Tuesday, August 10, 2010

2011:finally IBB get home support


IBB
Photo: Sun News Publishing
Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has declared the unflinching support of his government to the realization of the presidential ambition of former military president , General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida(IBB). AKIN ALOFETEKUN, who was at the forum where the governor made the declaration reports
Governor Aliyu made the declaration during the community dialogue meeting otherwise called “Jama’a Forum”, held at the Palace of the Emir of Minna in Chanchaga Local Government Area. He maintained that it is highly important and necessary for the state to mobilize support for IBB in view of his origin and wealth of experience in the governance of the country.

He said that the state capital, Minna, is blessed in terms of human and material resources and that as home to two former heads of state, there is the need for the people of Minna and indeed, the entire Niger State to support IBB, so as to make history for the third time.

He stated that the essence of “Jama’a Forum” was to directly dialogue with the people on issues affecting their wellbeing, as well as to afford the government the opportunity to make amends on its policies and projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people. He stressed that the forum also provides the platform for government to be transparent and accountable in view of the principle of good governance of his administration.

At the forum, representatives of the 11 wards of Chanchaga Local Government area were individually called upon to speak on some of the problems of their wards. Accordingly, some of the issues raised include supply of water, road rehabilitation, provision of clinics, establishment of junior and senior secondary schools, youths unemployment, and addressing the imbalance in political appointments.

Governor Aliyu assured that his administration will resolve the problems and that with the little resources available to the government, efforts will be made to tackle each problem in accordance with the financial strength.
While commending the local government councils for their ability to provide the dividends of democracy, Aliyu pointed out the need to continue to adequately fund the councils to improve the living standard of the people at the grassroots, stressing that the local government is the most important tier of government in view of their closeness to the people.
Insinuations were rife that the governor, who is chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, was not supportive of the presidential aspiration of IBB, who happens to be his second cousin.
With that declaration, it has become clear that IBB may not be classified among the Biblical prophets who have no honour in their homes.

Crisis in Rivers PDP:12 Odili's men docked


The crisis in Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumed a new dimension on Tuesday as 12 members of one of the factions were dragged to court for unlawful assembly. All the accused persons including a former deputy state chairman of the party, two former commissioners and two former local government chairmen were known to be loyal to the camp of former governors Peter Odili and Celestine Omehia otherwise known as the ‘Abuja Group.’

Others are Lolo Ibieneye who served as Water Resources commissioner; Prince Ohochukwu, a former deputy chairman of the state PDP; Sokuru Jaja, Dominic Saatah, Agiobu Fubara, Achinike Wonodi, Francis Ebebezer and Nwuke Anucha, a former two-time chairman of Omuma Local Government Council in the state.
Others include Chidi Nwankwo Nancy, a former commissioner; Ejor Ngowah Ejor, a two-term former chairman of Omuma Local Government Council; Grant Orugbani and Lali Green.

They are facing charges of unlawful assembly and provoking breach of peace via alleged offensive publication, setting up of a parallel PDP Secretariat and public display of posters with the inscription. The Peoples Democratic Party, state Secretariat, N0. 25 Oheato Street, D/Line, Port Harcourt.

The case of the twelve PDP chieftains who were rounded up on Monday from the alleged meeting place was, however, heard in chambers by the trial Chief Magistrate, Israel Agbesor.
At the end of the closed-door hearing, each of the accused persons was granted bail for N500,000 and one surety who must be on Grade Level 15 in the Rivers State Civil Service and with verifiable address.

The trial chief magistrate later adjourned hearing in the matter till August 18, this year.
Before their appearance in court, the state government in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Magnus Abe, had alleged that, “some hired thugs and cultists had gathered in a house somewhere in Port Harcourt” during which security agents swooped on them.
The statement entitled: Reaction to Arrests in Rivers State, reads thus:

Information received by the security agencies in Rivers State indicate that today, Monday, August 9, 2010, some hired thugs and cultists had gathered in a house somewhere in Port Harcourt and were conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace.
“The security agencies, on receiving the report acted swiftly to contain the situation, whereupon their political paymasters emerged.
“It is clear, therefore, that the actions of these persons were sponsored by the so-called ‘Abuja Group,’ with a clear intention of trying to use violence to create some disturbances in the state capital to attract attention.

“Hoisting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag, over that kind of activity cannot give it any kind of legitimacy. Clearly, the security agencies cannot fold their arms to allow developments capable of causing the breach of the peace.”
“The Rivers State Government has gone over and beyond the call of duty to make the state safe for diverse opinions to thrive.
“Meetings of our political opponents are held daily in the state and we encourage them and protect them because we did not only believe in democracy and the rule of law but we strongly believe and practice it.
“However, the laws of the land should be respected by all. The police will investigate the incidence and the law will take its course, regardless of whose ox is gored.”

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Buhari warns


Buhari
Photo: Sun News Publishing

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As political gladiators jostle for relevance amid the cacophony over which region should produce the next president in 2011, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, has sounded a note of warning to Nigerians and the political class: Get your acts together or there will be no country called Nigeria.

Buhari, a two-time presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and leader of the new party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), told Sunday Sun in a no-holds-barred interview that the country is tottering on the brink of collapse except something urgent is done to rescue it.

“How can we be so rich and paradoxically so poor? We are a rich nation, poor people. This worries me about our country. You look at the UNDP index. Nigerians are living on less than a dollar a day. This is a disgrace to the Nigerian leadership.” On the forthcoming 2011 polls, Buhari says: “ 2011 is critical for the country. There may be no Nigeria (if we don’t get it right).”

For one hour, Buhari also spoke on his presidential ambition, generational power shift, the contentious zoning/power rotation debate, Jega and the new INEC, President Jonathan’s alleged ambition, among sundry issues. Excerpts...

General, may we start by asking how has it been this third time around of your foray into the political minefield. You are opening offices of your new party, congress for progressive change, all over the country?
Well, I think people should realise that we are not absolutely new, technically speaking. Right from 2002, when I joined partisan politics, we came out with an organisation called The Buhari Organisation (TBO). TBO is virtually in all the states of the federation. It’s just like what people do when you have somebody’s vanguard, this movement etc. So, The Buhari Organisation tried to articulate my views, what my philosophies are, to promote my interest in politics and what I believe in in partisan politics.

But, unfortunately, there was some kind of conflict between it and the mainstream of the party. And the party said it should fuse into the mainstream, the ANPP (All Nigeria Peoples Party). When we came to 2003, 2007 elections, we had what we called the presidential campaign teams, from the national, states to the ward levels. ANPP, I must admit, came up with innovations.

If you are a state governor, for example, you are the chairman of the presidential campaign team, as well as your own campaign team. So, even if you don’t do it for the presidential candidate, you do it for yourself. So, we said, all these associations and groups: TBO, Yerima Vanguard, Tofa Boys or whatever, they all merged into the presidential campaign team headed by the national chairman of the party. I think that was a very good innovation. If it was pursued vigorously, I think we should have registered better outing.
What you are doing now is to resurrect tbo, which has metamorphosed into cpc?
Exactly! What we did was we had to leave the ANPP. And these are our reasons; we have said it so many times. So, those who are still with us in ANPP and the other organisations, all we did was to change the face of the office and put the flag of the CPC.

In a sense, you are not really ‘new’ as in new. From what you have been saying, the cpc is about the ideals of Gen. Buhari?
Well, this is what we try to reflect!

What we can also understand is that cpc was set up primarily to champion your views and possibly fight for a progressive Nigeria?

Exactly! We found out that...I think I will mention here for the purpose of clarity. I joined ANPP in April 2002. By 2003, the party gave me its presidential ticket. As they say, the rest is history. But really what happened is that the international observer team, the local observer team, they have all seen, over 30,000 people were deployed by one mission alone. Not to talk of the local Nigerian NGOs and other observer teams. They all agreed that the election was not free and fair. For that reason, we went to court for 30 months. That was in 2003.

In 2006, the party again gave me its ticket. And you know what happened in 2007. The rigging in 2007 was worse than 2003. I said, as presidential candidate, I wasn’t going to court, because I know what happened to me in 2003. But the party said I have to go court. You know how serious the rigging in 2007 was, but I said I wasn’t going to court because I spent 30 months in 2003 and didn’t get justice at the end of the day; I still lost. The party said I had to because I contested on its ticket, and technically, they were right. So, I went. They said we should raise two parallel legal teams, one for the party, the other for the presidential candidate. Of course, you know what happened.

When we were in court, they (the party) withdrew the case. But I refused to withdraw mine. Because constitutionally, I had a right to go to court as presidential candidate, whether the party agrees or not. So, I went to court and spent another 20 months. So, between 2003 and 2008, I was in court for 50 months.
So, when I went to address the press at Transcorp Hilton on December 12, 2008, I said I disagree with the judgment, if you could recall.

That the Supreme Court, as the name suggests, is the supreme authority constitutionally, but I disagree with its judgment. After I finished, the press asked several questions. But two questions were outstanding: With what I experienced in 2003 and 2007, wouldn’t I throw in the towel? Give up and say, ‘well, I have tried!’ I said no, I will not stop. Then, they asked me, you are fighting ANPP, it withdrew the case in court, joined the government of national unity (GNU) and took the positions on offer.

They did not work with the party’s constitutional structures, the National Working Committee, the caucus, comprising the governors, chairmen of the party, chairman of the board of trustees and especially, the national executive committee, which has the authority of the party. They did not take these organs into account in the three decisions the party took, that is, withdrawing from the case, joining the government of national unity and putting themselves the party leadership, instead of these party structures making the decision.

I said I will write my supporters, which I did in the first week of February 2009, and I gave them three positions to advice me on. Firstly, whether we should remain in ANPP; secondly, whether we should join any party other than the PDP; and thirdly, if we can go for a new party. They chose the third option after a survey was conducted in virtually all the states of the federation. So, we decided to come up with the CPC.

Looking at how gruesome it must be to start a new party almost from the scratch - you scout for new members, begin to popularise it and then, woo voters. This requires a lot of resources, moving round. How easy has it been?
It is extremely tough. Not that we don’t know what we are doing. We knew it was going to be tough but it was our best option.

We heard you were discussing with the action congress at a point. We also heard you were discussing with this or that party, then no news again. Is it that you found their philosophies not agreeing with yours or you just want to be a lone ranger?

(Laughs) You cannot be a lone ranger in Nigerian politics, unless you don’t want to succeed. But the important thing is that your philosophy must agree somehow with those you are going to get together with. For example, you know there is crisis in the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) in the centre and virtually every state. There is such crisis in the ANPP where the elected governors just kick the party. So, we wanted to have a party that we can manage, a progressive party with clear ideology and principles.

I am asking why you backed out of your discussion with ac. You were talking with bola Tinubu at some point and you seem to agree ideologically. The party also say they are progressive like the cpc. What happened?

AC, maybe they have got their own problems, which we don’t know! We have learnt to be cautious going by our experience. By going into the APP (All Peoples Party) then, I went and inherited all the problems. Subsequently, it became ANPP and virtually now non-existent. They started with nine governors, now virtually one. But they are supposed to have three: Kano, Yobe and Borno. But, technically, I think they have only one state, which is Kano. So, our supporters in TBO, ANPP and other parties, we thought we can realise our objectives through the CPC rather than joining another party, knocking doors and asking for a merger.

Where are you going to get the resources to prosecute elections in a heavily monetised polity like Nigeria?

You are talking of resources. Well, so many people have said, ‘yes you say Buhari has no money, how did he become a presidential candidate twice?’ But I keep on mentioning that I am the only presidential candidate that went round 34 states in 2003 and 33 states in 2007; a number of the states several times over. Those who have resources, how many states have they been to? What is the use of the resources if you cannot get to the people? Local government by local government, I talked to them. I did that, 2003 and 2007.

The bottom line is that we need free and fair election. All that we are doing will come to naught if there are no free and fair elections; and our experience as a nation agree with this. Even if we don’t agree or believe in ourselves, what about the international community? Some of them had overseen elections in 49 countries before Nigeria. And they said they had never seen the kind of fraud perpetrated in Nigeria. Mrs. (Madeline) Albright said ours, in 2007, was her worst experience.

Some people have asked why don’t you just quit running for presidency. In 2003, you came out parading your integrity, discipline and all that, you were rigged out. In 2007, the same thing happened. Why don’t you just forget it? Why don’t you give up on the presidency? What drives you in the Nigerian project?

I refuse to give up! I am not used to giving up as a soldier. And my objective is absolutely clear: It is about our people and our country. Look at the resources we have in this country, look at the human and material resources, look at the quality of people that we have, they have never been fully exploited. And I felt that if am in partisan politics, at least some people will listen to me. At least, this corrupt and undisciplined nation can be reformed somehow. So, we chose a clear objective of bringing this country back from the brink. This is what is driving me.
Some people seem to believe that it is a burning, personal ambition; that Buhari wants desperately to be president.

They ask: what is Buhari’s vision? What is he bringing to the table? Do you agree with this position?
It is absolutely not true. I don’t agree. Like I said, it’s not about me. It’s about our people and our country. When I read my declaration, I identified the problems of Nigeria: corruption, indiscipline, insecurity, Niger-Delta...We have to secure and manage this country. Secure in the sense that Nigerians all over must be able to have 24 hours a day if they like. Not everybody running home like chickens after last light and coming out after first light. No. Nigerians all over the country must be able to move and work 24 hours a day. Insecurity is the number one problem in this country. Number two is social justice. Social justice means those managing public funds must be seen to be competent and trust worthy.

This culture of throwing to the dogs all final instructions and lack of restraint on the part of those managing public institutions must be brought to a stop. They must be transparent and accountable. This is my burning ambition, which people are calling my personal ambition. Because, how can we be so rich and paradoxically so poor? We are a rich nation, poor people.

This worries me about our country. You look at the UNDP index of living. Nigerians are living on less than a dollar a day. This is a disgrace to the Nigerian leadership because they know what we are earning. At least they know the foreign exchange we are earning. Yet, we remain miserably poor.
Is the problem then the leadership or followership? Nigerians only grumble in their bedrooms and do nothing about this ravaging poverty you talk about

Both. The followership should be able to rebel at a certain level. How can they tolerate people stealing their resources and keep quiet? They refuse to give them education, they refuse to give them security, they refuse to give them water to drink, they refuse to give them infrastructure that enables them to work and earn a living themselves. Why do they tolerate this kind of leaders? In every constituency, they know them. Why do they allow them to steal them dry? What I am saying is that we have a docile followership.

You were head of state for 20 months. What this means is that you were also part of the leadership failure of our 50 years as a nation or are you going to isolate your administration?

I cannot dissociate myself from it. But when I had the opportunity to lead this country...You try and follow my antecedents as a governor, as minister of petroleum, as head of state, as chairman of PTF (Petroleum Trust Fund); have I tried as an individual wherever I have managed to be accountable and transparent? I believe you can get the answer from your archives.

Buhari is generally perceived as upright, disciplined and focused. Yet, why won’t people who believe this give you the votes? Is it that Nigerians don’t trust you enough to be president?

If you are telling me about people of this nation, then you are wrong. I told you earlier that the bottom line of our problems is free and fair election. People did not refuse to give me the votes. My votes didn’t count. I will give you an example, which I believe you know more than I do. Anambra elections, four years ago, when the Supreme Court ruled that (Peter) Obi was the governor, INEC, the constitutional body that runs election, had four years notice to run an election in Anambra. And we know that Anambra had 148,000 registered voters, but less than one-third of the votes counted. So, INEC couldn’t get it right in one state even when it had four years notice. You can see that you cannot be talking about credible polls when votes don’t count. How can you then say Nigerians didn’t vote for me?

Do you now have faith in the new inec under Prof Attahiru Jega?

I am developing some kind of confidence by the kind of actions (of Jega).

Why not total confidence?

Total confidence until and unless INEC gets what the Uwais Committee recommended. We need a credible voters’ register. Every Nigerian of voting age knows we cannot call what we have a credible voters’ register. All this nonsense that Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson were seen in Anambra voters’ register, this kind of scandalous nonsense shouldn’t happen again. So, we need an absolute, up-to-date credible voters’ register. Of course, it is possible. If the guy is given the resources he has asked for and the cooperation, the man is capable of doing it.

Do you know Jega personally?

Yes, person to person, but not closely. He got support across the country, from the press. People seem prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Do you believe that president Goodluck Jonathan, being a likely candidate in the 2011 polls, will give Nigerians a credible election since incumbents are hardly defeated in a country like ours?

Well, all I can say for now is that I am encouraged by what he said when he met with President Obama, when he gave an interview to the CNN. He promised Obama free and fair elections, which Americans are extremely concerned about. Secondly, security of the nation. All these cases of kidnapping, assassination and so on; thirdly, unemployment, and fourthly, I think power. I think these are the promises he made to the United States.

When he came back, to be fair with President Jonathan, as far as I am concerned, he has been playing the roles he promised. I saw in the papers again where he said he didn’t know Jega from Adam. But people recommended him and he approved it. He did not insist on his friend or somebody else. That means he has got this quality of fair-mindedness.

So, you are willing to also give the president the benefit of the doubt?

I am very willing. And when they started talking about this N72billion for INEC, for (voters) registration and so on, he approved it. So, to be fair, he has to be given benefit of the doubt.

The other leg of the question is, since presidents in Africa, including Nigeria, don’t ever want to lose election where they are candidates and umpires, should Jonathan run in 2011?

I think it would only appear that Nigerians haven’t suffered enough if they don’t stand against social injustice. I have the inkling that Nigerians are now getting ready for 2011 electioneering.

2011 is pregnant, only God knows what it will bear. But Nigerians know they are suffering, that if they insist on the government they have chosen, then they can have it. I gave example of Kano in 2003, Bauchi and Lagos in 2007. The electorate insisted on the government they wanted and they got it. So, if the elite of the rest of the country can say go and organise your constituencies and deliver them democratically, it is possible, it can be done. And then if we have a government we chose, we will be prepared to support it. That is the only way we can make progress.

Let’s go to zoning. Where do you stand, for or against?

What I have said since the argument started is that whatever form or agreement a political party takes is its own business. It is for the electorate to have the final decision on who it wants to vote for.

Do you believe power should go to the north in 2011?

That is PDP arrangement. It is a PDP affair. What I believe is free and fair elections. Let us have free and fair elections. As long as you are a Nigerian, if you win, you win, if you lose, you lose. But the elections should be free and fair.
Proponents of zoning say we need zoning or power rotation in a heterogenous society like ours. That it will promote unity in diversity. Some of the governors, elders and party stalwarts insist it is north or nothing. Are there times as a northerner you harbour this sentiment?
Look, I don’t know why you insist on me rationalising or accepting a PDP agenda.

I just want to know your views?

Well, I have told you that the bottom line of our problems is free and fair elections. In my submission earlier, I gave the example of Kano, Bauchi and Lagos, and said if the elite can go out and mobilise the people and deliver their constituencies; educate them and allow them to vote whichever party and whichever candidate, you will be amazed how stable Nigeria will be. But when you start thinking of north/south dichotomy; Christian/ Muslim; Christian/pagan, you have problems. Look at (late MKO) Abiola’s election. Abiola was a Muslim, his running mate was a Muslim. He chose a Muslim/Muslim ticket and nobody raised their fingers against it. So, what we need are good Nigerians whoever and wherever they are.

So, how did we get to this tragic level of zoning, power rotation, balancing etc?

I will ask you; you are the press men. You should tell me.
You should tell me because in 2003 and 2007, you balanced your ticket. You had Christian running mates from South West and South East respectively. Why didn’t you follow the Abiola example?
It’s the party. If my party made the terrible mistake, we will suffer the consequences! In 2007, the party asked me to run with Ume-Ezeoke. It was not my decision. And since I wanted the party’s ticket, I had to abide by their decision.

Nigeria is 50 and we are still bogged down by sentiments of zoning and rotation. Are we ever going to get to a time when a candidate will be judged by what he has to offer rather than where he comes from, his religion and other base considerations?

That is why, I think, for the last 18 months, in a few of my interviews, speeches, comments, I have always hit hard on the Nigerian elite. Not only political elite, but elite across the spectrum. Let them go either physically, morally and, perhaps, materially and deliver their constituencies. It’s really important. It’s now people are getting aware of this. But it is getting too late, because as you said earlier, next year (2011) is critical for the country.

Do you fear for the country, that if we don’t get it right now…

(Cuts in) There may be no Nigeria. I do, because I draw parallel with Somalia so many times. Somalia-sation of Nigeria; I am scared about that. Somalia, they are one ethnic group, one religion, Islam, but for 18 years Somalia has not been a country because the elite became so selfish, so corrupt, so undisciplined, and they have wrecked the country. And Nigeria is much better off.

So, I am passing a message to the Nigerian elite: Let them go and deliver their constituencies. Even Nigerians in Diaspora, Nigerians in Europe, the groups that are supporting us, I discussed with them. Let them connect with their constituencies at home through whichever way. And let them educate their people, persuade them to chose good people from whichever party to represent their constituencies. This is the way we can move Nigeria forward together. We all stand to benefit.

The South South and the north are currently locked in battle over 2011 presidency. While the former says it’s South South presidency or no Nigeria, the latter (north) are insisting that the unity of Nigeria will be threatened if power doesn’t go to the region. What’s your take on this volatile issue?

I have read these statements too. I don’t think there is absolute agreement among the people of these two zones. You can say some vocal people in the South South said if Jonathan is not given the presidency there will be no Nigeria. So, you can say they are holding Nigeria hostage. They will receive the shock of their lives if they think they can hold Nigeria hostage.

You also quoted the North saying power must come there or Nigeria’s unity is threatened. That position is not true. The northern governors if they represent the northern opinion, no matter how they got there, about 50 per cent agree (with zoning) and 50 per cent do not. The breakdown is there in the papers. You see, both the so-called northern governors and the South South governors are wrong.

So, on the average, what comes out is that Nigerians want free and fair election. Let the parties that can afford to field a candidate go and look for votes and let their votes count, not like the Anambra election. Thank goodness, the INEC leadership has been changed. You see, 2011, seems to be our last chance. We have to get our acts together, especially the elite to make sure the election is credible and acceptable. This is the bottom line.
The world over the emphasis is on generational power shift. You also must have been in your forties when you became head of state. In Britain today, you have a 43-year-old man as prime minister, his deputy is less than 40; President Obama of America is less than 50. Some Nigerians say Buhari is a good man, but he has had his chance no matter how brief. Can’t he play elderstatesman and advisory roles to the younger leaders? Must Buhari be president?

But our system accommodates what we are doing. You cannot vote until you are 18, and if you live up to 100, nobody says you cannot vote. So, you can vote and be voted for as long as you are above 18. Now, if our Constitution gives us that right, why should I deny myself, why should I disenfranchise myself? It is for Nigerians to mobilise against old people. If they don’t want ‘old people’ like me, then the youths will say we will vote one of us. So, a party can present a 35-year-old PhD holder, may be in sociology, ok. Others can present other candidates, ok too. That is why votes should count. What I am saying is that it is not for us to disenfranchise ourselves when the Constitution doesn’t say so... Let them (the youths) mobilise against Buhari, Babangida and whoever is 60 and above, for people who are 59 and below. But it is our right to vote and be voted for.

Do you as a person support generational power shift?

I will support whatever the Nigerian voters do, once there is free and fair election.
But you agree that all those period you were governor, goc, minister and head of state, you were young and vibrant. You had a lot of ideas, you were quite young...
Under the military regime, yes, I was quite young. But they are different systems.

What would be wrong if you give way to younger persons?

It wouldn’t be wrong, but my problem is I don’t want...You see, I have always talked about the elite going to deliver their constituencies. I don’t want my opinion, even if it is for myself or against myself, to dominate seemingly the rest of the constituencies. Let people make enough commitment in their constituencies and cause change. This is the most enduring thing. Everybody is talking about Obama. I watched the scene when Obama was being sworn in. The amount of tears dripping from the eyes of Jesse Jackson reached up to his mouth, because he was overwhelmed. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Obama didn’t become president because it was his birthright. After his qualification, he went straight to the grassroots, he went back to his constituency; he cultivated his constituency and groomed himself up from there. You don’t start talking from top to bottom. It should be from bottom up. That’s how Obama made it. And when Obama was mobilising his campaign resources, he didn’t go to the multinationals or the lobbyists. Again, he went to the ordinary people: 50, 100, 500 dollars...So, Obama owes nobody anything except the people, except the Americans, not the multinationals.

The preponderant view, especially down south, is that Buhari is a religious fundamentalist. I am sure you have heard that
Of course, I have.

How did you get that religious fundamentalist stigma?

They know they are lying; they know they are! They know they are a fraud. I wrote to most of the Bishops during my campaigns in 2003 and 2007. I visited the Bishops. I told you I visited 34 states in 2003 and 33 states in 2007, during the campaigns. Nigerians know the truth, that I am not what they are saying. You see, some Nigerians think they are being smart.

When they see they have nothing against me about integrity, competence in office or my ability to lead whichever department or state or ministry I have had the opportunity to lead, they say something must stick against Buhari, so that we can drag him down on behalf of our party or candidate. It is the state of our political development, which we cannot absolutely escape, and I assure you that I am facing all that with a lot of courage, because I have written to a lot of church leaders. I visited them, I talked to them and it is up to them to play their role as they see it.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Jonathan's Campaign has started says CNPP chief


Goodluck Jonathan
Photo: Sun News Publishing
Willy Ezugwu, Secretary General of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties is not happy with president Goodluck Jonathan. It is his believe that the president is taking Nigerians for a ride.
According to him, while the president told the nation that he has not made up his mind about whether or not to contest the 2011 presidential election, his ministers and special advisers have started campaigning for him. He revealed that the campaign office of the president is located near the NTA headquarters and it is functioning. He asked why the president did not deem it fit to stop those campaigning for him if he is not interested.

Perhaps, what irked Ezugwu most is that should Jonathan contest the presidential election and win, he would jeopardize the chances of an Igbo president in 2015. According to him, the zoning formula implies that an Igbo would emerge president of Nigeria in 2015.

Ezugwu posited that what affects the PDP is will affect the political landscape of Nigeria adding that the idea of zoning in the party is a common knowledge which nobody can change at the last minute in a bid to appease some individuals.

He also took on the governors from the South East who were quoted as saying that the area is not interested in the presidency or the vice presidency in 2011 saying that they made the comment in order to secure the ticket of their party for second term.
He speaks on other issues.
It believed that president Jonathan would declare his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election in September this year. What do you say to that?
Jonathan as a citizen of this country has the right to contest for presidency and declare at any time he pleases.

But the point is that we have to consider the way he came into office and became the president. In term of the economy of this country today, I don’t think that considering the way he became president, I don’t think that contesting for the presidency is the most important to him. If I were in his shoes, I would have used this opportunity to make sure that a credible election is held in 2011.

What we see now is a charade. He has all this while pretended that he has not made up his mind on whether to contest or not. But at the same time, people are using a lot of government apparatus to campaign for him. They use government machineries to campaign for him directly or indirectly. People are not saying anything about it.

We all know that those in government –especially ministers and special assistants are already campaigning for him.
How can you prove this?
You are a Nigerian and I am a Nigerian. There is no doubt about it. We cannot be talking about whether or not he is contesting when we know there is somewhere near NTA headquarters in Abuja which the Goodluck Jonathan campaign organization has rented. He may deny that he is not the one behind it or fuelling it but I am telling you that if he is not interested, he would have stopped it. He would have asked them to stop.

To me, what should be paramount today in his mind is how to improve the economy of the country and to ensure a credible election in 2011.Look; all the industries in this country are going to Ghana. This is the kind of thing that President Goodluck Jonathan should make his priority. Rather, he is trying to play on the intelligence of Nigerians that he is not running when we see people who are sycophants saying they are supporting him or they are not supporting him. He cannot deny that he knows people are campaigning for him.

When Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) fought for him to become the president, we did so for the sake of the constitution to be respected by Nigerians. What we see today is not what we thought or expected.

Therefore, those oppose to him to him are entitled to their opinion. The Northern leaders now crying have their reasons for doing so. We all know there was zoning in PDP. It was zoning that brought Obasanjo. As secretary of CNPP, I know that for a fact. The PDP cannot come up today to deny that because they want to favour somebody. When you want to do such thing, then please do it right. All they want is one favour or the other.
Do you think Jonathan contesting can affect the chances of the Ndigbo in 2015?
Yes. If there is zoning and we know the political parties in Nigeria are so badly mortgaged that we refer to PDP when we talk of politics in Nigeria today. If anything has to be done right in this country, the PDP will have to get it right. As long as there is no internal democracy in PDP where people lie a lot, things would go wrong.

The PDP cannot wake up overnight and jettison zoning that brought people like Obasasnjo for eight years. Just because somebody is the president of the country, they feel that they can tall Nigerians that zoning was never in existence. They can’t convince anybody that zoning was because of Abiola’s incarceration and the annulment of the June 12 1993 election. They have to the world the truth.
So, if the North is crying and the Ndigbo are crying, they are justified because automatically, it would be the turn of Ndigbo by 2015.The PDP cannot shortchange us.

Some governors called themselves leaders and woke up overnight and started talking rubbish by telling the people that the South East is not ready to be president. They are on their own. They are all looking for second term in office. That is why there is no development in the states. This is the time the Ndigbo has been badly shortchanged in terms of appointment.

If there is anything for the Ndigbo, let them put it on the table and let us talk about it. If anybody tells you that an Igbo man is not going to contest or run for VP in 2011, know that that person must be a fool. I call them idiots.

You are from Enugu and people from your zone said they have adopted the governor for a second term in office.

I am from Enugu State, and precisely Enugu north senatorial zone where I ran for the senate. I said several times that if you are adopting anybody; tell us what he has done.
Tell us the criteria to make you say we adopt him. Do some people think they can wake up overnight and say we adopt somebody?
Even if t5he PDP adopted him, definitely there must be contest for the office of governor. The chairman of the PDP today comes from that zone. I know the present chairman of the PDP has integrity. What he has said so far is that the best should be for the PDP. He is insisting on internal democracy in PDP.
So, do you relate well with the chairman of PDP?
Yes. He not only comes from my senatorial zone but we have a long family relationship from my grandfather to my father. A month ago, I had the golden jubilee of the marriage of my father and the PDP chairman was there, I respect him as a person, I respect him as chairman of PDP. I respect his integrity. He has said the era of ‘Ghana must go” is over in PDP.

I have told him that he cannot attend the CNPP meetings; he should send somebody to represent him. CNPP is not an opposition party. It is an umbrella for every registered party in this country. From what I know about him, he will certainly send somebody to our meeting.
What was the idea the meeting of Human rights activists meeting in the East?
About three weeks ago, the coalition of human rights pro democracy activists from the South East had a summit in Enugu and notable names like Olisa Agbakoba, Ben Azuagwu and the chairman of CLO came. Why? We discovered that you might be flying high outside but people in your own area don’t know you.

You have to start being good in your area before you go outside. If you look at it, you discover that most us fought for democracy in this country. Most of them went into detention and came out and they are still fighting on a daily basis. They now feel that where they come from, the South East has nothing to write home about. There is no government that comes into being that most of them are not involved in terms of activism.

There is no security of life in the South East. It is the only place where you find that a PhD degree holder has no job for years. When it comes to political appointments at the national level, they are shortchanged.
Recently Agbakoba was to be INEC chairman .We fought Maurice Iwu because we thought what he did was not right. Iwu was from the South East. But they denied us the chance to replace him. Although Jega is part of us in the pro democracy struggle, but we are talking of zonal issues. I am happy that decisions taken at the summit is what those who met with the president recently presented to him.
How do you rate the performance of president Jonathan so far?
We have not seen anything to commend him. He can no longer claim that he has no power to perform. Today, he is the president. If he is sincere, it will not take him all the time in the world to put things in place. He has not done it right in the area of corruption, power, employment, education, health or any major aspects of the country’s need. Those asking him to continue in office are saying so because they feel that is the quickest way to get to power. That is why they are all clamouring for him to continue.
 

PDP secrete plot on zoning


• Nwodo
Photo: Sun News Publishing

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As the controversy over zoning of the presidency in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reaches fever pitch, the party has devised a way to settle the matter, Saturday Sun can reliably reveal.
This is coming at a time when various interest groups in the party are intensifying efforts in lobbying all party organs for either the dumping or reaffirmation of zoning. The arrangement has produced two presidents from the North and the South between 1999 and 2010.

Reliable sources in PDP revealed that in order to end the debate as to which zone, between the North and South, the party would cede the presidency to next year, the PDP echelon has decided to, for the first time, bring up the matter for discussion. The various discussions, when collated, would determine whether President Goodluck Jonathan would be free to contest next year’s election based on party’s position or do so, irrespective of the position, as other politicians, in the past, did.

Saturday Sun gathered that the PDP high command has resolved to set the machinery in motion for the party to officially take a stand on zoning, ahead of the national convention, where the presidential candidate of the party for next year’s election would be picked.
The plan
It was gathered that the PDP would, in the next couple of days, put zoning on the agenda of a meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC), as the first move to finally handle the zoning controversy. The NEC is made up of national officers of the PDP and state chairmen.

At the NEC meeting, the issue of zoning would be thrown open for members to comment. After those for or against zoning would have spoken, it was gathered, the matter would be put to vote, for the official position of the NEC to be determined.

Also, the PDP would convene a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), which is made of national officers of the party, state chairman and secretaries, state governors, president and vice president.
At the expected NWC meeting, PDP officials would throw the issue of zoning open, where all members would be free to air their views. Sources revealed that after every member would have taken a stand on zoning, at the NWC meeting, the matter would be put to vote, for the august body to take a definite stand.
The PDP also plans to convene the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting to also discuss the vexed issue. The BoT, which has former President Olusegun Obasanjo as its chairman, is made of party elders. Each senatorial zone in the country produces a member of the BoT, which means that each state has three representatives, while the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja has one representative.
At the BoT meeting, sources say, all members would be free to air their views on zoning, after which a vote is expected to be taken to know the official position of the board.

It was learnt that the PDP would collate the various positions of NEC, NCW and the BoT, to arrive at a definite position on zoning. The party would not, however, make its official position public until at its mini- convention expected in the next couple of weeks.
The mini convention
Saturday Sun was informed that the PDP would hold a mini-convention towards the end of September or early October in Abuja, where the party’s constitution would be amended. Also, at the mini-convention the party’s position on zoning may then be revealed.
Portions expected for amendment in the PDP constitution, it was gathered, are provisions on the chairmanship of the BoT. At present, the constitution, which was amended at the instance of Obasanjo when Colonel Ahmadu Ali was PDP chairman, provides that the position of BoT chairman would only be occupied by a former president. At present, Obasanjo is the only former president in the current democratic dispensation.

Before the PDP constitution was amended, any notable member of the party could be elected BoT chairman. In the past, former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme and former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, had occupied the position of BoT chairman. But with the current constitution, only Obasanjo is qualified to be there.

It is not only the provision on the occupation of the post of BoT chairman that would be up for amendment in the mini-convention. It was learnt that the powers of the BoT chairman are likely to be whittled down, as it was in the early days of PDP until Obasanjo influenced the amendment and gave the office more powers.
Sources revealed that the PDP would also, at the mini-convention, amend the provision on the selection of delegates to the state congresses and national convention of the party. The provision that commissioners and advisers of state governors are automatic delegates to state congresses and national convention may be changed.

It was gathered that the mini-convention may make public the official position of the party on zoning.
If the PDP takes a stand on zoning, the source revealed, the party may not sell nomination forms to aspirants from the zone the arrangement does not favour. It was gathered that this was the case in 1999 when the late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi insisted that he would contest for the ticket of the party at PDP maiden national convention in Jos. PDP sources said that although Rimi obtained the ticket, the party eventually returned his money. Also, the party wrote the late politician stating why the money he paid for the nomination form was returned.

However, sources said that some elements in the PDP are pressing for the party to hold only one convention, where the constitution would be amended and the presidential candidate picked.
Option B
PDP sources revealed that if the national executives of the party discover that the plan to have the party, through the NEC, NWC and BoT, take a definite stand on zoning would cause factionalisation, which could cost it the next election, the party would be silent on zoning.
Reliable sources said that in the event that this option is settled, the party would pretend that there is no controversy and allow all aspirants, irrespective of their geopolitical zones, to collect nomination forms for the presidential ticket for an open contest.

The option of pretension, it was gathered, was what the PDP adopted in 2003 and 2007 when politicians from all the geopolitical zones aspired to be the presidential candidate of the party. In 2003, when Obasanjo sought second term tickets, politicians from the North vied against him. Also, in 2007, when the late Umar Musa Yar’Adua picked the party’s ticket, politicians from the South collected nomination forms and vied.

If the PDP settles for this option, President Goodluck Jonathan may have no moral burden to go ahead with his perceived interest in contesting next year’s presidential election. Delegates to the national convention would then decide who would be the standard bearer of the party.
Lobbyists at work
Not wanting to lose out, interest groups, whether they are for or against zoning, have intensified lobby to ensure that the party takes a definite stand on the matter.
Sources revealed that top politicians from the North, made of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, ex-Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and others, have been meeting with elders of PDP across the country to press for the retention of zoning. The group has also met with the National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to make its position known.

Politicians opposed to the retention of zoning, especially those agitating for Jonathan to contest, are equally lobbying the PDP leadership to adopt the Option B, so that the president would be free to run.
The fear for chaos
Meanwhile, constitutional lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje, believes that next year’s elections may end in crisis due to the late appointment of Prof. Attahiru Jega as INEC chairman.
According to Agbaje, the right person to make a change in INEC is Jega but his appointment came at the wrong time. He stated further that if it took Nigeria four years to organize the 2007 election that was marred by monumental fraud, having less than a year for the forthcoming election might not augur well for the country.

“There is a Yoruba saying that if you prepare 20 years for madness, how many years would it take you to practice it? If it took us four years to organise the 2007 elections and yet there was monumental electoral fraud, is it less than one year you will organise 2011 election? I’m not a prophet of doom, but I can foresee a problem for 2011 election. Jega who we believe could make a change, his appointment came rather too late. They picked the right person at the wrong time,” he says.

On the old voters’ register, the lawyer states that it should be discarded and a new one that will guarantee a free and fair election compiled.

He said: “The old one has been so problematic and amount to electoral fraud. Therefore, we must distance ourselves from the old voters’ register and seek after a new one that will guarantee us free and fair election. Fixing the election timetable is like a situation between hen and the egg. One must precede the other. Voters’ registration must come first before election. I don’t want to see the name of the late Mohammed Bello or other dead persons in the new register. How are you sure the number of people we are speculating to vote are valid. It is therefore, from a premise that it is an invalid electoral register.”
To Agbaje, under no circumstance should the 2011 election be postponed. According to him, if the election should be postponed, it will amount to criminality to whosoever contemplates it.

“The constitution has made it clear that election to the office of president or governor must be conducted between 120 to 150 days. If that is true, constitution has taken cognisance that an administration should not exceed four years and that, whether we like it or not, election must be held. Whether a photocopy, legal or illegal, someone must be voted into office as president on May 29, 2011. Those who are calling for postponement of election must look for something else to do, if they are jobless. In the first instance, are they not conversant of the constitution on the ground of four years tenure? Even Professor Jega cannot ask for an extension because he knows its implication. Should the INEC chairman take his late appointment as an excuse to postpone the election, nobody is going to accept the alibi from him. And attempt to extend the election will amount to political and constitutional heresy.”

But if the election is by anyway postponed, who holds forth in the interim? Agbaje says it’s not definitely going to be President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “Goodluck will not be there during the period of break. Somebody else has to come there. Goodluck cannot be in the office. Even now that he is the incumbent president and the appointer of INEC chairman, he might have an overwhelming influence on Jega. It might surprise you that it will be a one-man horse race. Otherwise, why would they wait till 11th hour to appoint the INEC chairman?”

Friday, August 6, 2010

Ajumogobia presses US on Obama visit to nigeria

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Nigeria's Foreign Minister Henry Odein Ajumogobia resumed talks on Wednesday with top United States government officials on a possible US visit by President Barack Obama to Nigeria soon, Empowered Newswire reports.


Barack Obama

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Informed sources confirmed that US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and Ajumogobia would discuss a possible visit to Nigeria soon by President Obama.
For some time, the issue of a possible Obama visit to Nigeria has been a silent but constant underlay in the diplomatic exchanges between Nigeria and the US. This is, especially after then Acting President Goodluck Jonathan honoured Obama's invitation to attend the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in April this year.
After a meeting between Jonathan and Obama, several top US government officials have visited Nigeria. The US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission has also hosted meetings in Nigeria and the US, further fuelling an improving relationship.
An authoritative source confirmed to Empowered Newswire in Washington DC that the ongoing meetings between Ajumogobia and different US government officials, including Clinton and Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the US top diplomat in charge of Africa at the State Department, would review the issue of a potential Obama visit to Nigeria.
According to the source, "Plans for Obama's visit to Nigeria are already in the pipeline and the meeting between both Clinton and Ajumogobia will solidify them."
Ajumogobia started his day on Wednesday at the influential Council for Foreign Relations and from there proceeded to meetings at the State Department.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

2011 presidency:Buhari can't stop me-Shekarau

Presidential aspirant and Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau yesterday declared that the ambition of General Muhammadu Buhari to contest the presidency in 2011 would not in any way dimish his chances of winning the election.
The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential aspirant also said the departure of the former Head of State from the ANPP helped to put the party in a better position to reorganize itself with a view to facing the challenges of the future.

Governor Shekarau who spoke through the Director General of the “Shekarau For Nigeria Campaign Organization,” Alhaji Khaleel Bolaji said the presence of the former Head of State in the party was a minus for the growth and stability of the main opposition party.

Alhaji Bolaji said Governor Shekarau wanted to rule Nigeria to effect the desired change in the country as against the business of non-performance and nepotism which had been the order of the day in the past 11 years.
The Director General further said for Governor Shekarau to have successfully governed Kano State with a population of about 12 per cent of the entire country for a record two terms means that there is so much he has to offer the nation.

According to Bolaji; “Governor Shekarau has remained the only person that has governed Kano State for two terms since the creation of the state. It goes to show that he has so much to offer considering the enormous work he carried out in the state.”
Alhaji Bolaji stressed that the departure of General Buhari from the ANPP could not in any way be a threat to the presidential ambition of Shekarau, noting that the presence of the former Head of State in the party was more of a liability than an asset.

Alhaji Bolaji who spoke at a pre-declaration of intent press conference in Abuja noted that by the time Buhari joined the ANPP, the party had nine sitting governors adding, however, that by the time he decided to leave the party, there were only three governors left.
In the words of Alhaji Bolaji, “General Buhari with every due respect was not an electoral asset to our party. It is a different game with Governor Shekarau who has been building and galvanizing the structures of the party for a greater future.
“Mallam Shekarau wants to offer himself for service in order to salvage the country from the stranglehold of the Peoples Democratic Party, which has not produced any positive result for the people of this country.

“We want to make Nigerians proud of their country again. We want things to work in the country. We want Nigerians to have the basic things of life. We want Nigerians to feel the presence of government at all levels and not just sloganeering. That is the desire of the Shekarau for Nigeria campaign.”
Alhaji Bolaji described Governor Shekarau as “one of the most detribalised Nigerians,” adding that he was determined to bring his knowledge of the country to bear in governance.

“Governor Shekarau as a teacher, who rose to become the head of association of principals, knows every part of this country and their problems which he will tackle if elected,” he said.
The Director General of the Shekarau for Nigeria Campaign Organization explained that with the zoning problem in the PDP, the ANPP remained the only viable platform for Nigerians to put their trust, stressing that with the volume of work in terms of infrastructural development, Governor Shekarau stood a better chance to rule the country.

The Kano State Governor is scheduled to formally declare his intention to contest for the Presidential ticket of the ANPP in Abuja tomorrow after which he is expected to proceed on a nationwide tour to sensitize supporters of the party of his intention before the national convention of the party which has been slated to hold between September 17th and 18th 2010.

voter's register:give INEC N74bn


Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has come under fire for describing the N74 billion requested by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for voters register as outrageous and too high. A cross section of Nigerians who spoke to Daily Sun yesterday told the Federal Government to release the money without delay to ensure a free and fair poll in 2011.

The commission’s chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega had about a fortnight ago said it would require N74 billion to compile a fresh voters register, an amount Ekweremadu described as outrageous and prohibitive.
Ekweremadu was quoted as saying that the budget should be reviewed downward to a realistic amount believing “there are other ways we can adjust this.”
But the President of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin said Jega “must have done his research well before arriving at the price.”
Speaking with Daily Sun on telephone, the woman activist maintained that “we should not go for something cheap that would not yield positive result at the end of the day.”

She, however, added that “whatever we budget, we must be prudent about it.”
She said something tangible should be done in time to avert past experience.“Jega must make sure that he remove all the stumbling blocks that would remind Nigerians of Professor Iwu.”

Speaking in the same vein, former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said Jega’s budget should be cross-checked to know how he arrived at it, saying it would not be proper to start guessing.
Oyegun, who is a chieftain of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) also stated that Jega being who he is, it would be a surprise if his estimate could be cheaper, saying whoever cared to cross-check should take the pain to go through the break down of the budget.
Also reacting, former Oyo State Attorney General, Mr. Adebayo Shittu flayed Senator Ekweremadu for describing the budget for fresh registration of voters as outrageous.

The Ibadan-based lawyer and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP chieftain, who was also a member of the state House of Assembly in the Second Republic said the Senate boss’ statement should be seen as a ploy to frustrate and dampen the new INEC management’s zeal towards giving Nigerians a credible voters’ register.
Speaking yesterday to journalists in Ibadan, Shittu noted that a legislator of Ekweremadu’s standing would have the privilege of looking at the details of the INEC budget and the invoices submitted by contractors, stressing that “before he can conclude that the amount is staggering, he must be able to show alternative invoices indicating that the registration materials could be cheaper to produce.”

He, however, canvassed a total overhaul of INEC personnel, saying the few changes made in the management may not guarantee credible polls.
Mr. Shittu said it would be erroneous to assume that Jega alone could effect the necessary electoral change the country desired, arguing that the job should be seen as a collective responsibility involving all Nigerians.
Unfortunately, he remarked that greed and self-centredness would not allow the generality of the people to appreciate the need to give Jega and his team the necessary support.

He reasoned that there was no way the nation could produce credible leaders without credible elections, which, according to him, “makes it mandatory for a new orientation in that direction.”
In his own reaction, the Lagos state Publicity Secretary Of the Action Congress (AC), Mr. Joe Igbokwe said Jega should be given the N74 billion for the exercise.
In a statement in Lagos yesterday, Igbokwe said “if Professor Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of INEC says he needs N74 billion to prepare for the new voters register in preparation for the 2011 general elections, please release the money to him to do this very important job which we all need to salvage Nigeria.”
According to him, “If our budget for 2010 is N1.4 trillion and Jega needs N72 billion, it is just about five percent of the budget. A good president, a good vice president, high profile governors, and 36 deputy governors and competent 774 local government chairmen are worth this amount of money.

“Professor Attahiru Jega will succeed if we all help him. It is going to be a collective responsibility. All the well meaning Nigerians must help Jega to succeed. All the Professional doctors, engineers, lawyers, journalists, accountants, architects, pharmacists, builders, economists, all the teachers, workers, the diaspora, must put hands on deck.”

According to him, the biggest problem facing the nation was inability to search and fish out leaders with strategic intelligence at the federal, state and local government levels to rebuild and transform Nigeria.
His statement read further: “I remain fully convinced also that if you brought all the money in the world and give it to majority of the leaders we have today, they may not know what to do with the money because they lack the finesse, the capacity and the vision to get things done.
I am totally in agreement with Professor Chinua Achebe that our problem is squarely a failure of leadership.

politlcal leadership lacks principle,says mamora




•Prof. Oyebode, Stephen Adebayo, and Dr. Ken Egbas
Photo: The Sun Publishing
Out of her 50 years of existence as an independent state, Nigeria has been under democratic government for less than 20 years; the on-going dispensation (from 1999 to date) being the most enduring. With an estimated 140 million people, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation. Although, Nigeria potentially could offer investors abundant natural resources, a low cost labour pool and the largest domestic market in sub-Saharan African, its economy remains stagnant, while its market potential unrealized.

Face of political leadership in Nigeria
Sen. Mamora revealed that political leadership in Nigeria has become rather progressively weakened. He enumerated the varied and diverse character traits exhibited by these leaders.
“Some of our political leaders are lacking in character, deficient in principle and disoriented in focus. Some of the leaders are amoebic in nature, changing from as dictated by alimentary instincts pathological greed without consideration for any noble sentiments.”

“In spite of crude display of spinelessness, some political leaders still manage to be smart like the famous German oracle, Octopus Paul, in the recently-concluded FIFA world Cup 2010.”
“There are those who are megalomaniac in character while some others are autocratic masquerading as democrats. Some are chronic lootocrats with properties in choice locations within and outside the shores of Nigeria.”
According to him, political leadership ascendancy appears no longer determined by virtues and values. Critical factors such as positive pedigree, antecedents, ability, integrity, competence, merit and hard work hardly ever count any longer.

“All these have been displaced by the size of financial war chest, sycophancy, mediocrity, charlatanism and the almighty godfatherism. Thus, the proverbial camel even with us; its established twin pregnancy now passes easily through the eye of the needle.
“Little wonder then that a large number of our political leaders are long in the words, but short in action. Where they ought to admit failure, they would rather engage in blame game.

“Of what value will it then be when the attitude, the actions and the words of those in position of leadership fall short of true leaders, as enumerated in the foregoing? What will be the reputation of a nation that has leaders with the character traits mentioned in control of its affairs?
In terms of national reputation, sadly our nation has been in deficit. To say Nigeria is not today positioned where it should be in the comity of nations, because of distrust of it’s citizens, is an open truth. International perception of Nigerians is at the low ebb.

Tackling our leadership challenges
Gust speaker Prof. Oyebode, attributed the real problem of Nigeria to poor leadership. “We are still playing politics of the stomach. Corruption is our undoing. Many of our families have failed because the value system has collapsed. Let us all admit our inadequacies and agree that we must turn around the Country.” How do we turn Nigeria around? How do we develop leadership to transform Nigeria? Senator Mamora posed. Oyebode said we must fix square pegs in square holes.

He beckoned on Nigerians to have faith in themselves, take the bull by the horns and choose the right candidate, but regretted that this can only happen in a fair playing ground.
“We need to change our modalities for choosing leaders. We have to get the best in leadership. The challenge now is your ability to transform Nigeria to what you want it to be. Where you are born and where you come from shouldn’t come into it. 2010 is here. It’s an opportunity to make a difference. Let’s ensure we make a difference.”

Mr. Akpoyibo stated that the success of the leader is the joy of those who are being led like the failure, is also the woe of those being led. He urged followers in all endeavours to collaborate with their leaders and hold them accountable always.
The Police Commissioner said leaders must consistently think and evolve new strategies to deal with challenges. He insisted, “No one can be a good Leader without having a vision. If you have no vision, you have no business being a Leader.” He continued, “A vision is a benchmark to enable us know where we are going. There must be some transparency and integrity.” Hence forth, all of us must give accounts.”

The first Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Fashola lent her voice to demand for accountability. According to her, it’s time for everybody to learn to say the truth in the country. “It’s a year of our 50th anniversary, it’s a year to look up to our leaders and say no. It’s possible for us as Nigerians to repair the ills of this country. We can repair the damage to our reputation. We have prospects in this great Country, if we follow our Leaders religiously and make our demands to them.” However, Mrs. Abimbola noted that the country needs transformational leaders.

Mrs. Mamora reminded everybody that the family units make us a nation. She called on all to go home and get things done rightly. She emphasized that the strength of the nation is the integrity of the various home units put together as a nation. “Let’s strive to stop wrong doing at home. Let us look at our children, the Leaders of tomorrow. What do they see us do? We need to build our Children, help discover who they are. We should tell them that they should stand for themselves in whatever they do. If we develop them right at home in another 30 years, we would be talking about a wonderful nation.”