Category: Politics

A member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akindele Adeniyi (Akure North Constituency), in this interview with DAMISI OJO, explains how a new House Speaker will emerge.

The popular thinking is that the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State has slowed down the pace of development since Governor Olusegun Mimiko won a second term. What is your reaction to this?

I don’t think that is true, work is on-going in all the departments in the state. There is no doubt that the money from the federal allocation has reduced drastically, but that has not prevented government from bringing dividends of democracy to our people.  Government has continued to put smiles on the faces of the people, by executing projects that have direct impact on the lives of the people.

It is only the opposition parties that will say the governor has slowed down because they cannot see anything good in what the governor is doing.  The Governor has good plan for the people of Ondo State and has not relented. In fact, the second term will be better than the first one, in terms of projects execution and manpower development.

How is the LP handling the governorship in 2016? Any plan to zone the slot?

I am not in the best position to answer that question. It must be directed to the LP chairman or the governor. The governor is in the best position to answer the question, but I am very sure the governor will give the people a capable successor, somebody that will continue with the good work Governor Olusegun Mimiko is doing. Our party will decide at the appropriate time.

What have you done for your constituency?

I have done quite a lot for the people in my constituency and I will continue to do more. I have carried out many empowerment programmes. The basic thing is that my people know what I have done for them. I still have `lots of things in stock for them. People who know understand that I don’t make noise about what I do.

State legislatures are usually  appendage of the executive. In what way is the Ondo State House different?

We in the House of Assembly are not stooge to the executive arm of government, but we have good relationship with the executive. He is a  listening governor, who has deemed it fit to know the problems of people, and find lasting solutions to them.

Although, the assembly is dominated by the LP lawmakers, we have always challenged the executive where it is necessary. However, we cannot engage the executive in unnecessary argument. We have summoned commissioners to the floor of the house, local government chairmen have been summoned too. So, we are not just in the house, we are carrying out oversight functions by monitoring all the projects being executed by the state government. When we are not satisfied with the quality of work done, we advised government to terminate the contract. Take for instance, the Mobil/Oba- Ile Airport Road, we noticed that the contractor was not doing what he supposed to do, we made our position clear on it and the government terminated the contract. You can now see that the work is going on smoothly. Therefore, there is no need to fight the executive when we discover that it is doing what the people want.

Who is going to be the next Speaker of the Assembly?

It is a known fact that I cannot become the next speaker because the seat has been zoned to the Southern Senatorial District. Be that as it may, I am very sure that we are going to have a good replacement for our late Speaker. All the lawmakers from the South are  qualified to be the Speaker, but only one of them will emerge at the end of the day.

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos State Senator Ganiyu Solomon has said that the party will always uphold internal democracy.

The politician, who spoke with reporters at the weekend on his ambition, religion and zoning and the endorsement of an aspirant by the Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

He said he joined the race because he has a passion for service to Lagosians, adding that he is competent for the job.

Solomon stressed:  “I know what the problems of the majority or the average Lagosian are and the solutions. I believe I  can serve, I believe I have what it takes to govern Lagos; not just to govern so that they call me ‘His Excellency’. It’s not about ‘His Excellency’, it is about impacting on the lives of the people.

“We should impact positively on people’s lives, we should develop them. You cannot reduce such investment on people to Naira and Kobo; it is invaluable. So, that, to me, is governance.”

The aspirant warned against the danger of allowing religion to shape politics in the Southwest, saying that it is an emotional and sensitive issue.

He said: “In this particular region, we don’t discuss religion when it comes to governance. This is the very first time some people are bringing it up. Look at the average family here; you have them Muslims, you have them Christians. I have a cousin who is a reverend; my sister is a deaconess. Go to Methodist Church, Palm Avenue, that is the church my grandparents attended. That is where they had their burial. So, how will I do anything against a Christian community, for instance? It has never been an issue.

Solomon also spoke on zoning, saying that it is a weak factor. He said: You can only zone to a senatorial district. Let me tell you, it had never been an issue; people would think it may go this way or that, but it had never been the position of a political party.

“Our party has no provision for zoning in its constitution; no provision, whatsoever. In 1998/99, let me give you the candidates: Tawa Williams, she was from the Central; Dapo Durotimi-Etti, he contested for the Senate, from the Central; Wahab Dosumu, he was from the Central. Wahab Dosumu later moved to the West because they said, okay, go to the Senate, the only one available – and that started the fluid movement from one district to another. He was from the central.

“Funso William; he was from the Central. The only person that was not from the Central was our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He registered, he came back, as from the West and he won the primaries, regardless of the fact that all other aspirants were from the Central. Anybody would have concluded that it was zoned to the Central. He emerged because a level playing field was there.

“However, in my own case, if they think that would be a deterrent, no. I also have a roof in the East. And, also because they’ve made it possible to move from one senatorial district to another. Whatever I am saying is not new to Lagos politics; there are precedents. It is accepted, it has become a norm, so we do it.

The aspirant said that the APC should hold primaries, adding that, if he lose the shadow poll, he would queue behind the winner. However, he emphasised that, if the primaries are not free and fair, he would act accordingly.

Solomon reflected on the endorsement of Mr. Akinwumi Ambode for the election, by Oba Akiolu stressing that he has the freedom off expression. He said the party will decide the fate of the aspirants when the time comes.

He added:  Kabiyesi was expressing his preference. He has also expressed his personal opinion. We’re talking of a party now; I don’t know which part or provision of the constitution of the party says a traditional ruler can endorse. Whatever he says is his personal wish, which is not the same thing as the wish of the generality of the people. At the end of the day, we have a party structure.

“Let me also tell you that he made the pronouncement at a time when we had not even concluded putting party structures in place. So, it couldn’t have been in consultation, with who? Is it with the political leadership? Is it with the traditional leadership? We’ve had different opinions since then.

 

 

 

 

 

All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders were in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, to flag off the  campaigns for the June 21 governorship poll. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU captures the  excitement and push for continuity in the Fountain of Knowledge.

For eight hours, Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, stood still for the war scholar and prodemocracy crusader, Governor Kayode Fayemi. It was a special day in the life of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),and the people of the 130 towns and villages he has served diligently in the last three and half years.

The Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, venue of the campaign, was filled to the brim as from sunset by party members and admirers from 16 local governments, singing and dancing. The supporters adorned various customised t-shirts and fez caps, waving brooms, the symbol of the ruling party.

In one accord, youths, women, artisans and peasants reiterated their determination to vote for continuity and defend their votes. Party leaders also renewed their calls for credible polls, vowing to resist malpractices.

Around 2.45 pm, the APC Interim Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, pronounced Fayemi  the party’s candidate at the June 21 poll. That followed his formal endorsement by the APC Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha. Akande said the governor is worthy of being the APC flag bearer. “May God bless our aspiration”, intoned the former Osun State governor as he presented the flag to Fayemi.

Exuding the confidence of a performer, Fayemi, who was accompanied by his wife, Erelu Bisi, and running mate, Deputy Governor Modupe Adelabu, unfolded his development agenda for second term, pledging to rededicate himself to service delivery. Tagged the “Roadmap to Rapid economic Growth and Development”, the Ekiti agenda is made of the proposed policy thrust of the administration from 2014 to 2018.

“Ekiti is moving forward under this administration and the future of the state is assured”, Fayemi declared, urging the people to give him a fresh mandate to intensify the work of development.

But, the APC family was in sober reflection on the campaign ground. The funfair that usually characterises mega rallies was reduced, in deference to the mood a nation rocked by bombings and killings by the Boko Haram sect. “We need to tone down a lot of funfair that should normally characterise this type of occasion because of the tragedy that has enveloped our country,” said the APC Interim Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who called for understanding.

A moment of silence was observed by the crowd in memory of the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency as party leaders chided the Federal Government for inaction and ineptitude.

The Chairman of the JKF Campaign Organisation, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, who welcomed the national leaders, said that the success of the Ekiti poll will prepare Nigerians for greater national challenges. “This is a day of excitement and appraisal. There is bloodletting in our country. But, the essence of the moment is not lost on us. Our country desires a change,” he said. Urging the people to reflect on the  challenges, Daramola said a vote for Fayemi in Ekiti and the APC at the general election next year will be a good step in the right direction.

Ekiti APC Interim Chairman Chief Jide Awe, explained that Fayemi’s achievements are commendable, adding that they will earn the votes of the people. “On June 21, the APC will emerge victorious at the election. We are up to the task; we will win in 177 wards and 2,121 units. We will defeat our opponents. APC belongs to Ekiti and Ekiti belongs to the APC.”

For the APC leaders, Ekiti and Osun polls are very important because they will herald the 2015 general elections. The leaders-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Akande, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Okorocha, his Osun and Edo states counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-said Fayemi deserved a second term because of his impressive performance.

Also in Ado were Chief Tom Tkimi, Senator Danjuma Goje, Aremo Segun Osoba, Senator Bukola Saraki, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Chief Timpreye Sylva, Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos),  Abdulfathah Ahmed (Kwara), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Tanko Al-makura (Nasarawa), Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara), and Abiola Ajomobi (Oyo), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Isaac Kekemeke, Osun State Deputy Governor Laoye Tomori, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Senators Olorunnimbe Mamora, Biyi Durojaye, Babafemi Ojudu, Babajide Omoworare, Bunmi Adetumbi, Mudashiru Hussein, Ibrahim Musa; Hon. James faleke, Samuel Adejare, Lanre Odubote and Lanre Olayinka.

The dramatic appearance of former Governor Segun Oni added colour to the rally. He was cheered by the crowd of supporters, who welcomed his decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He spoke like a patriot, saying that the future of Ekiti is his main priority.

Gen. Buhari, who was the first national leader to address the crowd, said that he was impressed by the mobilisation by the JKF Campaign Organisation  and the huge attendance. He congratulated Fayemi for standing stall, owing to his achievements. Peeping at the future, the former military Head of State said: “There must be change in 2015.”

Tinubu, who spoke after him, described Fayemi as the best for the job in Ekiti. He urged the people to vote for him. “The APC is the cure of Nigeria’s headache, ineptitude of government, insecurity, poverty and unemployment. The party is the cure and Fayemi is the doctor,” he said, maintaining that the supporters’ presence at the campaign can only be meaningful, if they proceed to vote at the poll without fear.

“We Nigerians are the employees of the police and the army. Don’t be afraid. Come and vote. This is the opportunity you have to reject the Poverty Development Party,” Tinubu added.

Tinubu reminded the people that it took them three years to liberate themselves from the PDP in the past, admonishing them to keep the party in check. Noting that Fayemi has put his hands on the plough, he said the strides of the administration in agriculture, school rehabilitation, road construction, health care services and security trust for the elderly must be sustained.

“On the election day, you must be ready to vote. Power is not served ala carte. You can’t give power to an educated illiterate who will draw you backward,” Tinubu told the cheering crow..

Okorocha, who spoke on behalf of the governors, stressed that there was no candidate  better than Fayemi, adding that, as a role model, he is even qualified to be governor in any state of the federation. As he presented the forum’s endorsement to Fayemi, he said: “Your victory has been signed, sealed and delivered. We will come back to celebrate your victory.”

The Imo governor reflected on the state of the nation, berating the PDP Federal Government as the nation’s albatross. He charged Nigerians to heed the call for change. “Today, our nation is going through a difficult moment. A nation facing daily bombings and bloodletting must receive wise counsel. The death toll in Jos has risen. This is not the nation of our dream.

“Mourning is not enough. Something must be done to effect change. In Ekiti, JKF has a record of excellent performance. That is why the 16 progressive governors endorsed this great son of Ekiti. When the wicked is in power, people mourn. When a good man is in power, people rejoice. My prayer is that a bad man will not rule Ekiti again.”

Former Abia State Governor Onu, a party elder, noted that Ekiti had made a good choice by electing Fayemi as governor, advising them to renew his mandate on June 21. “The people of Ekiti have made a great Nigerian their governor. Fayemi is a special Nigerian and great son of Ekiti. We want him to continue as the governor”, he said.

The elder statesman spoke on the sanctity of the ballot box, urging the people to vote and defend their votes. “The cries of Nigerians have gone up to the heavens. The APC will solve the problems, bring security, peace, jobs and improved economy,” he added.

The APC Interim Women Leader, Mrs. Sharon Ikpeasor from the Southeast, spoke in Yoruba, saying: “APC is good; PDP is in problem”.

Aregbesola, whose speech was laced with wise sayings and songs, said: “We don’t want change in Ekiti now; we want change at the federal level.”

In his view, Ekiti cannot afford to go back to its past. Urging the people to gird their loins, he added: “Ina month’s time, Ekiti will vote. We will meet ourselves on the field. If each one of us here can mobilise 10 people who have voter’s cards, we have won. You women, vote and go home. You young men, vote and protect your votes”.

The Osun governor was not indifferent to how the electoral commission bungled the Anambra State poll. He said that, this time around, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must conduct a free and fair election by using the electronic card readers.

Oshiomhole also warned against electoral malpractice, saying that the evil will be resisted. “Our message is short, sharp and clear. On June 21, you will have an opportunity to choose between a governor who has worked and failed, was impeached, he left and was charged and Fayemi who has made progress, a governor who has made a lot of differnce.

“Fayemi has deepened democracy and worked for Ekiti. The whole world is going to observe what will happen on June 21. It must be one man, one vote. Election must not be rigged or manipulated. On your feet, you will fight and win”, he added.

Oni, an engineer, was the cynosure of all eyes as he repudiated the PDP and called on the people to vote for Fayemi in the interest of the future. He reflected on past misunderstanding, saying that it was over. He emphasised that the future is more important than the past.

Oni said Ekiti State deserved a new political order designed to guarantee a brighter future, advising the people not to mortage the future of their children for money.He said, if Fayemi is returned to office, he will continue to make a positive impact on the state.

Oni called the people, local government by local government, to know who they will vote for on June 21. The response by his Ido-Osi people affirmed his popularity at home. He told the crowd that it is their interest to elect a governor they will be proud of and not a person that will expose the state to ridicule.

He said: “We are not here to enthrone mediocrity, but for Ekiti people to have a government that our children will benefit from. Anybody that our children will not see as a role model, I will never endorse such a person. We don’t want a governor who will pass under the barbed wire. We can no longer afford a governor that people will be asking Ekiti people what is wrong with them”.

The man of the moment, Fayemi, presented his blue print on development to the crowd. He noted that his administration has lived up to expectation in his first term. But, he said the beat must not stop, hence, his desire to seek a fresh mandate to take the state to a greater height. Apart from fostering good governance, Fayemi said that he has been an initiator and communicator of values.

In this piece, the Coordinator of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Ayo Opadokun, reflects on the problems of Nigeria and contends that the solution is the enthronment of quality leadership.

An implosion is imminent. This state of the nation is unsustainable. The following stark realities are indisputable; even though they are repetitive, they are an eye opener.                    Since the emergence of the Fourth Republic, the Nigerian state has daily and averagely exported between 1.5 to 2 million barrel of crude oil at an averagely 75-100 U.S dollar per barrel. There is an unbelievable irreconsibility between the huge petroleum dollar the Nigerian state has learned and the statistically verifiable fact that about 70% of Nigerian population live below the poverty level.

In the last 14years of civilian governance in Nigeria, efficient social services have become an embarrassment. Basic infrastructures have worsened inspite of the gigantic petrol dollars earned by the Nigerian state.

The Nigerian state’s skewed consideration for continuing with a prohibitive executive presidential system government has led to a situation whereby about 70-75 pere cent of its earnings is spent on recurrent expenditure leaving just meager resources for development.

The Nigerian State irresponsiveness to the glaring acute poverty level of the people has led to the discomfiting human welfare index status which has consistently, located Nigeria within the war ravaged countries bracket in recent times.

Furthermore, the stark reality that the more petroleum dollar the Nigerian state earns, the poorer her citizens experience is sufficiently indicative of the missing link. In jurisprudence there is always the need to understand what the law is (the laga lata) as opposed to what the law is supposed to be (de laga faranda)

In the Nigerian state, partisan politics is permanent all year round and expensive, thereby making politics apart from religion to be the most lucrative business in town. Therefore, majority of political office holders are devoted to the pursuit of political power which in turn grants the “victorious politician” an unrestricted access to public funding from which they regularly steal. In other climes the normal occurrence is that close to election seasons, partisan politics dominate the polity, but when candidates have been pronounced as winners, governance begins in earnest whereby the elected people’s preoccupation is how they can utilize government powers and authority to actualize and or execute the promised programs.

The Nigerian state has been constructed primarily on falsehood, and arbitrariness by the British Colonial Masters and the politicians in the Nigerian Military. Through many insurrections against civilian and military regimes they usually serve the interests and prejudices of the “owners” while the significant majority of the people are programmed to be outsiders, spectators and dispensable elements in the distribution and usage of the commonwealth.

From January 15, 1966 when the politicians in the Nigerian Army  staged their first insurrection against the civilian rulers, the significant members of the military dynasty and their civilian collaborators, confederates, sympathizsers, and conduit pipes have turned out to be the main actors in the political process of the Second, Third and Fourth republic along with their sponsored surrogates. Thus, they are always two steps ahead of the few rightly-headed members of the dwingdly political class because they have acquired ill gotten wealth in their relationship with the military personnel who held political offices.

The Nigerian state has criminally and irresponsively carry on governance that has failed and or neglected to provide social services (education, health, water, food, housing, etc) not to talk of providing basic infrastructure (efficient transportation system, modern good road network, adequate power supply etc). What the Nigerian state offers today as education is immoral and deceptive. They practically destroyed public education services through inadequate funding from which a significant part is stolen and demonstrably frustrated supervision in the public school while their own children are educated in very expensive private schools in Nigeria or in foreign schools. Since Obasanjo’s administration’s emergence in this Fourth Republic, less than five percent of the ritual annual budget is devoted to education as opposed to the UNESCO’s well thought-out 26 per cent recommendation.

I am not sure as to whether or not anybody can tell Nigerians how much of the state resources 8,12,16,24 billion USD has been spent on power supply since 1999. yet, all manners of irresponsible excuses are dished out as reasons for the continuation of epileptic power supply. The fact that the Obasanjo’s government planned 10 Independent Power Projects yet it did not reasonably provide nor guaranteed adequate gas supply to power the IPP will forever remain part of an everlasting negative legacy of his unproductive tenure.

The present political office holders have deliberately stunted the growth and expansion of democracy and its culture in the last 14-15years of the Forth Republic. In the public and private activities, they have exhibited their unbelief in deepening democracy, and democratization of the polity. President Obasanjo’s regular anti-democracy stunt eg. using the security agency to harass, intimidate and dehumanize political opponents including some of his PDP founders was unbelievable.

President Obasanjo’s most ingenious but more of political gerrymandering was how he imposed and removed PDP chairmen at will.

The state of insecurity in Nigeria today is unbelievably scarry because life is cheaply eliminated either by state sponsored violence, Islamic fundamentalism, or indescribable human rights violations and also through the violent criminal activities of armed robbers. Nothing tells the unpleasant story more than the fact that even though the Nigerian state declared a state of emergency on Boko Haram in 3 North East states in the last one year signifying the highest operational alertness, Yet, Boko Haram successfully and audaciously carted away over 250 young school girls and we are all still leaking our wounds. The Nigerian state has worsened the plight of the parents, guardians of the young girls and the general public by contradictory and uncertain pronouncements. First Lady, Dame Patient Jonathan embarrassed the Nigerian state and the international public with her unsolicited theaterical crocodile tear over the agony of the mothers of the abducted Nigerian ladies. She is ever too bossy and garrulous. Amnesty International, and the London Economist have exposed the unfortunate tardiness of the Jonathan Government on the ungodly abduction of over 250 young school girls from Chibok. Now that the entire global community is singing the same song and refrain – Bring back our girls Now”, the Jonathan Government will have to accept that fact that because the world is now a global community through technology no ruler can continue to misrule and misgovern for any longer times without being exposed. I think that majority of Nigerians will be very surprised and in consternation to know that Western Europe and the United States of America had offered assistance to the Nigerian state within 24 hours after the reportage of the abduction, yet the Nigerian government did not respond to the various offers for almost three weeks for reasons best known to our government. To run for the next election on this chain of misrule and obviously incompetent leadership is a misadventure of ambition in all ramifications.

Having regard to the on-going national conference, the media reports and private discussion sessions with some delegates, the reality that some delegates mandate to the conference is to ensure that genuine agitations and campaign issues like true federalism, devolution of powers to the component parts, fiscal federalism are vehemently rejected is regrettable. Furthermore, the media reporting their opposition to the return to parliamentary system of government, wanting a retention of the unreasonably prohibitive executive presidential system is equally discomfiting. Matters relating to the boundary adjustment to guarantee that the rights of ethnic nationalities like the Ijaws, Yoruba, Nupe, Gwari/Gbayi who are currently balkanized into two three states or zones thereby making them permanently disadvantaged, are also being misguidedly opposed. This is a dangerous signal. There is no doubt that self determination is the anthem of this millennium. Every insensitive efforts to further the use of government coercive apparatus to enforce dominance of one group over the others will be difficult to maintain and or sustained henceforth.

If the right wing elements and representatives of those who have held Nigerian down till date succeeded in ensuring that the status quo on these vital matters are maintained, they probably would soon realize that the permanently disadvantaged will never again throw red carpet for them. All geographical expressions that were held together by forces of arms globally like the old USSR, Czechoslovakia, eventually distingerated. Even the master imperialist, Great Britain, has been forced to concede law making powers to the Irish Republic, and Scotland. In addition, Jamaica has given Great Britain forwarding notice of her intention to turn its nation state into a republic pretty soon.

The leadership of the National Assembly is seeing to be doing something as the executive seems to be irresponsive to the genuine feeling of most Nigerians over the unprecedented abduction of over 250 young girls from Chibok College. The singular motion by the House of Representatives that the Service Chiefs must return the ladies to their parents within seven days or resign their appointments or commission is consistent with desperate and abnormal situation we are faced with. In fact, the executive, if it were to be sensitive should have virtually halt all routine government activities until this young Nigerians are safely returned to their parents. A wrongly headed Aba Moro that cannot emphathise with what the parents of the girls and most Nigerians are going through should stop his ministerial embarrassment by keeping silent. Afterall, through his ungodly scheme, unemployed youth who showed up for the ministry of Internal Affairs recruitment announcement were rather dispatched to heaven in their youthful vibrant times instead of being employed.

The most important reason why citizen surrender certain personal rights to the collective as a government is that the collective strength of the people can be used by government to provide adequate security of lives and property. We all as citizens are in deepest agony with the unchallenged media reports on how Boko Haram easily ransacked both the Nigerian Army Barrack and the Air Force Base in Maiduguri environ in February and March 2014. Nigerians have genuine reasons to believe that our military and Intelligence cadres have been sufficiently trained and empowered to protect us. But if our own human protectors have turned out to be easy catch for the insurgents, then we are in a quandary and we must act timeously to refix our security and intelligence. That an insurgent group can abduct over 250 Nigerian girls and was so daring as to issue a videotape of a dramatic footage on how the Christian girls were being forced to recite Koran would remain a humiliation and unpardonable dent on the Nigerian state, its intelligence and security apparatus. But we know that resignation is not an option for them as they cannot ever contemplate what the Prime Minister of South Korean did just last week when he tendered his resignation over the maritime mishap which claimed about 200 young South Korean pupils. The Prime Minister did not come up with ingenius excuses, perhaps that the accident was not in his round of duty.

The Nigerian state cannot do better until the significant majority of our people are ready to take their destinies in their own hands. Nigerians must stop the unprofitable and opportunistic collaboration with each succeeding set of wrongly headed rulers. Grumbling silently remains a pastime of those who relish in misguided lamentations over their plight when they can take concrete steps to change their fortune. We must be ready to organize and mobilize ourselves for street actions thereby forcing to step down many of the pretenders in our public offices.

The Tunisian trader who immolated himself to kick start the Arab spring will forever remain a matyr. No progress can be made when the pre-occupations of those elements who constitute the middle class are mundane desire, eg. to bury their old parents, send their wards into the unreasonably expensive schools to announce their status symbols, how to build their new mansion in Ikoyi, Lekki or high brow Matama in Abuja, how to buy a customised new car or their intention either to marry the next wife or acquire a much more glamorous new girl friend. In other words they are pleasure lovers and fun seekers. (apology to the immortal Fela Anikulapo Kuti in VIP, Vagabonds in power, Suffering and Smiling etc).

This unworkable and unsustainable status quo of the Nigerian state can only be sustained by the collective pretentious and inactions of us all. The cheaters and slave masters are adept at divide and rule strategy. If we continue with our usual lamentations, the leadership of the Nigerian state will continue to be pleased with our agonizing pastimes because they will remain in office to serve themselves as they are used to doing from time immemorial.

 

Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Senator Akinola Odunsi has said that there is no room for rascality in the chapter.

The politician lamented that the chapter was enveloped in crisis became those who did not sow have come to reap.

However, the senator from Ogun West said that the party leaders are committed to peace and the resolution of the crisis, saying that it is an internal affair. He berated some politicians for causing trouble through their attempt to hijack the recent party congresses in favour of their candidates without recourse to the rule of law.

Odunsi, who spoke with reporters in Ado-Odo Ota, said: “There is one party in Ogun state and, to my own knowledge and understanding, that party is the APC. Those factionalising the party think that, through their action, they will succeed. it is not possible. People don’t reap where they do not sow. The party does not belong to anybody and, if you think you can destroy  by planting your surrogates here and there,  it will not work. We struggle for the party in the state. But, to think you can hijack the structure we tirelessly fought for, it is not possible.”

The politician said that, if the aggrieved leaders burry their differences and follow the rule of law, there will be peace.

He added: “Enough is enough . The party is bigger than an individual. No way for such posturing in the state. We are ready to match whosoever  believes he can truncate the laid down rules of the party in the state.”