Mallam Nuhu Ribadu yesterday shared aspects of his cultural programme with artistes from all over Nigeria, and asked for their support for his presidential bid.
Mallam Ribadu said his cultural programme would be defined by three key elements that include the creation of a national endowment to fund the creative arts, a vigorous and sustained fight against piracy, as well as the promotion of public policy to sustain the creation of market access and infrastructural support for the industry.
The event drew people from various aspects of the arts and entertainment industry. Amongst those present were movie stars and A-listers such as Patrick Doyle, Clarion Chukwura, Femi Brainard, amongst others.
Mallam Ribadu praised the worthy efforts of these people who have placed Nigeria in the international limelight. He noted that progressive governments the world over place much emphasis in the entertainment industry because, artistes promote the ideals of the nation. He promised that if elected into power, his administration would work towards empowering the industry that is currently undermined by piracy and absence of funding for practitioners of the arts.
“In the 70’s artists were coming to Nigeria to record. The recording industry was big but then it crumbled. I understand the challenges of the industry, like piracy, but I say give me three months in my government and I piracy will stop. I will stop it because it is robbery at the highest level. I want to go with you as a vehicle to change the image of Nigeria. There is no better way other than the way you are doing it. You must be part of it.”
First generation Nollywood artiste, Stephnora Okere, who conducted the interactive session thanked all the artistes present for honouring her invitation. She said she had no interest in politics since the first time she voted, her vote did not count. She however has decided to support Mallam Ribadu because of the ideals he lives by. “I am not a politician but I am coming out now to vote because I have seen the person (Mallam Ribadu) who represents what I represent,” she said.
During the question and answer session, Patrick Doyle asked Mallam Ribadu if would incorporate artistes in government when he eventually wins. Replying, Mallam Ribadu noted that “it is impossible to appoint people who have no understanding of an industry to lead it. When I become president, artistes will be in the driver’s seat.”
Babafemi Ojudu a journalist and senatorial aspirant urged the artiste to stand by Mallam Ribadu, as successive governments had taken artists for a ride. Speaking after the event, Femi Brainard of The Bachelors fame said of Mallam Ribadu, “I love his ideas, his foresight. There is every hope for the country if we have many Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s type in government.”
Tony Okoroji, former president of PMAN also declared his support for Mallam RIbadu. “No great nation in human history has been built by cowards and Nuhu Ribadu has shown himself not to be a coward,” he said.
According to Okoroji, “the immediate challenge facing Nigeria is how to uproot people who have made Nigeria their own and it is not a small challenge. But it can be done. We are not going to do it by talking but by networking, using all the technology that is available to us today.”
Saturday, September 25, 2010
79% fail English Language as NECO releases SSCE
Ugochukwu Ezeagwula
At least 870,305 candidates who sat the June/July 2010 Secondary School Certificate examination conducted by the National Examination Council failed to get credit passes in English Language.
This represents 79 per cent of the 1, 113, 177 candidates that sat the examination this year. The remaining 21 per cent of the candidates, however, obtained credit passes in the subject.
The Registrar and Chief Executive, NECO, Prof. Promise Okpala, who disclosed this on Monday in Minna, Niger State while releasing the results, also said that out of the 1,113,177 candidates that sat for the Mathematics exanination, 838,031 or 24 per cent also failed the subject.
The statistics showing the performance of students by subjects indicated that only 245,890 candidates passed English Language with 1,434 distinctions and 244,456 credit passes, out of the 1,116,195 that sat the examination.
It also indicated that 66,519 candidates that sat English had their results cancelled while 66,260 candidates experienced the same fate in Mathematics.
Okpala, however, failed to give the total number of candidates whose performance would guarantee them admission into higher institutions, claiming that it was not the responsibility of the examination body to disclose such information.
The registrar also revealed that the examination body recorded 615,000 cases of malpractices, with Rivers State topping the list with 45,131 cases.
Kaduna State also followed with 41,878 cases; Enugu, 36,904 cases, Nasarawa, 35,510; and Lagos, with 31,904 cases. But the statistics showed that Bayelsa state recorded the least malpractices with 235 cases.
The commonest malpractices, according Okpala, were mass cheating, which recorded 452,027 cases; aiding, abetting, seeking and receiving help from non-candidates, 87,778; while 13,456 cases of cheating were detected at marking venue.
Okpala said the results were released 68 days after the last paper, adding that the approach was consistent with new standards set by the council. He said that 1,143,169 candidates registered for the examinations nationwide but that 1,132,357 candidates sat the examination.
He asserted that the council had put in place structures that ensured that appropriate standards and excellence were maintained in the examination process.
According to him, the structures guaranteed the security of question papers while the use of external monitors from tertiary institutions and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ensured discipline in the examination.
“Our examination question papers have continued to undergo reliable and valid processes of examination administration, monitoring and computation to arrive at credible certification,” he said.
At least 870,305 candidates who sat the June/July 2010 Secondary School Certificate examination conducted by the National Examination Council failed to get credit passes in English Language.
This represents 79 per cent of the 1, 113, 177 candidates that sat the examination this year. The remaining 21 per cent of the candidates, however, obtained credit passes in the subject.
The Registrar and Chief Executive, NECO, Prof. Promise Okpala, who disclosed this on Monday in Minna, Niger State while releasing the results, also said that out of the 1,113,177 candidates that sat for the Mathematics exanination, 838,031 or 24 per cent also failed the subject.
The statistics showing the performance of students by subjects indicated that only 245,890 candidates passed English Language with 1,434 distinctions and 244,456 credit passes, out of the 1,116,195 that sat the examination.
It also indicated that 66,519 candidates that sat English had their results cancelled while 66,260 candidates experienced the same fate in Mathematics.
Okpala, however, failed to give the total number of candidates whose performance would guarantee them admission into higher institutions, claiming that it was not the responsibility of the examination body to disclose such information.
The registrar also revealed that the examination body recorded 615,000 cases of malpractices, with Rivers State topping the list with 45,131 cases.
Kaduna State also followed with 41,878 cases; Enugu, 36,904 cases, Nasarawa, 35,510; and Lagos, with 31,904 cases. But the statistics showed that Bayelsa state recorded the least malpractices with 235 cases.
The commonest malpractices, according Okpala, were mass cheating, which recorded 452,027 cases; aiding, abetting, seeking and receiving help from non-candidates, 87,778; while 13,456 cases of cheating were detected at marking venue.
Okpala said the results were released 68 days after the last paper, adding that the approach was consistent with new standards set by the council. He said that 1,143,169 candidates registered for the examinations nationwide but that 1,132,357 candidates sat the examination.
He asserted that the council had put in place structures that ensured that appropriate standards and excellence were maintained in the examination process.
According to him, the structures guaranteed the security of question papers while the use of external monitors from tertiary institutions and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ensured discipline in the examination.
“Our examination question papers have continued to undergo reliable and valid processes of examination administration, monitoring and computation to arrive at credible certification,” he said.
2011: Groups accuse Sylva of insincerity
Ugochukwu Ezeagwula
A group, Concerned Peoples Democratic Party of Bayelsa State, has accused the state governor, Mr. Timipire Sylva of insincerity in his handling of the party in the state.
The spokesperson for the group, Chief Furoebi Akene, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, said the governor had refused to accommodate all the factions of the party in the state, despite entreaties by the PDP National Working Committee which called for a fresh congress in the state.
It, therefore, said the presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan could be jeopardised if the party allowed the state government to use an illegal executive to conduct the congress.
The group alleged that the votes from the congress would then become a nullity since the executive was not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said the electoral body had in a letter dated June 23, 2010 and signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama, listed Bayelsa as one of the states, where its congresses were annulled.
He said, “You will agree with us that in times like this when political activities have reached a fever pitch, there is need for all and sundry to apply justice and fair play.
“As loyal party members, we are worried that the present state of affairs in the party in Bayelsa State is extremely precarious: INEC has repeatedly warned that PDP candidates that will emerge from states (Bayelsa inclusive) where congresses were not conducted or properly conducted in year 2008 will not be recognised.
“The consequence of this is obvious—it will spell doom for our great party in the general elections.”
Apart from this, the group also alleged that the state governor was planning to pick delegates for the primaries, in spite of the avowed commitment of the national secretariat to a fair contest.
“Political developments and the situation of the party executive in the state clearly indicate the ominous sign that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, governor of Bayelsa and his handpicked nominees will be automatically returned as PDP candidates without a level playing field, in clear contradiction to Mr. President the commitment to conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
“Specifically, we have been informed that the executives at the ward, local government and state levels, who will be delegates in the forthcoming primaries of the party, remain those the NWC and the INEC have long declared not duly elected.
“If an agency of government says what you want to do isn’t known to law, then, it is a nullity. If you insist, it shows high handedness and disobedience to law.
“If an executive isn’t known to law and every action taken by the body isn’t known to law, that means our votes for the presidential primary election could be a nullity.
Responding, Sylva said on Monday that he was not surprised at the comments credited to the group.
Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Nathan Egba, who spoke on Sylva’s behalf, said if the politicians were sure of themselves, they should prepare to face the people.
“There is no reason to attempt to discredit a process that has not even started. If they have confidence in their capacity, they should prepare for the primaries instead of blaming their lack of popular acceptance and imminent failure on others,” he said.
Meanwhile the chairman of Sylva’s faction of the PDP, Chief Rufus Abadi, resigned from the party on Monday.
A group, Concerned Peoples Democratic Party of Bayelsa State, has accused the state governor, Mr. Timipire Sylva of insincerity in his handling of the party in the state.
The spokesperson for the group, Chief Furoebi Akene, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, said the governor had refused to accommodate all the factions of the party in the state, despite entreaties by the PDP National Working Committee which called for a fresh congress in the state.
It, therefore, said the presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan could be jeopardised if the party allowed the state government to use an illegal executive to conduct the congress.
The group alleged that the votes from the congress would then become a nullity since the executive was not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said the electoral body had in a letter dated June 23, 2010 and signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama, listed Bayelsa as one of the states, where its congresses were annulled.
He said, “You will agree with us that in times like this when political activities have reached a fever pitch, there is need for all and sundry to apply justice and fair play.
“As loyal party members, we are worried that the present state of affairs in the party in Bayelsa State is extremely precarious: INEC has repeatedly warned that PDP candidates that will emerge from states (Bayelsa inclusive) where congresses were not conducted or properly conducted in year 2008 will not be recognised.
“The consequence of this is obvious—it will spell doom for our great party in the general elections.”
Apart from this, the group also alleged that the state governor was planning to pick delegates for the primaries, in spite of the avowed commitment of the national secretariat to a fair contest.
“Political developments and the situation of the party executive in the state clearly indicate the ominous sign that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, governor of Bayelsa and his handpicked nominees will be automatically returned as PDP candidates without a level playing field, in clear contradiction to Mr. President the commitment to conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
“Specifically, we have been informed that the executives at the ward, local government and state levels, who will be delegates in the forthcoming primaries of the party, remain those the NWC and the INEC have long declared not duly elected.
“If an agency of government says what you want to do isn’t known to law, then, it is a nullity. If you insist, it shows high handedness and disobedience to law.
“If an executive isn’t known to law and every action taken by the body isn’t known to law, that means our votes for the presidential primary election could be a nullity.
Responding, Sylva said on Monday that he was not surprised at the comments credited to the group.
Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Nathan Egba, who spoke on Sylva’s behalf, said if the politicians were sure of themselves, they should prepare to face the people.
“There is no reason to attempt to discredit a process that has not even started. If they have confidence in their capacity, they should prepare for the primaries instead of blaming their lack of popular acceptance and imminent failure on others,” he said.
Meanwhile the chairman of Sylva’s faction of the PDP, Chief Rufus Abadi, resigned from the party on Monday.
A NEW NIGERIA, OUR TIME IS NOW - Ribadu's letter to Nigerians
My Brothers and Sisters,
It is with deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility that I
am writing to inform you of my intention to join politics and seek
your support to participate in the forthcoming general elections.
I am joining politics because the principles and values in which I
believe have obliged me to do so. A new Nigeria, a better Nigeria, is
not only possible: it is something we desperately need. After
extensive consultations across the country with opinion leaders,
political figures, youth activists, the business community and – above
all - with ordinary Nigerians, I am convinced and encouraged by the
fact that millions of Nigerians share my belief in those principles;
and for that reason I would like to inform you of my intention to
contest for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
We are a hard-working, proud and God-fearing people. Despite the
sacrifices and achievements of so many. 50 years of independence has failed to deliver a nation that can make us proud. In other words,
most Nigerians have yet to appreciate the true meaning of independence or see the benefits from it.
We see division where there should be unity, poverty amid plenty and
fear instead of justice. Our common resources have been plundered for the benefit of a tiny minority. The rich get richer, the poor get
poorer. Armed robbery and violent crime are commonplace; honest hard work goes unrewarded. The framework of law and order, the foundation of all civilized communities, is breaking down.
Where government should have shaped progress, too often at all levels, corruption and incompetence have held us back. It is more than a decade since the military returned to barracks but we have yet to build a genuine democracy based on integrity, accountability and the will of the people.
The past might have been cloudy but the future can be bright, and as
the saying goes, it is better to light a candle than continue to curse
darkness. Now is the time to move forward.
With the love of God and country, I believe I am capable and can play
a great role in fixing Nigeria. I have served Nigeria all my life: as
a police officer, prosecutor, architect of an unprecedented
anti-corruption initiative and, from the heart of the federal
government, a leading advocate of economic and political reform.
I am not a politician. But I have seen how politics works and I am
here because of where we are as a nation and where I fear we are
headed. In office, what I said I would do, I did. This same promise I
make now: together we will re-establish the rule of law and do away
with the culture of impunity, inertia and helplessness. We will once
and for all kill the cancer that is corruption.
We should be able to feel safe in our homes, and proud of our schools
and hospitals. As parents, should be able to look forward to a better
future for our children. We should have the electricity, water and
public services that even our neighbors take for granted. There must
be jobs for our youth and empowerment for our women. We must have a political culture that earns and deserves respect by its deed and actions.
This is my pledge to Nigeria.
I intend to achieve these goals through hard work, respect for our
people and an inclusive sense of a patriotism that celebrates all that
is best about our diversity: together, we are so much more than the
sum of our parts. I will run a transparent and accountable government.
I will assemble a competent team and allow dialogue but most
importantly, I will be a listening leader.
I believe Nigeria can be turned into a country that makes us proud and I am encouraged by the mood of change sweeping the nation today. We must have free and fair elections, the people must decide and their mandate must be honoured. Let us debate honestly and openly about our policies and vision for the future; and on our record in public life in the past.
Let us seize the opportunity of the moment to build a new Nigeria. I
want to put myself in the lead to bring this desired change.
Details of my programs will follow in due course but for now I ask for
your support.
It is with deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility that I
am writing to inform you of my intention to join politics and seek
your support to participate in the forthcoming general elections.
I am joining politics because the principles and values in which I
believe have obliged me to do so. A new Nigeria, a better Nigeria, is
not only possible: it is something we desperately need. After
extensive consultations across the country with opinion leaders,
political figures, youth activists, the business community and – above
all - with ordinary Nigerians, I am convinced and encouraged by the
fact that millions of Nigerians share my belief in those principles;
and for that reason I would like to inform you of my intention to
contest for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
We are a hard-working, proud and God-fearing people. Despite the
sacrifices and achievements of so many. 50 years of independence has failed to deliver a nation that can make us proud. In other words,
most Nigerians have yet to appreciate the true meaning of independence or see the benefits from it.
We see division where there should be unity, poverty amid plenty and
fear instead of justice. Our common resources have been plundered for the benefit of a tiny minority. The rich get richer, the poor get
poorer. Armed robbery and violent crime are commonplace; honest hard work goes unrewarded. The framework of law and order, the foundation of all civilized communities, is breaking down.
Where government should have shaped progress, too often at all levels, corruption and incompetence have held us back. It is more than a decade since the military returned to barracks but we have yet to build a genuine democracy based on integrity, accountability and the will of the people.
The past might have been cloudy but the future can be bright, and as
the saying goes, it is better to light a candle than continue to curse
darkness. Now is the time to move forward.
With the love of God and country, I believe I am capable and can play
a great role in fixing Nigeria. I have served Nigeria all my life: as
a police officer, prosecutor, architect of an unprecedented
anti-corruption initiative and, from the heart of the federal
government, a leading advocate of economic and political reform.
I am not a politician. But I have seen how politics works and I am
here because of where we are as a nation and where I fear we are
headed. In office, what I said I would do, I did. This same promise I
make now: together we will re-establish the rule of law and do away
with the culture of impunity, inertia and helplessness. We will once
and for all kill the cancer that is corruption.
We should be able to feel safe in our homes, and proud of our schools
and hospitals. As parents, should be able to look forward to a better
future for our children. We should have the electricity, water and
public services that even our neighbors take for granted. There must
be jobs for our youth and empowerment for our women. We must have a political culture that earns and deserves respect by its deed and actions.
This is my pledge to Nigeria.
I intend to achieve these goals through hard work, respect for our
people and an inclusive sense of a patriotism that celebrates all that
is best about our diversity: together, we are so much more than the
sum of our parts. I will run a transparent and accountable government.
I will assemble a competent team and allow dialogue but most
importantly, I will be a listening leader.
I believe Nigeria can be turned into a country that makes us proud and I am encouraged by the mood of change sweeping the nation today. We must have free and fair elections, the people must decide and their mandate must be honoured. Let us debate honestly and openly about our policies and vision for the future; and on our record in public life in the past.
Let us seize the opportunity of the moment to build a new Nigeria. I
want to put myself in the lead to bring this desired change.
Details of my programs will follow in due course but for now I ask for
your support.
UMU ANIOMA: WHY YOUR VOTES MUST COUNT FROM 2011
GLOBAL PRESS RELEASE
Nigeria’s political landscape has been hijacked by “vultures” who display gross insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people. The common man has always been at the receiving end of successive unrepresentative and imposed governments in the history of Nigeria. Since the inception of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999, we have been saddled with a mockery of democratic elections, just like the previous experiments.
At various levels of governance, including Umu Anioma, are men of questionable integrity who do not fight shy of reaping off their fellow countrymen and women.
We cry of marginalization of Anioma people, and rightly so. But if we must be truthful to ourselves, our politicians are the ones marginalizing us the most: Our politicians deny our people decent drinking water, good roads, electricity, quality healthcare and decent schools, even as they divert funds meant for these services into their private coffers. The story is worse at the various local government councils where the chairmen and their councilors, most of whom were never elected, in the first place, share monthly allocations without using them for the recommended purposes.
The truth is that any leadership not truly elected by the people can never be accountable or answerable to the people it purports to lead! Our political office holders treat the people like trash because they believe they can manipulate their votes at will without the fear of repercussions. That was the case in 2007.
This time around, however, Umu Anioma must be ready to take up the gauntlet and face our collective destiny with boldness and candour. Without prejudice to the promises from President Goodluck Jonathan of an error-free election, come 2011, Umu Anioma must be alert to our civic responsibilities.
This is a clarion call on all Umu Anioma, particularly, those at the home front. We must be conscious of our democratic right to vote in the 2011 elections. All Umu Anioma must troop out for the Voters’ Registration Exercise which runs from the 1st-11th November 2010. We must ensure that we have our voters’ cards, verify our names in the register, keep our cards safely and cast our votes for the right candidates at the polls.
Remember, the Voters’ Register will be displayed from November 20th-25th, 2010. (See below for the Timetable of events) and please pass the message to ALL Anioma communities. All Umu Anioma in the Diaspora should endeavour to educate their people back home. The use of town criers may not be out of place here.
TIME TABLE
• Party primaries: September 11 – Oct. 30
•Voter registration: Nov. 1 – Nov. 14
• Display of Voters Register: Nov 20-25, 2010
• National Assembly election: Jan. 15, 2011
• Presidential polls: Jan 22
• Governorship and State Assembly Polls: Jan. 29
To all Umu Anioma, please ensure that your votes count from 2011 onwards.
Ofu Obi bu ike anyi
Signed,
Vincent Ngozi Mokwenye Tony Ishiekwene
Co-chairman, Publicity Sub Committee Co-chairman, Publicity Sub Committee
nmokwenye@UmuAnioma.com tishiekwene@UmuAnioma.com
Nigeria’s political landscape has been hijacked by “vultures” who display gross insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people. The common man has always been at the receiving end of successive unrepresentative and imposed governments in the history of Nigeria. Since the inception of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999, we have been saddled with a mockery of democratic elections, just like the previous experiments.
At various levels of governance, including Umu Anioma, are men of questionable integrity who do not fight shy of reaping off their fellow countrymen and women.
We cry of marginalization of Anioma people, and rightly so. But if we must be truthful to ourselves, our politicians are the ones marginalizing us the most: Our politicians deny our people decent drinking water, good roads, electricity, quality healthcare and decent schools, even as they divert funds meant for these services into their private coffers. The story is worse at the various local government councils where the chairmen and their councilors, most of whom were never elected, in the first place, share monthly allocations without using them for the recommended purposes.
The truth is that any leadership not truly elected by the people can never be accountable or answerable to the people it purports to lead! Our political office holders treat the people like trash because they believe they can manipulate their votes at will without the fear of repercussions. That was the case in 2007.
This time around, however, Umu Anioma must be ready to take up the gauntlet and face our collective destiny with boldness and candour. Without prejudice to the promises from President Goodluck Jonathan of an error-free election, come 2011, Umu Anioma must be alert to our civic responsibilities.
This is a clarion call on all Umu Anioma, particularly, those at the home front. We must be conscious of our democratic right to vote in the 2011 elections. All Umu Anioma must troop out for the Voters’ Registration Exercise which runs from the 1st-11th November 2010. We must ensure that we have our voters’ cards, verify our names in the register, keep our cards safely and cast our votes for the right candidates at the polls.
Remember, the Voters’ Register will be displayed from November 20th-25th, 2010. (See below for the Timetable of events) and please pass the message to ALL Anioma communities. All Umu Anioma in the Diaspora should endeavour to educate their people back home. The use of town criers may not be out of place here.
TIME TABLE
• Party primaries: September 11 – Oct. 30
•Voter registration: Nov. 1 – Nov. 14
• Display of Voters Register: Nov 20-25, 2010
• National Assembly election: Jan. 15, 2011
• Presidential polls: Jan 22
• Governorship and State Assembly Polls: Jan. 29
To all Umu Anioma, please ensure that your votes count from 2011 onwards.
Ofu Obi bu ike anyi
Signed,
Vincent Ngozi Mokwenye Tony Ishiekwene
Co-chairman, Publicity Sub Committee Co-chairman, Publicity Sub Committee
nmokwenye@UmuAnioma.com tishiekwene@UmuAnioma.com
Monday, September 20, 2010
Cleric seeks divine resolution to Ogun crisis
Tayo Olarewaju, a Methodist Church cleric yesterday, during the 3rd diocesan harvest thanksgiving anniversary of Methodist Church Nigeria, Egba/Yewa Diocese, held at Igbogila, Yewa north local government area of the state, asked God to touch the hearts of the Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, and the state's lawmakers over the incessant political crisis in the state before it metamorphosed into bloodbath.
Mr. Olarewaju's prayer, which lasted for about 30 minutes, was centred on the political crisis which now gives innocent residents and citizens of the state sleepless nights.
The hostility between the executive and legislative arms of the state government reached its zenith two weeks ago when a faction of the lawmakers staged an early morning meeting during which they announced the removal of the principal officers of the assembly and declared a new set of leaders. Although most people in the state and beyond consider this a joke, the insurgent lawmakers have received Mr. Daniel's backing.
God should touch the heart of Daniel. He should touch the hearts of the lawmakers, all the aggrieved parties should have their hearts touched, so that the state will not turn to war, the cleric said.
Change of heart
I pray that God should soften the hearts of the lawmakers and the governor. God should intervene for the state to have peace. God should put love among them, mind of peace. If Saul can change to Paul, God will change the hearts of all of them to good, he said.
Mr. Olarewaju also appealed to God to choose responsible leaders for the country at all levels. He equally advised the electorate not to sell their rights by collecting money to vote, but should vote according to their conscience.
Notable politicians at the ceremony include Titi Ajanaku (governorship aspirant); Albert Ashipa, chairman, Imeko-Afon local government; Sunday Kojek, member, Ogun State House of Assembly; and Oluwole Olumide, an Egba high chief.
Mr. Olarewaju's prayer, which lasted for about 30 minutes, was centred on the political crisis which now gives innocent residents and citizens of the state sleepless nights.
The hostility between the executive and legislative arms of the state government reached its zenith two weeks ago when a faction of the lawmakers staged an early morning meeting during which they announced the removal of the principal officers of the assembly and declared a new set of leaders. Although most people in the state and beyond consider this a joke, the insurgent lawmakers have received Mr. Daniel's backing.
God should touch the heart of Daniel. He should touch the hearts of the lawmakers, all the aggrieved parties should have their hearts touched, so that the state will not turn to war, the cleric said.
Change of heart
I pray that God should soften the hearts of the lawmakers and the governor. God should intervene for the state to have peace. God should put love among them, mind of peace. If Saul can change to Paul, God will change the hearts of all of them to good, he said.
Mr. Olarewaju also appealed to God to choose responsible leaders for the country at all levels. He equally advised the electorate not to sell their rights by collecting money to vote, but should vote according to their conscience.
Notable politicians at the ceremony include Titi Ajanaku (governorship aspirant); Albert Ashipa, chairman, Imeko-Afon local government; Sunday Kojek, member, Ogun State House of Assembly; and Oluwole Olumide, an Egba high chief.
Ogun is in news for wrong reason, says Tejuoso
OGUN State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship aspirant, Prince Kayode Tejuoso, has reiterated the agitation of the people for political change next year.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be dislodged from power so that a people-oriented governor can begin to navigate the ship of state.
‘Ogun State is tired of promises. We want service delivery’, said the aspirant who visited the Lagos Corporate Headquarters of Vintage Press Limited, Publishers of The Nation Newspapers.
Tejuoso, who was received by the General Manager, Training and Development, Mr Soji Omotunde, spoke on his vision for the Gateway State, saying that the development of human resources would be the priority of his administration, if elected as governor.
‘’My focal point is the development of the people. People are the main resource we have in Ogun State. Governance is about people. If you want to build roads, if the people do not have food, it will not work.
‘’I want to develop education, so that people can get quality education. People who cannot attain university education would benefit from vocational centres where they would acquire skills for making a living. For people to create wealth, they must be healthy. People are being invited from United States and China to invest in Ogun State, but they need local people with skills to work in their firms and industries’, he stressed.
Tejuoso lamented the political situation in the state, saying that Governor Gbenga Daniel and his party had retarded its progress.
But he hailed the lawmakers for protecting the interest of the state by denying Daniel of a legislative backing for N100billion bond.
‘’Ogun State, right now, is in disarray. It is not the only state in Nigeria, but it is in the news for the wrong reason. The World Bank Report said Ogun State is the worst to do business. A state that produced Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Prof. Wole Soyinka should not have this kind of stigma.
‘’What is happening in Ogun State is disheartening. All the legislators are from the same party. We don’t know the financial status of the state. There are conflicting results, when you make an enquiry’, he added.
Tejuoso flayed Daniel for avoiding the public debate on the bond, pointing out that he lacked justification for borrowing at the twilight of his tenure.
He wondered why the governor insisted on taking the loan at a time the state is unable to pay the salaries of workers regularly.
‘‘He said that he wanted to build a cargo airport. Is cargo airport the priority of Ogun State when teachers are not being paid? For how long would it take Ogun State to repay the loan, judging by its IGR and allocation from the federal purse? The timing is wrong. It is a messy situation’’, he said.
Tejuoso, who said the political survival of the governor would be an issue in post-2011 period, assured the people that AC N would unite to fight PDP which, he described as the common enemy of the people.
The aspirant said that he would bring his experience in the private sector to bear on governance in the state.
‘I am confident of wining the primaries of my party and our party will effect the desired change in Ogun State’’, he said.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be dislodged from power so that a people-oriented governor can begin to navigate the ship of state.
‘Ogun State is tired of promises. We want service delivery’, said the aspirant who visited the Lagos Corporate Headquarters of Vintage Press Limited, Publishers of The Nation Newspapers.
Tejuoso, who was received by the General Manager, Training and Development, Mr Soji Omotunde, spoke on his vision for the Gateway State, saying that the development of human resources would be the priority of his administration, if elected as governor.
‘’My focal point is the development of the people. People are the main resource we have in Ogun State. Governance is about people. If you want to build roads, if the people do not have food, it will not work.
‘’I want to develop education, so that people can get quality education. People who cannot attain university education would benefit from vocational centres where they would acquire skills for making a living. For people to create wealth, they must be healthy. People are being invited from United States and China to invest in Ogun State, but they need local people with skills to work in their firms and industries’, he stressed.
Tejuoso lamented the political situation in the state, saying that Governor Gbenga Daniel and his party had retarded its progress.
But he hailed the lawmakers for protecting the interest of the state by denying Daniel of a legislative backing for N100billion bond.
‘’Ogun State, right now, is in disarray. It is not the only state in Nigeria, but it is in the news for the wrong reason. The World Bank Report said Ogun State is the worst to do business. A state that produced Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Prof. Wole Soyinka should not have this kind of stigma.
‘’What is happening in Ogun State is disheartening. All the legislators are from the same party. We don’t know the financial status of the state. There are conflicting results, when you make an enquiry’, he added.
Tejuoso flayed Daniel for avoiding the public debate on the bond, pointing out that he lacked justification for borrowing at the twilight of his tenure.
He wondered why the governor insisted on taking the loan at a time the state is unable to pay the salaries of workers regularly.
‘‘He said that he wanted to build a cargo airport. Is cargo airport the priority of Ogun State when teachers are not being paid? For how long would it take Ogun State to repay the loan, judging by its IGR and allocation from the federal purse? The timing is wrong. It is a messy situation’’, he said.
Tejuoso, who said the political survival of the governor would be an issue in post-2011 period, assured the people that AC N would unite to fight PDP which, he described as the common enemy of the people.
The aspirant said that he would bring his experience in the private sector to bear on governance in the state.
‘I am confident of wining the primaries of my party and our party will effect the desired change in Ogun State’’, he said.
40 REASONS OGD MUST GO TO JAIL
1. N1bn naira unremitted pension deductions from Ogun state workers salary against the contributory pension’s law of Ogun state.
2. Fraudulent and illegal payment of an amount of N1bn purportedly as counterpart funding for water projects under ogun state water corporations despite an existing ISPO to the federal ministry of finance for direct deductions from state allocation for same purpose this is against section 121(2) of 1999 constitution of FGN.
3.Fraudulent and illegal debt servicing to the tune of N5.2bn as against an appropriation provision of N350m for the same purpose in 2009.This is a violation of section 120(2) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
4. Fraudulent payment of N300m electricity utility charges by ogun state electrification project agency despite direct deductions of same from various MDA
5. Fraudulent diversion of N500m Agricultural loan granted by National Agricultural Credit Bank for rural development (NACBRDA) to ogun state government through ogun state Agriculture and Multi-purpose credit agency. This is against the money laundering act
6. Diversion to cronies and associates an amount totaling N5bn in the name of salaries and allowances under the contingency and miscellaneous vote of the office of the Governor.
7. Illegal transfer/disposal/mortgaged of government owned enterprises and investment portfolio of over 15bn by gateway holdings without any enabling law or House approval.
8. Illegal purchase of 20 refurbished graders to the tune of N950m for local government and subsequent deductions of repayment of same from local government allocation on monthly basis. This is a violation of the local government joint account law of ogun state.
9. Illegal purchase of 20 Toyota Prado Jeep to the tune of N200m for various local government and subsequent illegal deduction for the repayment of same against the provision of local government joint allocation law of Ogun state.
10. Illegal and fraudulent procurement of loan from various financial institutions to the tune of over N22bn without approval of the state House of Assembly. This violates section 123(1) of 1999 constitution of FGN.
11. Illegal and Fraudulent retention of his Special Assistant on protocol Mr Wale Osiyemi as caretaker chairman of ijebu North local government against section 39 of Ogun State local government law
12. Illegal and fraudulent concessioning of gateway hotel ijebu ode for the sum of N100m as against the provisions of privatization and commercialization law of Ogun state.
13. Illegal and fraudulent concessioning for 25years of gateway Hotel, Ota for N120m as against the provision of ogun state privatization and commercialization law.
14.Failure to remit the sum of N120m being proceeds from the illegal consessioning of gateway hotel Ota into the state consolidated revenue account This is against section 120(1) of the constitution.
15.Failure to remit the sum of N100m being proceed from the illegal concessioning of gateway Hotel Ijebu Ode into the state consolidated revenue account
16. Illegal and fraudulent concessioning for 25yeARS OF Gateway Hotel Abeokuta for N300m as against the provisions of privatization and commercialization law of Ogun State.
17. Failure to remit the sum of N300m being proceed from the illegal concessioning of Gateway Hotel Abeokuta into the state consolidated revenue account. This is against section 120(1) of 1999 constitution of FGN.
18. Failure to disburse to the 20 LGs in Ogun State about N7.2bn being10% of IGR due to various local government between the period of 2003-2009.This is against section 162(7) of the 1999 constitution of FGN.
19. Illegal conversion of judges quarters in ijebu Ode GRA to build conference hotel which belongs to Otunba Gbenga Daniel without due process.
20. Illegal conversion of judges quarters Shagamu to build a mansion belonging to Otunba Gbenga Daniel without due process.
21. Illegal transfer of Ogun State liaison office in lagos to a close ally of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Otunba Alex Onabanjo who doubles as Chairman Governing Council of Olabisi Onabanjo University Proceed of which has not been remitted to the state consolidated revenue account.
22. Failure to pay into the state Consolidated Revenue Fund the sum of 985million naira being amount received as support for MDG projects in the state. This is against the provision of section 120(1) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
23. Fraudulent and deceitful presentation as a state financed project an MDG financed project in Ota, the Eye Care Centre at Ota. This is against the provisions of section of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
24. Illegal and fraudulent presentation as Security for loans from banks for contractors from the Treasury of Ogun State. Such contractors include among others ARON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Ltd.
25. Various illegal deductions from LG funds as established in the report of the OGHA joint House committees on Justice, Ethics & Public petitions committee and Local Govt and Chieftaincy affairs committee. This report was further adopted by a resolution of the OGHA.
26. Failure to disburse to Ewekoro LG the sum of over N122m being part of the amount due to this LG from the federation account. This is as per the report of the State Accountant-General on Returns on LG joint Accounts for the year 2008 This is a violation of Section 162(8) of the 1999 Constitution of FRN.
27. Failure to disburse the sum of over N261m to Ado-Odo Ota LG being part of the amount due the LG from Federation Account. This is as per the report of the state Accountant-General on Returns on LG joint accounts for the year 2008.This is a violation of Section 162(8) of the 1999 constitution of the FRN.
28. Failure to disburse the sum of over N149M to Yewa North being part of the amount due this LG from the Federation Account. This is as per the Report of the State Accountant-General on Returns on LG joint Account for the year 2008.This is a violation of Section 162(8) of the 1999 Constitution of FRN.
29. Failure to disburse sum of over N81m to Obafemi-Owode LG being part of the amount due this LG from the federation Account as per the report of the state Accountant-General on LG joint Account for the year 2008. This violates section 162(8) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
30. Failure to disburse the sum of over N42m to ifo LG being part of the amount due this LG from the federation account as per the report of the State Accountant-General on returns on LG joint Account for the year 2008.This violates section 162(8) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
31. Fraudulent collection from each of the 20 LGs the sum of N2.5m (N50m for all 20 LGs) for U-17 World cup billboards that was never erected. Each LG chairman was rewarded with the sum of N500,000 for keeping sealed lips. This collection is illegal as none of the LGs appropriated for this sum in 2009 budget. This violates the state LG law passed by OGHA as amended.
32. Fraudulent collections from all LGs the sum of over N11m paid to Westerner Publishers Ltd owned by OGD for a seminar billed to hold in Nov 2009.Till date ,the seminar is yet to hold neither has a new date being announced. This is against financial regulation of Ogun State.
33. Illegal mortgage of the site of the old secretariat at Oke-ilewo as repayment for a N12bn facility owed FCMB Plc. This violates section 120(10 of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
34. Various fraudulent land allocations acquisitions and transactions. The proceeds of which are also shielded in secrecy. This violates Section 120(1) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.A good example of such illegal acquisition is the takeover of a piece of land at OPIC roundabout legally belonging to the state sports council but fraudulently acquired to build sweet sensation, sterling Bank and Big Treat.
35.Illegal acquisition of the part of the land where Primary Health Centre belonging to the Abeokuta South LG to build Chicken Republic where the Governor is alleged to have a substantial stake. This violates the code of conduct Act.
36. Illegal sale of a Government fuel Dump at Oke-Ilewo to MYKE Petroleum. This is without OGHA approval or any other known due process requirement.
37. Illegal setting p of Ibara renewal Ltd as an SPV (Special Project Vehicle) to fraudulently take over all old civil servant quarters in the Ibara GRA. Serving Commissioners and other OGD cronies are Directors in this company. Till date, no enabling law approves of this lopsided approach of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
38. Illegal payment of emoluments to political office holders without an enabling law and a fraudulent backdating of the relevant bill at the point of assent. The assented copies of the improperly signed and the correct version are available for perusal. This violates section
39.Illegal payment of salaries and allowances to Mr Tunji Akinosi who purports to occupy the office of a state Commissioner without meeting the requirement of section 124 of the 1999 constitution of the FRN.
40. Regular fraudulent collections of various monies from all the 20 LGs purportedly as contribution to non existing State/LG joint projects. This violates section 162(8) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
Source: Ogun redemption coalition
2. Fraudulent and illegal payment of an amount of N1bn purportedly as counterpart funding for water projects under ogun state water corporations despite an existing ISPO to the federal ministry of finance for direct deductions from state allocation for same purpose this is against section 121(2) of 1999 constitution of FGN.
3.Fraudulent and illegal debt servicing to the tune of N5.2bn as against an appropriation provision of N350m for the same purpose in 2009.This is a violation of section 120(2) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
4. Fraudulent payment of N300m electricity utility charges by ogun state electrification project agency despite direct deductions of same from various MDA
5. Fraudulent diversion of N500m Agricultural loan granted by National Agricultural Credit Bank for rural development (NACBRDA) to ogun state government through ogun state Agriculture and Multi-purpose credit agency. This is against the money laundering act
6. Diversion to cronies and associates an amount totaling N5bn in the name of salaries and allowances under the contingency and miscellaneous vote of the office of the Governor.
7. Illegal transfer/disposal/mortgaged of government owned enterprises and investment portfolio of over 15bn by gateway holdings without any enabling law or House approval.
8. Illegal purchase of 20 refurbished graders to the tune of N950m for local government and subsequent deductions of repayment of same from local government allocation on monthly basis. This is a violation of the local government joint account law of ogun state.
9. Illegal purchase of 20 Toyota Prado Jeep to the tune of N200m for various local government and subsequent illegal deduction for the repayment of same against the provision of local government joint allocation law of Ogun state.
10. Illegal and fraudulent procurement of loan from various financial institutions to the tune of over N22bn without approval of the state House of Assembly. This violates section 123(1) of 1999 constitution of FGN.
11. Illegal and Fraudulent retention of his Special Assistant on protocol Mr Wale Osiyemi as caretaker chairman of ijebu North local government against section 39 of Ogun State local government law
12. Illegal and fraudulent concessioning of gateway hotel ijebu ode for the sum of N100m as against the provisions of privatization and commercialization law of Ogun state.
13. Illegal and fraudulent concessioning for 25years of gateway Hotel, Ota for N120m as against the provision of ogun state privatization and commercialization law.
14.Failure to remit the sum of N120m being proceeds from the illegal consessioning of gateway hotel Ota into the state consolidated revenue account This is against section 120(1) of the constitution.
15.Failure to remit the sum of N100m being proceed from the illegal concessioning of gateway Hotel Ijebu Ode into the state consolidated revenue account
16. Illegal and fraudulent concessioning for 25yeARS OF Gateway Hotel Abeokuta for N300m as against the provisions of privatization and commercialization law of Ogun State.
17. Failure to remit the sum of N300m being proceed from the illegal concessioning of Gateway Hotel Abeokuta into the state consolidated revenue account. This is against section 120(1) of 1999 constitution of FGN.
18. Failure to disburse to the 20 LGs in Ogun State about N7.2bn being10% of IGR due to various local government between the period of 2003-2009.This is against section 162(7) of the 1999 constitution of FGN.
19. Illegal conversion of judges quarters in ijebu Ode GRA to build conference hotel which belongs to Otunba Gbenga Daniel without due process.
20. Illegal conversion of judges quarters Shagamu to build a mansion belonging to Otunba Gbenga Daniel without due process.
21. Illegal transfer of Ogun State liaison office in lagos to a close ally of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Otunba Alex Onabanjo who doubles as Chairman Governing Council of Olabisi Onabanjo University Proceed of which has not been remitted to the state consolidated revenue account.
22. Failure to pay into the state Consolidated Revenue Fund the sum of 985million naira being amount received as support for MDG projects in the state. This is against the provision of section 120(1) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
23. Fraudulent and deceitful presentation as a state financed project an MDG financed project in Ota, the Eye Care Centre at Ota. This is against the provisions of section of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
24. Illegal and fraudulent presentation as Security for loans from banks for contractors from the Treasury of Ogun State. Such contractors include among others ARON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Ltd.
25. Various illegal deductions from LG funds as established in the report of the OGHA joint House committees on Justice, Ethics & Public petitions committee and Local Govt and Chieftaincy affairs committee. This report was further adopted by a resolution of the OGHA.
26. Failure to disburse to Ewekoro LG the sum of over N122m being part of the amount due to this LG from the federation account. This is as per the report of the State Accountant-General on Returns on LG joint Accounts for the year 2008 This is a violation of Section 162(8) of the 1999 Constitution of FRN.
27. Failure to disburse the sum of over N261m to Ado-Odo Ota LG being part of the amount due the LG from Federation Account. This is as per the report of the state Accountant-General on Returns on LG joint accounts for the year 2008.This is a violation of Section 162(8) of the 1999 constitution of the FRN.
28. Failure to disburse the sum of over N149M to Yewa North being part of the amount due this LG from the Federation Account. This is as per the Report of the State Accountant-General on Returns on LG joint Account for the year 2008.This is a violation of Section 162(8) of the 1999 Constitution of FRN.
29. Failure to disburse sum of over N81m to Obafemi-Owode LG being part of the amount due this LG from the federation Account as per the report of the state Accountant-General on LG joint Account for the year 2008. This violates section 162(8) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
30. Failure to disburse the sum of over N42m to ifo LG being part of the amount due this LG from the federation account as per the report of the State Accountant-General on returns on LG joint Account for the year 2008.This violates section 162(8) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
31. Fraudulent collection from each of the 20 LGs the sum of N2.5m (N50m for all 20 LGs) for U-17 World cup billboards that was never erected. Each LG chairman was rewarded with the sum of N500,000 for keeping sealed lips. This collection is illegal as none of the LGs appropriated for this sum in 2009 budget. This violates the state LG law passed by OGHA as amended.
32. Fraudulent collections from all LGs the sum of over N11m paid to Westerner Publishers Ltd owned by OGD for a seminar billed to hold in Nov 2009.Till date ,the seminar is yet to hold neither has a new date being announced. This is against financial regulation of Ogun State.
33. Illegal mortgage of the site of the old secretariat at Oke-ilewo as repayment for a N12bn facility owed FCMB Plc. This violates section 120(10 of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
34. Various fraudulent land allocations acquisitions and transactions. The proceeds of which are also shielded in secrecy. This violates Section 120(1) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.A good example of such illegal acquisition is the takeover of a piece of land at OPIC roundabout legally belonging to the state sports council but fraudulently acquired to build sweet sensation, sterling Bank and Big Treat.
35.Illegal acquisition of the part of the land where Primary Health Centre belonging to the Abeokuta South LG to build Chicken Republic where the Governor is alleged to have a substantial stake. This violates the code of conduct Act.
36. Illegal sale of a Government fuel Dump at Oke-Ilewo to MYKE Petroleum. This is without OGHA approval or any other known due process requirement.
37. Illegal setting p of Ibara renewal Ltd as an SPV (Special Project Vehicle) to fraudulently take over all old civil servant quarters in the Ibara GRA. Serving Commissioners and other OGD cronies are Directors in this company. Till date, no enabling law approves of this lopsided approach of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
38. Illegal payment of emoluments to political office holders without an enabling law and a fraudulent backdating of the relevant bill at the point of assent. The assented copies of the improperly signed and the correct version are available for perusal. This violates section
39.Illegal payment of salaries and allowances to Mr Tunji Akinosi who purports to occupy the office of a state Commissioner without meeting the requirement of section 124 of the 1999 constitution of the FRN.
40. Regular fraudulent collections of various monies from all the 20 LGs purportedly as contribution to non existing State/LG joint projects. This violates section 162(8) of the 1999 constitution of FRN.
Source: Ogun redemption coalition
SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR,
SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR, ON THE OCCASION OF THE DECLARATION OF HIS CANDIDACY FOR THE PDP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES, TODAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2010.
PROTOCOL
Forty months ago my predecessor in office and I embarked on a joint ticket in the governance of our great country, Nigeria. Sadly, he passed away on the 5th of May 2010.
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.
With the death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the mantle of leadership of our great nation fell on me. However, the days leading to my presidency were very trying times for our nation. We confronted those moments and their challenges to national security with patriotism and care. I appreciate the role played by the National Assembly, Governors, Civil Society groups, the mass media, and other patriotic Nigerians.
The late President Yar'Adua and I shared great dreams for our country. We toiled together to realize those dreams in order to justify the confidence Nigerians reposed in us. Together we swore to execute a joint mandate and today I come before you to make a pronouncement based on that undertaking.
The past four months that I have served as President of Nigeria have opened my eyes to the vast potentials of this office as a potent instrument for the transformation of our country. I discovered that by sheer willpower, I could end the long queues and price fluctuations in our petrol stations. Today, all our refineries are working, saving us huge amounts of funds spent on importation of petroleum products.
Goodluck
I discovered that by insisting that the right things be done, we could begin a turnaround in our power sector by involving the private sector in power generation and distribution. As you can see from the lower quantities of diesel that you are buying today, power generation has significantly improved.
I have put in place new gas policies and very soon, we will be saying goodbye to gas flaring in our oil fields. Working with the National Assembly, we rolled out a law that requires companies operating in the oil and gas sectors of our economy to utilize an appreciable percentage of their goods and services from local sources. We saw to it that normalcy began to return to the Niger Delta by ensuring government's fidelity to its promises, and this has helped to stabilize our national revenue.
In the last few months, I embarked on monumental projects in our road infrastructure to end the carnage on our federal highways. I began several projects to make our water resources available for drinking and farming. I targeted our educational system to return quality and competitiveness to them. I re-addressed our drive for self sufficiency in food production. I have taken bold steps to confront our security situation. In this regard, we are pursuing the revision of our laws to be more responsive to international conventions and more punitive to criminals.
I set the stage for free and fair elections by constituting an electoral commission comprising of Nigerians with impeccable credentials for firmness and incorruptibility. I charged our anti corruption agencies to speed up the war against corruption, and respect no sacred cows in the process. In the management of the economy, I advocated a more transparent banking industry, price stability, low inflation, and aggregate increase in productivity as a way to drive us to a more prosperous economy. In International Relations, I advanced the respectability accorded our country by effective engagement in global fora.
From the moment I was sworn in as President, I came under intense pressure to make a declaration concerning my political future, but declined to do so because it would have immediately distracted us from all the development initiatives we have accomplished so far.
As President and leader of this government, I decided not to place partisan politics above the immediate needs and priorities of our people. I therefore told Nigerians to give me time to concentrate on my work, and that at the appropriate time, I would make a public statement on my political future after widespread consultations.
Those consultations have now been concluded. The Independent National Electoral Commission has recently announced a time table for the 2011 general elections in the country. My party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has also published a timetable for its primaries.
In the circumstances and after a thorough self examination and prayers with my family, I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan have decided to humbly offer myself as a candidate in the Presidential Primaries of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in order to stand for the 2011 Presidential elections. I pledge once again to all the people of this nation that they will have a free and fair election, even as I stand to be a candidate. In this race, I have the honour to have as my running mate, Architect Namadi Sambo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Our country is at the threshold of a new era; an era that beckons for a new kind of leadership; a leadership that is uncontaminated by the prejudices of the past; a leadership committed to change; a leadership that reinvents government, to solve the everyday problems that confront the average Nigerian.
I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was raised by my mother and father with just enough money to meet our daily needs.
In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day but I never despaired. Didn't have power, didn't have generators, studied with lanterns but I never despaired.
In spite of these, I finished secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, and now hold a doctorate degree.
Fellow Nigerians, if I could make it, you too can make it!
My story is the story of a young Nigerian whose access to education opened up vast opportunities that enabled me to attain my present position. As I travel up and down our country, I see a nation blessed by God with rich agricultural and mineral resources and an enterprising people. I see millions of Nigerians whose potentials for greatness are constrained by the lack of basic infrastructure.
I see Nigerians who can make a difference in the service of their country but are disadvantaged by the lack of opportunities.
My story symbolizes my dream for Nigeria. The dream that any Nigerian child from Kaura- Namoda to Duke town; from Potiskum to Nsukka, from Isale-Eko to Gboko will be able to realize his God-given potentials, unhindered by tribe or religion and unrestricted by improvised political inhibitions. My story holds out the promise of a new Nigeria. A Nigeria built on the virtues of love and respect for one another, on unity, on industry, on hardwork and on good governance.
My fellow Nigerians, this is what has brought me to Eagle Square today. I have come to say to all of you, that Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is the man you need to put Nigeria right. I have come to launch a campaign of ideas, not one of calumny. I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight. You are all my friends and we share a common destiny.
Let the word go out from this Eagle Square that Jonathan as President in 2011 will herald a new era of transformation of our country; an era that will end the agony of power shortage in our country. Let the word go out from here that I will be for the students, teachers and parents of Nigeria, a President who will advance quality and competitive education. Let everyone in this country hear that I shall strive to the best of my ability to attain self sufficiency in food production.
Let the word go out that my plans for a Sovereign Wealth Fund with an initial capital of $1billion will begin the journey for an economic restoration. This restoration will provide new job opportunities and alleviate poverty. Let the word go out that our health sector will receive maximum priority in a new Jonathan administration, a priority that will ensure maximum health care and stop our brain drain.
Let all the kidnappers, criminal elements, and miscreants that give us a bad name be ready for the fight that I shall give them. Let the ordinary Nigerian be assured that President Jonathan will have zero tolerance for corruption. Let the international community hear that today I have offered myself to lead a country that will engage them in mutual respect and cooperation for the achievement of international peace and understanding.
To help me in these tasks effectively, I will re-train, revamp, and motivate the civil service.
My dear good people of Nigeria, I got here today by the power of God and the support of all Nigerians; all ethnic groups, North, South, East and West. I am here today because of your support and prayers. I want all of you to know that I am one of you and I will never let you down! I want you to know that I will keep hope alive; I want you to know that your time has come.
I stand before you today, humbly seeking your support for me, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, to run for the office of the President of Nigeria with Architect Namadi Sambo as my running mate.
We will fight for JUSTICE!
We will fight for all Nigerians to have access to POWER!
We will fight for qualitative and competitive EDUCATION!
We will fight for HEALTH CARE REFORMS!
We will fight to create jobs, for all Nigerians!
We will fight corruption!
We will fight to protect all Citizens!
We will fight for your rights!
My dear country men and women, give me your support, give me your votes and together we will fight to build a great nation of our dreams!
I cannot end this speech without thanking you all for attending this occasion. Your huge attendance is a loud testimony of your support for us. For this I am very grateful. I pray that the Almighty God abides with you and sees you safely back to your respective destinations.
When you return, tell all those at home that as we celebrate our fifty years anniversary as a nation, Goodluck has come to transform Nigeria and I will never let you down.
Thank You.
May God Bless you all!
And may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
PROTOCOL
Forty months ago my predecessor in office and I embarked on a joint ticket in the governance of our great country, Nigeria. Sadly, he passed away on the 5th of May 2010.
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.
With the death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the mantle of leadership of our great nation fell on me. However, the days leading to my presidency were very trying times for our nation. We confronted those moments and their challenges to national security with patriotism and care. I appreciate the role played by the National Assembly, Governors, Civil Society groups, the mass media, and other patriotic Nigerians.
The late President Yar'Adua and I shared great dreams for our country. We toiled together to realize those dreams in order to justify the confidence Nigerians reposed in us. Together we swore to execute a joint mandate and today I come before you to make a pronouncement based on that undertaking.
The past four months that I have served as President of Nigeria have opened my eyes to the vast potentials of this office as a potent instrument for the transformation of our country. I discovered that by sheer willpower, I could end the long queues and price fluctuations in our petrol stations. Today, all our refineries are working, saving us huge amounts of funds spent on importation of petroleum products.
Goodluck
I discovered that by insisting that the right things be done, we could begin a turnaround in our power sector by involving the private sector in power generation and distribution. As you can see from the lower quantities of diesel that you are buying today, power generation has significantly improved.
I have put in place new gas policies and very soon, we will be saying goodbye to gas flaring in our oil fields. Working with the National Assembly, we rolled out a law that requires companies operating in the oil and gas sectors of our economy to utilize an appreciable percentage of their goods and services from local sources. We saw to it that normalcy began to return to the Niger Delta by ensuring government's fidelity to its promises, and this has helped to stabilize our national revenue.
In the last few months, I embarked on monumental projects in our road infrastructure to end the carnage on our federal highways. I began several projects to make our water resources available for drinking and farming. I targeted our educational system to return quality and competitiveness to them. I re-addressed our drive for self sufficiency in food production. I have taken bold steps to confront our security situation. In this regard, we are pursuing the revision of our laws to be more responsive to international conventions and more punitive to criminals.
I set the stage for free and fair elections by constituting an electoral commission comprising of Nigerians with impeccable credentials for firmness and incorruptibility. I charged our anti corruption agencies to speed up the war against corruption, and respect no sacred cows in the process. In the management of the economy, I advocated a more transparent banking industry, price stability, low inflation, and aggregate increase in productivity as a way to drive us to a more prosperous economy. In International Relations, I advanced the respectability accorded our country by effective engagement in global fora.
From the moment I was sworn in as President, I came under intense pressure to make a declaration concerning my political future, but declined to do so because it would have immediately distracted us from all the development initiatives we have accomplished so far.
As President and leader of this government, I decided not to place partisan politics above the immediate needs and priorities of our people. I therefore told Nigerians to give me time to concentrate on my work, and that at the appropriate time, I would make a public statement on my political future after widespread consultations.
Those consultations have now been concluded. The Independent National Electoral Commission has recently announced a time table for the 2011 general elections in the country. My party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has also published a timetable for its primaries.
In the circumstances and after a thorough self examination and prayers with my family, I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan have decided to humbly offer myself as a candidate in the Presidential Primaries of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in order to stand for the 2011 Presidential elections. I pledge once again to all the people of this nation that they will have a free and fair election, even as I stand to be a candidate. In this race, I have the honour to have as my running mate, Architect Namadi Sambo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Our country is at the threshold of a new era; an era that beckons for a new kind of leadership; a leadership that is uncontaminated by the prejudices of the past; a leadership committed to change; a leadership that reinvents government, to solve the everyday problems that confront the average Nigerian.
I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was raised by my mother and father with just enough money to meet our daily needs.
In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day but I never despaired. Didn't have power, didn't have generators, studied with lanterns but I never despaired.
In spite of these, I finished secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, and now hold a doctorate degree.
Fellow Nigerians, if I could make it, you too can make it!
My story is the story of a young Nigerian whose access to education opened up vast opportunities that enabled me to attain my present position. As I travel up and down our country, I see a nation blessed by God with rich agricultural and mineral resources and an enterprising people. I see millions of Nigerians whose potentials for greatness are constrained by the lack of basic infrastructure.
I see Nigerians who can make a difference in the service of their country but are disadvantaged by the lack of opportunities.
My story symbolizes my dream for Nigeria. The dream that any Nigerian child from Kaura- Namoda to Duke town; from Potiskum to Nsukka, from Isale-Eko to Gboko will be able to realize his God-given potentials, unhindered by tribe or religion and unrestricted by improvised political inhibitions. My story holds out the promise of a new Nigeria. A Nigeria built on the virtues of love and respect for one another, on unity, on industry, on hardwork and on good governance.
My fellow Nigerians, this is what has brought me to Eagle Square today. I have come to say to all of you, that Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is the man you need to put Nigeria right. I have come to launch a campaign of ideas, not one of calumny. I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight. You are all my friends and we share a common destiny.
Let the word go out from this Eagle Square that Jonathan as President in 2011 will herald a new era of transformation of our country; an era that will end the agony of power shortage in our country. Let the word go out from here that I will be for the students, teachers and parents of Nigeria, a President who will advance quality and competitive education. Let everyone in this country hear that I shall strive to the best of my ability to attain self sufficiency in food production.
Let the word go out that my plans for a Sovereign Wealth Fund with an initial capital of $1billion will begin the journey for an economic restoration. This restoration will provide new job opportunities and alleviate poverty. Let the word go out that our health sector will receive maximum priority in a new Jonathan administration, a priority that will ensure maximum health care and stop our brain drain.
Let all the kidnappers, criminal elements, and miscreants that give us a bad name be ready for the fight that I shall give them. Let the ordinary Nigerian be assured that President Jonathan will have zero tolerance for corruption. Let the international community hear that today I have offered myself to lead a country that will engage them in mutual respect and cooperation for the achievement of international peace and understanding.
To help me in these tasks effectively, I will re-train, revamp, and motivate the civil service.
My dear good people of Nigeria, I got here today by the power of God and the support of all Nigerians; all ethnic groups, North, South, East and West. I am here today because of your support and prayers. I want all of you to know that I am one of you and I will never let you down! I want you to know that I will keep hope alive; I want you to know that your time has come.
I stand before you today, humbly seeking your support for me, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, to run for the office of the President of Nigeria with Architect Namadi Sambo as my running mate.
We will fight for JUSTICE!
We will fight for all Nigerians to have access to POWER!
We will fight for qualitative and competitive EDUCATION!
We will fight for HEALTH CARE REFORMS!
We will fight to create jobs, for all Nigerians!
We will fight corruption!
We will fight to protect all Citizens!
We will fight for your rights!
My dear country men and women, give me your support, give me your votes and together we will fight to build a great nation of our dreams!
I cannot end this speech without thanking you all for attending this occasion. Your huge attendance is a loud testimony of your support for us. For this I am very grateful. I pray that the Almighty God abides with you and sees you safely back to your respective destinations.
When you return, tell all those at home that as we celebrate our fifty years anniversary as a nation, Goodluck has come to transform Nigeria and I will never let you down.
Thank You.
May God Bless you all!
And may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
NSA BOSS JOLTS JONATHAN'S CAMPAIGN
A high-stakes politics is being played in Nigeria, as there seems to be a schism developing in the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, between the north and south, with current President Goodluck Jonathan being the anchor fueling the discord. The other political gladiators in the ring with Jonathan, include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former military Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and in a bombshell, Jonathan's National Security Adviser, retired Gen. Gusau, who resigned after Jonathan's huge rally to announce his candidacy. It is the resignation of Gen. Gusau, and his intention to challenge his boss, Jonathan, for the job as his intention to pick up nomination forms has shown, which has thrown a huge wrench into Jonathan's armor. In other words, it seems to have jolted the Jonathan camp into a huge crisis.
Until Friday, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau was the National Security Adviser to President Jonathan. He was formerly a Lt. Gen. in the Nigerian army, working mainly in military intelligence, and also held the post of National Security Adviser during the Obasanjo administration. His resignation has brought such crisis within the Jonathan group that he had to cancel his trip to the United Nations, it seems like his late boss, Yar'Adua. Jonathan was supposed to speak at Columbia University in New York, apart from his scheduled attendance of the United Nations General Assembly. The entrance of Gusau will bring to four people in the north who have announced their intentions to run for office.
This is the scenario that has developed over the last month: On August 15, 2010, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar declared his intention to run for the PDP's presidential primary. But he has a tough assignment, having ditched the PDP in 2006 to run for president on the ticket of the Action Congress party. Mr. Abubakar had developed a testy relationship with his boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, over Atiku's objection to Obasanjo running for a third term of four years. When it was clear that Obasanjo would never allow him to succeed him as President, though he was responsible for having Obasanjo elected in 1999, as well as being pivotal in providing the power for others to support Obasanjo the second time, he resigned from the PDP and jumped to the Action Congress. Through manipulation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, he was not only brought up on charges of corruption, but Obasanjo tried to deny him his official entitlements which the courts ruled against. The other problem that Atiku has is that he is seen as very corrupt by most Nigerians, having been tainted by the William Jefferson scandal, in which he was supposed to have been bribed with $100,000.
Just this week, Wednesday the 15th of September, in fact, former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida held a huge rally at the Eagles Square in Abuja to announce his own candidacy. Babangida ruled Nigeria from August 27, 1985, after overthrowing the government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, until August 27, 1993, when he was forced to leave office, after annulling the June 12th election, that most people considered the freest and fairest election that Nigeria ever held that would have brought Chief M.K.O. Abiola to power. The annulment of the June 12th election is what is considered one of Babangida's greatest problems; and then there is the accusation that he is yet to account for the $12 billion windfall profit that Nigeria earned during the aftermath of the 1990s Gulf war. In his favor is the view that some Nigerians hold that during his period in office, the Nigerian wealth was spread evenly as against the later years of Abacha and Obasanjo during which wealth has been concentrated in a few hands.
General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau - actually his real name is Aliyu Mohammed, but the Nigerian Army renamed him General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (after the town he was born) to distinguish him from another General Aliyu Mohammed - had sent in his letter of resignation in July, but President Jonathan had refused to accept it. According to information, Gen. Gusau decided to act publicly about his resignation, after the PDP announced a timetable for the party's primaries, which is supposed to happen on October 22.
All these three aspirants are all from the north of Nigeria and all are Muslims. The fourth candidate is the Governor Bukola Sariki of Kwara State, chair of the Governors' Council.
But then, President Goodluck Jonathan decided to enter the face on Wednesday through his facebook, on the same day that former Head of State Babangida was holding a huge rally to announce his candidacy. There were political maneuverings that went on that day calculated to steal the thunder from Babangida's rally. First was the Jonathan's Facebook announcement, and the attempt to hold the PDP's National Executive Committee at 12 noon, to prevent a large number of governors and delegates from being at the rally. On Saturday, September 18, he held a huge rally at the same venue that Babangida had used, Eagles Square, to announce to a huge throng of supporters that he is officially running for his party's nomination.
I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have decided to humbly offer myself as a candidate in the presidential primaries of our great party, ...in order to stand for the 2011 presidential elections," said Jonathan at the mammoth rally. "I have come to say to all of you that Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is the man you need to put Nigeria right," he said. Continuing, he said, "I have come to launch a campaign of ideas, not one of calumny. I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood."
From the 28 out of 29 PDP governors in the country who attended the Jonathan rally, it would appear that he has the nomination locked up. But many Northern leaders vehemently oppose Jonathan's candidacy, based on what they said was the PDP's zonal agreement that said the presidency should rotate between the Christian south and Muslim north every eight years. From 1999 to 2007, President Olusegun Obasanjo, a southerner and a Christian, ruled Nigeria. He orchestrated the selection of Mr. Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan as candidates of the PDP for the elections in 2007. Mr. Yar'Adua was a Muslim from the North in keeping with the so-called zonal agreement of the party, while Jonathan is a Christian from the South. Both were elected and took office in May of 2007. Unfortunately, Mr. Yar'Adua became very sick and died in May of this year, leading to the elevation of the Vice President who was already Acting President as the substantive President of Nigeria.
The North has charged that in keeping with the zonal agreement of the PDP, Jonathan who is serving out the late Yar'Adua first term of office, should not be allowed to run for the presidency. But the PDP in its last Executive meeting, decided that any Nigerian was entitled to run for the presidency irrespective of religious or area of origin. In other words, Jonathan, a Christian from the South-South, should not be allowed to run for the party's primary, let alone run as a president candidate of the PDP.
Again, the four candidates from the north have signed an agreement, that says they are going to produce one candidate to represent the North at the party's primaries. Gen. Babangida would appear to be the most powerful of the four candidates.
Finally, it has to be pointed out that the so-called 'zonal agreement' that is in the PDP's constitution is not part of the Nigerian constitution, which states that every Nigeria is entitled to run for the highest office of the land. And there are quite a strong element of the PDP that argues that the party never had the zonal agreement, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is supporting Jonathan to run for the party's nomination.
In my next analysis, I will be examining the unprecedented jolt dealt to Jonathan by Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau's resignation that he was forced to cancel all his foreign trips, especially to the United Nations where he was due to address the Nigerian Diaspora as well as other engagements, including speaking at the Columbia University in New York. We will also handicap Jonathan's chances of winning the nomination against the forces arrayed against him from the North. We will also examine what was behind the visit to former Head of State General Babangida by the American Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Carson accompanied by the American Ambassador to Nigeria Robin Saunders.
Until Friday, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau was the National Security Adviser to President Jonathan. He was formerly a Lt. Gen. in the Nigerian army, working mainly in military intelligence, and also held the post of National Security Adviser during the Obasanjo administration. His resignation has brought such crisis within the Jonathan group that he had to cancel his trip to the United Nations, it seems like his late boss, Yar'Adua. Jonathan was supposed to speak at Columbia University in New York, apart from his scheduled attendance of the United Nations General Assembly. The entrance of Gusau will bring to four people in the north who have announced their intentions to run for office.
This is the scenario that has developed over the last month: On August 15, 2010, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar declared his intention to run for the PDP's presidential primary. But he has a tough assignment, having ditched the PDP in 2006 to run for president on the ticket of the Action Congress party. Mr. Abubakar had developed a testy relationship with his boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, over Atiku's objection to Obasanjo running for a third term of four years. When it was clear that Obasanjo would never allow him to succeed him as President, though he was responsible for having Obasanjo elected in 1999, as well as being pivotal in providing the power for others to support Obasanjo the second time, he resigned from the PDP and jumped to the Action Congress. Through manipulation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, he was not only brought up on charges of corruption, but Obasanjo tried to deny him his official entitlements which the courts ruled against. The other problem that Atiku has is that he is seen as very corrupt by most Nigerians, having been tainted by the William Jefferson scandal, in which he was supposed to have been bribed with $100,000.
Just this week, Wednesday the 15th of September, in fact, former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida held a huge rally at the Eagles Square in Abuja to announce his own candidacy. Babangida ruled Nigeria from August 27, 1985, after overthrowing the government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, until August 27, 1993, when he was forced to leave office, after annulling the June 12th election, that most people considered the freest and fairest election that Nigeria ever held that would have brought Chief M.K.O. Abiola to power. The annulment of the June 12th election is what is considered one of Babangida's greatest problems; and then there is the accusation that he is yet to account for the $12 billion windfall profit that Nigeria earned during the aftermath of the 1990s Gulf war. In his favor is the view that some Nigerians hold that during his period in office, the Nigerian wealth was spread evenly as against the later years of Abacha and Obasanjo during which wealth has been concentrated in a few hands.
General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau - actually his real name is Aliyu Mohammed, but the Nigerian Army renamed him General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (after the town he was born) to distinguish him from another General Aliyu Mohammed - had sent in his letter of resignation in July, but President Jonathan had refused to accept it. According to information, Gen. Gusau decided to act publicly about his resignation, after the PDP announced a timetable for the party's primaries, which is supposed to happen on October 22.
All these three aspirants are all from the north of Nigeria and all are Muslims. The fourth candidate is the Governor Bukola Sariki of Kwara State, chair of the Governors' Council.
But then, President Goodluck Jonathan decided to enter the face on Wednesday through his facebook, on the same day that former Head of State Babangida was holding a huge rally to announce his candidacy. There were political maneuverings that went on that day calculated to steal the thunder from Babangida's rally. First was the Jonathan's Facebook announcement, and the attempt to hold the PDP's National Executive Committee at 12 noon, to prevent a large number of governors and delegates from being at the rally. On Saturday, September 18, he held a huge rally at the same venue that Babangida had used, Eagles Square, to announce to a huge throng of supporters that he is officially running for his party's nomination.
I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have decided to humbly offer myself as a candidate in the presidential primaries of our great party, ...in order to stand for the 2011 presidential elections," said Jonathan at the mammoth rally. "I have come to say to all of you that Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is the man you need to put Nigeria right," he said. Continuing, he said, "I have come to launch a campaign of ideas, not one of calumny. I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood."
From the 28 out of 29 PDP governors in the country who attended the Jonathan rally, it would appear that he has the nomination locked up. But many Northern leaders vehemently oppose Jonathan's candidacy, based on what they said was the PDP's zonal agreement that said the presidency should rotate between the Christian south and Muslim north every eight years. From 1999 to 2007, President Olusegun Obasanjo, a southerner and a Christian, ruled Nigeria. He orchestrated the selection of Mr. Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan as candidates of the PDP for the elections in 2007. Mr. Yar'Adua was a Muslim from the North in keeping with the so-called zonal agreement of the party, while Jonathan is a Christian from the South. Both were elected and took office in May of 2007. Unfortunately, Mr. Yar'Adua became very sick and died in May of this year, leading to the elevation of the Vice President who was already Acting President as the substantive President of Nigeria.
The North has charged that in keeping with the zonal agreement of the PDP, Jonathan who is serving out the late Yar'Adua first term of office, should not be allowed to run for the presidency. But the PDP in its last Executive meeting, decided that any Nigerian was entitled to run for the presidency irrespective of religious or area of origin. In other words, Jonathan, a Christian from the South-South, should not be allowed to run for the party's primary, let alone run as a president candidate of the PDP.
Again, the four candidates from the north have signed an agreement, that says they are going to produce one candidate to represent the North at the party's primaries. Gen. Babangida would appear to be the most powerful of the four candidates.
Finally, it has to be pointed out that the so-called 'zonal agreement' that is in the PDP's constitution is not part of the Nigerian constitution, which states that every Nigeria is entitled to run for the highest office of the land. And there are quite a strong element of the PDP that argues that the party never had the zonal agreement, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is supporting Jonathan to run for the party's nomination.
In my next analysis, I will be examining the unprecedented jolt dealt to Jonathan by Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau's resignation that he was forced to cancel all his foreign trips, especially to the United Nations where he was due to address the Nigerian Diaspora as well as other engagements, including speaking at the Columbia University in New York. We will also handicap Jonathan's chances of winning the nomination against the forces arrayed against him from the North. We will also examine what was behind the visit to former Head of State General Babangida by the American Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Carson accompanied by the American Ambassador to Nigeria Robin Saunders.
Jonathan, contest election, face court action...Atiku group warns president
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to have a rethink on his presidential ambition so as not to undermine the Peoples Democratic Party's principle of zoning.
The warning was given by the Turaki Vanguard, a political organisation propagating the presidential ambition of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The group's National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who stated this on Thursday while briefing correspondents in Yola, warned that if President Jonathan succumbed to the pressure from mischief makers and undemocratic elements, the Turaki Vanguard would have no option but to seek legal redress.
We expect President Jonathan to exclude himself from the PDP primaries, but if he insists on running for the presidency, then we will take him to court for a breach of trust and violation of the zoning principle that ushered him into office, Eze said.
Eze stated that, as far as we are concerned, President Jonathan is not an aspirant to the country's presidential seat come 2011. We are insisting that he should not contemplate such a thing, considering his office as an incumbent president. It will be a national embarrassment if a serving president goes to the party's primaries and fails to pick the party's ticket.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki Vanguard explained that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, became a civilian ruler in 1999 based on the grand design to appease the South after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, believed to have been won by the late Chief MKO Abiola.
In view of this, Eze said that the only right and patriotic thing for President Jonathan to do is to forget the 2011 presidency to pave the way for a northerner,adding that by so doing, the North would have been appeased to finish its tenure, following the demise of President Umaru Yara Adua.
The principle of zoning must be respected by President Goodluck Jonathan, because it is the process that brought him to power. The constitution of the PDP is very clear and unambigous in that regard.
So we expect Mr President to follow the path of honour and dignity to jettison the few undemocratic forces trying to lure him into the 2011 presidential race, Eze insisted.
He explained that going by the PDP's constitution, the party's presidential contestant would be sponsored by the party, and argued that since the PDP had remained resolute in its position to ensure that the principle of zoning held sway, it was incumbent on President Jonathan to read the writing on the wall.
Look, for one to be a contestant to the presidency, in particular on the PDP platform, one has to receive the endorsement of the PDP, and as far as the party is concerned, the principle of zoning should be maintained, and we expect the president to abide by that simple principle,the Turaki Vanguard's spokesperson added.
The warning was given by the Turaki Vanguard, a political organisation propagating the presidential ambition of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The group's National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who stated this on Thursday while briefing correspondents in Yola, warned that if President Jonathan succumbed to the pressure from mischief makers and undemocratic elements, the Turaki Vanguard would have no option but to seek legal redress.
We expect President Jonathan to exclude himself from the PDP primaries, but if he insists on running for the presidency, then we will take him to court for a breach of trust and violation of the zoning principle that ushered him into office, Eze said.
Eze stated that, as far as we are concerned, President Jonathan is not an aspirant to the country's presidential seat come 2011. We are insisting that he should not contemplate such a thing, considering his office as an incumbent president. It will be a national embarrassment if a serving president goes to the party's primaries and fails to pick the party's ticket.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki Vanguard explained that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, became a civilian ruler in 1999 based on the grand design to appease the South after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, believed to have been won by the late Chief MKO Abiola.
In view of this, Eze said that the only right and patriotic thing for President Jonathan to do is to forget the 2011 presidency to pave the way for a northerner,adding that by so doing, the North would have been appeased to finish its tenure, following the demise of President Umaru Yara Adua.
The principle of zoning must be respected by President Goodluck Jonathan, because it is the process that brought him to power. The constitution of the PDP is very clear and unambigous in that regard.
So we expect Mr President to follow the path of honour and dignity to jettison the few undemocratic forces trying to lure him into the 2011 presidential race, Eze insisted.
He explained that going by the PDP's constitution, the party's presidential contestant would be sponsored by the party, and argued that since the PDP had remained resolute in its position to ensure that the principle of zoning held sway, it was incumbent on President Jonathan to read the writing on the wall.
Look, for one to be a contestant to the presidency, in particular on the PDP platform, one has to receive the endorsement of the PDP, and as far as the party is concerned, the principle of zoning should be maintained, and we expect the president to abide by that simple principle,the Turaki Vanguard's spokesperson added.
Northern Leaders Mobilise Against Jonathan In Saudi Arabia
IT was not strictly a religious exercise for some northern politicians, who went to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj during the Ramadan.
A lot of politicking too went underground as influential northern leaders used the occasion to perfect their strategies to abort Jonathan's alleged presidential bid.
It was learnt that the Moslem worshippers resolved at various fora in Saudi Arabia to continue their opposition to Jonathan emerging as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP's) presidential candidate. There was, however, division in their ranks, The Guardian learnt.
Sources at some of the meetings in the holy land, said the participants shortlisted three governors from the three geo-political zones in the North to slug it out with the President Jonathan whenever he declares his interest to run.
Specifically, the planners in Saudi where Vice President Namadi Sambo too performed the Umra, allegedly shortlisted Governor Mahmud Shinkafi of Zamfara State (North West), Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje (North East) and his Kwara State counterpart, Bukola Saraki (North Central) to contest in the PDP primaries coming up shortly.
The Presidency is said to have uncovered the hand of a presidential aspirant in the North Central in the Saudi deal, allegedly aimed at weakening the support base of the President, who has just stoked caused stir in some quarters by his changes in the leadership of the Armed forces and the Police.
According to a source at one of the meetings held in a strategic location in Saudi, the leaders of the opposition group in Saudi Arabia drew the curtain on the meeting when they said they would meet further in Abuja at the end of the Hajj operations where to consult with more believers in the operation-stop-Jonathan project.
Beside the secrecy of the mission in Saudi Arabia, it was learnt that the conveners were not expected to discuss it openly at the Northern Governors Forum to insulate the dealers from persuasion from the PDP governors, some of who are said to have agreed to accept Jonathan as the 2011 candidate, although they will not oppose those who want to run against the President.
Another Presidency source said Jonathan's men are aware that the sustained northern opposition is aimed at the ultimate goal: to persuade President Jonathan to agree to sign a pact with northern elders that he will not run for a second term and certain ministries and agencies will be conceded to the North after the 2011 presidential election.
Traditional Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) the North would like to retain include the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Agriculture, Water Resources, Finance, Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), State Security Services (SSS), National Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), among others.
Two weeks ago, Sambo had cleared the air over a recent PDP National Executive Council and National Working Committee (NEC/NWC) meeting, where other aspirants were allowed to run with the President. He had said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that guides the conduct of internal democracy even within the ruling PDP, also guided the decision of the party's highest authority in not adopting the President outright.
The Vice President, who spoke with editors at a breakfast meeting in Abuja then, said it was not true as portrayed in the media that majority of northerners wanted Jonathan to step down.
We have agreed that zoning is part and parcel of the PDP; it has not removed zoning. But the PDP has said that as far as its candidate is concerned, it respects the Federal Constitution. And in all previous elections of the PDP, despite the fact that there is zoning, all Nigerians that were interested participated in such elections.
Just look at the last election, there were 15 candidates from the South, and about 12 or so from the North. Despite the fact that there is zoning in PDP, still the constitution is the prime factor that is considered in the candidature for the PDP. Any interested candidate from any part of the country, as a Nigerian, has the right to contest if he wishes just like it has been proved in other PDP's presidential election (primaries)
A lot of politicking too went underground as influential northern leaders used the occasion to perfect their strategies to abort Jonathan's alleged presidential bid.
It was learnt that the Moslem worshippers resolved at various fora in Saudi Arabia to continue their opposition to Jonathan emerging as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP's) presidential candidate. There was, however, division in their ranks, The Guardian learnt.
Sources at some of the meetings in the holy land, said the participants shortlisted three governors from the three geo-political zones in the North to slug it out with the President Jonathan whenever he declares his interest to run.
Specifically, the planners in Saudi where Vice President Namadi Sambo too performed the Umra, allegedly shortlisted Governor Mahmud Shinkafi of Zamfara State (North West), Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje (North East) and his Kwara State counterpart, Bukola Saraki (North Central) to contest in the PDP primaries coming up shortly.
The Presidency is said to have uncovered the hand of a presidential aspirant in the North Central in the Saudi deal, allegedly aimed at weakening the support base of the President, who has just stoked caused stir in some quarters by his changes in the leadership of the Armed forces and the Police.
According to a source at one of the meetings held in a strategic location in Saudi, the leaders of the opposition group in Saudi Arabia drew the curtain on the meeting when they said they would meet further in Abuja at the end of the Hajj operations where to consult with more believers in the operation-stop-Jonathan project.
Beside the secrecy of the mission in Saudi Arabia, it was learnt that the conveners were not expected to discuss it openly at the Northern Governors Forum to insulate the dealers from persuasion from the PDP governors, some of who are said to have agreed to accept Jonathan as the 2011 candidate, although they will not oppose those who want to run against the President.
Another Presidency source said Jonathan's men are aware that the sustained northern opposition is aimed at the ultimate goal: to persuade President Jonathan to agree to sign a pact with northern elders that he will not run for a second term and certain ministries and agencies will be conceded to the North after the 2011 presidential election.
Traditional Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) the North would like to retain include the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Agriculture, Water Resources, Finance, Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), State Security Services (SSS), National Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), among others.
Two weeks ago, Sambo had cleared the air over a recent PDP National Executive Council and National Working Committee (NEC/NWC) meeting, where other aspirants were allowed to run with the President. He had said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that guides the conduct of internal democracy even within the ruling PDP, also guided the decision of the party's highest authority in not adopting the President outright.
The Vice President, who spoke with editors at a breakfast meeting in Abuja then, said it was not true as portrayed in the media that majority of northerners wanted Jonathan to step down.
We have agreed that zoning is part and parcel of the PDP; it has not removed zoning. But the PDP has said that as far as its candidate is concerned, it respects the Federal Constitution. And in all previous elections of the PDP, despite the fact that there is zoning, all Nigerians that were interested participated in such elections.
Just look at the last election, there were 15 candidates from the South, and about 12 or so from the North. Despite the fact that there is zoning in PDP, still the constitution is the prime factor that is considered in the candidature for the PDP. Any interested candidate from any part of the country, as a Nigerian, has the right to contest if he wishes just like it has been proved in other PDP's presidential election (primaries)
Group warns Lagos Assembly over Supplementary Budget
A group, Democrats for Checks and Balances (DCB), yesterday urged the Lagos
State House of Assembly to be careful in its handling of Governor Babatunde
Fashola's Supplementary Budget.
It said its advice became imperative because the budget will be financed through
bonds.
It said the position of the House on the bond issue has underscored the doctrine
of the separation of powers, especially the independence of the legislature.
The group wondered why governors would borrow funds to implement projects at the
twilight of their tenure, stressing that the approach is incompatible with
developmental trends in the world.
But a member of the state executive council said "the government meant well by
the additional budget proposals that would fast track the development of the
state". He urged the lawmakers not to politicise the matter.
In a statement by its leader, Allan Olaniran, the group said no focused
governments can finance budgets by uncertain means at a time they are trying to
keep low debt profile.
It said creative governance is about creating wider opportunities for progress
and prosperity through sound budgetary implementation, without imposing greater
economic burden and massive debt strains on the people after the implementation.
The group praised the Assembly, led by Speaker Yemi Ikuforiji, for sticking to
the best legislative practice and defending the future of Lagosians, stressing
that "the future generation should not suffer the agony of reckless debt."
State House of Assembly to be careful in its handling of Governor Babatunde
Fashola's Supplementary Budget.
It said its advice became imperative because the budget will be financed through
bonds.
It said the position of the House on the bond issue has underscored the doctrine
of the separation of powers, especially the independence of the legislature.
The group wondered why governors would borrow funds to implement projects at the
twilight of their tenure, stressing that the approach is incompatible with
developmental trends in the world.
But a member of the state executive council said "the government meant well by
the additional budget proposals that would fast track the development of the
state". He urged the lawmakers not to politicise the matter.
In a statement by its leader, Allan Olaniran, the group said no focused
governments can finance budgets by uncertain means at a time they are trying to
keep low debt profile.
It said creative governance is about creating wider opportunities for progress
and prosperity through sound budgetary implementation, without imposing greater
economic burden and massive debt strains on the people after the implementation.
The group praised the Assembly, led by Speaker Yemi Ikuforiji, for sticking to
the best legislative practice and defending the future of Lagosians, stressing
that "the future generation should not suffer the agony of reckless debt."
Buhari’s CPC Takes Over North
Like a wildfire in the harmattan, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) founded by General Muhammad Buhari (Rtd) is fast spreading across the breadth and length of the north, LEADERSHIP investigations have shown.
Findings by our correspondents in the three geo-political zones that form the north, show that the party, against expectations is gaining acceptance especially among the voting masses in most of the states. In states like Kano, Katsina and Bauchi where the party structure is fully grounded, watchers say aspirants who eventually get the party's ticket are seen as either governors-in-waiting or legislators-elect.
In states Like Borno and Yobe, both controlled by the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP), the fear of the CPC among the ruling elite is palpable. In Borno for example, an exodus of ANPP faithful to the CPC has place it at par with the party in power. Our correspondent reports that the Ali Modu Sheriff government lives in greater fear of the CPC than the People Democratic Party (PDP).
In Yobe, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is threading a difficult path in his second term bid as the massive popularity of the CPC is threatening his chances at the polls. LEADERSHIP findings show that with the right candidates to fly the new party's flag in the impending elections, the ANPP is likely to be dislodged.
In Kano, a traditional National chairman of CPC, Senator Rufai Hanga, while outlining the ideology of the party recently had claimed that the party which was formed with the aim of bringing back ideology based politics in the country, already has structures in all the 36 states and majority of the local governments and wards across the federation.
But political observers are of the opinion that Buhari's chances of winning the presidential election under the party's platform is still frail because in Kano where the former head of state has the greatest mass of his followers, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau had been destabilizing the CPC by infiltrating its ranks.
Besides, they also believe that his good public service record, integrity, grassroots support, mass followership and his ownership of the party notwithstanding, Buhari's poor financial base, poor human rights record and the weak structure of the CPC might all work against his victory in the 2011 presidential poll.
stronghold of Buhari, it is payback time for the voting masses on account of the shabby treatment meted to the former two time presidential candidate of the ANPP by the state government led by Ibrahim Shekarau.
The CPC is fully established with offices in all the 44 local government areas mostly funded by the people themselves who levy themselves N100 each to support the party.
Aspirants have flooded Kano with their posters with their pictures placed side by side with that of General Buhari.
In Bauchi, the government of Isa Yuguda is jittery about the monstrous popularity of the CPC. Yuguda himself was a beneficiary of CPC'S leader before his defection to PDP. LEADERSHIP investigations show that there have been sustained efforts to stifle CPC's presence in the media.
Findings by LEADERSHIP show that in Adamawa, the CPC has presence in all the 21 local government areas of the state. Its highest membership is from Mayo-Belwa, Governor Murtala Nyako's base.
In Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states, the grassroots are waiting for direction, LEADERSHIP investigations have shown.
Lack of leadership in these states may have robbed the party of greater followership in Zamfara state as the party is clearly not seen. It has only the state secretariat as the party office in the entire state.
In Nassarawa, CPC enjoys appreciable followership which was boosted by Buhari's recent tour of the state.
In Benue, the state has presence in all the 23 LGAs.Its membership is expected to swell the more after the PDP primaries which is likely to end up in crisis.
However, findings by LEADERSHIP show that unless it manages its internal conflict well and close its ranks, its chances at the polls are threatened. Similarly, many politicians trooping into the party are seen as ambitious who are there to use CPC as a ladder to electoral victory.
The CPC was formed by Buhari and his associates after he was said to have received ill treatment from the party's leadership, precisely after the 2007 general polls.
Specifically, Buhari had running battle with the party's national chairman, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke over the latter's acceptance to join the government of national unity proposed by late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
The crisis reached its moment of highest tension when the party leadership proceeded to withdraw the petition it filed as a twin petition with that of its presidential candidate before the presidential election tribunal seeking to nullify Yar'Adua's election.
Before forming the CPC to take care of his interest and political ideology, Buhari struck an alliance with Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC) then. This was after he tried his luck in the mega party summit alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders in a bid to wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.
National chairman of CPC, Senator Rufai Hanga, while outlining the ideology of the party recently had claimed that the party which was formed with the aim of bringing back ideology based politics in the country, already has structures in all the 36 states and majority of the local governments and wards across the federation.
But political observers are of the opinion that Buhari's chances of winning the presidential election under the party's platform is still frail because in Kano where the former head of state has the greatest mass of his followers, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau had been destabilizing the CPC by infiltrating its ranks.
Besides, they also believe that his good public service record, integrity, grassroots support, mass followership and his ownership of the party notwithstanding, Buhari's poor financial base, poor human rights record and the weak structure of the CPC might all work against his victory in the 2011 presidential poll.
Findings by our correspondents in the three geo-political zones that form the north, show that the party, against expectations is gaining acceptance especially among the voting masses in most of the states. In states like Kano, Katsina and Bauchi where the party structure is fully grounded, watchers say aspirants who eventually get the party's ticket are seen as either governors-in-waiting or legislators-elect.
In states Like Borno and Yobe, both controlled by the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP), the fear of the CPC among the ruling elite is palpable. In Borno for example, an exodus of ANPP faithful to the CPC has place it at par with the party in power. Our correspondent reports that the Ali Modu Sheriff government lives in greater fear of the CPC than the People Democratic Party (PDP).
In Yobe, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is threading a difficult path in his second term bid as the massive popularity of the CPC is threatening his chances at the polls. LEADERSHIP findings show that with the right candidates to fly the new party's flag in the impending elections, the ANPP is likely to be dislodged.
In Kano, a traditional National chairman of CPC, Senator Rufai Hanga, while outlining the ideology of the party recently had claimed that the party which was formed with the aim of bringing back ideology based politics in the country, already has structures in all the 36 states and majority of the local governments and wards across the federation.
But political observers are of the opinion that Buhari's chances of winning the presidential election under the party's platform is still frail because in Kano where the former head of state has the greatest mass of his followers, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau had been destabilizing the CPC by infiltrating its ranks.
Besides, they also believe that his good public service record, integrity, grassroots support, mass followership and his ownership of the party notwithstanding, Buhari's poor financial base, poor human rights record and the weak structure of the CPC might all work against his victory in the 2011 presidential poll.
stronghold of Buhari, it is payback time for the voting masses on account of the shabby treatment meted to the former two time presidential candidate of the ANPP by the state government led by Ibrahim Shekarau.
The CPC is fully established with offices in all the 44 local government areas mostly funded by the people themselves who levy themselves N100 each to support the party.
Aspirants have flooded Kano with their posters with their pictures placed side by side with that of General Buhari.
In Bauchi, the government of Isa Yuguda is jittery about the monstrous popularity of the CPC. Yuguda himself was a beneficiary of CPC'S leader before his defection to PDP. LEADERSHIP investigations show that there have been sustained efforts to stifle CPC's presence in the media.
Findings by LEADERSHIP show that in Adamawa, the CPC has presence in all the 21 local government areas of the state. Its highest membership is from Mayo-Belwa, Governor Murtala Nyako's base.
In Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states, the grassroots are waiting for direction, LEADERSHIP investigations have shown.
Lack of leadership in these states may have robbed the party of greater followership in Zamfara state as the party is clearly not seen. It has only the state secretariat as the party office in the entire state.
In Nassarawa, CPC enjoys appreciable followership which was boosted by Buhari's recent tour of the state.
In Benue, the state has presence in all the 23 LGAs.Its membership is expected to swell the more after the PDP primaries which is likely to end up in crisis.
However, findings by LEADERSHIP show that unless it manages its internal conflict well and close its ranks, its chances at the polls are threatened. Similarly, many politicians trooping into the party are seen as ambitious who are there to use CPC as a ladder to electoral victory.
The CPC was formed by Buhari and his associates after he was said to have received ill treatment from the party's leadership, precisely after the 2007 general polls.
Specifically, Buhari had running battle with the party's national chairman, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke over the latter's acceptance to join the government of national unity proposed by late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
The crisis reached its moment of highest tension when the party leadership proceeded to withdraw the petition it filed as a twin petition with that of its presidential candidate before the presidential election tribunal seeking to nullify Yar'Adua's election.
Before forming the CPC to take care of his interest and political ideology, Buhari struck an alliance with Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC) then. This was after he tried his luck in the mega party summit alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders in a bid to wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.
National chairman of CPC, Senator Rufai Hanga, while outlining the ideology of the party recently had claimed that the party which was formed with the aim of bringing back ideology based politics in the country, already has structures in all the 36 states and majority of the local governments and wards across the federation.
But political observers are of the opinion that Buhari's chances of winning the presidential election under the party's platform is still frail because in Kano where the former head of state has the greatest mass of his followers, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau had been destabilizing the CPC by infiltrating its ranks.
Besides, they also believe that his good public service record, integrity, grassroots support, mass followership and his ownership of the party notwithstanding, Buhari's poor financial base, poor human rights record and the weak structure of the CPC might all work against his victory in the 2011 presidential poll.
US removes Nigeria from drug list
The United States government yesterday removed Nigeria from the major drug list.
According to a statement released by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the US President, Barack Obama, said that this was the first time that Nigeria would be delisted from the drug majors list since 1991. The anti-narcotics agency stated that Mr Obama said that Nigeria was a onetime drug trafficking focal point but that the country had taken a lot of drastic steps to make counter narcotics a top national security for the country. He said that international data showed that there was a strengthening of illegal drug trafficking between Latin America and West Africa, especially via Brazil and Venezuela, with a considerable portion of illegal product destined for Europe.
According to the report, Nigeria, Brazil, and Paraguay were recently removed this year from the list because they no longer meet the criteria for the list according to US law. Reacting, Ahmadu Giade, the Chief Executive of the NDLEA, said that Nigeria had gotten a well deserved honour. He noted that the removal of Nigeria from the majors drug list was an endorsement of the collective efforts of the agency to combat drug traffickers with the aim of having a drug free society. According to him, the honour given to Nigeria by removing her from the drug list was as a product of dedication, transparency, hard work, and cordial working relationship between Nigeria and United States in controlling drug trafficking in the country.
The NDLEA is happy appreciate President Barack Obama and Americans for this candid and credible assessment, he said. The removal speaks volumes concerning our impressive scorecard and determination to address the drug problem. Illicit trade in narcotics transcends national boundaries. Our foreign collaborators also have a way of monitoring most assiduous efforts. All exit entry points will remain invincible to drug criminals through effective drug interdiction. The NDLEA boss also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for his anti-drug policies, and other stakeholders for their unrelenting efforts. He promised that no drug baron or major drug trafficker would go unpunished in the country, adding that NDLEA was one of the best anti-drugs agencies in Africa and that the agency is prepared to make sacrifices to sustain and improve on its drug control performance Our level of professionalism shall be further consolidated on the tripod of transparency, anti-corruption and respect for the rule of law, he said. It is a call to duty that demands higher commitment on our part. We shall continue to partner with the United States and other stakeholders. No stone will be left unturned in our quest for a drug free society.
According to the agency, the 20 countries on the list this year are Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. A major drug-transit country is defined as a significant direct source of illicit narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances significantly affecting the United States; or a country through which such drugs or substances are transported.
According to a statement released by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the US President, Barack Obama, said that this was the first time that Nigeria would be delisted from the drug majors list since 1991. The anti-narcotics agency stated that Mr Obama said that Nigeria was a onetime drug trafficking focal point but that the country had taken a lot of drastic steps to make counter narcotics a top national security for the country. He said that international data showed that there was a strengthening of illegal drug trafficking between Latin America and West Africa, especially via Brazil and Venezuela, with a considerable portion of illegal product destined for Europe.
According to the report, Nigeria, Brazil, and Paraguay were recently removed this year from the list because they no longer meet the criteria for the list according to US law. Reacting, Ahmadu Giade, the Chief Executive of the NDLEA, said that Nigeria had gotten a well deserved honour. He noted that the removal of Nigeria from the majors drug list was an endorsement of the collective efforts of the agency to combat drug traffickers with the aim of having a drug free society. According to him, the honour given to Nigeria by removing her from the drug list was as a product of dedication, transparency, hard work, and cordial working relationship between Nigeria and United States in controlling drug trafficking in the country.
The NDLEA is happy appreciate President Barack Obama and Americans for this candid and credible assessment, he said. The removal speaks volumes concerning our impressive scorecard and determination to address the drug problem. Illicit trade in narcotics transcends national boundaries. Our foreign collaborators also have a way of monitoring most assiduous efforts. All exit entry points will remain invincible to drug criminals through effective drug interdiction. The NDLEA boss also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for his anti-drug policies, and other stakeholders for their unrelenting efforts. He promised that no drug baron or major drug trafficker would go unpunished in the country, adding that NDLEA was one of the best anti-drugs agencies in Africa and that the agency is prepared to make sacrifices to sustain and improve on its drug control performance Our level of professionalism shall be further consolidated on the tripod of transparency, anti-corruption and respect for the rule of law, he said. It is a call to duty that demands higher commitment on our part. We shall continue to partner with the United States and other stakeholders. No stone will be left unturned in our quest for a drug free society.
According to the agency, the 20 countries on the list this year are Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. A major drug-transit country is defined as a significant direct source of illicit narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances significantly affecting the United States; or a country through which such drugs or substances are transported.
The Desperate Plot to Stop Jonathan from Contesting!
Exhibit 1. 'Request For Declaration To Reserve The PDP Presidential Nomination For Northern Aspirants And To Restrain President Goodluck Jonathan From Participating In The 2010 Presidential Primary As An Aspirant'. - Adamu Ciroma, Lawal Kaita, Iyorchia Ayu, others -
Read @ http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4036:stop-goodluck-jonathan-from-contesting-under-pdp-ciroma-others&catid=47:politics&Itemid=65
Exhibit 2. CONSENSUS MOU: IBB, Abubakar, Gusau and Saraki to present a single Northern Candidate
Read @ http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4035:consensus-mou-ibb-abubakar-gusau-and-saraki-to-present-a-single-northern-candidate&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=57
Exhibit 3. Former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, rented a huge crowd during his 2011 presidential ambition declaration on Wednesday at the Eagles Square in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Read @ http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4034:ibbs-rented-crowd-protest-at-unpaid-allowances&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=67
Exhibit 4. Front page report of a national newspaper on Friday 10 September 2010 with the caption:“Jonathan, Contest Election, Face Court Action; Atiku Group Warns President†refers. As a civil and political rights advocate and an active Nigerian, I feel constrained to respond to the unlawful threats issued by Atiku’s Group against the person and office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, before it spills off.
Read @ http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4033:before-we-unduly-overheat-the-polity-carol-ajie&catid=25:politics&Itemid=92
Read @ http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4036:stop-goodluck-jonathan-from-contesting-under-pdp-ciroma-others&catid=47:politics&Itemid=65
Exhibit 2. CONSENSUS MOU: IBB, Abubakar, Gusau and Saraki to present a single Northern Candidate
Read @ http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4035:consensus-mou-ibb-abubakar-gusau-and-saraki-to-present-a-single-northern-candidate&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=57
Exhibit 3. Former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, rented a huge crowd during his 2011 presidential ambition declaration on Wednesday at the Eagles Square in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Read @ http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4034:ibbs-rented-crowd-protest-at-unpaid-allowances&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=67
Exhibit 4. Front page report of a national newspaper on Friday 10 September 2010 with the caption:“Jonathan, Contest Election, Face Court Action; Atiku Group Warns President†refers. As a civil and political rights advocate and an active Nigerian, I feel constrained to respond to the unlawful threats issued by Atiku’s Group against the person and office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, before it spills off.
Read @ http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4033:before-we-unduly-overheat-the-polity-carol-ajie&catid=25:politics&Itemid=92
IF NOT GOODLUCK GOD PLEASE GIVE NIGERIA Gen. Buhari
That is if. The truth is that if Buhari could not do a dam thing to improve the livelihood of Nigerians when he had a gun on the head of every Nigerian, what makes you think he can do a dam thing now that Nigerians are smarter? My friend, Nigerians are no longer fools for this fellow who had contributed in the destruction of Nigerian Society.
Nigeria and Nigerians do not need old Soldier(s) to come back and mess the country completely; we need a new brain from the oil producing States, a man with vision for all Nigerians and not just for the Muslim Nigerians. At this time in our history we need a man from the oil producing States to use the oil resources from the oil producing region to create jobs for Nigerians. The years of ganging up and looting the oil money for the benefit of Northern Nigeria alone is over.
In addition, the Niger Delta has been neglected by the same people who want to come back to just share the oil Wells to their benefits and not for the benefits of the region that produces the oil. For the many years they ruled Nigeria, can any one of you tell me what Federal Presence that Buhari or Babangida put in the Niger Delta? Is Niger Delta not part of the country? Will it be a crime if oil revenue is used to establish a Federal Presence in the Niger Delta? Why was it that they never diversified the establishment of Federal Perastatal so that the Eastern Nigeria and the Niger Delta would benefit from the huge oil revenue the country had accounted for in the past 30 years? The retired Arny Generals should retired from politics and leave Nigerians alone. Their times are over, unless they are coming back to return some of the money they looted when they were in power.
I hate it when some Nigerians start to treating Buhari, Babangida or any other Hausa as the best option for the Country, while in fact these people in 40 years they have ruled Nigeria never should any interest in working for the common interest of every all Nigerians, including those in the Eastern region or oil producing Niger Delta. We don't need Buhari and Babangida, we don't need Sectionists, we need Jonathan who will be the president for all Nigerians.
Nigeria and Nigerians do not need old Soldier(s) to come back and mess the country completely; we need a new brain from the oil producing States, a man with vision for all Nigerians and not just for the Muslim Nigerians. At this time in our history we need a man from the oil producing States to use the oil resources from the oil producing region to create jobs for Nigerians. The years of ganging up and looting the oil money for the benefit of Northern Nigeria alone is over.
In addition, the Niger Delta has been neglected by the same people who want to come back to just share the oil Wells to their benefits and not for the benefits of the region that produces the oil. For the many years they ruled Nigeria, can any one of you tell me what Federal Presence that Buhari or Babangida put in the Niger Delta? Is Niger Delta not part of the country? Will it be a crime if oil revenue is used to establish a Federal Presence in the Niger Delta? Why was it that they never diversified the establishment of Federal Perastatal so that the Eastern Nigeria and the Niger Delta would benefit from the huge oil revenue the country had accounted for in the past 30 years? The retired Arny Generals should retired from politics and leave Nigerians alone. Their times are over, unless they are coming back to return some of the money they looted when they were in power.
I hate it when some Nigerians start to treating Buhari, Babangida or any other Hausa as the best option for the Country, while in fact these people in 40 years they have ruled Nigeria never should any interest in working for the common interest of every all Nigerians, including those in the Eastern region or oil producing Niger Delta. We don't need Buhari and Babangida, we don't need Sectionists, we need Jonathan who will be the president for all Nigerians.
WORDS OF WISDOM FOR GOODLUCKS CANDIDACY
Let me end by repeating a story that I heard many years ago in the elementary school, of three Nigerians, one Hausa, one Igbo and one Yoruba, sitting under a cocoanut tree. The Yoruba said I wish a coconut will fall. The Hausa said, if it is the wish of Allah a coconut will fall. The Igbo did not wait, he climbed the tree and plucked some coconut. when he came down from the tree a struggle took place between himself and the Yoruba. The Hausa took advantage of the situation and ate the coconut..........J.o.s.okeke.
He is saying that either way igbos will not make it in 2015 with either option because power corrupts absolute power corrupts and both if the get there will eventually change and decide to stay 8 years and the igbo Vepeee like Ekwueme will be happy to stay put for 8 years. Watch it it will happen unless you negogiate with brains
He is saying that either way igbos will not make it in 2015 with either option because power corrupts absolute power corrupts and both if the get there will eventually change and decide to stay 8 years and the igbo Vepeee like Ekwueme will be happy to stay put for 8 years. Watch it it will happen unless you negogiate with brains
US company chief admits paying $4.4m bribe to INEC, UN officials
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.
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.
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