the order of day. Principles are crumbling as the gladiators dig deeper for the soul of the delegates.
Former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) formally declared last Wednesday. Same day President Goodluck Jonathan declared on the Facebook, in an apparent show of strategic manouevre. Then came the much awaited waiver to contest from the party for former Vice –President Atiku Abubakar.
The waiver came with all the push and impetus to rev his campaign into motion.

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen Muhammad Gusau finally swallowed the bait to contest and came with a bang. No more the pussy –footing of the earlier days. And like a thunderbolt from the blues Kwara State Chief Executive and outgoing chairman of the highly influential Governors’ forum Dr. Bukola Saraki joined the fray, in a rather rancorous manner.

The last two are in no way minnows, in a race they have the muscle and tapestry.
The stage is now set for a showdown

Battle for the governors
In spite of far-reaching changes in the 2010 Electoral Act, which has drastically pruned down the number of delegates, expunged many automatic delegates and IPS0-facto watered down the powers of almighty governors, the battle had been concentrated on the governors. Intense lobbying, and trade-offs have been trained on them. To rekindle the flame of their relevance, they succeeded in upturning the order of primaries in the party, which runs against the Electoral Act.

The primaries for the governorship ticket, now comes before that of the presidential. This coup of sorts have enabled the governors to retain their primacy of place. The other way round would have been able to put the governors in check, control their penchant for betrayal, and make the presidential ticket race a straight horse fight, especially as voting will be by secret ballot. The new schedule leaves room for governors to call the bluff of blackmail and intimidation and follow their minds.

The raging battle to hoodwink them by the presidential aspirants has no measure of assurance proof. The governors breakfast with IBB in the morning, have lunch with Jonathan in the afternoon with daylight glitz and aplomb, and dine with Atiku under the cover of darkness. The hold on them is fluid and undulating. Even the campaign directors of some of them are still with one leg in another camp. And the subterfuge is not lost on observers.

IBB had written a certain governor in the North West, urging him to appoint campaign co-ordinators for him in the state. The governor obliged him, putting in place a nondescript number of weightless party chieftains. The same governor set up a campaign team for Atiku using key party functionaries, including the state chairman as boss. The script is clear.

While Jonathan’s group prides itself with a catche of as many as 17 of the PDP governors, there are fears that when the hen comes home to roost, the number may shrink to an unbelievable six. IBB’s grandstanding with the governors had been more in the klieglights than what is portrayed. Those that can swim and sink with him are no more than three.

Atiku, the grandmaster of complex underground politicking, last Monday, hosted 11 of them, including two South-South, and one South-East governor. They had a late dinner with him in his Abuja residence.
The rest of the governors appear undecided and are waiting to key in to the one that would best guarantee their best interest.

Ratification of the waiver to contest by the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party is the new tonic, the elixir. It has removed the lid off his campaign, and has brought back the hordes of his associates, who have been waiting in the wings or had switched loyalty. His campaigns headquarters in Abuja has come alive. The moribund states and local government headquarters are swinging into action as they await the delivery of over 3,000 branded vehicles from Germany this week.

The three pace-setters are on a mad spending binge. When fire gutted the PDP headquarters, IBB visited swiftly and pledged to rebuild it. Atiku also acted promptly by releasing N10million instantly to the party to re-build it. This instantaneous response, his free spending capacity, his fabled reward for loyalty, and unceasing building of networks, aided the granting of the waiver to contest, when all hope was lost.

Battle for the delegates
While the go for the governors is on, a raging battle for the delegates is also sustained. Horse trading which took a back seat in the 2003 and 2007 elections is back in full swing. In the new order of things only elected officials like senators, governors, House of Representatives members, state lawmakers are automatic delegates.

The rest would be elected one per local government. Campaign co-ordinators of presidential aspirants have been busy in the last few days negotiating with the delegates with a view to buying them off. This is obviously a re-enactment of the cancelled 1991 primaries of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) which the Late Gen. Shehu Yar’ Adua won with a landslide. It has restored the value of delegates, and brought back shine on the voting process, while reducing the role, and powers of governors.

Aspirants with deep financial war chest are having a field day. Under the table, they are undercutting governors and still fiddling with them.
That perhaps explains why a certain governor in the South-West known to be a well-heeled associate of IBB, also got appointed as Jonathan’s campaign co-ordinator for the zone. Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida is also caught in the trap. For effect, he had to put up two full page advertisements in national newspapers explaining that he is not running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.

He said he is available to play the role he did for IBB on his declaration day for other willing presidential aspirants. In this game of intrigues, Jonathan is the worst hit. Most of those who identify with him in the open, for pecuniary advantages often engage in nocturnal activities that suggest they are deceiving him.

Cliff-hanger
The race like others before it had been one of loyalty, incumbency, and interests nothing more. President Jonathan had been accused of not rewarding loyalty. Except for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, who was duly rewarded with the appointment after the yeoman’s role he played in making Jonathan acting president in the sick days of late President Musa Yar’Adua, others are grumbling, with a feeling of abandonment .

They, too, want to have a go at Jonathan by dumping him at this material time. And what a better way of doing it for effect than rubbing it on his face, by openly identifying with his opponents. The oscillation is more towards Atiku, who they claim has a pedigree of trusting and rewarding loyalists. A particular Jonathan loyalist, a member of the House of Representatives told Daily Sun last week that he has switched camp to Atiku because he felt bruised and left in the lurch after his gallant fight in the House to secure acting presidency for Jonathan.

He lamented that when the House leadership came after him recently, Jonathan did nothing to save him. A Niger Delta leader also complained of the same issue in an interview with Daily Sun.
He said: “Putting your neck for him is a risk. He won’t look your way when you run into problems”. Loyalty is a major step to winning elections and indeed, everything. When there is a bond of loyalty between the leader and the players, you have something called a team. It also goes with trust.

In May 1991, Newsweek and the Washington post carried stories that were of Gen. Collin Powel, who was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War, calling him the reluctant warrior, and accusing him of being disloyal to President George Bush’s prosecution of the war.” soon after these stories appeared, Bush called Powell. “I saw the stories in the paper.

Don’t pay any attention to that” “thank you, Mr. President,” Powell replied “Barbara (Bush’ wife) says hello” added Bush “See ya”. Later that day at a press briefing, Bush took a question on the issue. “Nobody is going to drive a wedge between me and General Powell”, he said flatly. I don’t care how many unnamed sources they claim to have, General Powell is someone I can totally count on. Next question.

The lure of incumbency is another factor that drives the race. The notion that it is hard to beat an incumbent is dictating the pace of the campaign and the support base. Not even the challenge of free and fair polls is compelling enough to engender a freewill comportment and alliances. On this, bridges of loyalties and interests are collapsing. Free dealing and wheeling are retreating, and a seeming scramble for the incumbency pie is on the high swing.

Interests have also become the harbinger of support. Key players are looking at where their bread is buttered; the most. Some leaders look deep for immediate material benefits. In this race, they are many. And that accounts for the proliferation of support groups especially for Jonathan. A minefield of expression of support for an aspirant may on the short run count, but on the long run, the real issues take over.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/politics/2010/sept/20/politics-09-20-2010-001.htm

Peter Osaze Odemwingie admitted it took Roberto Di Matteo’s reading of a riot act at half time to bring the best out of the Baggies in their Saturday's 3–1 derby win over Blues.

Albion went in behind at the break after conceding a soft 15th-minute goal to Cameron Jerome from a set-piece. But it proved to be a game of two halves as Albion stepped up a gear in the second period and put City to the sword with two Odemwingie strikes and a Jonas Olsson header.

"I'm getting a lot of support from my team-mates and fans and that gives me confidence, which I think is translated into performances," said the Nigeria striker.

"What I've noticed so far from my first four games is that West Brom plays better in the second half.
"I think we try to be careful in the first half, to play safe and then go for goal. But (on Saturday) we conceded a goal and then started to doubt ourselves in the first half. "The coach shouted a lot in the dressing room at half-time and told us to concentrate more and play our game.

"Birmingham had some good quality players in the midfield, but I think the players we put in the middle helped us a little bit. "Certainly, the second half was much better and a quick goal helped us to believe and go forward and get three points. We showed a lot of character."

Both Odemwingie's finishes touched Blues defender, Scott Dann on the way into the net, but there was no wrestling the goals away from him as the Baggies’ striker took his season's tally to three in four games. "We've been laughing about the goals," he quipped.

"I will claim the first one. I touched it a little and the defender also did, but I'm claiming it and I've told Jerome Thomas he should claim the assist.”



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2010/sept/20/sports-20-09-2010-001.htm

The coast may have been cleared for former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida to realize his presidential ambition in 2011 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) as the party at its Natioånal Convention yesterday amended its constitution and inserted a new clause allowing former presidents and heads of state to come into the party, vote and be voted for.

This is even as horse trading within and among various camps in the party produced former governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, as its national chairman.

Onu emerged chairman of the party with 3,925 votes, beating Chief Harry Akande who scored 1,479 votes. Shetima Lawal, from Yobe State, emerged the new national secretary of the party.

There have been speculations that General Babangida, a presidential aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had prepared to use the party as alternative platform should his ambition crash in PDP. The obstacle to his use of ANPP, party sources revealed, is the Article 13 of the party’s constitution stipulating that any party member seeking elective public office must have been a member of the party for 12 months consecutively.

However, the newly inserted clause grants waivers to former heads of states and presidents to come into the party and seek nominations, period of membership notwithstanding. The camp of the party’s presidential aspirant and Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, who is perceived to be the target of the new clause said it was not bothered about the the party constitution amendment.

Mr. Vitalis Ajumbe, erstwhile national publicity secretary of the defunct factional Interim Management Committee told Daily Sun that governor Shekarau was not afraid of anyone. According to him, it is the wish of the presidential hopeful to see many other people and contestants coming into the party, adding that no party worth its salt would shut its door against anyone. “If Babangida is coming, he is welcome, we shall meet on the field,” he stated.

Four other national chairmanship aspirants of the party, Dr. Yussuf Musa, Chief George Moghalu, Gambo Mogaji, Chief John Odigie Oyegun and Emma Eneukwu accepted the choice of Chief Onu as they publicly announced that they were stepping down at the Conventiomn ground. Chief Harry Akande rejected the endorsement of Chief Onu saying it was against the letter and spirit of the 2010 Electoral Act and announced his preparedness to go into contest with Chief Onu.

Earlier before the aspirants were asked to say their mind, Akande who was also a former presidential aspirant of the party said he detested the decision of the adoption of Chief Ogbonna Onu as the consensus candidate of the party.

“Some cabals in the party rose from a meeting and adopted one Ogbonna Onu as the consensus candidate asking those of us that have been working for over four months to step down. We are not even sure he picked a nomination form to contest. Now they want to impose him to destroy the party completely.”



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/sept/20/national-20-09-2010-011.htm

The National Security Adviser to the President, Aliyu Gusau, has resigned his appointment. The retired army general is expected to apply to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today in order to run as a presidential candidate in the October primaries.

Although President Goodluck Jonathan accepted his resignation over the weekend, sources revealed yesterday that Mr. Gusau’s resignation letter was originally submitted in July. According to a security source, Mr. Jonathan did not ratify the resignation until after his declaration on Saturday, two months after he received it.

Campaigns start

The source added that both men met on Friday after it became clear that Mr. Gusau was preparing to declare his intent to run for the presidency.

“Gusau’s resignation letter has been sitting on the president’s desk since July,” the source said. “In that time, he has carried on with his duties normally until last week when PDP released the timetable. Obviously, this has not given him much time to prepare his campaign but he still had to act,” the source said.

Mr. Gusau’s deputy, Kayode Are, is expected to be named as the interim security adviser this week.

“The de-briefing was already done on Friday and handover notes will be sent to Col. Are by next week.” the source added.

The former army general confirmed his exit in a brief telephone conversation yesterday. He was, however, reticent about his future plans.

“It was the right thing to do for my family,” he said. “As for the future we leave everything to the will of Almighty God,” he said.

Mr. Gusau’s resignation and its acceptance by Mr. Jonathan has put paid to all the speculations that have been in the air about a month ago over his plans.

President Jonathan had appointed Mr. Gusau as security adviser during the political crisis that rocked the nation following the late President Yar’Adua’s ill health and prolonged absence from office.

Mr. Gusau, who was first named NSA in 1993 during the military rule of Ibrahim Babangida, is resigning at a time wjhen the race for the presidency has kicked off in full force. It is, however, unclear whether he is going to join forces with Mr. Babangida, his former boss, or go it alone to seek the nomination of the party.

PDP coalition

On Friday, Mr. Gusau signed an agreement with three other PDP aspirants, Abubakar Atiku, Mr. Babangida, and Bukola Saraki in which they vowed to present a single presidential candidate from the north.

Mr. Gusau was recalled as NSA during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime and in April, this year, Mr. Jonathan appointed him for the fifth time to serve in the same capacity, taking over from Sarki Mukhtar.

In 2007, he had planned to run in the PDP presidential primaries.

His resignation is one of many expected in the days ahead following Mr. Jonathan’s declaration of intent on Saturday.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5621008-147/gusau_joins_presidential_race__.csp

President of the Senate, Senator David Mark during the weekend said he has examined the options ahead of the 2011 general elections and resolved that Presient Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo ticket remains the best option for the nation.

Senator Mark stated this when he led members of the Alumni Association of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Regular Course 3 on a courtesy call on Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State. He said that the duo possess the right character, integrity and intelligence to lead Nigeria out of the woods.

He urged Nigerians to invest their votes on Jonathan/Sambo ticket in order to be able to actualize their vision and programmes to uplift Nigeria from economic doldrum as enunciated in the manifesto. Senator Mark maintained that the National Assembly has put necessary measures through the Electoral Act 2010 to guarrantee free, fair and credible elections in 2011.

Besides, the President of the Senate stated that under the new Electoral Act 2010, a level playing field has been provided for all candidates believing that the outcome of the polls would meet the yearnings and aspirations of all stakeholders as well as the international community.

On his colleagues, (NDA Course 3) Mark recalled their unquatifiable services and commitment to Nigeria nationhood, saying, “In or out of government, we have continued to serve our fatherland creditably and we will continue to do so in the years ahead because this is our country and we have no other to call our own.”

Earlier in the day, the Senate President was confered with the chieftaincy title of ‘Dan-Isah’ of Lokoja (meaning the Special Adviser to the Emirate Council of Lokoja) by the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Moh’d Kabir Maikarfi III.

During the ceremony, Senator Mark in response to the request by the monarch to intervene in the abandoned dredging of River Niger, dualisation of Abuja-Lokoja road and resucitation of the Lokoja Port assured that government would give priority attention to the projects and see to their completion.

The President of the Senate was optimistic that President Goodluck Jonathan as a listening leader would not see the suffering of the people and look the other way. The Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Moh’d Kabir Maikarfi III had listed the problems in the area to include the abandoned dualisation of Lokoja-Abuja road, Lokoja Port and the stoppage of work on the dredging of River Niger.

In his remarks, Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State said he was proud to be associated with the Alumni Association of NDA Course 3 which has produced eminent Nigerians including the Senate President, former Chief of General Staff, Mike Akihigbe, two former Chiefs of Army Staff, General Alwali Kazir, Victor Malu, Admiral Festus Porbeni, Senator Tunde Ogbeha among others.

Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State who was the Special Guest of Honour said the association which continued to exist even after 40 years of their graduation is one that should be emulated by all.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/sept/20/national-20-09-2010-019.htm

Kwara State governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Bukola Saraki, would, today, flag off his presidential campaign in Abuja, but this event is likely to be overshadowed by the political drama over his succession, which has excited politicians in Kwara State.

Last Saturday, his father and acclaimed godfather of Kwara politics, Sola Saraki, told a gathering of some leaders of the PDP that the party’s governorship ticket would go to his daughter, Gbemi Saraki, who is presently a senator.

But the younger Mr. Saraki, who is said to be supporting the minister of sports, Ibrahim Bio, for the job, has opposed his father, saying getting another Saraki to rule Kwara would ruin his campaign in support of zoning of political offices.

The PDP in Kwara State, in support of the state governor, said it is ready to provide “a level playing field” for everyone aspiring for political offices in the state and will not adopt a candidate that did not emerge through democratic process.

The public relations officer for the party, Isiaka Danmairomo, told NEXT yesterday that the party has not endorsed Ms. Saraki as its candidate for the 2011 gubernatorial election in the state.

“Although we cannot separate ourselves from Senator Gbemisola because she is one of us, but we will ensure that due process is followed by everyone and at the end of the day, the popular candidate among the delegates will emerge,” Mr. Danmairomo said.

The number of intending aspirants is also an indication that the state politicians have “zoned” the gubernatorial candidate to either of the two Sarakis. Mr. Danmairomo told NEXT that only Ms. Saraki and Mr. Bio have obtained the party’s nomination form. The third candidate, Yekini Alabi, is said to be unserious.

Ms. Saraki and her half brother, Mr. Saraki, are seen as the inheritors of their father’s formidable political machine in the state. They also have an uneasy political relationship.

“He [Bukola] probably thinks Gbemisola will probe his tenure and he will lose political relevance in the state, especially because his presidential ambition seems to be making no progress,” said a source close to the family.

Clamouring for the rule of law

NEXT learnt that the Bukola’s camp is now clamouring for “free and fair democratic process,” knowing fully what the elderly Saraki, a second republic senator, is capable of, having “installed” Bukola as the state’s governor, displacing Mohammed Lawal, who was in office from 1999 to 2003.

“We are ready to follow party guidelines,” Momodu, the chief press secretary to Mr. Saraki, said on phone.

A family source who pleaded anonymity warned that the political battle not only threatens the peaceful coexistence within the family, but it may also be an indication that the elder Saraki’s political empire is beginning to disintegrate.

It is common knowledge that he does not change his mind concerning a political candidate he adopts and every candidate he has publicly supported for elective position in the state has won. Even when Mr. Lawal, who is now late, hijacked Saraki’s party, the All Nigeria People’s Party, to contest against Bukola in 2003, the wily old politician simply defected to PDP on whose platform he got his son and daughter elected.

Efforts to reach her and her aide, Lati Jida, for comment, were not successful.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5621034-146/saraki_seeks_presidency_amidst_friction_with.csp

Goodluck Jonathan is actually the Moses of our time and he should try his best to transform Nigeria to better its citizens like what happened in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi etc. May your day be long our Dear President.

The mid-tempo atmosphere in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, got a Fahrenheit boost on Saturday when politicians, public officials, area boys and girls, traders and others of no particular livelihood, stormed the Eagle Square to witness President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of his bid to contest the 2011 elections.



Most people stood for hours in the sun as a show of support for Jonathan, whom many believed could change the nation’s socio-economic fortunes if given the chance and the votes at the polls.



The square could hardly contain the mammoth crowd which surged hither and thither like tidal waves. In fact, the crowd outside the venue was more than the number of people inside as many invaded the arena in support of the President.



The gigantic speakers mounted at strategic places offered maximum audio-visual coverage for those that could not enter the square. The television stations also did a good job as they relayed the event live for those watching from their homes.



The police and other security agencies like the State Security Service had a tough time controlling the people who had come from every part of the country to be part of the big event. No fewer than 8,000 policemen and hundreds of SSS operatives covered the declaration with other para-military agencies such as the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps, and the Federal Road Safety Corps providing support. About 25 Assistant Commissioners of Police took charge of security arrangement, just to ensure that everything went smoothly and, this they succeeded in doing.



Nigerians were again united under the canopy of Jonathan’s declaration as everyone at the square tolerated one another and related like members of the same family in spite of the scorching sun and the discomfort they suffered. The day was, however, not without incident as the Oyo and Osun contingents had an altercation that was brought under control. The Oyo contingents had taken their seats at the covered area of the square, but because they were many, some of them took over the seats meant for their counterparts from Osun State.



When the Osun contingent came, they found that some of their seats had been taken over and thus began an argument which snowballed into a shouting match. Within minutes, the groups began throwing plastic water bottles and pure water sachets at one another and the altercation was about degenerating when security agents moved in and persuaded them to embrace peace.



Artistes who entertained the people with music, gave the event a carnival-like air and thus made the heat more tolerable. Smart businesswomen who had set up bukateriats on the kerbs provided food and drinks for the thirsty and hungry. They made quick money as people kept coming to eat and drink.



A woman who identified herself as Mama Carol told PUNCHMETRO that the moment she heard about the event, she decided to be part of it because she knew she won’t regret it. “I quickly mobilised the girls in my restaurant and also recruited three more girls and I can tell you that it was a worthwhile venture because we could not even satisfy customers who wanted food and drinks. So, while the politicians were doing their thing, we were also doing our own outside the venue, filling empty stomachs and making money. I wish it was a weekly event,” she said smiling.



Hotels and guest houses were also fully booked. Visitors scrambled for high-brow hotels like Transcorp, Sheraton and others, but those that could not get rooms had to lodge wherever they could find accommodation. Jonathan’s election bid turned what might have been an ordinary day in Abuja to a day of economic windfall for young entrepreneurs who sold PDP-branded face caps, umbrellas, handkerchiefs and other odds and ends that could be embossed with PDP or Jonathan’s image.



But while restaurateurs like Mama Carol and hotel proprietors were thanking their stars, taxi drivers were unhappy over the closure of the roads around the square which affected their revenue drive. A taxi driver, Mr. Joe Okafor explained that he could not meet his target because the roads leading to the square was blocked and he had to make long detour whenever he needed to take passengers to Asokoro, Area 11 and other areas close to Eagle Square.



Okafor said, “I thought in the morning that the event may affect business, but my instinct told me that I should try. It was a frustrating day for me because most of the roads around the square were sealed up by security agents and this made it difficult to access certain areas like Aso and other places close to the square.”



The pains of attendees did not end with the event. Many of them had to trek long distances to their destinations as there were no taxis around. A journalist who covered the event, Ezra Ijioma said that he trekked from the square to his office at Herbert Macauley Way, Central Business Area, adding that he almost fainted from the exertion and from standing for about six hours.



For the man that declared, and for those that suffered or profited from the rally, only a free and fair election would justify and perhaps reward the personal sacrifices they made for the succeess of the event.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100920221731

Let be serious with what we have on hands now. These people are more corrupt than nigerians for they it seems always initiate these their series of bribes to get job. Let us not be distracted for the 2011 pulls.

A former executive of a United States company has mentioned an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission in a fingerprint ink pad contract bribery.



The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the former chief executive, Richard Bistrong, admitted in a federal court that he helped to keep $4.4m (about N655.6m) in kickbacks off the books between 2001 and 2006 at Armor Holdings of Jacksonville, Florida, where he was vice-president for international sales.



Dr. Abel Guobadia and Prof. Maurice Iwu were the chairmen during the period that the bribe was offered to the official whose name was not given by the AP.



The former chief executive of the company, which sells body armuor and other protective gear, also pleaded guilty on Thursday to bribing officials of the United Nations and elsewhere overseas to win lucrative contracts.



The bribes included $200,000 paid to the UN officials to win $6m in contracts to provide body armour to peacekeeping forces.



He also said he authorised payments to a Dutch police officer for a pepper spray contract and the Nigerian INEC official for fingerprint ink pads.



According to AP, Bistrong, who is cooperating with the US government‘s investigation into bribery schemes, pleaded guilty to a single conspiracy count that carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.



Judge Richard Leon did not schedule a sentencing date as Bistrong continues to assist with prosecution of others involved in the scam.



The former company chief was charged in January, 2010 as 22 other executives of suppliers to military and law enforcement agencies were arrested in a Federal Bureau of Investigation sting operation. Most were rounded up while attending their industry‘s annual trade show in Las Vegas.



When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said, “I do not see his reported plea as something that should preoccupy this commission.



“He spoke of bribing an unnamed election officer (out of one million and one there) and that was at an unspecified time between 2001 and 2006.



“This present commission, which only came to office at the beginning of July has a crowded schedule planning for the voter registration and upcoming elections than to go looking for a pin in a haystack.”



In documents filed at a US court, Bistrong said that in March 2006, on behalf of the company, he entered into discussions with INEC regarding the sale of Company‘s fingerprint ink pads to the election body.



He said that a month later, April 2006, an INEC official told him that the body would purchase the fingerprint ink pads if the INEC official was paid a kickback on the sale.



According to Bistrong, in Apri1 2006, he advised that the company should not pay the INEC Official directly, but that the INEC Official should designate a company to which the company should pay the kickback, knowing that the kickback would then be passed on to the official.



Bistrong explained that in the same April 2006, he instructed that a kickback be paid to a company designated by the INEC offcial in exchange for INEC‘s purchase from the company fingerprint ink pads, a purchase that was never made.



He added that from 2001 to 2006, the, $4.4m was kept off the company‘s financial books. He said the money was payments to agents and other third-party intermediaries used by the company to assist it in obtaining business from foreign governent customers.



Bistrong said he and others caused the company to send to the end users, primarily government customers, an invoice that included a fee the company would pay to agents. At the same time, a false invoice - a so-called ”net” invoice - that would not contain the amount to be paid to the company‘s agents.



According to Bistrong, the company‘s accounting department will then enter the data from the false ”net” invoices into Company A‘s books and records.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009202175715

That ALL 36 governor’s attended the declaration of GEJ is not an assurance that he will win the pdp nominations, let us not be carried away with that. He is the president and he must be respected, and it shows that those prozoning are more democratic than, the antizoning thugs who want to get it by all cost. it shows that PZ are playing politic without bitterness and must be commended.

Fresh facts emerged on Sunday that intense pressure from the Presidency on northern governors clamouring for zoning and fear of the unknown made them to buckle, and attend President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential declaration on Saturday.



A top Presidency source, who disclosed this on Sunday, explained that Jonathan spoke to the governors one by one, both on the telephone and in person in the Presidential Villa, Abuja before the declaration.



The President, it was gathered, appealed to their emotions, reminding each of them that he was once a governor like them before he left Bayelsa State for Abuja in 2007.



Also, Vice-President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, was said to have held private discussions with each of the governors for a change of heart.



“The result of these series of meetings was what people witnessed with the governors attendance and the unprecedented crowd of last Saturday,” the Presidency source said.



At the Northern governors meeting in Kaduna on July 27, 2010, about 10 governors, eight of which were PDP governors, voted in favour of the retention of the Peoples Democratic Party zoning principle.



The pro-zoning governors are Alhaji Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Alhaji Mahmud Shinkafi (Zamfara); Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Alhaji Usman Dakingari (Kebbi); Alhaji Mohammed Goje (Gombe); Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Dr. Babangida Aliyu ( Niger ); Dr. Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Alhaji Modu Sheriff (Borno); and Alhaji Ibrahim Shakarau (Kano).



Seven governors were known to have voted against zoning at the Kaduna meeting in July.



They are Mr. Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Kogi); Mr. Jonah Jang (Plateau); Mr. Patrick Yakowa ( Kaduna ); Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Alhaji Danbaba Suntai (Taraba) and Alhaji Aliyu Doma (Nasarawa).



Except Saraki and the two ANPP governors (Sheriff and Shekarau), all the pro-zoning governors attended the Jonathan declaration.



Shema is the Jonathan/Sambo campaign coordinator in the North-West.



Besides their attendance, the governors with their other colleagues volunteered to pay for Jonathan’s form with which he expressional his interest to contest for the 2011 presidential election.



Aliyu, who is also the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, shocked the crowd at Eagle Square when he said that he had come to negotiate at the behest of the people.



He stressed that he and his people were afraid that if they did not join the Jonathan train, they might be given what he called “Northern Cameroun treatment.”



Aliyu had said, “I came here on Wednesday, and I am here today (Saturday). People will be wondering what I am doing here today (Saturday). It is because politics is about dialogue; politics is about negotiation; and I have been mandated to negotiate; that my people are afraid.



“They are afraid; that they will have the Camerounian treatment. And we say no, Nigeria is for all of us, and we must all be prepared and dialogue and negotiate and produce the President.



“This is a PDP family affair. And we will not diminish any candidate; no we will not, we will not diminish a candidate because we believe in politics of unity.



“Mr. President, Many of us have participated actively, in the process to ensure your coming because we believe in Nigeria. We believe in the unity of this country.”



The Presidency claimed that governor Aliyu’s position appears to be the new thinking among the hardliners.



The source said, “When they took that position in Kaduna on zoning, the first thing the President did was to call them one by one on the telephone and said, ‘I was a governor like you before I came here.’



“In addition, he invited each of them to the Presidential Villa, where he held private discussions on the matter and that helped. Jonathan preaches peace and he has continually reached out to them.



“Babangida Aliyu’s position reflects the new thinking among those who feel that it should have been the other way round.”



But on Sunday, Aliyu and Lamido, said their presence at the declaration did not mean they had abandoned their position on zoning.



They explained that they attended the declaration because Jonathan was the PDP leader by his position as president.



Aliyu, who spoke through his Director-General of Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji bala Abdulkhadir, said, “The position on zoning was not a personal issue, but it is based on the issue of PDP constitution which allows zoning of elective positions.



“Don’t forget that at the Northern Governors Forum, a decision was reached that the governors must consult with the people of their states before taking decisions and the position we took then apart from tallying with our people was also in line with our party’s constitution.”



Lamido, who also spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Adegbo Onoja, said he was never against Jonathan or anybody contesting the nation’s Presidency.



“My support for zoning is based on principle. Zoning is enshrined in the PDP constitution and if the party wants to change it, fine with me. I am not opposed to Jonathan or anybody running for the President but PDP constitution must be changed in accommodating such position,” Lamido said.



“Don’t forget that the President is the leader of the party, so all party members must be there whether they like his face of not,” he added.



Clarifying the issue as it affected his boss, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Shema on Press Affairs, Mallam Ahmed Maharaza, said the highest organ of the PDP had taken a position on the matter, and there was nothing else to state.



He said, “Don’t forget, Jonathan is the President of Nigeria and leader of the PDP.



So, everybody should be there in recognition of his status. So, everybody went there to give him their support as the President of Nigeria.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009201491964

I hope Fayose has learnt a great lesson now. Every progressive minded people surely support all prossive minded candidate. It’s Quite obvious that Ekiti people needs the collaboration of Fayose & Fayemi so that those. Projects can continue.

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission cannot stop him from contesting the 2011 governorship poll in the state.



Fayose, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC on alleged money laundering charge, spoke in Efon-Alaaye on Friday during a campaign under his new political platform, the Labour Party.



The former governor said that although he was part of the appeal by Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the Action Congress of Nigeria against Governor Segun Oni’s election, he was ready to oust the incumbent governor in the election.



He said, “No EFCC can stop me from contesting this election; even five million EFCC operatives cannot stop me, except a competent court of law.



“I regard the threat from the anti-corruption agency as the ranting of an ant.



“I will come back, I want to come back to lead my people again and give them a new lease of life.



“I have the greatest numerical support among all the politicians in the state and I am confident that if we have a credible election, I am going to win.



“I am still part of the Appeal Court struggle but we cannot leave everything for them. We don’t want to be caught unawares. If Fayemi wins, good luck to him and if the reverse is the case, Oni will surely surrender to me in the next election.”



Fayose added that his party was not ready to file any petition at the Election Petitions Tribunal but would use every means to prevent rigging at each pooling unit on the day of election.



He said the time and resources wasted by those seeking justice through tribunals had shown that it was better to stop rigging at the poll than seeking to reclaim one’s mandate through tribunals.



Stating that having a good case was not enough to win at the tribunal, Fayose said his party would rather use its resources to stop election riggers on the field.



He said, “We are going to curtail them on the day of the election. We prefer to spend our money to stop their rigging than for us to be pursuing a case, which we are not sure of winning.”



The former governor also claimed that there was internal democracy in the LP, saying that the party’s primaries would be credible to ensure the emergence of popular candidates.



He said, “The primaries remain the life-wire of the general elections.



“If you fail to present a popular candidate, what you are tending towards is rigging of election.”



The EFCC and the Code of Conduct Bureau had claimed last month that they they would collaborate to prevent parties from presenting candidates with pending corruption cases in the 2011 elections.



The Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, and her CCB counterpart, Mr. Sam Saba, said this when board members of the bureau visited the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday.



The chairmen renewed their commitment to the fight against corruption and sought a synergy with the Independent National Electoral Commission, political parties, security agencies and the intelligence community ahead of the elections.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009202463879

Ayorinde S:
I don't blame you Wale, I have known you to be against all good intentions and I would be surprise if you could ever made a head way in life.
position belong to God, He will give to whom ever He wishes. OK?

What rubbish are you saying, everybody as is own option if you don't mind don't ever in your life say i will not make head way in life and for your information i have already made head way.

Be cos you are not meant for me

I will react by say I LOVE YOU TOO  

Is there anything bad in someone been left handed

CAn anything good come from him

They will all fail down if they do not go by what Gowon as said

Student protesters today stormed the Abuja headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over the ‘non-trial’ of persons indicted in the bribery scandal rocking American oil company, Halliburton. They also protested over the presidential ambition of General Ibrahim Babangida.

The over 200 protesters sought to know why the anti-graft agency has not charged the suspects to court when it has completed its investigation on the matter. They accused the commission of shielding former president, Olusegun Obasanjo from trial in its investigation of the over $180 million dollars Halliburton case.

Leader of the group of protesters who also circulated a statement from National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Committee, Ondo-Ekiti Axis, Mr. Muslim Maigari accused the commission of bias saying, "high profile suspects are being given the sacred cow treatment by the commission," warning that Nigerians will no longer tolerate such.

The statement by the Chairman, Gbenga Oyebode, and Secretary, Adebayo Olumide of the Ondo-Ekiti Chapter of NANS reads, "We the Nigerian students under our association are very much concerned about what becomes of this country if Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida becomes the next president of this sick nation.

"After a critical review and psycho-analysis of his administration as the head of state in 1988, we wish to remind IBB that the menace in the education sector was as a result of his misadministration when he served as a military president so what right has he to abuse the youths?"

"On this ground, Nigerian students of JCC, Ondo/Ekiti states axis, call on President Goodluck Jonathan to set up another sincere and transparent panel that will see to the allegations against IBB. If found guilty, he should be penalised according to the law.

"We shall organize ourselves (in protest), even in the South-West in general, to drive home our position on his ambition if the Presidency refuses to do something to probe IBB.

"We want to ask, if he has no skeleton in his cupboard, why he refused to appear before the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa panel to defend the entire allegations levelled against him."

The protesting students also chanted anti Obasanjo slogans accusing him of using President Goodluck Jonathan to frustrate investigations into his alleged corrupt practices while he was president.

http://thewillnigeria.com/general/5895-Protesters-Storm-EFCC-Over-IBB-Non-Trial-Halliburton-Suspects-OBJ.html