The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • Fayemi: This election is about Ekiti’s future

    Fayemi: This election is about Ekiti’s future

    The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) has sealed the  endorsement of Governor Kayode Fayemi as its candidate for the June 21election in the Fountain of Knowledge  at its primaries in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Correspondent SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN reports. 

    The delegates to the primaries came from 132 towns and villages across the far-flung state. They converged on the Trade Fair Complex, Ado Ekiti, the state capital with one accord. They had a mission. At exactly 11 am, the voting started. In the afternon, the result of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries was ready.

    Exuding happiness at the orderly conduct of the delegates, the Chairman of the six-member APC Primaries Panel, Senator Osita Izunaso, declared Governor Kayode Fayemi the winner and governorship candidate. On that note, his battle for re-election gathered momentum.

    Fayemi had no rival at the shadow poll. Thus, as the lone aspirant, the primaries paled into the ratification of his endorsement as the flag bearer by the party. The governor was conscious of the significance of the endorsement and its implication for the party. Thanking the delegates, Fayemi promised never to let them down. He said that the contest is not a personal battle, but the continuation of his rescue mission in Ekitiland.

    Few weeks ago, the war scholar and pro-democracy activist had collected his nomination form, in compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines. However, before the governor signified his intention to seek a fresh mandate, many groups and associations have endorsed him for a second term. Also, party chieftains across the three senatorial districts, APC governors and other national leaders have endorsed him in Ado-Ekiti.

    For Fayemi, the intra-party contest was a walk over. Declaring him the winner, Izunaso, who is the APC Interim Organising Secretary, said that the governor polled 192, 767 votes. Other panel members-Alhaji Abubakar Suleja, Isah Maduto, Capt. Bala Jubril (rtd), Alhaji Yemi Sanusi, and Steve Asimoke-applauded the governor’s performance in the last three and half years, stressing that the bloc vote underscored his popularity.

    Fayemi was accompanied by his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi. Also, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, Ekiti APC Interim Chairman Chief Jide Awe and the Chief of Staff, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu. witnessed the primaries.

    Fayemi expressed gratitude to the party for its unflinching support, love and solidarity. He noted that there was no case of unruly behaviour among delegates. He hailed the validity of internal democracy, saying that the APC has become a model for consolidating democracy. Fayemi said that the process was as important as the real election, adding that it signified the APC’s commitment to transparency.

    The historic exercise trailed the governor’s endorsement for a second term in December 2012 by stakeholders at Iyin-Ekiti. The endorsement was tagged: “Iyin Accord.”

    The “Iyin Accord,” according to party chieftains, was a watershed. The accord, in their view, was designed by party leaders to give the signal that Fayemi’s mandate would be renewed by the progressive family in Ekiti.

    The meeting where the ‘Accord’ was reached was actually held at the instance of the former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, who is the Southwest APC leader. At the meeting were party elders, top government officials, women and youth leaders from 16 councils. They said that Fayemi deserved a second term because he has performed as governor.

    At the meeting, party leaders also reflected on the future of the state. After reviewing the activities of Fayemi Administration, they resolved to vote for continuity in 2014. Speakers included Adebayo, Senator Tony Adeniyi (Ekiti South), Dr. Omirin, Hon. Ife Arowosoge, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi, and Chief Ronke Okusanya. According to them, the developmental efforts of the administration must continue beyond this year.

    Adebayo hailed the stakeholders for endorsing Fayemi for another term, noting that the governor has impacted positively on the lives of the people. “I think he deserves a second term, just as our people are clamouring,” Adebayo said.

    Awe, who was the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chairman, also aligned with the position of the party elders. He said that Fayemi has become the toast of the party because he has lived up to expectation. He said that the ‘Iyin Accord’ was not “by accident, but a deliberate attempt to show appreciation for what the governor has done in the transformation of the state.”Awe said the feats included infrastructural development, financial empowerment, job creation and social security scheme for elderly citizens.

    Also, in July last year, the ACN National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, visited the Ekiti progressive family at Ado-Ekiti. At the meeting, Tinubu put another seal on the gale of endorsements. It was witnessed by former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Dele Alake, the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Senator James Kolawole. Also present were Deputy Governor Adelabu, Adebayo, Omirin and Adaramodu, Senators Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central), Adeniyi (Ekiti South) and Olubunmi Adetumbi (Ekiti North), and Arowosoge. Commissioners, special advisers and assistants, local government chairmen and party officials were also there.

    Tinubu, who spoke for about one and a half hours, said the visit was to settle the misunderstanding within the party, ahead of the poll. He said: “We have not come to impose somebody on you. We have come just to settle a quarrel. Americans would normally say, if the bicycle is not faulty, you don’t take it to the repairer. Fayemi has passed; will you promote him or not?” The question drew a deafening ‘yes’ from the audience.

    Tinubu said that Ekiti was witnessing a “kukulaja”, which translates to “the fiery creature at the rooftop”. It was a vague reference to the personality clashes between Fayemi and the House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, who also had the intention of running for ther governorship. The National Leader added: “When we got there (the political headship of the state), why would we not know how to manage our success? If anyone here knows Opeyemi, tell him that Jagaban has sent you to him to drop his ambition. Invite him and appeal to him. We will return later to do official endorsement”.

    Tinubu urged Fayemi and the party leadership to work for reconciliation. He said: “There is no shame in politics; everyone’s turn would come sooner than later.”

    Akande also called for a truce. He observed that the party would confront three challenges: how to merge with other parties without experiencing cultural hiccups, how to position the party for the elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states and how to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from national leadership.

    He stressed: “We are going to merge with another party, but is our culture going to change? Three elections are on the way, but how do we prepare for them? The last task is how do we remove the PDP from Abuja? Our mission today is to set in motion processes to settle our in-house misunderstanding. If any exists, we must settle it to move ahead.”

    However, the endorsement of Fayemi by the party leadership did not go down well with some members. Bamidele objected to the endorsement, saying that it was not a collective decision.

    He said: “The endorsement of the governor by a section of our party is a step that is allowed in politics. But I want to say that other party members who are interested in the position can still show interest. ACN is not a lawless party. It is a party that believes in the rule of law and democratic tenets, so I am confident that the rules will be followed strictly under this circumstance”.

    But, sources disclosed that Bamidele never disclosed his plans to contest the governorship to the party leadership.

    Before the last weekend primaries, Fayemi has kicked off his campaign in Ado-Ekiti. The campaign train has not stopped since then. It has rolled into some local governments with a mammoth crowd coming to affirm his endorsement as the flag bearer.

     

  • ‘Resource control should be addressed at conference’

    ‘Resource control should be addressed at conference’

    Mr. Efiye Bribena is the Secretary-General of the Ijaw Professionals Association. In this interview with SINA FADARE, he argues that the  National Conference, if properly managed, will resolve the national question and move the country forward.

    What’s your view on the National Conference? At one time or the other, different ethnic groups or regions have argued for the national conference to resolve those areas of conflict and settle once and for all our sectional interests without necessarily threatening the corporate existence of the country. I think in that light, everybody should support the conference. It is a welcome idea. If handled properly, it is going to help in resolving most of the issues that are troubling us in this country like the agitation for resource control, true federalism, rotational presidency and power devolution. It will give all groups the opportunity to air their own opinions and negotiate.

    You mean the conference can resolve the issue of resource control?

    The issue of resource control, especially for us professionals, goes beyond the matter of dividing the national cake. It has to do with optimal use of our resources. The major problem we have in this country is that we focus only on oil revenue. But, there is no state or region in this country that is not endowed with enough natural and human resources. So, there should be a proper fiscal federalism in this country where each region will be able to harness its resources and put them to optimal use.

    When everybody is focused on getting his share from oil, it makes the country lose focus. Even in the Niger Delta, we have problems. Instead of focusing on development, using available resources, the leaders we have is focusing on getting its shares of the national cake. So, the system, as it were, doesn’t benefit the Niger Delta people. But, if we have a situation where every group is controlling its resources and paying tax to the centre, all the leaders will be held accountable. For us as Ijaw Professional Association, the issue of resource control is something that must be addressed in its proper perspective. It goes beyond sharing the national cake. We feel that the focus should be on development of the potentials of each region. If we want to develop as a nation, we need to remove attention from oil. Sovereign ownership clause should be removed from our laws because it affects everything. When you say the land and everything belongs to the Federal Government, it is a lie. Today, it might look as if it is affecting the Niger Delta. Tomorrow, it can affect the North. And that is why we have the issue of illegal mining in the North. These are issues that should be addressed at the National Conference. There is a need for us to practice true federalism so that we can manage our resources effectively. Let attention be paid to all natural resources we have in this country. We should remove attention from oil because it is not doing anyone one any good as it is today.

    Some people have argued that there should be no-go-area in this discussion. Do you share the same view?

    Why should there be no-go-area? Everything should be discussed, including the unity of the country. Even, if we say that the unity of this country is not negotiable, there is no reason why we shouldn’t discuss it.

    Yoruba and Igbo have it in their agenda for debate at the conference the right of the federating units to recede. Is that not threatening the unity of the country already?

    For me, that is not a terrible thing to look at. We are there to negotiate the basis of our existence as a nation. So, we should put all the cards on the table, discuss and come to agreement. To a large extent, it is not the provision on the no-go-area that is the issue, it is the people that are going there to discuss.

    Do you see the conference coming at a right time, bearing in mind that this is the eve of election year?

    There cannot be a better time than now. According to the schedule that has already been set, it is going to take three months. I don’t understand the relationship between the National Conference and the elections.

    The opposition believes that President Goodluck Jonathan wants to use it to score cheap political goal. Do you share this line of thought?

    How? Well, if the national conference comes out successful, it is going to be to the credit of the President. Are you going to fault him for that? You can’t hold that against him; they are all politicians. If the opposition parties see anything they could do to win election, they will do it. So, if he is doing something in the best interest of the country and it is going to help him to win election, all well and good. If he bungles and manipulates it and comes out wrong, it will be to his discredit. If on the other hand, he ensures that the right things are done, it will be to his credit. If that will help him in 2015 to win an election, all well and good. I don’t think anybody should hold that against him.

    What is Ijaw Professional all about?

    Ijaw Professional Association is an organisation that is set up to promote professional excellence among the people of Ijaw extraction. In achieving that, we try to ensure that we put programmes in place to make people understand the need for professionalism in whatever they do. We believe that, if we are able to promote profession excellence among our people, we will be able to impact positively on the whole nation.

    Despite the agitations for local content policy, the oil industry is still dominated by the foreigners. What is your association doing to increase involvement of the local people in the industry?

    The first seminar we organised in 2012 was based on growth opportunity in the Niger Delta and it afforded every one of us to look at the opportunities available in the oil industry. It was more of an educative programme because we believe knowledge is power, information is power. If we are able to get requisite information concerning oil industry, we will be able to participate better. There is a lot of human capital that is lying dormant in the oil industry. So, we are trying to partner with some institutions to ensure that people are properly trained so that they can participate more effectively in the industry. The local content policy, unfortunately, has faced lot difficulties in implementation. The oil industry is being run by foreigners and they are like a cartel. If the Chinese are coming to run an oil firm, they want to ensure that it is the Chinese people that will be doing everything in that organization. If it is the American, you will discover that it is American that will be doing all the jobs. We have so many professionals in this country that are not being properly used. So, it is a policy that exists only on paper.

    Now that your man is in the saddle, do you see the need for you to press for proper implementation of the policy?

    When you hear people accuse President Goodluck Jonathan of being tribalistic, those of us from Bayelsa and Ijaw laugh. We laugh because Jonathan is one President that sees himself as President of Nigeria. He is not always willing to listen to anything that is tending towards propagating the interest of his people. So, if we have an opportunity to discuss this issue with him, then we must discuss it in the best interest of Nigeria not in the interest of Ijaw people.

    How do you see the role of amnesty programme, in terms of human capital development in the Niger Delta region?

    Amnesty programme is one issue that is largely misunderstood by the people. A lot of people believe that the programme is geared towards solving all the problems in the Niger Delta region. But this is not so. Amnesty programme is targeted at removing some ruffians from the creeks, training them and making them more useful to themselves and the society. To that extent, the programme has been very successful because it has removed a lot of rough boys (militants) from the creeks. So, in terms of human capital development, it has helped to resolve issues of participation in the oil industry. But amnesty programme does not address the issue of environmental degradation; it does not address the issue of exploitation of our people; it does not address the issue of infrastructure. It is largely targeted at neustralising the nuisance value of the militants in the creeks. And to that extent, it has succeeded. But all the other issues that led to militancy are still very much there. The exploitation is still going on, the environmental degradation is still going on and lack of infrastructure is still there.

     

     

  • ‘Age has not affected Elechi’s performance’

    ‘Age has not affected Elechi’s performance’

    Hon. Eni Uduma Chima represents Afikpo Southwest Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly. In this interview with OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE, he reflects on the Elechi Administration, National Conference and other partisan issues.

    What do you think should be the focus of the National Conference?

    The focus should be on the unity of the country. Delegates should concentrate on issues that would restore the faith of citizens in the country. This has been eroded over the years.

    What’s your assessment of Ebonyi delegates to the conference?

    The selection was superb; they are the best brains and leaders of thought from this part of the country. Besides, the delegates are a mixture of intellectuals, technocrats and business men in their own right. They are sufficiently experienced to discuss issues affecting the country as a whole and those that concern Ebonyi State, particularly its relationship with the rest of the country.

    There are those who say the recommendations of the conference should be sent to the National Assembly as a bill. There are also those want it be subjected a referendum. What is your take on this?

    My take on it is that it could go either way. The most important thing is that it should be credible. If you do a referendum that is accurate, then, you would also have allayed the fears of those who think it should go to the National Assembly because the National Assembly is just a smaller version of the general public that would participate in the referendum. So, if you want it at the micro level, it should go to the National Assembly. But on the other hand, if you want it at the macro level, it should be subjected to a referendum. My own position is that, whichever way we choose, transparency is the watch word. It should be properly done to reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people without undue influence.

    Many still believe the President is not sincere in his bid to convoke the conference. What could have informed his sudden u-turn on the matter?

    Without prejudice, I want to say that there is no way of reading the mind of anybody. But, one must also not overlook the fact that he might have changed his mind in the light of some experiences he might have had. Knowledge comes from experience; knowledge is dynamic. Thus, experience develops ideas. So, maybe, he has come into contact with certain experiences that made him feel that it is expedient that the conference be held at this point in time. He had opposed the conference on the grounds that there should be no Sovereign National conference. Since we have a National Assembly with the power of the people, since sovereignty belongs to the people, the ultimate power to make laws and enforce them and to bring about change in government through voting belongs to the people and so, since they have done so by electing people into the National Assembly and state legislatures that they should be trusted to bring about whatever development people want. Instead of doing what the proponents of the conference want in its totality, he has taken what he thinks is the right thing; instead of taking extreme position.

    The elections are coming up early next year. What do you expect from the next governor of Ebonyi State?

    I expect the next governor of Ebonyi State to be a patriot; somebody who would have the interest of Ebonyi people at heart in all sincerity. He should be somebody who would have development as his core value and in that regard he should be able to keep up with the pace of development going on in the various sectors in the state at the moment.

    Many persons in Ebonyi are gearing up to replace Governor Elechi. Has age affected him adversely in the discharge of his duties?

    No. One cannot discountenance the wisdom of elders because what an elder may see sitting down, a youth may not see even, if he climbs on top of a tree. So, we are relying on the experience of an elder in the leadership of this state, in the person of the present governor.

    Do you think power would go to Ebonyi South Senatorial District in 2015 in line with the zoning principle?

    Yes definitely, the governor is an upright man and very sincere. He is serious about power going to the South since the other two senatorial zones have had their turn. So I am confident that he has the political will to deliver on his promise.

    One of the criticisms against the PDP in the state is the lack of internal democracy. How confident are you that this time around it would be different?

    All things being equal, under the guidance of Governor Martin Elechi, we are confident that the proper thing would be done. Having been in party politics for a long time, he knows and understands the dynamics of party politics. He knows that when parties impose candidates that are not popular on the electorates, they would resist it by voting for the opposition party.

     

  • Thompson: 10 years after

    Thompson: 10 years after

    Afenifere chieftain and National Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) Justice Adewale  Thompson died 10 years ago. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU revisits the life and time of the Awoist and his contributions to the socio-political development of the country.

    He grew up at Odaliki Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland, where his illustrious fa-ther, the late Henry Gureje Thompson, lived and worked as a licensed surveyor. It is about two hundred kilometers away from Ilesa, Osun State, his ancestral home. His early experience shaped his world view as he climbed the ladder of life. When he died 10 years ago, Adewale Thompson did not leave without a memorial. The Yoruba nation mourned the passage of the celebrated adventurist, jurist, pan-Africanist, consummate politician, committed Awoist, philosopher, author, newspaper columnist, and elder statesman.

    He was a chieftain of the defunct Action Group (AG), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Alliance for Democracy (AD). Throughout his political career, he never jumped ship. His devotion to principle was legendary. Tributes were showered on him when he was buried in Lagos. The summary of the encomium was that Justice Thompson was a man of honour, integrity and credibility, who shunned avarice, primitive accumulation and pursuit of vanity.

    But, like his compatriots, he left behind a divided Yorubaland and a polarised Afenifere, whose vacuum the YCE, which he served as the secretary, could not fill. Thompson also left behind a country in pains, having being plundered by soldiers of fortune for many years and left to the care of uncaring political class endlessly pursuing private gains, instead of the common good.

    In blissful retirement, the dogged fighter spent his twilight of life on reflections, whipping into line the deviant operators who were off the track by his blunt and corrective pronouncements. His weapons were his incisive wit, power of logic, persuasive talent and sense of objectivity, which endeared his analysis of topical issues to the stakeholders in Nigeria project, including the community of critics who held a contrary view. At 81, the colourful Yoruba leader was conquered by death.

    But, like a thief in the night, death sneaked into the inner chamber of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), snathing away the elder statesman and colourful scribe who was on the fast lane to 82.

    Thompson was a meticulous and charismatic political figure. He was an effective organiser, inspirer and mobiliser. He was a great debater. He may have learned the rudiments of city politics at the feet of his illustrious father, Ajayi Gureje Thompson (1892-1964), the famous licensed surveyor. For 16 years, (1954-1960), the Ijesa-born Lagosian was a member of Lagos Town Council. Like most youths of that period, Thompson was fascinated by the legendary Herbert Macaulay, Ejongboro, the father of Nigerian Nationalism, the Zikist Movement, inspired by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the eloquent speaker and great freedom fighter, who enlisted the younger generation in the battle against colonialism.

    His father was happy that he had a son in his own image. He sent him to Hope High School, Lagos for his elementary education. From there, he proceeded to Baptist Academy, Lagos where he obtained the Cambridge School Certificate in 1940. One of his teachers was the wordsmith, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, who later left teaching for journalism before proceeding to England to study Law. Thompson was re-united with Akintola in the AG before the 1962 crisis which again drew a wedge between the former teacher and pupil.

    Ajayi Gureje Thompson appreciated the dignity of labour. Thus, he was delighted when his son was employed as a Third Class Clerk at the Post and Telegraphs Department, Marina, Lagos. That was between 1941 and 1944. In the colonial service, Thompson worked as a telegraphist, a wireless operator, and an accounts clerk. But, the thirst for higher education drove him overseas where he was admitted for the Honours Course in Law at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating as a Moderator in Legal Science (B.A. MOD and holder of a LL.B in 1948) and M.A. (TCD) in 1952. In 1951, he was called to the English Bar, Grays Inn London Hilary before enrolling as solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria the same year. Between 1951 and 1967, Thompson had an impressive career in the bar. He was a senior partner in the law firm of Thompson and Coker Solicitor, at 11, Abibu Oki Street, Lagos. Legal historians recall that the brilliant lawyer handled some celebrated cases at the bar. He was the leading counsel for the Nigerian Farmers and Commercial Bank in the case of ‘The official Receiver of Nigeria versus The Nigerian Farmers and Commercial Bank’. The case dragged on for over eight years. Although he lost at the High Court and Supreme Court in 1953, he later won the case at the Privy Council, London in 1956. In the famous Elegba Juju case of 1961, Thompson was also the leading counsel for the 19 accused persons. They were all acquitted and discharged.

    During the turbulent days, he was unwavering in his support for the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Remarkably, Thompson was the leading counsel for six accused person in the treasonable felony trial between 1962 and 1963 involving the AG leader and 26 members of his party. The legal practitioner also pitched his tent with the Lagos Market Women Association when Awolowo and Kajola markets, Mushin fell under the hammer of the Akintola-led Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) government of Western Nigeria. The proposed demolition of the market had a political undertone as the traders were rooting for AG. His legal intervention prevented the controversial demolition.

    In 1960, the Balewa Government ran into troubled waters over its proposed defense pact with Britain. The AG opposed the controversial pact. The students of the University of Ibadan (UI), who believed that the agreement had the potential of eroding the independence recently won from Britain, stormed the National Parliament in Lagos to disperse the legislators. There was a clampdown on nine students, described by the government as ring leaders. They were charged to the Lagos Magistrate’s Court for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. Again, Thompson stood as a leading counsel for the students in the Defense Pact Case (1960). After a serious legal battle, they were discharged. An innovative lawyer, Thompson was also the first counsel to canvass the doctrine of contemporaneous accident in the country. He also won the battle up to the Supreme Court.

    However, fortune did not smile on his political career, despite his devotion to Awo. In 1964, Thompson had offered himself for a popularity test. The coveted slot was the Lagos federal seat, considered crucial and strategic to AG. His opponent at the shadow poll was another loyal and committed party man, Sikiru Shitta-Bey, political scion of the legendary Seriki Shitta-Bey family of Isale-Eko, and dynamic Secretary of Action Group Youth Association. Both Thompson and Shitta-Bey were blazing the trail in the legal profession. They were Awo’s devotees. Neither of them was willing to step down. It was therefore, a nightmare for party leaders and elders to choose between the two brilliant and trust worthy party activists who enjoyed equal rating. The jostling for parliamentary power degenerated into crisis. The supporters of Thompson and Shitta-Bey began to flex muscles. This prompted the party to set up a committee to make recommendation. The panel headed by the late Bola Ige advised in its report that Shitta-Bey should contest the election. As a loyal party chieftain, Thompson accepted the verdict in good faith.

    But, between 1960 and 1963, Thompson had served as a member of the Board of the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), representing the Western Nigeria. This trailed his brief stint as Director and Chairman of G.L. Gaiser Nigeria Limited in 1960. Following the military take-over, Thompson became a judge of the High Court of Western State of Nigeria between 1967 and 1975.

    Following the ban on politics in 1978, he rediscovered his old constituency, which had metamorphosed into the UPN led by his idol, Awolowo. Under the Bola Ige Administration, he served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. That was between 1979 and 1983. His compatriots in the cabinet were Pa Emmanuel Alayande, Bola Ige’s former teacher (Special Adviser on Education). Chief Sunday Afolabi (deputy governor), Chief Bisi Akande, (Secretary to the Government, and later deputy governor) Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, (Education Commissioner), Chief Busari Adelakun (Local Govenrment and Chieftaincy Affairs), and Chief Morakinyo. As a commissioner, the late jurist brought his vast experience at the bar and bench to bear on debates at the council chambers. The cabinet tapped from his pool of wisdom.

    Reminiscent of the 1962 AG crisis, another crisis led to a split in the UPN, ahead of the 1983 governorship primaries. This led to the exit of Afolabi, Adelakun and other top leaders of the party to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Thompson resisted the temptation to join a bad company. Instead, he rallied support for Ige, who nevertheless lost the election to Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo in controversial circumstances.

    In 1999, although, he cast his lot with the AD, the Afenifere chieftain was already fed up with political partisanship. In his old age, he accorded priority to the unity of Yoruba race and capacity of its sons and daughters to re-create its destiny. He was very humorous. Whenever he sighted the late Afenifere leader, Senator Abraham Adesanya, he would demand that he should give him the respect befitting an elder, because he was older than him by one day. In reply, Adesanya would say: “Welcome my brother by one day.” But, as the crisis ravaged Afenifere, Thompson and Alayande concentrated efforts on the YCE.

    Thompson was a moral voice and social critic. He often criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for reneging on his pre-election promise to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. He decried the devaluation of progressive politicking and the lifestyle of new breed politicians, who lived in opulence and promoted corruption in high places. He also lent his voice to the agitation for true federalism. In his view, federalism was the bedrock of autonomy for the defunct regions, which were in healthy competition in the pre- and independence years. Thompson also advised that the country to return to a revenue sharing, based on the principles of derivation, need and national interest. Thompson also advocated for the convocation of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to discuss the basis for peaceful co-existence.

    Born on June, 1922 with a golden spoon in his mouth, he studied and practiced law, his first love, with passion. In all the societies he belonged, he towered like a colossus. He was the Assistant Secretary, Baptist Academy Old Students Association (1941), member, Trinity College Historical Society and it’s Library Committee (1947) and first African Secretary of Dublin Society (1947).

    As secretary of the Association of Student of African Descent of Great Britain and Ireland, Dublin (1945-1948), he was a delegate at the pan-African congress in Manchester, England in 1945. Back at home, he became the Assistant Secretary Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) (1952-1958). National Patron, Baptist Academy Old Students Association (1995) and Secretary, Yoruba Tennis Club, (1960-1963). He was also named “Central Figure”, the Trinity College Dublin Alumni Association, and member, Royal Commonwealth Society, London.

    An Anglican, Thompson was Chorister, St. John Church, Aroloya, Lagos (1933-1938), first Chairman, Young Men Christian Union, St. Jude’s Church, Ebute-Metta, (1941), member Iloro Young Men Society, St. John Cathedral, Iloro, Ilesa, Patron of Boys and Girls Brigade, All Saints Church Jerico, Ibadan. His name was in the Roll of Honour for distinction service for the church in n1999.

    A holder of traditional chieftaincy titles of Lotun Aiyegunle of Ilesa (1982), Thompson also bagged two other honorary chieftancy titles: Bagbimo of Owu Ijebu and Aare Bamofin of Ode-Remo.

    A prolific writer of ‘Megaforce’ fame in the Nigeria Tribune and seasoned author, his publications include Philosophy of Freedom (1951), Invisible World (1966), Pound For Penny (1977), African Believes. Science or superstition 1978), Philosophical Exercise (1982), the State and the Constitution (1982) and Manual for Justices of the Peace (1982).

    Others are: A Treatise on war (1982), Biography for Dr. J. C. Vaughan Reminiscence at the Bar (1991), Song of the Angel (1992), Favoured by the gods (1992), Black People of the world (1995), All Saints Sermons (1996) and Secrets of Secret Societies (1978).

    Thompson was also an eloquent speaker at public forums and conferences. At the first pan-Africa Conference convened by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at Ghana in December 1953, he was given a standing ovation by delegates from across the globe after proposing the toast of Africa.

    He drew the same accolade in 1982, when he wrote on the role of the bench as the arbiter. There, in the book titled: “The Practice of the Nigerian Constitution”, he wrote on the imperishable qualities of a honest jurist, who, he said, should give judgment without fear, favour, intimidation and timidity.

    Thompson stated: “The correct principle illustrated by the hypothetical case of a Spartan judge sitting at the Thermopylae, surrounded by Persian arms, and yet giving his judgment according to the laws of Sparta with the full knowledge that he was about to die.”

    The judge was initiated into free masonry at a ceremony performed by his Father in Lodge Academic No. 1150 (SC) Lagos, soon he climbed the ladder, emerging the District Grand Master of Nigeria (Scottish Constitution) (1983-1988), District Grand Secretary (1963-1970), Substitute Grand Master (1970-1973), and Deputy District Grand Master (1973-1978).

    He was also an Honorary Grand Server warden of the grand lodge of Scotland, Edinburgh and member, Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland, Edinburgh.

    He also attained high ranks under the Irish and English Constitutions. Following the release of his Masonic publications, Secrets of Secret Society, President J. J. Rawlings of Ghana reportedly shelved his plan to be the Irish order in the country after reading the pamphlet.

    Thompson’s death is a loss to the cause of enthronement of good governance in Nigeria where many of the crisis of development rocking the polity remained largely unsolved and where the tribe of principled leaders, genuinely committed to the unity, peace, prosperity and progress of the fatherland is going down the grave.

     

     

     

  • Why I am running for Delta governorship, by Elumelu

    Why I am running for Delta governorship, by Elumelu

    House of Representatives member Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency) is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Delta State. He spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on his aspiration, zoning and his party’s chance at the polls.

    Why do you want to run for gover-norship in Delta State? I have passion for my people. I believe they deserve the best and I think I can represent them. One can look at what I have been doing in the House of Representatives. Going by the opinion of my constituents, I have represented them well for two terms now. It was based on my good representation in my first term that informed their voting me again for the second term. If we leave the issue of passion for the people, you look at those things that you can be able to do, if given the opportunity to be there. I know there is a system in place at the moment which is, of course the existing government, I intend to continue from where the government would stop; to ensure that the projects embarked upon by the Uduaghan government are completed. I have a party on whose platform I be running. I will channel whatever I will do based on the manifesto of the party, by ensuring that we bring to bear those things that are enshrined in the party manifesto in administering the state.

    You are from a senatorial district that is yet to produce the governor of Delta State. Is there any agreement that power will shift to Delta North?

    I don’t want to talk about the issue of agreement, but about understanding. Understanding is natural and moral. If two senatorial zones have had an opportunity, it is also good to understand that the third should be considered on moral grounds, provided that it is not tribal; that it is for the unity of the state and that the intent is not based on bias. Morally, that scenario should be allowed to play and I support it. What we want is to have peace and unity when the existing government will expire and a new one takes over. We want to continue building on the existing structure that the present government is putting in place and the only way we can do that is to have understanding from the three senatorial zones. Central, South and North senatorial zones, none can do it alone; they need one another to ensure that they have a unity government. If it is on the basis of understanding and moral aspect, I agree that what is good for the goose should also be for the gander. The senatorial zone that has never been represented should be given an opportunity, but bearing in mind that it must be a collective drive.

    What do you want to achieve, which the present administration hasn’t been able to achieve?

    There are two issues that are playing itself and they are being tackled by the present government; one is revenue base on oil and revenue base on non-oil. What you should be asking is how the next government will ensure that loopholes, if any, that are existing tighten up so that we can maximise revenue generation, either from the oil or non-oil. If you will recall, my dynamic governor set the pace by declaring that we should look at Delta beyond oil. What it means is that any non-oil area that can generate revenue to the state should be harnessed. Of course, our team will ensure we follow from where ever he’ll stop. If at last we contest and eventually emerge, we will strengthen our IGR that is non-oil based as well as fully capture oil base revenue and channel them into infrastructure that will make life meaningful to the people where they do not exist and where they exist and yet to be completed and ensure they are completed. In effect, there shouldn’t be any abandoned project.

    Looking at your senatorial zone there are so many people showing interest. How do you handle that?

    There is always a saying, ‘the more the merrier’. The constitution allows everybody that meets the requirement to contest and you cannot stop anybody. The fundamental human right makes provision for everybody to air his/her mind. So, if anyone is aspiring and hopes to govern his state, I don’t see anything wrong, but it’s left for the electorate to decide who will best serve them. From the senatorial district that I come from, I’m aware that there is a system that is being put in place to look at all the aspirants, antecedents, ask them questions and come up with a sizeable number that can represent their interest. In essence, whichever way it goes, the few number that will be presented, if any of them is chosen, the people will rally round him. I’m aware that such arrangement is in place and I have submitted myself to process. Let me clearly say that ruling the state or having an ambition shouldn’t be a do or die affair. If the process completes and I don emerge from that process I will then support whoever that emerges from that process. What is important is to move the state forward. It is not about selfish interest, ethnic issue or self-empowerment. It’s about the unity, peace and progress of the state; about the peace loving Deltans, giving an opportunity to select through voting, a credible governor that can effectively run the state.

    But, some aspirants have discredited the process…

    I don’t think he kicked against it. people were trying to ascribe that process to the PDP process and he came to tell people that it was not the PDP process because PDP process does not isolate or discriminate. That PDP process will want everybody to come onboard. So, he was trying to distinguish between the PDP process and conventional process by the community that make up Anioma entity. The people believe they have so many children eligible to govern or to represent their interest in any position and they came together to say let us chose a process that we enable us ask all the people interested in the position of power from the entity to submit their CVs after which they will engage them to declare themselves. You cannot hide the light, if you had been a Federal Government appointee; they want to know what you have attracted, based on that position. I think that was what forms the criteria. Also, if you are an elected officer for seven years like me, they want to see your achievement with special regards to your immediate constituency. And also those who are not in any elected position, but are on private sector, they want to also know how you have bettered the life of the people and society, either by employment or whatever. Even, if it is not physical, fixed or tangible issue, they want to know how you have impacted or supported the cause of Anioma community. These are the things that will inform the basis of their consideration. I have made myself available before them and, like I said, it is not a do or die affair. Before my position, i come from a humble home and can decide to go and do farming, if at the end they decide to say, my son, you meet up, but it’s not your turn at this point. They can also decide to say, ok return to the position you have been holding. In effect, I’m leaving it to my people to decide who they want to represent them without rancour.

    Having been Chairman, House Committee on Health for some years now, what are you achievement?

    We look at the fundamentals. When I came onboard, we didn’t have a regulatory system to control and administer the conduct of health institutions. What I did was to bring up a bill, which was called the Health Bill, to ensure that it is passed into law to strengthen, promote and regulate the conduct of health institutions in Nigeria. It has gone into the consideration stage. I understand my colleagues in the Senate have passed theirs and, once we finish our budget, we will also pass our own. Then we will go to conference to harmonise our differences and send it to Mr President for his assent. The second one is universal coverage. Every Nigerian, irrespective of who you are, should be covered. In effect, one is covered in a case that there is mishap in your health. The Federal government is required through the NHIS to register every Nigeria and subsidised what they pay to get health services. The existing law now doesn’t provide for that; it only make the NHIS a player instead of being a regulator. So, I sponsored a bill called National Health Insurance Commission, NHIC. NHIS is a scheme itself and shouldn’t be an organisation, so we have embodied that scheme into NHIC and the bill has been passed in the House of Rep and we have committed it to Senate for concurrence. The Senate have done their public hearing and have considered it, after the budget we will meet at conference to agree on differences that we may have in the provisions that is in the bill. These are the foundation that we have done to ensure that healthcare services are provided. In terms of physical infrastructure, I have 42 wards in my federal constituency and there is no ward that does not have one thing or the other that has been done to them either by way of solar, grid extension of electricity, comprehensive health centre. As a matter of fact, at the moment, there is one of the biggest cottage hospitals under primary health care that’s being built in my federal constituency. The project is almost gulping N1.2billion. It’s the first time in the history and I believe that when it is completed the presence of Mr President and my governor will be required to see that something could happen in this place and that the government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is working. Also, we have had town halls built across the 42 wards, empowered youths and women who are into petty trading. Most importantly, what has been causing crisis in the society that has led to the death of some people is the issue of employment. My constituency has been so employed in different agencies, not only in the health sector. I have also gone beyond my constituency in the distribution of the dividend of democracy. I did that because I believe that is not proper to be selfish. It’s good to look at the generality of the people. In my distributing things that come to the state I work hand in hand with my colleagues from Delta State; we have 10 Rep members and three Senators. The ten Rep members myself included, each time we are doing budget I work with them and ask them what they want for the federal constituencies and I have successively done that for almost seven years. You can imagine what it is in Delta State in terms of infrastructure.

     

    Do you think you have what it takes to get the ticket judging by your own achievements?

    In summary the answer is yes. Why do I say yes? This is my seven years; I have never had any tribunal case as an elected person. That goes to say that my people have totally and always supported me and believe in my representation. Firstly, I have fought for the cause of Nigerians. I led a team that investigated the power sector and tried to unearth the rot in the power sector and in effect we found out that out of the 16billion dollars that was earmarked for that project, 13.28billion dollar were mismanaged and I reported it. However they have done it, history will judge all of us. What is important is that I have done my bidden to ensure that Nigerians are given electricity and today I have been my colleagues conduct. That is why power has been privatised and it is embedded in my recommendation that there is need to create an atmosphere that will yield profit. In 2007, when I came onboard all the power institution were put together. The first project that I had opportunity to do in 2008 I created 11 distributions, seven generation and one transmission. Why did I do that? I did it because I felt that since EPSR act of 2005 had already establish that there should be an entity so call a generating company or a distribution company so I didn’t see why PHCN should be called a coordinating agency; that was why in my opinion when I was doing the budget I created Shiroro, Egbin, Kanji, Omotosho, all of them in sub-heads in appropriation. Then, I created Ikeja, Eko, Benign, Jos and all the eleven distribution networks. It was from my tenure we brought about discipline in terms of appropriating money to those agencies and that led to the Federal government privatising the sector so that we don’t lose funds. This because we look at it and ask how we can be losing so much without 1killowatt be connected to the national grid. And when we look at the level of sabotage it was mind bogging. If I had done that for Nigerians and have also created seven sub stations in my local governments within four years not even the seven years, it’s a challenge to anybody that come to take over my seat. I believe from all these I have done in the process of representing my federal constituency qualify me in being nominated as candidate of PDP for the governorship position in my state. What PDP stands for is performance. If you talk about rule driven, I’m a rule man. I do not disregard the rule of this nation nor the party. As for patriotism, I have participated in a probe and have brought two bills. When the music and entertainment world had issues with copyright I was the one who moved the motion because I believe in fair play. I made clear to copyright commission that they have no business not to register them. Intellectual property is not something you work and somebody takes and we succeeded in that. I have had cause also to do other bills that will make life meaningful to Nigerians which is what PDP stand for. I understand Delta, so the knowledge and ethno driven is there. In effect, I’m not coming on ethnic issue; I’m coming for the unity of Delta State. I have represented my constituency well and if given opportunity I believe I will do same for the state. Let me tell you for the first time, a gubernatorial aspirant in the history of PDP to reach out to wards, I’m the aspirant. As we talk the 268 wards in Delta State we have touched them. I did that because I believe that power belongs to the people and they should have that power. I don’t believe in one ruling a people and not asking them what they want. The leader needs to know what the led want. What I want to enthrone is genuineness, transparency and I will fight corruption. I have done it before. None of my commissioner will showcase wealth in my cabinet; government officials should live within the confine of their salaries. We are the new generation and I believe that it is doable, it’s in our hands and I believe in God that we serve we are unstoppable.

     

  • ‘Aregbesola deserves second term’

    ‘Aregbesola deserves second term’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Kola Okesanjo has urged the people of Osun State to rally support for Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9 election.

    In a statement Lagos the politician said that the governor deserved a second term because of the impressive performance of the governor in office.

    Okesanjo stressed the need for continuity to enable the governor to complete his laudable projects that Aregbesola had surpassed him predecessors both in policy and development, adding that his re-election would consolidate the rapid transformation of socio-economic development of the state.

    He added: “The challenge before the people of Osun State in the forthcoming election is more of pragmatism, which should clearly inform them on how best to use their votes to further enhance development collective well being. They should be forward-looking indeed which should therefore influence their political decisions. And in a realistic sense, such appreciation of the issues should naturally guide their thoughts to vote en-mass for the re-election of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who has shown, without doubt that a good and able leadership can really alter the course of history in such significant ways through effective performance in office effectively, the election should be about issues that can improve on the socio-economic development of Osun State rather than those primordial sentiments bothering on religion or such mundane orchestrations by the opposition in the state.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Fed Govt has marginalised Borno’

    ‘Fed Govt has marginalised Borno’

    Borno StateAll Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mohammed Bukar has decried the lack of federal projects in the state.

    Bukar lamented that the insurgency has affected the infrastrutural development, adding that federal institutions in the state are now limited to the teaching hospital, the University of Maiduguri and the military formation.

    He called on the Federal government to provide security and social amenties for the people to alleviate their suffering.

    Bukar, who is eyeing a seat in the House of Representatives, said that the indigenes looked forward to another era of peace and transquility. He said the pains of terrorism are visible the Maiduguri metropolitan Constituency.

    Bukar added: “Most of us have been on ground, since the inception of this insurgency. We cry and laugh with the people. We share what we have with them and still ensure that we are ready pillars for them to lean on. However, it is worrisome that most of the grassroots people are not being carried along by the members of the House now. I am worried at the acute poverty affecting our people.

    “The Central Bank of Nigeria recently classified Borno as an extremely poor state with a low development index. This is disturbing, in spite of the fact that we have members in the National Assembly with so much instruments at their disposal to alleviate poverty by empowering these suffering people.

    “These people in the House promised heaven and earth. Yet, they have not been able to fulfill most of their promises”

    Bukar said that he would abandon his job at the First City Monument Bank to answer the people call to duty, assuring that he would articulate their interest, if elected as a legislator.

    He supported the suggestion by the Northeast governors that the state of emergency should end so that the electoral commission can conduct elections in the zone next year.

    The politician submitted that elections can hold in the zone, if the commission is ready for the exercise.

    He said that, if Yobe State could conduct council polls during the emergency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can successfully conduct the general election in the area.

    Bukar added: “What the Federal Government needs to do is to intensify its efforts to make sure that the insurgents are completely eliminated from the region so that normal life can resume.

    “I do not believe that elections cannot hold because of insurgency. After all, Yobe did it successfully and their democratic structures are in place now.”

     

     

  • 2015: Zoning battle in Rivers

    2015: Zoning battle in Rivers

    The upland/riverine dichotomy is a very strong factor in the politics of Rivers State. In terms of population, the uplanders are more than the riverine people. Thus, the riverine people fear that the upland politicians would always produce the governor at the expense of the equally qualified and competent persons from the riverine communities.

    The riverine people are clamouring for power shift. They want a politician from the area to succeed Governor Rotimi Amaechi in 2015 in the spirit of fairnes, justice and equity.

    Since 1999, the three governors: Dr. Peter Odili, Sir Celestine Omehia and Amaechi, who was the Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly for eight years (1999 to 2007), are from the upland part. Thus, the area would have enjoyed the slot for 16 years by 2015.

    Amaechi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wants to hand over to an anointed successor in 2015. But, he has not publicly indicated his preference for either the upland or riverine person.

    The leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially President Goodluck Jonathan, an indigene of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and his wife Dame Patience, who hails from Okrika, the headquarters of Okrika LGA of Rivers State, want the party to produce the next governor.

    President Jonathan is seeking re-election in 2015 and Rivers State is strategic to his ambition, in view of the over two million registered voters in the state. Thus, the Niger Delta state is likely to become a battleground.

    The riverine (Ijaw) people, under the umbrella of the Eastern Delta People’s Association (EDPA), are insisting on producing the governor, A leader of the group, Lawrence Jumbo, declared that: “On upland/riverine dichotomy we stand.”

    The Eastern Delta people inhabit 10 local governments. They are Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, Ogu-Bolo, Port Harcourt (South), Asari-Toru, Degema, Akuku-Toru and Abua-Odual.

    A chieftain of the PDP, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, admonished Mrs. Jonathan to ensure that a riverine person succeeds Amaechi.

    Inko-Tariah, a Kalabari, who is also the President of the socio-political group, the Rivers Liberation Alliance, said that power shift would give the zone, sense of belonging and compensate them for their earlier support for the upland people.

    He said: “We want the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to be solidly behind a riverine person as the next governor of Rivers State to ensure equity, justice and fairness.

    “Rivers is a peculiar state. Emphasis must be placed on upland/riverine dichotomy in 2015. We are talking of God-made, not man-made dichotomy. Governor Amaechi’s successor must be a riverine person. The best candidate can be found in any of the riverine communities.

    “If an uplander is forced on Rivers people, the political haemorrhage would occasion the death of the PDP. It could lead to a serious crisis, if we are not circumspect. The PDP, APC or Labour Party should allow a riverine governor in Rivers State in 2015. We are pleading today. Tomorrow, we may no longer do so.

    “The Presidency and the national leadership of the PDP should ensure that the right thing is done in Rivers State, ahead of 2015. President Jonathan is in a fix because of his ambition. A leader should be able to say what is right or wrong.

    “Nobody should be desperate. Violence is a function of desperation. The Rivers State’s political engine is overheated. The peace of the state is being constantly threatened. Any slight error on the part of the gladiators would consume the state. It is not a battle of ideology, but of ego.”

    Inko-Tariah also stated that he envisaged crisis in Rivers State ahead of the 2015 elections, if the problem of the upland/riverine dichotomy was not resolved, stressing that it would take the grace of God to stave it off and that anybody could be the victim.

    He warned that if an uplander emerges as the next governor, the riverine people would agitate for the creation of a new state.

    The President of Rivers Liberation Alliance admitted that it was the constitutional right of all qualified Rivers people to vie for the governorship in 2015, but it would only be fair to allow a riverine person to be the next occupant of the Brick House (Government House), Port Harcourt.

    The governorship aspirants are Nyesome Wike, Magnus Abe George Sekibo and Dakuku Peterside.

    Wike, an Ikwerre from Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor Council, is a two-term Chairman of the council; former Chief of Staff, and Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011, before he was appointed as a minister of State for Education. He is also the grand patron of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI).

    The President’s wife is now backing the minister, who is at the forefront of the re-election campaign for her husband, in spite of the ban by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The First Lady was earlier pushing for the candidature of Senator George Thompson Sekibo, who represents Rivers East District. But, suddenly she changed her mind.

    Sekibo, who hails from Ogu, the headquarters of Ogu/Bolo local government, also the hometown of the self-acclaimed Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, is banking on Dame Jonathan’s support, since Okrika and Ogu people speak the same language.

    Wike and Amaechi from Ubima in Ikwerre local government, are both Ikwerre. Wike is from Ikwerre South, while the NGF chairman is from Ikwerre North.

    Many politicians, have been endorsed the minister as the PDP’s governorship.

    The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), however, dismissed the claim by the few “self-serving” Ogoni politicians that Wike had been endorsed as a governorship candidate.

    MOSOP, through its President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, called on all Ogoni people and the members of the public to discountenance the spurious, deceitful and misleading claim, declaring that Ogoni had not endorsed any politician. He said that the next governor would come from any of the four Ogoni LGAs of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme – which had not produced the governor since the creation of the state on May 27, 1967.

    The Kalabari people from Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema Councils also indicating that, since Rivers was created nobody from the area has emerged as governor.

    A PDP chieftain from Etche Prince Emma Anyanwu, claimed that the people of Etche ethnic nationality, in Etche and Omuma Councils had endorsed Wike as Amaechi’s successor on the platform of the PDP.

    Anyanwu stressed that he was endorsed because of his detribalised nature, capacity and integrity.

    The Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Okey Amadi, an Etche indigene, however, dismissed the purported endorsement saying that majority of Etche people belong to the APC.

    Amadi insisted that a God-fearing person, with the interest of Rivers people at heart, would succeed Amaechi in 2015.

    Some of the founding fathers of the PDP in Rivers State and members of the Rivers PDP Third Force Movement (RPTFM) declared that the supervising Minister of Educationwould not be Rivers governor in 2015.

    They said that, to ensure equity, justice and fairness, somebody from another ethnic group or senatorial district should succeed Amaechi.

    PDP leaders in Rivers State: Chiefs Lolo Ibineye and Anab Sara-Igbe, from Kalabari, Elemchukwu Ogbowu from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA in Orashi Region have asked Wike to forget his 2015 ambition.

    The PDP chieftains maintained that it would be difficult for another Ikwerre person to succeed Amaechi. In their opinion, a Kalabari should be the next governor and he should be succeeded by an Ogoni.

    They admonished President Jonathan and other leaders of the PDP to call Wike to order, addiing that imposing him as the standard bearer of the party would lead to the failure of the PDP.

    Rivers PDP’s spokesman, Jerry Needam, claimed that Ibineye and Sara-Igbe were not card-carrying members of the party, which they denied. But, the Secretary of the PDP, Ibibia Walter, has announced the suspension of Ogbowu for anti-party activities.

    The Rivers PDP Third Force Movement, through its General Secretary, Oprite Amachree, however, accused Wike of taking over the PDP, through his GDI.

    The group said: “The PDP in Rivers State no longer exists because Wike’s GDI has taken over the machinery and functions of the party. As a result , Rivers PDP continues to go down whileWike’s political empire is increasing.

    “Wike is using the name of President Goodluck Jonathan to build a political empire for himself. PDP should not allow Wike to field himself as the governorship candidate of the party for the 2015 election, because it would amount to grave injustice to the people of Rivers State, with plurality of ethnic nationalities.

    “If the PDP insists on fielding Wike as its standard bearer in Rivers State in 2015, it would lose abysmally. Wike must be sacked so that the source of power which he uses to build his political empire at the expense of the Rivers PDP will be cut off.

    “Rivers PDP must be restructured to give other stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to the development of the party. We also wish to state that Wike’s PDP State Executive in Rivers State, led by Felix Obuah, is grossly incompetent.”

  • ‘APC already looking beyond this election’

    ‘APC already looking beyond this election’

    Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Publicity and Media Mr. Segun Dipe spoke with Sulaiman Salawudeen on the chances of the party at the governorship poll.

    The Ekiti State governorship election is slated for June 21.

    What are the party’s chances?

    We in the All Progressives Congress (APC) don’t see it as ‘chances, but a very good opportunity to retain power in Ekiti State. We know we have done everything we need to do to n is to rule Ekiti for unbroken 10, even 15 terms. We have done the registration of our members across the nation. In Ekiti alone, we have no less than 300,000 membership. This large turnout of people in Ekiti State showed the enthusiasm with which people have accepted the APC and the government of the day led by Dr. John Kayode Fayemi. We are prepared and even if they want to conduct the election today, we will always go there and sweep every part of the state.

    You speak with unusual confidence?

    I like what you have said. I speak with confidence, but I am not boastful. Confidence builds up from assured preparations. What should we do as a party that we have left undone? We don’t just say we are planning, we do the planning for every one to see and feel. Our preparation started from having a governorship candidate who, as the sitting Governor, has done so commendably well that praises and commendations come tumbling down on him from those who matter not only in Nigeria but across the world. The best preparation we have made for the party is the excellent performance of Governor Kayode Fayemi himself. Let me add that he is a promise keeper; he made promises and he had kept all of them. He has fulfilled all that he said he would do and for that we are very confident of the support of the people of the state.

    The performance of Dr. Kayode Fayemi is a good foundation for us to build on. Secondly, we also have APC which is the happening party in Nigeria today. Let me repeat myself somehow, when you are at the top, you become the topic and as you can see, APC is the topic in Nigeria today. The fear of APC is the beginning of wisdom.

    APC is the party to beat and it is a party you cannot beat. So, we are there to serve the people well. People want to enjoy the dividend of democracy the way they are doing now. We started by identifying the development needs of the people. In the first four years, we made developmental landmarks, now we are giving them the prospects and they want to continue to enjoy it. So, we are confident about our performance which will give us the stake, come June 21, 2014.

    The APC has alleged that President Jonathan is planning to use federal might in the coming election in Ekiti. Please throw more light on that?

    We have all the evidences to prove that case and so it is not an allegation. The President the other day accused some governors of abusing him, rather than focussing on the development of their states. But we know that it is the President who has been shortchanging the states. It was lately discovered that the federal government has been underpaying Ekiti to the tune of N500 million every month for the past six months. This is a policy of deliberate plans to stiffle enemy states with the ultimate scheme to underdevelop them, using the evil federal might. How do you develop when you are impoverished of the very tool — capital — with which to develop. Remember also that the Ekiti State Chairman of their party, the PDP, has said there is nothing wrong in using federal might in Ekiti. This is why they have been staying in Abuja. If they want to sneeze, Abuja; if they want to sleep, Abuja; if they want to eat, Abuja. Anything, everything they want to do, Abuja. For the past two months, all those who call themselves aspirants have moved their very homes to Abuja. They so much believe in federal might. They think they can use force to enforce error in Ekiti in the coming election. But we in APC believe in the might of the people and the ultimate might of God. We are set to win the June 21 election and no robber, however stubborn and armed would be able to reverse the will of the people this time around.

    But the opposition has criticised Fayemi for faking performance?

    If by faking, we can drive on good roads today and the roads are certified for having the quality to last a minimum of 10 years; if by faking we have renovated all 18 secondary and one tertiary health institution in the state today; if by faking we have sustained the payment of N5,000 monthly lifeline to 25,000 elderly individuals for two years; if by faking we have reconstructed and renovated all the 183 secondary schools across the 16 councils of the state; and many more compelling initiatives, including health, agriculture, tourism, job creation, and many more, then faking has indeed become a commendable and enobling act. With the faking, Fayemi has received the 2012 Leadership Governor of the Year and a one-time Justice of the World Court recently honoured him with the 2012 Senior Citizens Care Foundation Excellence Award. If these recognitions came with faking, let us just rally round and support Fayemi to continue to fake. I am sure by the time the Governor concludes his second four-year term, the so-called opposition would join the band to celebrate the achiever that he (Fayemi) is.

    What are your fears as the election approaches?

    Yes, we have fears regarding the unnecessary involvement of Abuja in the election. We notice the tendency to see the Ekiti election as an extension of next year presidential election. We are wary of the so-called federal might and we have been saying that we should be allowed to do our thing in Ekiti. There shouldn’t be any intrusion that can create resistance from the people. That is the only fear that we have. If it is the people going to the poll to cast their votes without any violence, we don’t have fears about that. If it is about votes and votes counting, we always say that election is not just about voting, it is about counting of the votes. If the votes are properly counted and properly announced, we don’t have fears about that. But, if there is intrusion of the ‘federal might’ and they are trying to create artificial crisis, we are concerned about that. So, we are warning that they should not turn Ekiti into a centre of violence. They should allow Ekiti people to vote for their own candidate.

    But, the opposition has accused the APC of foisting violence in the state?

    As you have rightly put it, they are accusations and so they would remain. Other parties would look for loopholes, gaps and gapes to criticise us. We are very conscious of that. We are the topic in terms of performance. Everybody is seeing and everybody is hearing about our performance. We are not leaving any stone unturned. The job of governance is going on. We are not politicising governance. We are governing well in Ekiti and luck is shining on us because the other political parties are not organised. Well, I would say they are entitled to their opinion. I should say it is the opposition that is behind the violence in the state. We know particularly that Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, who defected from our party, has been trying to create crisis in the state. He has been trying to create artificial crisis in the state, so that he can latch on that. We assure the people of the state that Ekiti would continue to enjoy dividend of democracy under the administration of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi (JKF).

    What do you mean when you say the opposition is not organised?

    They are not only disorganised, they are upside down. They don’t seem to know their right from left and people don’t see them as serious also. Do your findings and you will know what I am saying. They just cannot get their acts together at all. So, we are working and we are conscious of what we are doing.

    What is your advice to the people?

    My strong advice is that our members should always conduct themselves peacefully. We should always allow peace to reign. We should always look up to the government of the day as a performing government. We should always trust the government. If it says it is going to do anything, we should always believe that it is going to do it. We should continue to enjoy the dividend of democracy. We should not get derailed. We should not go and try anything that we have not tested. We have tested APC and we have seen what APC is doing. We should not go about fighting ourselves; we are all Ekiti people who are one from Ilejemeje to Ado Ekiti and to the far corners of the state. We are all homogenous people of Ekiti, we should not allow ourselves to be treated as thugs by anybody. We should allow APC to lead us well and continue to develop the state. The sky is our footstool; Ekiti will always come up to the top and rise to the challenges. We should allow the government of the day to continue because it fulfils its promises to the people.

    But, in some quarters, people are still complaining about the APC?

    We have a contract with the people that we would do A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H and we have done all that. What would they complain about? We are all human beings and we know that we cannot have it all. Even a wife in a house complains even after the husband might have fulfilled his promises. Every human being is an Oliver Twist. We know the people. Having seen a performing government and governor, they would always put in more requests. But we are equal to the task and having fulfilled the eight-point agenda, the next thing is for us to move on and set another bar for ourselves and make sure we cross the hurdle. Where the people raised their concerns, let them build their hopes on a performing party. After all, we have had political parties in the past that people cannot even look forward to doing anything. So if they have APC that gives them things to enjoy, it is normal for them to say that they want more and we are ready to do more for them.

  • ‘PDP has what it takes to win’

    ‘PDP has what it takes to win’

    In this interview, Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary Pastor Kola Oluwawole speaks with Sulaiman Salawudeen on the party’s preparation for the election.

    How far have you gone with preparations for the election?

    Our preparations are in stages. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is displaying the voters list at the moment, for people to ensure that their names are in the list. They have started issuing permanent voters’ card. The second is the selection of the party’s candidate for the election. We are through with the primaries. We are reaching out to our members, we are sensitising them, and we are keeping within the ambits of the law. We are following the time-table set by the INEC and we are following guidelines. Preparations are in high gear and we are very hopeful because this is an opportunity for us to win the election fair and square and we are leaving no stone unturned as we prepare. Records show that numerically, the PDP is stronger than other parties.

    Howe can the PDP to unseat the APC in Ekiti?

    We are fully prepared to dislodge Fayemi and his party, the APC come June 21. Our people have seen that PDP is the only party with the solution to their problems. APC is just pretending. They go around doing asphalt overlays on the roads the PDPconstructed and they call that road construction. Majority of the people are tired of the Fayemi Administration and they are ready to dislodge him with the coming election.

    What are you offering the people as an alternative?

    Our stand is on better life for all. Ours is not a pretender party. We understand the plight of the people and we are ready to offer it. Simple. If the election is truly one man one vote, we would defeat the uncaring government in Ekiti and institute a regime of care in the state, come June 21.

    What makes you think the PDP would win the election?

    PDP has what it takes to win the election. The party has a solid structure at the grassroots. Go to every local government, in every ward and in every unit in Ekiti State, PDP has structure and nobody can take that away from us. I challenge any other party that says its structure is better than that of the PDP.

    What are your chances of winning this election?

    Given public perception of my party by the people of Ekiti State, we have won the election already. It is not a matter of thinking whether we have chances of winning. We are not underrating any party also. Labour Party, Accord or APC. All the parties are strong. I don’t consider any party weak and some other strong. Some other parties may still come. We will soon know who is who.

    The South Senatorial District is pushing for power shift, based on zoning. Don’t you think they have a legitimate claim?

    I don’t know about the legitimacy of zoning. The party’s focus is on internal democracy. Every son and daughter of Ekiti has the right to contest the governorship, provided he or she has the requisite qualification to contest. It is politics for candidates to seek advantages and argue in ways that would favour them. But the party’s position remains supreme.

    APC has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan is interested in Ekiti and he is prepared to do anything to win Ekiti. What’s your comment on this?

    Well I don’t know of such an allegation. APC is already afraid of defeat. They can concoct any allegation. They are free to do that. Mr. president is the president of the whole of Nigeria. It is not a president of PDP alone. His entire interest is the country and he would not do anything that would compromise that fact. It is the responsibility of INEC to ensure free and fair elections.

    I am telling you nobody is leaving PDP for any other party in Ekiti. Those you think are leaving the party have never really been members if our party. They came from somewhere and just returned where they came.

    APC has said that the membership strength of its party is 300,000, a figure arrived at after the membership registration drive. What is the strength of the PDP?

    PDP has always been the most numerically strong party. We won’t deceive people through any fake membership drive. We are solidly on ground in all the electoral wards of the state. On the Election Day, APC’s 300,000 or what do you say would not have much to avail them.