“Our politics is without bitterness, my husband Dr. Good luck Jonathan and Sambo is a very Good people…”
Dame Patience Good luck Ebele Jonathan. Adamawa, December 21st, 2010
Looking at some countries like China , India , Iran and Japan that have in the course of a few decades developed in the true sense of the term; I could not find any that uses foreign language as a tool for both scientific and cultural research and communication. Many have been using their indigenous languages which enable them to seamlessly attained technological break-through.
Practically speaking therefore, any country desirous of development in all facets of life must deploy its indigenous language or at least thoroughly domesticate the one imposed on it by accident of colonial history as the like of south Africans have try to do.
Whether we like it or not, English had become Nigeria ’s lingua-franca, and ever since, has been spoken by vast majority of Nigerians as a second language. But unlike local languages that come to us naturally and effortlessly; English language had to be learnt though formal tutoring. Because no matter what it remains alien and artificial to us and therefore not suitable for effective cultural, scientific and technological researches.
That was all the more reason why speakers of English as a second language will have to remain learners for life. That was also why even Wole-Soyinka, the celebrated Nigerian Nobel laureate in English literature without fear or contradiction had to constantly update his vocabularies to keep abreast of new trends.
So to me Dame Patience Ebele’s apparent poor grasp of the language’s syntax and grammar or any other person for that matter was not something laughable as to warrant castigation or casting of aspersion in so far as aims and objectives of the speaker are quite understood.
What’s incomprehensible and at the same time lamentable however has been the case of different strokes for the same offence from those who choose to castigate Hajiya Turai throughout the three or so years she served as the nation’s first lady whenever she had cause to speak in English!
Was it because she happens to be another kola-nut chewing Aboki, to borrow from her traducers, which was why she was shown no respite? At least her understanding of the language was by far more matured than that of the current first lady. But why the dead silence as if in the grave-yard, despite the notorious gaffe being committed by dame patience Good-luck in the full glare of our television screens while campaigning for her husband; something that is patently novel in the annals of Nigeria’s political arithmetic.
Equity and fairness dictates that what was good for the goose must also be good for the gander. Those who decide to lampoon Hajiya Turai Yar’adua should accord patience good luck similar treatments on account of her disastrously poor grasp of the language. Otherwise, people will read different meanings into their motives. They will also think and rightly so, that there are more to those barrage of criticisms than meet the eye!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Road blocks and Eastern travelers
One of the greatest paradoxes of our time is the fact that Nigerian roads host more law-enforcement road-blocks per kilometre of roads than any other country in the West African sub-region.
And yet more smuggled goods manage to find their ways into the country than into any other country in the sub-region.
A testimony to this fact came recently when the Federal Government un-banned certain categories of goods like motor vehicles, used clothing and other consumables on the grounds that government was losing taxable revenues due to it through the activities of smugglers who routinely ferried in these prohibited items.
Which leads to the question: How is it possible that smugglers are able to run rings round all the law-enforcement check-points on our roads and border posts? The simple answer which government has belatedly acknowledged is that the check-points serve no serious security or revenue generating purposes.
They instead serve as illegal toll-gates for officials who man them to extort money from smugglers and legitimate travellers using the nation s highways.
No where is this conclusion most apparent than on the highway that leads from Lagos to the Eastern Region and back.
By a conservative estimate, there are about 50 check-points manned by the Police, Customs and Excise or Military personnel, ostensibly to check and arrest criminals, smugglers or traffickers in certain categories of goods or human beings.
In spite of a subsisting order from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), that all stationary check points along the nation s highways especially in the Eastern parts of the country be dismantled, the presence of assorted check-points manned by a motley of security agencies along the highway leading from Lagos to the East and vice versa has continued to agitate the minds of observers.
It is easy to understand that the law-enforcement agencies have a duty to protect road users from the menace of bandits and other deviants lurking along the highways to dispossess them of lives and property. In this wise, the presence of these security agents on our highways can be appreciated.
But when these road-blocks turn out to be no more than toll collecting points, then the purpose is defeated and the problem becomes very worrisome, indeed.
A situation where road users, motorists and innocent passengers in commercial vehicles travelling to join their kith and kin to celebrate Christmas and New Year, are subjected to un-dignifying searches that include the perusal of luggages containing personal effects, in the guise of checking for weapons or smuggled goods, calls for severe censure.
Some of the other officials who mount these road-blocks ask for all manner of vehicle papers and other irrelevancies, the real purpose of which is to have an excuse to delay, frustrate and extort money from the travellers who also have the bad roads to contend with.
What makes the whole matter intractable is that most times, the check-points are mounted by rogue law-enforcement officials acting illegally and with all the apparatus of state power, including rifles, official vans and communications gear.
To make trips on the nation s highways, especially the Lagos-Onitsha highway bearable, the IGP must endeavour to dismantle these check points, especially those that are clearly extortion points, without compromising the security of travelers.
This can be done through intensive and effective patrol of the highways and the establishment of telephone hotlines that victims of these extortionists can call to get some official relief.
Now that the Christmas and New Year holidays are here, and there is the usual mass movement to the East and back, the heads of the security agencies, especially the IGP, must do all in their power to check-mate these unscrupulous rogue officials who hide under official cover to delay, frustrate, harass, extort and sometimes kill or injure fellow citizens in their pursuit of filthy lucre.
The time to act is now because, as they say, a stitch in time saves nine.
And yet more smuggled goods manage to find their ways into the country than into any other country in the sub-region.
A testimony to this fact came recently when the Federal Government un-banned certain categories of goods like motor vehicles, used clothing and other consumables on the grounds that government was losing taxable revenues due to it through the activities of smugglers who routinely ferried in these prohibited items.
Which leads to the question: How is it possible that smugglers are able to run rings round all the law-enforcement check-points on our roads and border posts? The simple answer which government has belatedly acknowledged is that the check-points serve no serious security or revenue generating purposes.
They instead serve as illegal toll-gates for officials who man them to extort money from smugglers and legitimate travellers using the nation s highways.
No where is this conclusion most apparent than on the highway that leads from Lagos to the Eastern Region and back.
By a conservative estimate, there are about 50 check-points manned by the Police, Customs and Excise or Military personnel, ostensibly to check and arrest criminals, smugglers or traffickers in certain categories of goods or human beings.
In spite of a subsisting order from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), that all stationary check points along the nation s highways especially in the Eastern parts of the country be dismantled, the presence of assorted check-points manned by a motley of security agencies along the highway leading from Lagos to the East and vice versa has continued to agitate the minds of observers.
It is easy to understand that the law-enforcement agencies have a duty to protect road users from the menace of bandits and other deviants lurking along the highways to dispossess them of lives and property. In this wise, the presence of these security agents on our highways can be appreciated.
But when these road-blocks turn out to be no more than toll collecting points, then the purpose is defeated and the problem becomes very worrisome, indeed.
A situation where road users, motorists and innocent passengers in commercial vehicles travelling to join their kith and kin to celebrate Christmas and New Year, are subjected to un-dignifying searches that include the perusal of luggages containing personal effects, in the guise of checking for weapons or smuggled goods, calls for severe censure.
Some of the other officials who mount these road-blocks ask for all manner of vehicle papers and other irrelevancies, the real purpose of which is to have an excuse to delay, frustrate and extort money from the travellers who also have the bad roads to contend with.
What makes the whole matter intractable is that most times, the check-points are mounted by rogue law-enforcement officials acting illegally and with all the apparatus of state power, including rifles, official vans and communications gear.
To make trips on the nation s highways, especially the Lagos-Onitsha highway bearable, the IGP must endeavour to dismantle these check points, especially those that are clearly extortion points, without compromising the security of travelers.
This can be done through intensive and effective patrol of the highways and the establishment of telephone hotlines that victims of these extortionists can call to get some official relief.
Now that the Christmas and New Year holidays are here, and there is the usual mass movement to the East and back, the heads of the security agencies, especially the IGP, must do all in their power to check-mate these unscrupulous rogue officials who hide under official cover to delay, frustrate, harass, extort and sometimes kill or injure fellow citizens in their pursuit of filthy lucre.
The time to act is now because, as they say, a stitch in time saves nine.
Obasanjo, corruption and I............Atiku
ERSTWHILE Vice-President Atiku Abubakar now a leading presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week had an interactive session with some of the country’s senior media executives. He used the opportunity to ventilate on matters pertaining to the 2011 presidential contest, the heavy load of government overhead on public finances and perception of corruption around him. Excerpts:
What is your reaction to the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by 21 PDP Governors?
I will like to concede to them whoever they want to endorse in their individual capacities. The only thing I will argue here is that I don’t object you having the right to vote for whoever you want, but I will object if you will dictate to some other persons to vote people who it is not their conscience or their choice to vote for. So, if a Governor as an individual has decided to vote for Jonathan, fine, but do not carry it more than that because this is a democracy. Allow also other delegates to elect whosoever they want to elect, make sure we have a credible process, do not use your position to intimidate other people to vote for people who they do not want to vote for.
As far as I am concerned, that is not a big deal.
What then are your chances?
My chances are extremely very good because me, I talk to the delegates, one on one, he (Jonathan) believes in using the Governors to secure the delegates, so at the end of the day we will see whose strategy is better.
Me, I believe in talking one on one with the delegates, he believes in using the Governors to make sure the delegates conform.
But I think that he has realized that the Governors alone cannot give him those delegates, so he is now beginning to go from one place to the other meeting delegates and also giving them ____.
The issue of a minimum wage has become a major challenge for the States. What is your view on this?
My view is that it is not in tune with true federalism for you to have standard or common projects across the country because if some of you were old enough to remember when this country had three regions, North, West and East, their salary structures were completely detached. Everything of theirs were in tune with true federalism. Today, Akwa Ibom earns the largest share in revenue allocation, they take about N29 billion per month and this N29 billion is almost what all the 19 northern states take per month. So, how would you expect any one of these States to pay the same wage with Akwa Ibom. It is totally unfair, totally unfederalism, it is not in tune with true federalism, this is the way I will like to pursue it.
I will be realistic about it and people will have to understand that the various States are not the same.
Your determination and pursuit of the ticket shows some elements of desperation. Are you desperate?
I am not desperate about 2011. I have never been desperate about anything at all because if you follow my career you will not find any desperation. If I had been desperate, I would have been President long time ago. I wouldn’t have stepped down for Abiola in 1992, I wouldn’t have given Obasanjo a chance in 1998, I had the PDP in my hands (like this), I would have taken the nomination in my pocket and I wouldn’t have given him the chance in 2003 when everybody said come and take it over. So, I am not desperate about it, I will wait for the right time, whenever God says is the right time and Nigerians say is the right time. I am not desperate about it. What am I looking for? I have money to eat till I die!
A number of Nigerians are really worried about the level of overhead expenditure by the various governments. How would you approach it if you are elected President?
Almost 80 percent of government income is spent on recurrent. This is what is used in paying salaries, allowances and all that. I want to reverse it.
I want to propose to Nigerians that every money that is earned from petroleum resources we should use it to develop our country’s infrastructure and every money we make from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, from taxation to VAT and so on and so forth we should use it as recurrent. Unless you implement this shock therapy you will not develop this great country, we all have to make sacrifices.
80 per cent of your income is going into recurrent, so I was thinking one day, why cant we reverse it? All the money we earn from oil let us dedicate it to develop infrastructure, education, power and jobs and so on and so forth.
And every money we get from Inland Revenue Service for recurrent.
That will even make the FIRS even more efficient.
Can your plan scale through the National Assembly?
I will dialogue with the National Assembly and I want to believe that they will put the interest of this country before their own selfish interest.
There is this persisting insinuation especially in the last two months that you are a corrupt person. Are you really corrupt?
I will agree with you that in the last two months when most people in PDP didn’t give me a chance to first of all return to the party, secondly they didn’t give me a chance of getting the waiver and thirdly, they didn’t give me a chance of running for the presidency. I proved them wrong in all ways, but we must remember that this corruption perception started when I was in office since the year 2000. It started from the presidency, it was a grand design to put the garb of corruption around me so that I would be ineligible to either contest or threaten anybody.
Every government machinery both at home and abroad was used to execute this grand design and I made sure that I insulated myself from that because if I did not insulate myself…
I believe you would agree with me that nobody has been so investigated in office as I was.
As chairman of COJA which the President gave me and I executed faithfully. He set up three different investigations one after the other to make sure that they found me with something, but unfortunately, I knew where he was heading.
There was no single COJA contract that I made sure that he (Obasanjo) did not approve even though I had the power to approve it, even if it is ten naira, I took it to him and he approved it. So, how can you get me?
I was discussing with a top US government official (and he told me) that it was written about me that I was corrupt, that I am a thief, I am this and that. The comment of the US authorities was very uncomplimentary that this is unbecoming of a President to write about his vice like this.
In the course of my travels I have met many Heads of State in Africa and outside who have told me “but your President said you are corrupt but we don’t find you like that.”
So, this corruption toga was deliberate to make sure that I am totally eliminated from the political process in this country because somebody felt I am a threat or I would be unstoppable and so on and so forth. But if I am that corrupt, haba all these years why is it that..up till now, if you said that as Vice-President I had immunity, I no longer have immunity, no agency in Nigeria, no Police Station has invited me to question. No agency and like it is popularly being said that I cannot go to America and so on and so forth.
America is not the kind of country that if you break their laws that they will let you go, wherever you may be they will pick you up! Anywhere!
Yes, America investigated my transactions and I provided all information that they needed but they never found where public money went into my business account. And it is everything I gave them to go through and all they could come up with was, suspect funds!
What is the definition of suspect funds?
I don’t even have to tell my wife where I earn my money, I don’t know how many of you tell your wives how you earn your money.
It is not only in Nigeria that I have business, I have business in Angola, I have business in Gabon, Congo Brazaville. I have been in these businesses for the past twenty seven years.
So, please if you have any evidence go and help the authorities so that they can call me for questioning and ask me.
What is even more painful to me is that they write all these things and I have children, I have wives, they read, they go through pain and they know that I am not what these people are writing about or what they are saying. I come back home and they look at me, sometimes my children send me e_mails what nonsense is this?
From PF (Peoples Front in the late eighties) I was a multimillionaire even then. When we declared our assets in SDP, I was one of the few people who was then a multimillionaire. Haba!
What is your reaction to the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by 21 PDP Governors?
I will like to concede to them whoever they want to endorse in their individual capacities. The only thing I will argue here is that I don’t object you having the right to vote for whoever you want, but I will object if you will dictate to some other persons to vote people who it is not their conscience or their choice to vote for. So, if a Governor as an individual has decided to vote for Jonathan, fine, but do not carry it more than that because this is a democracy. Allow also other delegates to elect whosoever they want to elect, make sure we have a credible process, do not use your position to intimidate other people to vote for people who they do not want to vote for.
As far as I am concerned, that is not a big deal.
What then are your chances?
My chances are extremely very good because me, I talk to the delegates, one on one, he (Jonathan) believes in using the Governors to secure the delegates, so at the end of the day we will see whose strategy is better.
Me, I believe in talking one on one with the delegates, he believes in using the Governors to make sure the delegates conform.
But I think that he has realized that the Governors alone cannot give him those delegates, so he is now beginning to go from one place to the other meeting delegates and also giving them ____.
The issue of a minimum wage has become a major challenge for the States. What is your view on this?
My view is that it is not in tune with true federalism for you to have standard or common projects across the country because if some of you were old enough to remember when this country had three regions, North, West and East, their salary structures were completely detached. Everything of theirs were in tune with true federalism. Today, Akwa Ibom earns the largest share in revenue allocation, they take about N29 billion per month and this N29 billion is almost what all the 19 northern states take per month. So, how would you expect any one of these States to pay the same wage with Akwa Ibom. It is totally unfair, totally unfederalism, it is not in tune with true federalism, this is the way I will like to pursue it.
I will be realistic about it and people will have to understand that the various States are not the same.
Your determination and pursuit of the ticket shows some elements of desperation. Are you desperate?
I am not desperate about 2011. I have never been desperate about anything at all because if you follow my career you will not find any desperation. If I had been desperate, I would have been President long time ago. I wouldn’t have stepped down for Abiola in 1992, I wouldn’t have given Obasanjo a chance in 1998, I had the PDP in my hands (like this), I would have taken the nomination in my pocket and I wouldn’t have given him the chance in 2003 when everybody said come and take it over. So, I am not desperate about it, I will wait for the right time, whenever God says is the right time and Nigerians say is the right time. I am not desperate about it. What am I looking for? I have money to eat till I die!
A number of Nigerians are really worried about the level of overhead expenditure by the various governments. How would you approach it if you are elected President?
Almost 80 percent of government income is spent on recurrent. This is what is used in paying salaries, allowances and all that. I want to reverse it.
I want to propose to Nigerians that every money that is earned from petroleum resources we should use it to develop our country’s infrastructure and every money we make from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, from taxation to VAT and so on and so forth we should use it as recurrent. Unless you implement this shock therapy you will not develop this great country, we all have to make sacrifices.
80 per cent of your income is going into recurrent, so I was thinking one day, why cant we reverse it? All the money we earn from oil let us dedicate it to develop infrastructure, education, power and jobs and so on and so forth.
And every money we get from Inland Revenue Service for recurrent.
That will even make the FIRS even more efficient.
Can your plan scale through the National Assembly?
I will dialogue with the National Assembly and I want to believe that they will put the interest of this country before their own selfish interest.
There is this persisting insinuation especially in the last two months that you are a corrupt person. Are you really corrupt?
I will agree with you that in the last two months when most people in PDP didn’t give me a chance to first of all return to the party, secondly they didn’t give me a chance of getting the waiver and thirdly, they didn’t give me a chance of running for the presidency. I proved them wrong in all ways, but we must remember that this corruption perception started when I was in office since the year 2000. It started from the presidency, it was a grand design to put the garb of corruption around me so that I would be ineligible to either contest or threaten anybody.
Every government machinery both at home and abroad was used to execute this grand design and I made sure that I insulated myself from that because if I did not insulate myself…
I believe you would agree with me that nobody has been so investigated in office as I was.
As chairman of COJA which the President gave me and I executed faithfully. He set up three different investigations one after the other to make sure that they found me with something, but unfortunately, I knew where he was heading.
There was no single COJA contract that I made sure that he (Obasanjo) did not approve even though I had the power to approve it, even if it is ten naira, I took it to him and he approved it. So, how can you get me?
I was discussing with a top US government official (and he told me) that it was written about me that I was corrupt, that I am a thief, I am this and that. The comment of the US authorities was very uncomplimentary that this is unbecoming of a President to write about his vice like this.
In the course of my travels I have met many Heads of State in Africa and outside who have told me “but your President said you are corrupt but we don’t find you like that.”
So, this corruption toga was deliberate to make sure that I am totally eliminated from the political process in this country because somebody felt I am a threat or I would be unstoppable and so on and so forth. But if I am that corrupt, haba all these years why is it that..up till now, if you said that as Vice-President I had immunity, I no longer have immunity, no agency in Nigeria, no Police Station has invited me to question. No agency and like it is popularly being said that I cannot go to America and so on and so forth.
America is not the kind of country that if you break their laws that they will let you go, wherever you may be they will pick you up! Anywhere!
Yes, America investigated my transactions and I provided all information that they needed but they never found where public money went into my business account. And it is everything I gave them to go through and all they could come up with was, suspect funds!
What is the definition of suspect funds?
I don’t even have to tell my wife where I earn my money, I don’t know how many of you tell your wives how you earn your money.
It is not only in Nigeria that I have business, I have business in Angola, I have business in Gabon, Congo Brazaville. I have been in these businesses for the past twenty seven years.
So, please if you have any evidence go and help the authorities so that they can call me for questioning and ask me.
What is even more painful to me is that they write all these things and I have children, I have wives, they read, they go through pain and they know that I am not what these people are writing about or what they are saying. I come back home and they look at me, sometimes my children send me e_mails what nonsense is this?
From PF (Peoples Front in the late eighties) I was a multimillionaire even then. When we declared our assets in SDP, I was one of the few people who was then a multimillionaire. Haba!
Who Wants Rochas In His State As Governor?
What does Rochas Okorocha want?
ROCHAS IS OUR MAN. What Rochas wants is to lead Imo out of the hostage hands of PDP. We are in bondage and has been for 12 years. We annoint him Rochas as the peopled man, our Moses to lead Imo into prosperity. Ohakim should start packing his ghana must go because he is done like Opkoroko from Norway. He failed Imo people and shamed Okigwe people. I am ashamed to say he and I are from the same Zone that raised Mbakwe. He is a disgrace in governance.
All Diaspora Imo will campaign to elect him as one with the intellect, ability and conscience to bring Imo out of the hostage taking and thieving fingers of PDP Party. My Diaspora Imo people have seen good leadership in the States they now all live and know that Ohakim cannot deliver Squat. It does not matter what PDP looters schedules are on who must loot next, what Imo want is good leadership for Imo people, not minding which zone the governor comes from. We are sick and tired of PDP telling us who should rule. The can steal it but we will never give it to them knowingly. That will not happen.
I too, am from Okigwe. I supported Mbakwe and can be proud to say he was not elected because he was from Okigwe, but because he has programs to build Imo. Ohakim does not have any program to build anything just loot Imo dry. If Zone is an issue, then Mbakwe served for Okigwe and he has been the only governor from Imo that served Imo people to salvage them from poverty. The rest and Udenwa did not serve Imo people and could not have represented their respective zones as this author claims. Orlu zone was never represented by Udenwa who did nothing in 8 years. There is nothing capitalk with his handiwork. So we must erase that era and never happened because he accomplished nothing. We must also erase the Ohakim 4 years as never happened in same token. Until Imo is served, we can not accept we have been led.
Our belief is that if service is the basis for deciding, then we can say Only Okigwe under Mbakwe has served Imo state. It is the turn of another Zone. We know Rochas will do good job and will elect him. IF Ojukwu says he is good, and brings him up like Zik brought up Mbakwe then we want Rochas. Ojukwu and Mbakwe did joint work in Biafra in which Ojukwu found home and comfort in Obowu as the war heated. Mbakwe was the provincial leader of Okigwe and he made sure Biafra was kept going to the end. Ohakim does not represent Okigwe because Okigwe people are not looters and did not elect him. We do not know how many votes he got from Okigwe that made him governor, how can he say he represents us. We did not elect him for him. We elected Mbakwe and he served well. We do not want that Ohakjims bad work to our credit. We discowned him already. We do not want our name to be associated with looting the State of Imo into hopelessness as we have nothing in Okigwe to show for the loots.
Obviously, Somebody is scared aaalready of Rochas! I mean very scared. There is onething many in PDP do not understand - PDP arangement is not binding to those not in PDP. Whatever PDP agreed to do in there party in Imo State does not concern the ordinary people of Imo. Nigeria and Imo is a democracy. Competition is integral part of democracy. In demcoracy thereis no coronation. See how thise writer glossed over his "Ohakims MAny Achievments" he failed to list them, because they exist only in their heads. They are saying Rochas should not mention his many philantrophy must are telling us that Ohakim can say he has accomplished alot. What are his accomplishments? Is he now afraid of a competent competition? What does accompaning MASSOB leaders has to do with the ability of Rochas to contest? IS Uwazurilke not an Imo bonafide citizen? Or is he saying being around this man of principle fighting for Igbo people is a crime? You can see their mindset. They are so scared of competition and are hoping for coronation.
Did Rochas sign any documents with PDP not to contest? Did APGA sign that PDP agreement? Why are these people so lazy in their heads to understand that their fantasy may be different from reality. IF Ohakim has done good for Imo, let Imo people decide. They should not begin to piss before the battle whitsle blows. If Imo want Rochas, they will elect him because the election is for Imo people not just Okigwe. I bet Ohakim can only steal votes from Okigwe as nobody can vote him from there given that he has nothing to offer them and has not delivered anything to Okigwe people. Democracy is about competition. Let the best team win if they will count the votes. Only way Ohakim will win is if the votes did not count. I can see they are already shaking in their pants. Whoi who will elect a man to office who has nothing to show for 4 years in office? I like to see that person.
HEN
"Competition is a by-product of productive work, not its goal. A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others". - Ayn Rand
"When the comes come to become, you will know the physicality of man" ... Political Jugernaut, Kingsley O. Mbadiwe (K.O.)
ONLY A FOOL IS AT HIS BEST........... Collin Powel (USA)
You amaze me? What will happen if you get an effective leaders that could grow Imo that is from Orlu. I am Okigwe like Ohakim - whatever that means. But it is obvious he does not represent Okigwe in his actions and performances. So what benefit is he to Okigwe as governor if that have not yielded any political dividend or economic upliftment of the zone. Ohakim has not invested Kobo in Okigwe except you consider his bank account and the mansion he just remodeled with Imo money. Everything he has done is to please himself -from the new governor's lodge to his mansion described here by his hired writers. Can you tell me what your LGA has benefited from since Ohakim?
The idea you are promoted is very unproductive with respect to the state of Imo. Imo need a viable leaders that will take care of all of Imo people and not just represent (loot) for his zone. In the case of Ohakim he loots only for himself and party chronies not for Okigwe. If your argument is rational then we can say the only one that Ohakim represents is his PDP folks. In which case we can zone the position out of PDP so other parties and the rest of Imo can also be represented. Can you tell me how many votes elected Ohakim from Okigwe that you claim he represents? How many elected him from all of Imo? Did Imo people elect him? If you say No to all these, then how can you be saying he represent anyone?
If you say no to all these then how did he get his office in a democracy? If he was not elected as we all know, then should he not belong to some prison for stealing an entire State given that people get imprisoned for doing less? If you steal one individual account from any bank will they give you second term to go still again or will you be prosecuted as criminal? If you willbe branded a criminal then why are those who steal an entire state account not so branded? If I did not know you personally, I will think you are just not serious. It is shocking that one with your education that leaves in democracy like USA will supporting the attrocities going on in Imo State.
Tell me onething that has happened under Ohakim that you are so happy about: Example - Obama pushed the Healthcare bill, DADT Repeal, American Re-investment& development Act, Dream act. He is negotiating new deals with Asia to increase export markets for American products; he has pursued capital projects that created jobs and fixed Americas road infrastructure. Everything he is doing is to help people find jobs, build capaital capacity, live better, put food in the table.
Now can you say the same thing of the Imo government we have today? What policies in Imo is aimed to create jobs for Imo people? What policies aim to improve quality and delivery of Education? What policies aim to increase Imo productive resources? What policies aim to improve the health of Imo people or the availabilities of accessible healthcare? can you tell us how much Ohakim has spent on his clean and green? Is all he is doing not clean and steal?
MAzi, if we do not speak up given what we know, those being hold hostage back there at home can not have the will and motivation to fight the criminals in offices back there and flush them off. There is nothing that says any buffoon who took office must do 8 years as the people smother. By whatever crooked means he has gotten 4 years and we did not see anything, why will any rational person think he needs another 4 years, if not just to completely annihilate Imo and strangle or stupify efforts and the individual struggle. You know,what government does is what makes people properous when they invest their money or build a jobs-creating venture. Individuals can not be successful if the governments are not concerned about their progress. That is why successful people in Imo state almost always live in other States or in the West or North. The same people,find it more useful to live elswehere in Nigeria because in those places their governments care about redevelopment efforts that benefit business and productive people.
All Ohakim has done is turn evert Imo person into government-handout dependent. They all get cash from government every month there is delivery from Abuja and that is all they are happy about. What willhappen to their grandchildren in Imo when Oil money stops flowing? All Ohakim does is collect Abuja money and share it with his looting chronies and nothing is planted to grow tomorrows bounty to share should Oil become nonproductive. Nigeria bases budget on Oil price, Imo basis budget on Oil price. They do not ask themselves where the countries that buy these oil get their own budgets from? Nigeria progressed when she was agric-based and shipped only products that people cultivated from their farms and made with their hands. Why not use the oildmoney to empower people so they can resume productive activities that will increase internally generated revenue?
Government is not good with for profit business, as such the job of government is to empower individuals and groups to engage in productive activties that create jobs for the state? If the government is the thief, then who will arrest the thief?
You need to search your soul and rethink. This is not about Ohakim the man but about what he and his chronies are doing to the State and the people that live in it. They are impoverishing people, causing diliapidation of education facilities, vandalizing economic activities, stiffling productive energy of the people. Unless the generation before are engaged productively those before them have nobody to copy or inherit from. Each generation builds on the efforts of those before them. Father starts a small business with government subsidized loan, then the son takes it to industrial level by refinishing and leveraging on cumulative past experience of fathers employees and business capital resources already in place. That is why each subsequent government must add to and not deplete the state. All Ohakim and Udenwa have done in the past 12 years is deplete the state's seed funds. Imo is not investing in her people or on the land. There are no rich people in Imo that are not depending on or milking the government of the base seed money from Abuja. That is dangerous and why there is need for redirection.
Governance is not about taking turn to share Imo seed allocations from Abuja. That is why we are opposed to the PDP setup only aimed to milk the state turn by turn. Imo should produce a government that willinvest for everybody and grow the state for everybody as opposed to just sharing money from Abuja like we have seen going on in PDP at both state and LGA levels. Think indpendently like you are educated!!
Tell me who are these people who wrote this agreement? It is just like the Northern Leaders Political Forum endorsing Atiku Abubakar as the Northern Leader for the PDP. Did the whole North come together and agree to make Atiku their PDP leader? If a group of 9 men met and agree to make one their leader, do they speak for the entire North? When did Imo people through their representative agree that the governorship position in Imo should rotate among the 3 zones? Mind you this was an internal agreement within PDP. And even in PDP, their internal agreement cannot overide one's constitutional rights as same PDP is going through nationally with President Jonathan. Besides, Rochas is not contesting under PDP. He is contesting under APGA.
My bro, if we get fixated on this zone thing, we won't get anywhere. And even if we have to stick to zoning, biko, bring credible candidates that can perform. Not one with abracada. Ohakim will come out and say he has performed more than all previous governments in Imo state (including Mbakwe). When we ask show me, as in gosim, there is nothing to show for his boast.
I suggest that, like HEN, you open your eyes and see it is not about Orlu, Okigwe and Owerre but about who can help develop our state. What we want is who can move Imo state forward. Tomorrow, nwafor Owerre can be governor of Imo state and you will be very disappointed if he doesn't perform. You will be disappointed because (1) he is not perfoming and (2) he's giving your zone, Owerre, a bad name. This is what HEN is experiencing with Ohakim now.
Before, when we criticize Ohakim, HEN will be angry that ndi Orlu have come again; that all we do is criticize Ohakim, that we don't want this Okigwe zone man to succeed. Now, thank God, he has seen the light and know that what we want is good governance and development of our state. I want you to shine your eye and reason likewise.
It was with deep embarrassment that I received the news that one of our sons, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has declared to contest the 2011 governorship election in Imo State in total defiance to the existing political arrangement in the State. Prior to this Orlu leaders had issued a warning that any Orlu son or daughter who attempts to disrupt, destabilize and defy the zoning and political equation in Imo would be disowned.
For those not conversant with Imo State and her politics, the state has three geo-political zones, namely Orlu with 12 local governments; Owerri with nine local governments and Okigwe with six local governments. In 1998, the elders and political leaders sat and agreed that Orlu should be allowed to produce the governor. Hence at the 1999 governorship election, the two dominant parties, APP and PDP fielded an Orlu sons , namely Dr Ezekiel Izuogu for APP and Chief Achike Udenwa for PDP. Udenwa emerged governor and served for eight years. It was further agreed that after Orlu zone, Okigwe will take its turn from 2007 to 2015 while Owerri will call the shots from 2015 to 2023.
Although Orlu zone by its population and natural endowments is the largest and most viable, it made it clear that it would abide by the zoning arrangement, hence its massive and unwavering support for Okigwe zone in 2007. Thus when the current governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim emerged in 2007, Orlu people restated its avowal to abide by the agreement and therefore threw its weight behind the governor. The subsisting understanding is that Okigwe zone under Ikedi Ohakim will do eight years like Orlu after which Owerri will take over. The message was duly passed on to all political actors in Orlu zone.
That is why I am benumbed by this ambition of Rochas Okorocha who hails from Ideato South local government area of Orlu zone. He contested the PDP primaries in 1999 and lost to Achike Udenwa. I am indeed baffled by this daring attitude of Rochas Okorocha, because Orlu people by nature would never covet that which belongs to their neighbours. Rochas, why this mud on our faces?
While I acknowledge that the constitution of Nigeria confers on Rochas Okorocha the right to seek election into any political office in the land in 2011, I am disturbed by the implications of his actions vis-à-vis the political stability of Imo State. He wants to trigger off ethnic conflicts by insisting on challenging the rights of Okigwe people to complete their eight years just like Orlu did between 1999 and 2007.
At the return of politics in 1999, Rochas Okorocha contested for the governorship of Imo State. That was under PDP. In 2003, he unsuccessfully sought the position of a senator. In 2007, he contested for the high office of the president under Action Alliance which he founded. Before this current misadventure, Rochas has gone through as many as five political parties before now berthing with All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
However, it does appear that Rochas Okorocha wants to hide under APGA and Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu to grab the governorship position in Imo State. His current romance with MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike whom he accompanied to Agulu, Anambra State last month for the burial of Sir Victor Umeh, APGA’S national chairman mother was also part of the gamble.
But unknown to him, and with due respect to Dim Ojukwu, those people cannot make any impact in deciding who governs Imo State in 2011. Sadly for Rochas, just few hours before he declared to contest the election under APGA, the party in Imo State publicly disowned him, saying he was not their member.
I have also noticed with great consternation that there is always a hyped publicity on the fabled philanthropy of Owelle Okorocha anytime he wants to contest any elective office. Does this not negate the injunction of our Lord Jesus Christ that your left hand should not know what your right hand does when you help out the needy? Can’t he separate philanthropy from politics? Is he not aware that World acclaimed philanthropists like Bill Gates and Ted Turner don’t even dabble into politics?
My position is that Owelle Rochas Okorocha or any other Orlu son or daughter who challenges the Okigwe zone for the governorship election in 2011 is an enemy of the people. This is because we in Orlu zone are men and women of honour and integrity. We cannot probate and reprobate at the same time.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am not advocating the celebration of mediocrity above performance in the name of zonal irredentism. No. The current Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has chalked up many achievements that he ought to be re-elected unopposed. The monumental achievements recorded by the governor in all sectors testify to the fact that Imo people would be better off if he serves out his second constitutionally allowed term. Again, to ensure political stability in the state, Ohakim remains the best bet as he won’t seek re-election in 2015. That you cannot say of any of these aspirants strutting the stage in the name of running for the office of the governor.
ROCHAS IS OUR MAN. What Rochas wants is to lead Imo out of the hostage hands of PDP. We are in bondage and has been for 12 years. We annoint him Rochas as the peopled man, our Moses to lead Imo into prosperity. Ohakim should start packing his ghana must go because he is done like Opkoroko from Norway. He failed Imo people and shamed Okigwe people. I am ashamed to say he and I are from the same Zone that raised Mbakwe. He is a disgrace in governance.
All Diaspora Imo will campaign to elect him as one with the intellect, ability and conscience to bring Imo out of the hostage taking and thieving fingers of PDP Party. My Diaspora Imo people have seen good leadership in the States they now all live and know that Ohakim cannot deliver Squat. It does not matter what PDP looters schedules are on who must loot next, what Imo want is good leadership for Imo people, not minding which zone the governor comes from. We are sick and tired of PDP telling us who should rule. The can steal it but we will never give it to them knowingly. That will not happen.
I too, am from Okigwe. I supported Mbakwe and can be proud to say he was not elected because he was from Okigwe, but because he has programs to build Imo. Ohakim does not have any program to build anything just loot Imo dry. If Zone is an issue, then Mbakwe served for Okigwe and he has been the only governor from Imo that served Imo people to salvage them from poverty. The rest and Udenwa did not serve Imo people and could not have represented their respective zones as this author claims. Orlu zone was never represented by Udenwa who did nothing in 8 years. There is nothing capitalk with his handiwork. So we must erase that era and never happened because he accomplished nothing. We must also erase the Ohakim 4 years as never happened in same token. Until Imo is served, we can not accept we have been led.
Our belief is that if service is the basis for deciding, then we can say Only Okigwe under Mbakwe has served Imo state. It is the turn of another Zone. We know Rochas will do good job and will elect him. IF Ojukwu says he is good, and brings him up like Zik brought up Mbakwe then we want Rochas. Ojukwu and Mbakwe did joint work in Biafra in which Ojukwu found home and comfort in Obowu as the war heated. Mbakwe was the provincial leader of Okigwe and he made sure Biafra was kept going to the end. Ohakim does not represent Okigwe because Okigwe people are not looters and did not elect him. We do not know how many votes he got from Okigwe that made him governor, how can he say he represents us. We did not elect him for him. We elected Mbakwe and he served well. We do not want that Ohakjims bad work to our credit. We discowned him already. We do not want our name to be associated with looting the State of Imo into hopelessness as we have nothing in Okigwe to show for the loots.
Obviously, Somebody is scared aaalready of Rochas! I mean very scared. There is onething many in PDP do not understand - PDP arangement is not binding to those not in PDP. Whatever PDP agreed to do in there party in Imo State does not concern the ordinary people of Imo. Nigeria and Imo is a democracy. Competition is integral part of democracy. In demcoracy thereis no coronation. See how thise writer glossed over his "Ohakims MAny Achievments" he failed to list them, because they exist only in their heads. They are saying Rochas should not mention his many philantrophy must are telling us that Ohakim can say he has accomplished alot. What are his accomplishments? Is he now afraid of a competent competition? What does accompaning MASSOB leaders has to do with the ability of Rochas to contest? IS Uwazurilke not an Imo bonafide citizen? Or is he saying being around this man of principle fighting for Igbo people is a crime? You can see their mindset. They are so scared of competition and are hoping for coronation.
Did Rochas sign any documents with PDP not to contest? Did APGA sign that PDP agreement? Why are these people so lazy in their heads to understand that their fantasy may be different from reality. IF Ohakim has done good for Imo, let Imo people decide. They should not begin to piss before the battle whitsle blows. If Imo want Rochas, they will elect him because the election is for Imo people not just Okigwe. I bet Ohakim can only steal votes from Okigwe as nobody can vote him from there given that he has nothing to offer them and has not delivered anything to Okigwe people. Democracy is about competition. Let the best team win if they will count the votes. Only way Ohakim will win is if the votes did not count. I can see they are already shaking in their pants. Whoi who will elect a man to office who has nothing to show for 4 years in office? I like to see that person.
HEN
"Competition is a by-product of productive work, not its goal. A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others". - Ayn Rand
"When the comes come to become, you will know the physicality of man" ... Political Jugernaut, Kingsley O. Mbadiwe (K.O.)
ONLY A FOOL IS AT HIS BEST........... Collin Powel (USA)
You amaze me? What will happen if you get an effective leaders that could grow Imo that is from Orlu. I am Okigwe like Ohakim - whatever that means. But it is obvious he does not represent Okigwe in his actions and performances. So what benefit is he to Okigwe as governor if that have not yielded any political dividend or economic upliftment of the zone. Ohakim has not invested Kobo in Okigwe except you consider his bank account and the mansion he just remodeled with Imo money. Everything he has done is to please himself -from the new governor's lodge to his mansion described here by his hired writers. Can you tell me what your LGA has benefited from since Ohakim?
The idea you are promoted is very unproductive with respect to the state of Imo. Imo need a viable leaders that will take care of all of Imo people and not just represent (loot) for his zone. In the case of Ohakim he loots only for himself and party chronies not for Okigwe. If your argument is rational then we can say the only one that Ohakim represents is his PDP folks. In which case we can zone the position out of PDP so other parties and the rest of Imo can also be represented. Can you tell me how many votes elected Ohakim from Okigwe that you claim he represents? How many elected him from all of Imo? Did Imo people elect him? If you say No to all these, then how can you be saying he represent anyone?
If you say no to all these then how did he get his office in a democracy? If he was not elected as we all know, then should he not belong to some prison for stealing an entire State given that people get imprisoned for doing less? If you steal one individual account from any bank will they give you second term to go still again or will you be prosecuted as criminal? If you willbe branded a criminal then why are those who steal an entire state account not so branded? If I did not know you personally, I will think you are just not serious. It is shocking that one with your education that leaves in democracy like USA will supporting the attrocities going on in Imo State.
Tell me onething that has happened under Ohakim that you are so happy about: Example - Obama pushed the Healthcare bill, DADT Repeal, American Re-investment& development Act, Dream act. He is negotiating new deals with Asia to increase export markets for American products; he has pursued capital projects that created jobs and fixed Americas road infrastructure. Everything he is doing is to help people find jobs, build capaital capacity, live better, put food in the table.
Now can you say the same thing of the Imo government we have today? What policies in Imo is aimed to create jobs for Imo people? What policies aim to improve quality and delivery of Education? What policies aim to increase Imo productive resources? What policies aim to improve the health of Imo people or the availabilities of accessible healthcare? can you tell us how much Ohakim has spent on his clean and green? Is all he is doing not clean and steal?
MAzi, if we do not speak up given what we know, those being hold hostage back there at home can not have the will and motivation to fight the criminals in offices back there and flush them off. There is nothing that says any buffoon who took office must do 8 years as the people smother. By whatever crooked means he has gotten 4 years and we did not see anything, why will any rational person think he needs another 4 years, if not just to completely annihilate Imo and strangle or stupify efforts and the individual struggle. You know,what government does is what makes people properous when they invest their money or build a jobs-creating venture. Individuals can not be successful if the governments are not concerned about their progress. That is why successful people in Imo state almost always live in other States or in the West or North. The same people,find it more useful to live elswehere in Nigeria because in those places their governments care about redevelopment efforts that benefit business and productive people.
All Ohakim has done is turn evert Imo person into government-handout dependent. They all get cash from government every month there is delivery from Abuja and that is all they are happy about. What willhappen to their grandchildren in Imo when Oil money stops flowing? All Ohakim does is collect Abuja money and share it with his looting chronies and nothing is planted to grow tomorrows bounty to share should Oil become nonproductive. Nigeria bases budget on Oil price, Imo basis budget on Oil price. They do not ask themselves where the countries that buy these oil get their own budgets from? Nigeria progressed when she was agric-based and shipped only products that people cultivated from their farms and made with their hands. Why not use the oildmoney to empower people so they can resume productive activities that will increase internally generated revenue?
Government is not good with for profit business, as such the job of government is to empower individuals and groups to engage in productive activties that create jobs for the state? If the government is the thief, then who will arrest the thief?
You need to search your soul and rethink. This is not about Ohakim the man but about what he and his chronies are doing to the State and the people that live in it. They are impoverishing people, causing diliapidation of education facilities, vandalizing economic activities, stiffling productive energy of the people. Unless the generation before are engaged productively those before them have nobody to copy or inherit from. Each generation builds on the efforts of those before them. Father starts a small business with government subsidized loan, then the son takes it to industrial level by refinishing and leveraging on cumulative past experience of fathers employees and business capital resources already in place. That is why each subsequent government must add to and not deplete the state. All Ohakim and Udenwa have done in the past 12 years is deplete the state's seed funds. Imo is not investing in her people or on the land. There are no rich people in Imo that are not depending on or milking the government of the base seed money from Abuja. That is dangerous and why there is need for redirection.
Governance is not about taking turn to share Imo seed allocations from Abuja. That is why we are opposed to the PDP setup only aimed to milk the state turn by turn. Imo should produce a government that willinvest for everybody and grow the state for everybody as opposed to just sharing money from Abuja like we have seen going on in PDP at both state and LGA levels. Think indpendently like you are educated!!
Tell me who are these people who wrote this agreement? It is just like the Northern Leaders Political Forum endorsing Atiku Abubakar as the Northern Leader for the PDP. Did the whole North come together and agree to make Atiku their PDP leader? If a group of 9 men met and agree to make one their leader, do they speak for the entire North? When did Imo people through their representative agree that the governorship position in Imo should rotate among the 3 zones? Mind you this was an internal agreement within PDP. And even in PDP, their internal agreement cannot overide one's constitutional rights as same PDP is going through nationally with President Jonathan. Besides, Rochas is not contesting under PDP. He is contesting under APGA.
My bro, if we get fixated on this zone thing, we won't get anywhere. And even if we have to stick to zoning, biko, bring credible candidates that can perform. Not one with abracada. Ohakim will come out and say he has performed more than all previous governments in Imo state (including Mbakwe). When we ask show me, as in gosim, there is nothing to show for his boast.
I suggest that, like HEN, you open your eyes and see it is not about Orlu, Okigwe and Owerre but about who can help develop our state. What we want is who can move Imo state forward. Tomorrow, nwafor Owerre can be governor of Imo state and you will be very disappointed if he doesn't perform. You will be disappointed because (1) he is not perfoming and (2) he's giving your zone, Owerre, a bad name. This is what HEN is experiencing with Ohakim now.
Before, when we criticize Ohakim, HEN will be angry that ndi Orlu have come again; that all we do is criticize Ohakim, that we don't want this Okigwe zone man to succeed. Now, thank God, he has seen the light and know that what we want is good governance and development of our state. I want you to shine your eye and reason likewise.
It was with deep embarrassment that I received the news that one of our sons, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has declared to contest the 2011 governorship election in Imo State in total defiance to the existing political arrangement in the State. Prior to this Orlu leaders had issued a warning that any Orlu son or daughter who attempts to disrupt, destabilize and defy the zoning and political equation in Imo would be disowned.
For those not conversant with Imo State and her politics, the state has three geo-political zones, namely Orlu with 12 local governments; Owerri with nine local governments and Okigwe with six local governments. In 1998, the elders and political leaders sat and agreed that Orlu should be allowed to produce the governor. Hence at the 1999 governorship election, the two dominant parties, APP and PDP fielded an Orlu sons , namely Dr Ezekiel Izuogu for APP and Chief Achike Udenwa for PDP. Udenwa emerged governor and served for eight years. It was further agreed that after Orlu zone, Okigwe will take its turn from 2007 to 2015 while Owerri will call the shots from 2015 to 2023.
Although Orlu zone by its population and natural endowments is the largest and most viable, it made it clear that it would abide by the zoning arrangement, hence its massive and unwavering support for Okigwe zone in 2007. Thus when the current governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim emerged in 2007, Orlu people restated its avowal to abide by the agreement and therefore threw its weight behind the governor. The subsisting understanding is that Okigwe zone under Ikedi Ohakim will do eight years like Orlu after which Owerri will take over. The message was duly passed on to all political actors in Orlu zone.
That is why I am benumbed by this ambition of Rochas Okorocha who hails from Ideato South local government area of Orlu zone. He contested the PDP primaries in 1999 and lost to Achike Udenwa. I am indeed baffled by this daring attitude of Rochas Okorocha, because Orlu people by nature would never covet that which belongs to their neighbours. Rochas, why this mud on our faces?
While I acknowledge that the constitution of Nigeria confers on Rochas Okorocha the right to seek election into any political office in the land in 2011, I am disturbed by the implications of his actions vis-à-vis the political stability of Imo State. He wants to trigger off ethnic conflicts by insisting on challenging the rights of Okigwe people to complete their eight years just like Orlu did between 1999 and 2007.
At the return of politics in 1999, Rochas Okorocha contested for the governorship of Imo State. That was under PDP. In 2003, he unsuccessfully sought the position of a senator. In 2007, he contested for the high office of the president under Action Alliance which he founded. Before this current misadventure, Rochas has gone through as many as five political parties before now berthing with All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
However, it does appear that Rochas Okorocha wants to hide under APGA and Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu to grab the governorship position in Imo State. His current romance with MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike whom he accompanied to Agulu, Anambra State last month for the burial of Sir Victor Umeh, APGA’S national chairman mother was also part of the gamble.
But unknown to him, and with due respect to Dim Ojukwu, those people cannot make any impact in deciding who governs Imo State in 2011. Sadly for Rochas, just few hours before he declared to contest the election under APGA, the party in Imo State publicly disowned him, saying he was not their member.
I have also noticed with great consternation that there is always a hyped publicity on the fabled philanthropy of Owelle Okorocha anytime he wants to contest any elective office. Does this not negate the injunction of our Lord Jesus Christ that your left hand should not know what your right hand does when you help out the needy? Can’t he separate philanthropy from politics? Is he not aware that World acclaimed philanthropists like Bill Gates and Ted Turner don’t even dabble into politics?
My position is that Owelle Rochas Okorocha or any other Orlu son or daughter who challenges the Okigwe zone for the governorship election in 2011 is an enemy of the people. This is because we in Orlu zone are men and women of honour and integrity. We cannot probate and reprobate at the same time.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am not advocating the celebration of mediocrity above performance in the name of zonal irredentism. No. The current Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has chalked up many achievements that he ought to be re-elected unopposed. The monumental achievements recorded by the governor in all sectors testify to the fact that Imo people would be better off if he serves out his second constitutionally allowed term. Again, to ensure political stability in the state, Ohakim remains the best bet as he won’t seek re-election in 2015. That you cannot say of any of these aspirants strutting the stage in the name of running for the office of the governor.
Thugs storm Owerri APGA secretariat
The political tempo in Owerri, the Imo State capital took a negative turn yesterday as the secretariat of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was thrown into commotion and confusion as thugs in their hundreds stormed the secretariat injuring several people.
The hoodlums allegedly beat up and injured many principal officers of the party who were at the secretariat.The hoodlums were armed with dangerous weapons.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by the national coordinator of APGA Youth Vanguard for Credible Election (AYVCE), Mr. Ositatinmma Okechukwu Omeze, the thugs were allegedly sponsored by a political chieftain who recently defected to the party to contest the 2011 general elections.
The thugs arrived the secretariat of the party with dozens of youths whom he directed to wait for him outside before he went inside to demand for the postponement of the state congress of the party scheduled for today (Wednesday) on the ground that he needs more time to make consultations, a request that the Imo state chairman of the party, Nze C. C Nwaka said could not be met as everything has been put in place for the congress.
Seeing that his demand could not be met, this political heavyweight resorted to the use of abusive words and intimidation against the chairman and other officers of the party who were carrying out their normal party functions.
He came demanding that the congress be postponed to enable him make consultations. He was advised to conform himself with the rules and guidelines of the party but he got angry and started abusing everybody.
Before this time, he has been lobbying and intimidating the executive members of APGA to grant him automatic ticket to contest the governorship election in the state for which everybody told him was not possible, Ositadinmma said.
He further said when the request failed, he stormed out of the office to meet his boys who had waited outside and within, seconds, they descended on the secretariat, beating and injuring the state chairman Nze Nwaka, the zonal vice Chairman (Owerri) Dr. Iwuagwu and several others while the Woman Leader, Esther Eburuche, jumped out of the office through one of the windows.
I have never seen this level of lawlessness in the past. I can t believe that this man can descend so low. This is a man who joined APGA a few days ago and was given the opportunity to participate in the electoral process like every other member in spite of the fact that he has contributed nothing to the formation and growth of APGA.
Most Nigerians know him as unprincipled political prostitute. It was the magnanimity of the leadership of our party which is at the fore- front of the struggle to entrench lasting democracy in Nigeria that gave him the right to join APGA in spite of information available that he was planted in APGA by our opponents to cause confusion and weaken the Party before the 2011 general elections, Ositadinmma said.
The hoodlums allegedly beat up and injured many principal officers of the party who were at the secretariat.The hoodlums were armed with dangerous weapons.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by the national coordinator of APGA Youth Vanguard for Credible Election (AYVCE), Mr. Ositatinmma Okechukwu Omeze, the thugs were allegedly sponsored by a political chieftain who recently defected to the party to contest the 2011 general elections.
The thugs arrived the secretariat of the party with dozens of youths whom he directed to wait for him outside before he went inside to demand for the postponement of the state congress of the party scheduled for today (Wednesday) on the ground that he needs more time to make consultations, a request that the Imo state chairman of the party, Nze C. C Nwaka said could not be met as everything has been put in place for the congress.
Seeing that his demand could not be met, this political heavyweight resorted to the use of abusive words and intimidation against the chairman and other officers of the party who were carrying out their normal party functions.
He came demanding that the congress be postponed to enable him make consultations. He was advised to conform himself with the rules and guidelines of the party but he got angry and started abusing everybody.
Before this time, he has been lobbying and intimidating the executive members of APGA to grant him automatic ticket to contest the governorship election in the state for which everybody told him was not possible, Ositadinmma said.
He further said when the request failed, he stormed out of the office to meet his boys who had waited outside and within, seconds, they descended on the secretariat, beating and injuring the state chairman Nze Nwaka, the zonal vice Chairman (Owerri) Dr. Iwuagwu and several others while the Woman Leader, Esther Eburuche, jumped out of the office through one of the windows.
I have never seen this level of lawlessness in the past. I can t believe that this man can descend so low. This is a man who joined APGA a few days ago and was given the opportunity to participate in the electoral process like every other member in spite of the fact that he has contributed nothing to the formation and growth of APGA.
Most Nigerians know him as unprincipled political prostitute. It was the magnanimity of the leadership of our party which is at the fore- front of the struggle to entrench lasting democracy in Nigeria that gave him the right to join APGA in spite of information available that he was planted in APGA by our opponents to cause confusion and weaken the Party before the 2011 general elections, Ositadinmma said.
Deltans support Uduaghans re-election financially.
Stakeholders demonstrate 100% support.
The re-run election of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan got a boost yesterday when a total of about N700,000,000 (Seven hundred million naira) only was raised during a fund raising ceremony in support of the election in Asaba.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Acting governor of Delta State Prince Sam Obi described Dr. Uduaghan as a marketable product. He said Uduaghan as a product is viable and have profitable selling potential.
“Uduaghan is a marketable product and his achievements will continue to sell him and make him attractive to the electorate.”
He said his achievements are concrete realities on ground visible to all Deltans and foreigners alike.
The acting governor explained that even when the re-run election is competitive and challenges, Dr. Uduaghan will win convincingly because of the legacies he has built. Prince Obi therefore charged PDP faithfuls in the state to be resolute, focused and committed so that the end of the day, PDP will come out victorious.
“Even when the election is competitive, we are sure he will win let us therefore remain resolute, focus and committed.”
In his remarks, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan said that any donation made towards the success of the re-run election should be seen as contribution towards building an economic vibrant state.
Dr. Uduaghan enjoined PDP stakeholders in the state to give both moral and financial support to the re-run election, explaining that PDP victory would ensure the completion of all on-going projects in the state.
He promised to improve the living standard of both the urban and rural populace and urged all Deltans to register to enable them make a wise choice.
The chairman of the party Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi appealed to PDP faithtuls in the state to remain loyal party men and contribute meaningfully to the re-run election fund raising.
Barr. Nwaoboshi said it was important for PDP to win convincingly and enjoined them to do the party proud by voting massively for Dr. Uduaghan.
The chairman of the occasion and former Deputy Governor of the state Mr. Benjamin Elue described what PDP in the state was going through as a strange development.
Chief Elue canvassed for robust support even as he said that the election was a test case for the popularity of the party in the state.
A PDP chieftain and Director General of Dr. Uduaghan campaign organization, Prof. G.G. Darah said Dr. Uduaghan was fit and capable to win the re-run election.
Prof Darah said Dr. Uduaghan has established the legacy of accomplishment, prudence and vision and enjoined the PDP family in the state to support the re-run election generously.
The re-run election of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan got a boost yesterday when a total of about N700,000,000 (Seven hundred million naira) only was raised during a fund raising ceremony in support of the election in Asaba.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Acting governor of Delta State Prince Sam Obi described Dr. Uduaghan as a marketable product. He said Uduaghan as a product is viable and have profitable selling potential.
“Uduaghan is a marketable product and his achievements will continue to sell him and make him attractive to the electorate.”
He said his achievements are concrete realities on ground visible to all Deltans and foreigners alike.
The acting governor explained that even when the re-run election is competitive and challenges, Dr. Uduaghan will win convincingly because of the legacies he has built. Prince Obi therefore charged PDP faithfuls in the state to be resolute, focused and committed so that the end of the day, PDP will come out victorious.
“Even when the election is competitive, we are sure he will win let us therefore remain resolute, focus and committed.”
In his remarks, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan said that any donation made towards the success of the re-run election should be seen as contribution towards building an economic vibrant state.
Dr. Uduaghan enjoined PDP stakeholders in the state to give both moral and financial support to the re-run election, explaining that PDP victory would ensure the completion of all on-going projects in the state.
He promised to improve the living standard of both the urban and rural populace and urged all Deltans to register to enable them make a wise choice.
The chairman of the party Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi appealed to PDP faithtuls in the state to remain loyal party men and contribute meaningfully to the re-run election fund raising.
Barr. Nwaoboshi said it was important for PDP to win convincingly and enjoined them to do the party proud by voting massively for Dr. Uduaghan.
The chairman of the occasion and former Deputy Governor of the state Mr. Benjamin Elue described what PDP in the state was going through as a strange development.
Chief Elue canvassed for robust support even as he said that the election was a test case for the popularity of the party in the state.
A PDP chieftain and Director General of Dr. Uduaghan campaign organization, Prof. G.G. Darah said Dr. Uduaghan was fit and capable to win the re-run election.
Prof Darah said Dr. Uduaghan has established the legacy of accomplishment, prudence and vision and enjoined the PDP family in the state to support the re-run election generously.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Revisiting Vasta and Nation building issues
Retired Lieutenant General Domkat Bali, was a former Chief of Defence Staff, Minister of Defence and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. He spoke on the circumstances of his retirement, the execution of General Mamman Jiya Vatsa.
General Babangida?s come-back bid, President Olusegun Obasanjo?s elongation plot and other national issues.
Senior Editor, BABAJIDE KOLADE-OTITOJU, General Editor, ADEMOLA ADEGBAMIGBE, Assistant Editor, SYLVESTER ASOYA, and photographer, AKIN FARINTO met him
For a long time, Nigerians have not heard from you. Why have you, until now, chosen to lie low?
I don?t know whether that is very fair. I was not always talking when I was the Minister of Defense. But then you people knew me as frank. But outside the government, I don?t have to go about talking unnecessarily. So I don?t talk much, not by design, but by my nature.
What have you been doing since you left office as Minister of Defense?
It has not been easy to adjust after the military because the military is a routine (wake up in the morning, have your breakfast, go to the office, a scheduled programme everyday). So it became part of me. But from the point of retirement, it became strange to wake up in the morning and not knowing what to do. I had to adjust. It was not easy initially, but now I am happy with it. I am happy because you are now the architect of your own program and life. You decide what to do and what not to do. You are not told to do one thing or the other. So you can say I am at home with myself now.
In Nigeria, it is customary for retired Generals to be on the board of companies. They even chair many. Some even own companies. Where do you belong?
I wish I had a company of my own. Talking about being chairman of companies, I have benefited from that up till now. I don?t know why. But I was chairman of HFP Engineering, a Jewish company, when I left government in 1991.It is located in Victoria Garden City. I am no longer chairman and I have no shares in it at all. I was a member of the Board of Trustees of Nigeria Wire and Cable, Ibadan. My shares there are few. I was also a member of the Board of Trustees of an insurance company. All these kept me going. Apart from those activities as member of the board of some companies, one way or the other, I also dabbled into part-time farming. As a small time farmer, I discovered that Nigerians cheat. They cheat when you are tilling the ground, they cheat when you are harvesting, cheat when you are applying fertilizer and they cheat at every level. It is a terrible Nigerian culture to cheat.
But we hope you have not been frustrated out of farming?
No. I still do it because as I said, I do it as a hobby. There was a time I felt most unhappy. A woman with a child strapped to her back and another one in her arms came to my house and said, ?General, we are desperate, we could not eat anything last night, me and my children. And my husband is no more.? She told me that whatever I could give to her, she would appreciate. So I gave her half a bag of maize. I have never seen a more grateful individual. Since then, I have been doing so as a hobby.
A lot of people believe that the incursion of the military into politics destroyed, to a large extent, discipline and professionalism. Where do you stand on this?
Certainly, the involvement of the military in government is abnormal. It is an illegal thing that became legal only by the acceptance of it by the generality of the people. But it is not a normal thing for the military to rule at all. It certainly has affected discipline and professionalism in the military because the regimentation of the military was affected. The normal role of the military during peace time and doing what is relevant to the military became distorted. The attention of the military was diverted from its norms towards governance. That affected the body greatly.
As Defense Minister, a lot of things happened during your tenure. Some were politically motivated. Do you have any regret about playing that role and the circumstances which led to your quitting government at that time?
The only regret is that the Nigerian situation provided the circumstances that led the military into taking over government. I have not regretted being a party to the government. Even today, I tell people that there will come a time, illegal as military regime may be, we cannot have a vacuum. If we do have a vacuum, the military is the only organized body that has the means to intervene if things go bad.
A lot of people think that given the situation in the world now, the military may never come back to power. Is it that you don?t share that opinion?
I don?t like to use the word ?never.? I made a point earlier on that there must not be a vacuum because nature abhors vacuum. Nature does not accept vacuum. If the people assume that a situation is no longer normal, somebody somewhere can take over. The only organized body with the ability to do that is the military.
Given the circumstances of your exit during the Babangida years, what is your relationship with him currently?
You will be surprised to hear that we are very good friends. I think Babangida and I understand each other. We know each other; he knows what I can tolerate and what I cannot. He understands that I can be frank but that I will not disgrace him. After I left, one of the places he visited was Langtang (and I come from Langtang). IBB had to pay a visit to the chief of Langtang. I had to be around because I am from there. Not only that, I was also going to read the Chief?s speech, to welcome him to the palace. So there was anxiety in the town as people were saying, ?aha, Bali and Babangida, since they parted company, let?s see what will transpire.? I credit Babangida for his very crafty nature. He came to the palace in a bus full of other people and I was in there when he arrived. I went there to receive them. Babangida simply grabbed me. People were surprised and wondered how the two of us could react to each other the way we did. People saw the two of us embracing each other. They were very surprised because they were expecting tension between both of us.
So have you had cause to talk about the matter since then?
He knows what happened then and I know what happened as well. In all fairness to Babangida, the only time he took me by surprise was when he came to my house to tell me that he intended to dissolve the cabinet. He said we should not worry because he would give us other appointments. My only question to him was: ?What appointment will you give me; after all I am a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council.? I wondered what else he could offer me that was better than what I already had. Anyway he said, ?Don?t worry.? He dissolved the cabinet when I was in Jos for a weekend and then appointed me Minister of Internal Affairs. To be very frank with you, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a very important ministry, but that was not my problem. My problem was that as a military officer, I was senior both to Babangida and Buhari, but I served under both as Minister of Defense and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. I could accept that they were heads of state. You cannot remove the fact that I was senior to both of them. And when Babangida came, he said: ?Ok, you are no longer Chief of Defense Staff but Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.? If I am not that, then I am also junior to all other military people other than the Head of State, which I would not accept.
I could accept that I was junior to the Head of State but to accept that I was also junior to other junior officers to me that was unacceptable. That was the main reason that I had to leave. Not because I was made the Minister of Internal Affairs. Some people said it was because I was taking over from John Shagaya who was also a junior officer. Those were not the issues at all.
What you are saying suggests that you do not blame Babangida for all that transpired with regards to your removal.
No. I can only say that perhaps he led and made people like us - Gambo, Alfa, Chief of Air Staff - to believe that we were together and that we were the most powerful (only to realize we were not). He dissolved the Council twice. The first was a rehearsal, apparently.
He brought all of us back. The second was the real thing and he did that mainly out of pressure from the junior officers who were at that time looking for appointments. That is the dilemma of the military regime and it reflects on the military itself.
How would you assess his administration, especially handling of the economy?
I personally thought he went too far with the IMF thing. I was more in line with Buhari who did not like the idea of IMF dictating terms to us. I went along with Buhari but Babangida decided to take action. If you remembered, he threw the thing to a national debate to say whether we should accept the terms given by the IMF. The general attitude or thinking suggested that we should not, if I remembered correctly. But he came up to say we should allow him to take a decision and implement things. I cannot remember exactly how he put it. But it was that whether we liked it or not, we should allow him to dictate what to do. To that extent, he went too far. Along the line, he got carried away, but I think he had good intentions.
You said that he must have been misled by junior officers. A lot of people believe that Babangida actually had good intentions and started well, but that along the line, the likes of the late General Sani Abacha hijacked his government and began to dictate to him. Do you share this view?
Why do you want me to repeat myself? I don?t know who hijacked his government. I didn?t mention names. I said some junior officers, along the line, influenced him to effect the changes, hence all the young boys became appointed as ministers and whatever.
When you worked with Babangida as Defense Minister, do you remember one action you took and you think you should have acted differently? For example, there was the coup trial that involved General Vatsa. Would you have acted differently?
I don?t know whether I would. My regret is that up till now, I am not sure whether Vatsa ought to have been killed because whatever evidence they amassed against him was weak. My only regret is that I cannot say, ?don?t do it.? I am not so sure whether we were right to have killed him.
The lot was on you to announce the execution...
That was ok. He was not the only one. There were others involved and the decision of the Council then was that, I being the Chief of Defense Staff (which covers the three services), would be the one to make the announcement. And not only that, we made sure that those who were connected were killed before my announcement. And I said so in my statement that those who were involved had already been executed. And I have asked myself whether I was crazy to have announced something like that.
What kind of soldier was Vatsa?
He was a very good soldier. I can tell you for sure that Vatsa was a very good soldier.
People said he hated Babangida to a fault!
No. I think there must be something between the two of them. I think they went to the same secondary school or something like that. There was something between them since secondary school days. I think that they didn?t seem to trust each other much. It may have been something that started when they were in secondary school that created that long-term hatred.
When Babangida assumed power, he appeared populist but over time he became stronger and more powerful. How did he achieve that when people like you were around?
You should ask Babangida that question! But Babangida is a very jovial person and he is a man that you can get to like easily. He portrays himself as a very likeable person, cheerful and kind.
He wants to come back and rule Nigeria again. What is your opinion about that?
If I meet him and he asks for my person opinion, I would advise him to be a kingmaker not a king. That is my advice to him. I do not support his coming back.
There is a speculation all round, and some people are actually campaigning, that President Obasanjo should elongate his tenure. What do you think will happen if he goes ahead?
That money is changing hands on account of this is one of the saddest parts of Nigerian politics. To start with, my disappointment is the fact that we are being led by people (most of whom) were not elected at all. Democracy, I was told in the secondary school, is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is not a government of cheats who are bent on looting the treasury. That is what we are having now. So I don?t believe we are practicing democracy at all. To that extent, my disappointment is that we are not practicing what democracy should be.
What is your personal disappointment about this clamor for a third term?
As far as I am concerned, the third term issue is very wrong. The right thing, people say, is that we the military gave the constitution. It is not a valid argument. The constitution is a document backed by generations of Nigerians and it states that ?we Nigerians have accepted bla bla bla.? That is the preamble of the national constitution. It may have been drafted under the military and handed over to the civilians. To that extent, they are right. They said it was Babangida who sat down and drafted it. It wasn?t him. It was a group of civilians who drafted it. When you talk about the people of Nigeria, soldiers are not many - the Head of State, governors and a few ministers. All the others, including ministers, are civilians.
Can you do a comparison of the economy now and during your time?
March 5th, 2010 Headsman
On this date in 1986,* Nigerian Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa was shot (along with nine others) by command of his childhood friend — the dictator Ibrahim Babangida, whom Vatsa was allegedly plotting to overthrow.
A gifted writer since youth, Vatsa was just a nameless twenty-something junior officer in the early 1970s when he emerged onto the national literary scene.
In the 15 years before his death, Vatsa churned out 20-plus volumes, mostly poetry. He had a special inclination for writing for children.
Simultaneously, his star ascended in his professional sphere.
Risen to General, Vatsa was part of the Supreme Military Council of the previous dictator.
But by December of that year,
Testimony against them — much of it of the speculative or torture-induced variety — described a ring of officers piqued at the Babangida coup (Vatsa was out of the country when it occurred) and keen to undo it. The scheme would have been only one of many such hatched or imagined in an unstable political situation that surely made the new big man nervous.
In the end, “only” ten (the nine others are named here) were stood up against the wall for the alleged plot. Many others, however, were imprisoned or purged, a lasting injury to the Nigerian brass that particularly crippled its air force.
Babangida, of course, rejected clemency appeals from the Vatsa family he knew well. He has since justified his harshness by arguing that Vatsa would have continued plotting against him in prison or in forced retirement. “Rawlings did it in Ghana,” Babangida said. “And you know Vatsa was very stubborn.”
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