Category: Hardball

Beyond the snide Western media and their condescension in reporting African and allied news, the CNN coverage of the February 25 presidential election came with a new low in ignorance and sloppiness, all served with bubbly but empty arrogance. 

It’s a treble you shouldn’t even find with a rookie news organ!  Yet, CNN was here, on the night of March 1, displaying all but hoping its razzmatazz would cover its shame.  Nice try!

Like CNN’s Nima Elbagir, who proclaimed a Lekki “massacre” without any video proof and still doubled down on that lie, the pair of Zain Asher (ethnic Nigerian of Igbo stock) and Larry Madowo (a Kenyan) tried constituting selves into a two-person inquisition over that election.

Their tools?  Skewed questioning, rigged responses and arrogant ignorance, anchored on a rogue presumption: outside the Western Hemisphere, no one can get democratic elections right, no matter how hard they try!  To sate that fixed mindset, CNN treated losers’ allegations as sacred facts.

Zain started with tilted questions, which the opposition’s sour grape responses quickly validated.  How on earth would you allege an election was “rigged” and the only folks you interviewed were PDP and LP, and sympathizers.  Zain only announced the APC response would come in 20 minutes!

Parallel, Larry Madowo was serving his own diet of voodoo journalism.  It came in with the mindset that the election must have been rigged, no matter what facts and voting trend suggested. 

Then, stark ignorance served so triumphantly: that INEC could audit and revise certified results, already announced!  So, the all-mighty CNN and reporters came to report the 2023 election with an abysmal ignorance of the Nigerian Electoral Act?  Only the courts can re-visit the result, not INEC.

Larry’s flippant announcement that the Supreme Court had never invalidated a presidential poll is factual (suggesting any losers’ appeal would come to naught). Yet, it only validated a report even more rigged than the poll it was trying hard to discredit. 

But the CNN met its waterloo when Ajuri Ngelale, the APC response person, gave Zain a thorough lecture in fair questioning, her deliberate(?) mix-up of BVAS and IReV technologies and the frailness of IT when bombarded with realtime pressure. 

While BVAS (the main IT intervention to authenticate voters) performed above 80%, I-ReV (to project realtime voting) faltered on Election Day.  Like Nigeria’s I-ReV, the Obamacare platform crashed under pressure in America, Ajuri reminded her.  Did it then mean that platform failed?

The climax of that fiasco was when Zain claimed APC in 2007 disputed PDP’s presidential triumph only for Ajuri to promptly remind her there was no APC in 2007!

Even when Ajuri faltered on facts (the woman injured on polling day was in Surulere, Lagos, not the South East), Zain was so sloppy she couldn’t debunk that error, clearly embarrassed that Ajuri had torn into shreds her smokescreen.

CNN comes with routine propaganda that the West is superior to everyone else.  Now, we are seeing slothfulness, research laziness and lack of basic fairness in its reporters. 

That definitely is not good for its news brand image.  CNN sent its reporters here, not to wail for losers — or hail the winners, for that matter — but to faithfully report.  When next they come to Nigeria, they better clean up their act.

Hauling around a huge pile of cash around in foreign currency at wee hours is by any stretch suspicious enough to attract agents of the law. This is more so on election eve, and when the ‘cash mule’ is a political actor and not by any reckoning a conventional money agent or businessman in the strict sense.

But that was what House of Representatives member representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II, Chinyere Igwe, was up to when he was nabbed at about 2:45a.m. on Friday, 24th February, hauling around $498,100 inside a bag in his car. It was de facto a heist, because at the conservative official exchange rate of N460 to a dollar, that cargo amounted to some N230million. And Igwe wasn’t hauling the value in local currency apparently for portability and, of course, local currency scarcity occasioned by the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He transported hard currency that only God knows how it was sourced.

Rivers State police command easily discerned the objective of the cash haulage, courtesy of a distribution list the lawmaker had in his car when he was arrested. Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement: “Police officers from Rivers State Command deployed to INEC Headquarters, Aba Road, today 24/2/2023 at about 0245hrs, while on stop-and-search, arrested one Hon. Chinyere Igwe, member, House of Representatives representing Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency with a cash sum of 498,100 US dollars inside a bag in his car. Also recovered was a list for distribution of the money.”

Igwe is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and supporter of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In effect, he has been at odds with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who stood against Atiku’s bid. How the lawmaker had hoped to transact in so much cash amidst pervasive cash drought in the land without drawing attention to himself is curious. It is even more curious he didn’t show much enlightenment about the law of the land despite being a lawmaker. At his best chance, he has a tough task ahead wriggling out of a money laundry charge. Worse is that he seems unaware of the need for mitigation by coming clean upfront on his accomplices. In a visual clip that made the rounds following his arrest, he was interrogated on who handed him the cash and all he could repeatedly was that it was ‘the party.’ He refused to disclose who it was in the party. It remains to be seen how long he can hide behind a finger.

Former United States President Donald Trump isn’t one to forgive or forget a wrong – real or perceived. He seizes the earliest opportunity to retaliate against anyone who crossed him, with the aim for deeper cut than was inflicted on him. This he has just done to outgoing Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who stepped down last week. Whereas Sturgeon’s resignation announcement left her country and watchers of Scottish politics reeling with shock, ‘the Don’ jubilated and heckled.

After nearly eight years during which she strongly crusaded for Scotland’s independence, the longest-serving first minister (i.e. head of government) and first woman to hold the post resigned entirely on her own volition, out of instinctive awareness of the need to make way for someone else. To underscore this point, she is holding fort in office until a successor emerges through the electoral labyrinth of ruling Scottish National Party (SNP). But Trump isn’t enamored at all by such niceties. The former U.S. president, who is of Scottish heritage on his mother’s side and owns property in Scotland, blasted Sturgeon in a transphobic rant. “Good riddance to failed woke extremist Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland!” he wrote, adding: “This crazed leftist symbolizes everything wrong with identity politics.” He specifically cited Sturgeon’s support for transgender rights, saying: “Sturgeon thought it was OK to put a biological man in a women’s prison, and if that wasn’t bad enough, Sturgeon fought for a ‘Gender Recognition Reform Bill’ that would have allowed 16-year-old children to change their gender without medical advice.”

But morality wasn’t by any means at the root of Trump’s beef. When he was leaving office in January 2021 after losing the 2020 U.S. poll, Sturgeon, during ‘First Minister’s Questions’ at the Scottish Parliament had said “cheerio” and “don’t haste ye back” to Trump as she congratulated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their historic inauguration as president and vice-president. Earlier, she had warned Trump he should not be travelling to Scotland to play golf as a way of avoiding Biden’s inauguration. Trump owns golf resorts in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire, and amidst his refusal to accept he lost the November 2020 election, it was speculated that he was planning a getaway in Scotland to avoid facing Biden’s big day. Only that it was in the thick of the Covid-19 lockdown with restriction on travels. “We’re not allowing people to come into Scotland without an essential purpose right now, and that would apply to (Trump) just as it applies to anybody else,” Sturgeon had said, adding: “Coming to play golf is not what I would consider to be an essential purpose.” Now, ‘the Don’ has gotten back. 

Expectedly, all eyes are on Nigeria’s Southeast geo-political zone as federal and state elections scheduled for February 25 and March 11 approach.

A faction of the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Finland-based Biafra campaigner Simon Ekpa, has declared that “There will be no general election in Biafra land in 2023; it is a sacrifice and a task that must be done by all Biafrans across the globe.”

IPOB is known for using terroristic methods in its fight for an independent “Biafra land” made up of Nigeria’s five Southeast states, and parts of the South-south geo-political zone.

Ekpa, in a viral video, said there would be sit-at-home in the Southeast on election days, adding that non-participation in the elections was a way of sending a strong message to the Federal Government to release the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing trial for alleged treason and terrorism.   Ekpa describes himself as “Kanu’s disciple on Biafra restoration.”

But it is unclear who is in charge of the group now, considering the enforcement of the five-day sit-at-home declared by Ekpa, on 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th December, 2022, even after Kanu had opposed it. 

There was strong evidence of divisions within the group as zealous enforcers ignored Kanu’s disclaimer, and violently implemented Ekpa’s controversial order. Ekpa had gloated over the five-day sit-at-home, saying it was “historic and successful.”

The question of leadership and control of the group is critical. Ekpa’s move last year, and its outcome, show that he can cause trouble. The group’s disunity creates room for conflicting command centres, which makes it more dangerous.

The Elders Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation in Nigeria, has appealed to “those issuing all sit-at-home orders to revoke it and allow peace to reign.”

The chairman of the council, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said at a press conference in Owerri, Imo State, on February 16: “We humbly appeal to all concerned to sheathe their sword and accept ceasefire, to allow elections take place in the Southeast, devoid of any bloodshed.”

The situation demands strong action from the authorities. It is a test. The Federal Government must demonstrate capacity to uphold law and order not only in the Southeast but across the country.

This is no time to beg IPOB. This is time for the authorities to declare and enforce zero tolerance for lawlessness during the elections.  

Everything in excess gets counter-productive, even so things that are essentially beneficial when in good proportion. Spiritual anointing, for instance, is believed divinely endowed on a man of God (as people in the clergy are called) for the good of followers. But even that could run afoul of societal good when it overreaches. Ask the resident pastor of Abuja branch of House on the Rock church, Uche Aigbe, and he knows that by experience. He cooled his heels in police detention over the last few days for anointing overreach.

Aigbe got overly dramatic last Sunday when he illustrated his sermon with an AK-47 rifle. It was during the second service that typically records a high turnout of worshippers at the church located close to the Abuja city gate. Reports said the congregants were flustered and curious as the pastor picked his way to the altar lectern, bearing the assault rifle. Although he sensed the tension, he did not flinch or look at the worshippers, until he was about to open his Bible when he teased: “Some people are looking for my trouble. And I came here prepared. Today, there are some pastors with the gift of divination who go about ripping people off. This is why we should carry our ‘guns’ and defend ourselves. I will particularly be coming very soon for some of you sleeping in church.” His opener threw the congregation into  a fit of laughter as he began preaching on ‘Guarding your Faith.’

The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) moved swiftly against the dramatics and pulled Aigbe in for interrogation. Both the pastor and a policeman from whom he obtained the rifle, identified as Inspector Musa Audu, were detained by the FCT police command; with Audu marked for orderly room trial and likely dismissal from the Force. The weapon was reportedly unloaded at the time Aigbe bore it. But Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the pastor had a case to answer because AK-47 rifle falls under firearms prohibited in Nigeria and restricted to designated law enforcement officers. In a statement, House on the Rock church apologised for Aigbe’s action, saying the pastor himself has realised that even with the best of intentions, carrying a gun to illustrate his message was ill-advised and regrettable. “As a church, House On The Rock rejects all forms of violence and we stand on the good news gospel of Jesus Christ which embraces peace and goodwill for all of mankind,” it added.

It is good the pastor has realised the indiscretion of his dramatics. Or what would a preacher want to achieve by showing off an assault rifle to his congregants? Besides the illegality, what moral was being taught. It was sheer anointing overreach.

Whatever the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) makes of the allegation, that Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi paid its members and affiliates N2 billion for endorsement, the mindset of the petitioner was rather troubling.

From his three-page protest letter addressed to the CAN President, Pastor Frank Onwumere of Dominion Centre International (DCI), Owerri, Imo State, was very frank in his belief and firm in his conviction.

His very words, in the last paragraph but one, of his petition:  “We are also using this medium to say that we are ready not to rock the boat as this largesse will go a long way to assist the various churches at this end of the year due to the harsh economic realities.”

Holy mammon craving a sacred sharing formula?  Hardly irrational!

Still, let no one take this out of context or wax all too sanctimonious about it all.  In election seasons, partisans devise different ways to woo block votes, via blocs of interests that share “commonness” with the candidate. 

As embarrassing as this alleged largesse — that word again! — is to Christendom Nigeria, folks should really put it in correct contexts.  Everyone probably does it.  Only those that get exposed are the perceived “barawo”, to borrow that cynical phrase.

What is absolutely condemnable, however, is bigger churches elbowing the smaller ones out of the lolly, as Pastor Onwumere has alleged. 

True, CAN has denied knowledge of any such lobby sum.  So, it’s only fair that CAN reverts on its findings, after the probe it promised.  No, to subversive silence, in the hope that the scandal would fade.

But the real scandal is the supposition that big churches often head-butt the small ones to sate sacred greed!  That that is even conceivable, not to talk of believable, should worry CAN.   Holy mammon is bad enough.  But holy greed?

That should sober the faith lobbies and set them to head back to the straight-and-narrow path, from this alleged wide-and-merry way.

As for Obi, this scandal — if true — shows how little he has learnt from his political environment, even if he has been a veteran of it all. 

A shocked Nigeria watched how embattled President Goodluck Jonathan played the faith card.  But pray, how did that turn out?

Going on the faith fast lane is almost always fatal for anyone’s presidential bid.  The most successful candidates target cross-religious support. The logic is simple: Nigerian challenges cut across faiths and creeds. 

Only one who can articulate these challenges and proffer workable solutions can triumph — pure and simple!  Any other path is labouring in vain — every pun intended!

It can be said that the Supreme Court of Nigeria struggled to make some critical points in the face of criticisms from some quarters concerning its judgement affirming the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North senatorial district. Three judges on a panel of five had ruled in Lawan’s favour. 

A statement issued by the apex court’s Director of Press and Information, Dr Festus Aweneri Akande, responding to “unwarranted attacks on judicial officers,” acknowledged that “every Nigerian citizen has inalienable right to express his or her opinion without any encumbrance.”

 But it advised that “even in the course of expressing such a fundamental right, we should be circumspect enough to observe the caution-gate of self-control in order not to infringe on another person’s right.”

So, the issue is not that the Supreme Court does not want to be criticised or cannot take criticism.

The court also pointed out that “Courts don’t advertise or scout for cases for adjudication.” This is an important observation. This means that those who seek judicial intervention in their matters bring the courts into such matters. 

The court then moved to the crux of the matter. “Politics should not be played without recourse to good conscience and acceptable moral conduct,” the statement said. 

Indeed, it is difficult to see “good conscience” and “acceptable moral conduct” in the emergence of Lawan as an APC candidate. He had concentrated on the party’s presidential primary, and had given the impression he was not interested in reelection to the senate. 

After losing in the presidential primary, he wanted the senate seat. But a senatorial primary had produced Bashir Machina while he was busy dreaming of becoming Nigeria‘s president.

 Curiously, the APC supported his desire to return to the senate following his failure in the presidential primary. At the Supreme Court, the APC and Lawan eventually got what they wanted after going about the matter in a manner that can be described as untidy and unscrupulous.  

The apex court said, in its statement, “If political parties conduct themselves well and orderly too, the Courts would definitely handle less cases and the political atmosphere will be much healthier than it is currently.”

The court noted that “over 600 cases have so far gone to Court from just party primaries,” adding that the real issue is “unpleasant intra-party wrangling” that defies “all internal conflict resolution mechanisms.”

 The Supreme Court is, of course, not infallible. But the country’s politicians and political parties too should stop acting as if it is a virtue to be unscrupulous.