The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

Akinlade, LP plot against Amosun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s impressive performance in office so far not withstanding, a few elements in his party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), are poised to challenge him come 2015, reports Remi Adelowo

Time was 10pm and the venue of the secret meeting was Hotel De Island on Victoria Island, Lagos, owned by the major financier of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Buruji Kashamu.

Present were the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dan Nwanyanwu; an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member in the House of Representatives from Ogun West, Abiodun Akinlade and some members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, led by Hon. Adijat Oladipo.

Pleasantries and backslapping over, Nwanyanwu, who had been a guest at the hotel 24hours earlier, set the ball rolling by thanking Akinlade and the others present for making the meeting a reality after suffering several postponements.

And like a skilled salesman marketing his product to a wary audience, he told his guests about the benefits derivable in their joining LP well on time to challenge the Ibikunle Amosun-led government in the 2015 general elections.

The LP chairman then referred to his party’s victory in the 2012 Ondo State governorship election, adding that with the logistics support to be provided by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the party was prepared to spread its tentacles to other states in the South West starting with Ekiti and Osun, two states where governorship elections will hold next year.

On a final note, Nwanyanwu assured that the LP 2015 governorship ticket would be handed to Akinlade on a platter of gold if he defects to the party from the ACN with his supporters. The meeting ended at a few minutes to 12noon.

Responding, Akinlade was alleged to have promised that by the end of this year, he will move to LP and thereafter formally signify his interest to challenge Amosun for the Ogun State number one seat in the 2015 General Elections.

A source at the meeting disclosed to The Nation that the federal lawmaker also accused Amosun of sundry offences, ranging from his (Akinlade) and others’ alleged marginalisation in ACN and non-fulfillment of certain promises he claimed were made to him by the party’s leaders before he agreed to defect to the party from the PDP before the 2011 general elections.

He rounded off by assuring Nwanyanwu of his readiness to move to LP, saying he is moving to the party with thousands of his supporters scattered across the three senatorial zones in the state.

One after the other, members of his entourage took turns to accuse Amosun of alleged dictatorial style, which they claimed may put their political future in jeopardy.

In the last few months, speculations have been rife within the Ogun State political circles that Akinlade, a two-term member of the National Assembly has perfected preparations to leave ACN.

Though the young politician has not spoken publicly about his alleged plan, sources close to him told The Nation that several meetings have been held in Lagos, Abeokuta and Abuja in the last one year between Akinlade and some disgruntled members of the ACN and PDP to perfect the plot.

How far can he go?

Though in his mid-40’s, Akinlade cannot be said to be a novice in politics. A two-term member of the Ogun State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, the Yewa-born politician was elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 and currently serving his second term.

But the big question is: can he dislodge the incumbent governor whose impressive performance in the last two years has been acknowledged even by his critics?

A close political associate of Akinlade in his response to this poser said, “The general consensus among politicians in Ogun State is that Amosun will be hard to beat in a free and fair electoral contest. But you know politicians always are incurable optimists. Akinlade is no exception.”

According to another source, the political configuration in the state does not favour Akinlade.

Perhaps banking on the agitation of many indigenes of Ogun West that the zone should produce the next governor for the first time in the spirit of equity and fairness, however, the odds against the zone are quite enormous, chief of which is that it consists of only five local governments as against six for Ogun Central and nine for Ogun East respectively.

The Nation gathered that Akinlade is considering picking a running mate from Ogun East. Already, a former governor of the state in the Third Republic, Chief Rafiu Ogunleye, an Ijebu from Ogun East, has been tentatively pencilled down as the Director General of Akinlade’s campaign organisation.

LP ticket up for contention

Despite assurances by LP top shots that the party’s governorship ticket is Akinlade’s for the asking, strong indications have emerged that some politicians within and outside the party may kick against this plan.

The party’s governorship candidate in the 2011 elections, Chief Jide Awosedo, The Nation gathered, is believed to have indicated interest to re-contest in 2015.

A source disclosed that the property magnate is alleged to have told confidants that he should be credited for building the party in the state from the scratch, a development that has made it attractive for many politicians in the state.

The Gbenga Daniel, Sarafa Ishola’s connection

Also having an eye on the LP ticket is the political camp of former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. A source said, “Daniel has one leg in LP, one in PDP and another in Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). With the crisis in PDP still unresolved, the former governor is working on other options in order to stay relevant.”

The former governor, it was gathered, may have realised that he would have little or no say in who emerges as the PDP candidate in 2015 since the party is firmly controlled by the Buruji Kashamu group, known not to be on good terms with the former governor.

Daniel’s preferred candidate for the governorship is allegedly the former Secretary to the Ogun State Government during his first tenure, Chief Sarafa Ishola. The former governor and Ishola had sometime in 2009 parted ways until they reconciled about a year ago.

At the peak of their disagreement, Daniel had allegedly influenced the removal of Ishola as the Minister of Steel Development during the administration of late Umaru Yar’Adua.

The thinking in Daniel’s camp is that with Ishola coming from Ogun Central (Egba), he stands a good chance to give the incumbent governor (also from Egba) a run for his money when the chips are down.

With different permutations coming up every passing minute, it remains to be seen how Akinlade and Ishola can upstage Amosun, who is considered as the candidate to beat in 2015S

May 12, 2013
Has Agboola stepped down for Akala?

For sometime now, the Senator representing Oyo North, Hosea Agboola,has not hidden his desire to retain his seat in 2015, telling anyone who cares to listen that he will not step down for a former governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, who has also indicated interest in the seat. Unconfirmed reports, however, have it that Agboola is being pressured to step down for Akala, claiming that as compensation, the lawmaker would be nominated as the running mate to whoever emerges as the PDP governorship candidate in 2015.

It is not clear yet if Agboola has agreed to the offer.

May 12, 2013
Vintage Ekweremadu at 51

If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility and the third is humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are meaningless” – St. Augustine.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2002 (Independence Day), I was involved in a festive rove as it is usual with two of my friends who visited from Owerri, Imo State. Our stop was at Quarter 12, Independence Layout, Enugu, the official abode of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, then Secretary to Enugu State Government under Dr. Chimaroke Ogbonnia Nnamani, the Executive Governor. The house is the first apartment as one veers off Bisalla Road towards Enugu State Government House.

It was past noon and he was already on the dinning with other numerous guests as his house is usually a Mecca of sort in periods such as this. The reason is not unconnected with the amiable wife’s pathological passion for lavishing guests of her husband with sumptuous entertainment, even ordinarily. Soon after our arrival he ordered us straight to the dinning table to “help yourselves”. None of my friends knew him ab-initio even when one of them was sitting next to him, eating.

When we finished eating and moved into wining, my friend that was sitting next to him whispered to me: “It’s like the host (Ekweremadu) is not in the house.” I paused, smiled and replied, “He is the man on your left”. His glass cup almost dropped from his hand as he adjusted himself, informed the other friend and continued his drinking rather in disbelief.

Ekweremadu was elected into the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly in the 2003 General Election to represent the Enugu-West Senatorial District as a continuation of his tremendous performance, having served both as Chief of Staff to Enugu State Governor and Secretary to the State Government, respectively.

Elected into the senate, he was soon confronted with myriad of development challenges that faced the senatorial district.

For example, I recall that a constituent, soon after the election, sent a text message to the senator, drawing his attention to the deplorable and impassable state of the old Enugu – Port Harcourt road that passes through Enugu South, Nkanu West, Aninri and Awgu Local Governments in Enugu through Umunnochi in Abia State.

That concerned constituent was of the opinion that Senator Ekweremadu is merely fulfilling his obligation saying helplessly that as usual his effort will be in futility. But against his wildest expectation, the next SMS message that hit his handset was from the distinguished Senator. He informed the constituent that the moment a dual carriageway passes through any area with old federal road, the maintenance of the later will automatically return to the State(s) it passes through. This constituent could not believe his Senator could be humble enough to reply him.

Even as I was on my study putting this piece together, the Distinguished Senator did his usual by calling from an Airport in Singapore on his arrival from Seoul, South Korea to ask as usual, “Kedu maka ndi be gi, kedu ka obodo di” (How is your family, How is the town).

That is His Excellency, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President of the Nigerian Senate, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, et al for you. Testimonies abound from his constituents, who have encountered the uncommon humility of this accomplished, brilliant, diligent, dutiful and iconic parliamentarian.

If he doesn’t pick your call, it might be for a strong genuine cause and one of his personal aides will do so and excuse his inability and to underscore his sincerity, the distinguished Senator will call back as soon as he is disposed to do so, notwithstanding who is concerned. His social and political stature implies that he will be inundated with both valuable and distracting calls and short message services (SMS) from high and low but he is never discouraged from “attempting all” even if it is by a few words like thanks. But the hard truth remains that he must reply your SMS.

The humility that has characterised the formal and informal dispositions of Ekweremadu is eccentrically imbued. What really obtains among our high profile political office holders in our clime, and the small ones at that, is that they isolate themselves from their constituents and ultimately become unreachable. Even councillors will find it difficult to pick your call, let alone call you, except there is absolute need to do so and that is when they run into crisis or need you for a second term. Ekweremadu is grossly on the other side of this divide as his own brand of humility is rather congenital.

The aforementioned postulation of St. Augustine connotes not only that humility begets other human traits but also manifestly multifaceted. The humility of this political connoisseur transcends what has been narrated so far.

He is never an island when it comes to dealing with issues that concern a people. He abhors imposition of idea of any form by anybody. A strong believer in open dialogue in handling any challenge, he will prefer ideas to come from the bottom and will yield to it if it is canvassed with superior argument. All projects are thrown to delegations to initiate a framework which are discussed with him as often as it is possible until such a project is accomplished. And procrastinating over show of appreciation in the face of even minute success over a project is not part of his life. He will commend and appreciate to a baffling state and severally too, sometimes to a point of suffocation.

This Distinguished Senator will not pretend about what he cannot do for you or equivocate when he can. He does not give a false hope. If your matter has merit, you will know, if otherwise, you will also be informed. If you are not sure of what you want to say about the next person, better keep it to yourself because he must call that person before you for substantiation or otherwise.

Joining issues with anybody over anything that does not add value to his parliamentary responsibility or service to the people does not make sense. He will treat such issues with dignified silence. He is at his best when an issue is within the confines of the numerous developmental challenges of his primary constituency, Enugu State and Nigeria at large. It is only in a matter like that that you can experience his listening propensity even to the minutest detail.

Your Excellency Sir, at this milestone of your golden jubilee plus one, you have really come a long way in making things happen through your boundless benefaction, yet you still have a long journey ahead. Your wealth of experience dexterity, candour and panache has not been imbibed enough by millions of us who not only depend on you but see you as a model to copy.

You have unprecedentedly impacted positively on the life of all strata of people from our constituency and even beyond; families, communities, traditional institutions, youths, women, widows, less privileged, undergraduates and numerous other groups through your numerous poverty reduction strategies, women and youth empowerment initiatives, schools quiz competitions, Enugu West Zonal football competitions, regular widows empowerment schemes, annual Christmas largesse to families, women microcredit schemes, employment opportunities to our numerous school leavers, coming to the rescue of ever growing needies, undergraduate bursary/scholarship to mention but a few.

At 51, we celebrate your wonderful representation, unprecedented developmental initiatives, administrative prowess, visionary inspiration, unparalleled philanthropy, exemplary and purposeful leadership, inestimable benevolence, excellence, doggedness, perseverance and patriotism.

Persons like you are rare gift of God to a lucky generation and you are that gift of our own lucky generation. As a result of your uncommon humility not only to humanity but to God Almighty, His abundant grace has been your portion and will be multiplied severally.

The much we can do in reciprocation is to continue to pray fervently to the Almighty to give you many more years in health to continue your good work to mankind. Happy birthday Ikeoha!

– Hon. Orji is the Special Assistant to the Deputy President of the Senate (Admin)

May 12, 2013
Ogun 2015: Opposition in disarray as Amosun consolidates

Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports the weakened state of the leading opposition parties in Ogun State.

Politics in Ogun State usually come with a lot of drama and intrigues, especially between the ruling party on one hand and the various opposition parties on the other. At times, the government is kept panting by a coalition or more of political and interest groups such that whenever the drums of electioneering start to beat, the state goes into a frenzy of some sort.

Perhaps the above submission explains why observers of the politics of the state are now saying the unusual is the case as the 2015 general election in the state draws nearer. They say while the ruling party continues to take giant political strides on a daily basis, the opposition appears to sink more and more into disarray.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), observers said, are leaving nobody in doubt about their readiness to remain in power beyond the 2015 gubernatorial elections. This readiness is exhibited in the volume of work currently going on across the state.

“If Amosun and the ACN continue to win the confidence of the people the way they are currently doing with the people-oriented project and services they are dishing out across the state, I doubt if the opposition parties will even find people to listen to them when they eventually put their act together to prosecute the next election,” Comrade Deji Degusen, Chairman of the state’s chapter of the Good Governance Coalition (GGC), said.

Degusen, who was speaking at a congress of the GGC, said it appears the opposition in Ogun State is saddled with so much infighting that it has been unable to properly engage the state government in any meaningful dialogue.

“Dialogue between the government and the opposition is healthy for democracy. Some people call it criticism but we call it dialogue. Healthy and positive criticism is more of a dialogue and it is one vital ingredient we need if our democracy must grow.

Today in Ogun State, the opposition is not engaging the government. The race towards 2015 is here and the opposition is not visible. The leading opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and the Labour Party (LP) have all diminished in visibility and these have left a lot of space for the ruling ACN to grow in visibility and acceptance,” he explained.

Aare Biodun Ajayi, former Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the state, shares Degusen’s view. According to the politician, politics is about how the people are feeling.

“There is no magic in politics. It is all about how the people feel. It is about what or who the people want. Currently, in Ogun State, the people are daily seeing Amosun’s ACN. They are daily seeing the works of his hand. These are the things that will determine where their votes will go when it is time for fresh elections.

If the opposition parties are up and doing too, then the people will have alternatives to choose from but that is not the case here now. I’m not a member of the ACN but I can tell you that not much is being done to challenge the growing popularity of the governor and his party,” he said.

The positions assumed by the observers above are not without reasons. Following ACN’s landslide victory in the council poll, held last July in the state, most of the other political parties have practically gone to sleep while the Peoples Democratic Party have been moving from one crisis to the other.

ACN won 19 chairmanship seats, out of the 20 in the state. The party also won 217 councillorship seats, while the PDP and the PPN won eight and one councillorship seats respectively.

The commission withheld the results of Imeko-Afon Local Government Council, pending the determination of a court order in respect of the poll in the area.

Also worried about the leeway a weakened opposition is giving the ruling party ahead of the 2015 general election, the PDP in Ogun West Senatorial District recently urged factions in the party to sheath their swords. It warned that should Ogun PDP continue to carry on with a divided house, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would remain in power beyond 2015.

Ogun West PDP, in a statement by party leaders in the zone, including Mr. Kunle Salako, Chief Wale Egunleti, former Forestry Commissioner, Ali Ajibode, Mr. Kunle Akinosi and Evangelist Titus Eweje, among others, urged the factions to dialogue and resolve their grievances.

It said: “We recognise dialogue as a time honoured veritable conflict resolution mechanism and urge aggrieved stakeholders to shun violence and embrace dialogue and conflict resolution procedures stipulated in the party’s constitution.”

Another faction of the same PDP had accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of working underground for Amosun’s re-election as governor in 2015. According to his accusers, Obasanjo’s game-plan is to weaken PDP for Amosun to have a smooth sail at the next election.

Kashamu Buruji, financier of one of the many factions of PDP in the state, said Obasanjo is neck-deep in the re-election strategy of Amosun of the ACN), who is his kinsman from Owu Kingdom.

Coming from within the folds of the leading opposition party in the state, these statements are further confirmation of the weakened state of the opposition in Ogun State today.

For the PPN, a subtle merger arrangement being worked out by its leaders with the Otunba Gbenga Daniel faction of the PDP may soon put an end to its very existence.

The party has been weakened with the return of many of its bigwigs to the PDP after it failed to make any serious impact during the last general election in the state when it fielded Gboyega Isiaka as its gubernatorial candidate. Isiaka is a protégée of Daniel’s.

“As part of the merger between the two parties, series of meetings have been held and concessions are being sought. We are serious politicians, so we know the PPN alone may not be able to take us to our destination. So, we are willing to merge with another party to achieve our aim,” a party source said.

The LP, which before now, was also seen as a virile opposition party in the state, has also lost its voice to a severe struggle for its soul by a band of defecting gubernatorial aspirants seeking a political platform to contest the 2015 governorship election.

“Chief Jide Awosedo is the known leader of our party in the state. He was the gubernatorial candidate and financier of the party during the last governorship election. Though we lost the election, the party was repositioned to offer constructive criticism of the governance of the state.

“But today, some troublesome politicians, who are bent on disrupting the orderliness within our party, have thrown us into crisis. They want the party’s governorship ticket at all cost even though they have no followers.

“These people claimed to have defected to Labour Party with their people but it is all lies. They have no followers. They are failed politicians looking for where to rest their tired limbs. They are currently the problems of LP in Ogun State but in no time we will find solutions to these people and move on as we prepare for the 2015 general election,” a chieftain of the party said.

Thus, with a fast rising political profile to his advantage and a scattered opposition to contend with, observers of the politics of the state say Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the ruling ACN may have only himself to beat in the race to the Government House come 2015.

May 12, 2013
Ikot-Ekpene 2015: Rumpus as Etok dares Akpabio

At the Ikot-Ekpene constituency office of Senator Aloysius Etok, there is a banner with the screaming headline, “2015: There’s No Vacancy.” The banner, like many others like it that are daily springing up across the Ikot Ekpene senatorial district of Akwa-Ibom state, highlights the ongoing political tussle between Governor Godswill Akpabio of the state and Etok, the current senator representing the district at the National Assembly.

Feelers from political circles within the senatorial district in the last few days indicate that the erstwhile political allies are poised for a showdown ahead of 2015 senatorial election in the area.

Trouble started between the duo a couple of days back when Akpabio publicly declared his intention to represent the senatorial district at the National Assembly in 2015. The governor also allegedly named Etok as the campaign manager for his senatorial ambition.

Sources say the development did not go down well with the senator who was present at the event where Akpabio made his now controversial declaration. This is perhaps because Etok is also nursing the ambition to return to the senate in 2015 for a third term as senator representing the area.

“The senator is unhappy with the governor’s ambition and he is not hiding it. Besides, the senator considers the governor’s statement that he is the campaign manager as an insult to his person and office as a sitting senator.

“He is ready to fight for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to return to the senate in 2015. He will not be intimidated by the governor and his associates, who are bent on running him out of the race ahead of 2015 so as to provide an easy access for Akpabio.

“That is why they are talking about recalling him. They are desperate but we have the support of the people. The people don’t want to be dictated to by godfathers. They want to be allowed to make their own choices, good or bad. That is our mainstay as Senator Etok prepares to take on the Governor,” an aide of the Senator told The Nation.

But it appears it is not all those involved in the politics of the area are opposed to Akpabio’s insistence on snatching the senate seat from his long-time friend and ally. To some, Etok’s refusal to surrender the seat is tantamount to betrayal and should be discouraged.

Within the senatorial district, Akpabio is believed to have played a prominent role in the election that saw Etok’s emergence as senator in 2007. In fact it is widely believed that his re-election was single handedly made possible by the governor, following an agreement between them that Etok will merely be holding the position in trust for Akpabio who will replace him in 2015.

The popular “Akpabio factor” in his 2011 victory is something the senator had acknowledged in many fora in the state.

The Akwa Ibom Diaspora Network (AIDN) is one organisation that is strongly opposed to Etok’s decision to fight Akpabio over the senatorial seat. The group said following its participation in the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District stakeholders conference, held at Ikot Ekpene Council Hall, it is ready to commence a recall process against Senator Aloysius Etok if he fails to retract his statements (and allegations) made against leaders and elders of the Senatorial district and publicly apologise to Gov. Godswill Akpabio, on or before Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

The group, in a press release sent to media houses, said the conference was called mainly to discuss developing issues between Senator Aloysius Etok and Governor Godswill Akpabio.

“We are saddened by the unnecessary, embarrassing and distracting campaign of calumny currently engaged by Senator Aloysius Etok against Gov. Godswill Akpabio, CON. Even more virulent is Senator Etok’s recent allegation that a hit squad, organised by Gov. Godswill Akpabio, is planning for his assassination. We do not believe Senator Aloysius Etok, noting that his baseless and reckless allegations constitute an attempt to blackmail Gov. Godswill Akpabio and frustrate healthy competition for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial seat.

Chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio has a constitutional right to aspire and contest for the Akwa Ibom North (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial seat,” the group said in the release which was signed by Clement Ikpatt and Uduak Ukpeh as President and Secretary General respectively.

But Senator Etok appears undeterred by the positions of groups or individuals like AIDN and Ikpatt. Quoted severally as saying that the senatorial seat for Ikot Ekpene would not be vacant in 2015 as he intends to go for a third term, the senator accused Akpabio of disrespecting him.

“Akpabio must as a matter of fact respect my office if he does not respect me like I respect his office of the governor which also covers me. So respect is reciprocal. As for the governor seeking to go to the senate, I have told him that there is no vacancy in the senate.

“He can look elsewhere. If he needs a vacancy to be filled, let him look into the state execute council vacancy and fill; but in the senate no vacancy because the people I’m representing have not told me they have finished with me. They have not told me that I’m not going to the senate again.

“However, if the governor wants to go to the senate, I should be the first person he should consult because I’m the one holding the mandate even if I was a cripple and he wants my office and my chair. If he doesn’t talk with me, I will hold the chair and the chair will be broken. The governor must know that,” Etok reportedly said, signaling his readiness to dare the governor and his allies.

“While it is obvious that Etok’s recent activities are unsettling the governments, this is not enough for anybody to say he is an even match to the governor. It is left to be seen how he intend to make good his boasts,” Mark IniAbasi Essien, Secretary of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPN) in the state, said.

Already, chairmen of the ten local government councils in the senatorial district and state legislators in the district, while describing themselves as the custodians of the mandate of Ikot-Ekpene senatorial district, have disowned Etok while announcing the withdrawal of their support for the senator in 2015.

But Etok, who briefed newsmen recently in response to the council bosses, said he is not bothered by their open support for Akpabio in the struggle over the senatorial seat.

The senator said he has been receiving text messages he believes are from agents of the governor threatening him to withdraw his statement of intention to contest in 2015 or face dire consequences after seven days.

“I want the governor to tell Nigerians and the international community if there is anything wrong in any man aspiring to contest for an office. Is that enough for the governor to instruct the council chairmen to say that if I don’t withdraw from the contest, they will recall me?

“He asked the state’s house of assembly to pass resolution that they will recall me, to the extent that members of the house of assembly came on television to insult and malign me. Not only that, the governor has now loosened his hit squad, including what I have on this phone, some text messages that if I don’t retract the statement that I will contest election, after seven days, I will see what they will do,” Etok lamented.

No doubt, the battle line for the soul of Ikot-Ekpene senatorial district in 2015 is drawn between Senator Etok and Governor Akpabio. And it is only time and the voting public of the district that can tell who the victor will be.

May 12, 2013
‘APC can’t dislodge PDP’

How would you describe politics in Kwara State after the demise of Dr Olusola Saraki?

Politics in Kwara State after the late Dr Olusala Saraki has been stable. We can attribute this to the fact that he laid a very sound foundation for politics in the state before his death. He bequeathed the state’s party politics to our great leader, which is his son, Dr Bukola Saraki. He instructed all his followers, who were in other parties to go back to PDP. I am happy to tell you that all followers of the late political icon have automatically become followers of his son and he has not failed us. Everybody is happy with him from Kwara South through Central to Kwara North. As a result, more and more people are flocking to our party. We are very grateful to God for making Dr Bukola Saraki follow the foot steps of his father.

Do you think that with the death of baba Oloye, the opposition will make more impact than before?

The recent judgment at the local government election petition tribunal, nullifying the January 2011 council election in Offa local government area seals the hope of opposition parties in the state. We know that most people who claim to be in opposition in the state are seasonal politicians. They come when the elections are around the corner. They are visiting opposition in the state, to be frank, there is no viable opposition in Kwara State.

The PDP is crisis-ridden throughout the country. Don’t you think this will affect the fortune of the party in future elections?

This is not the first time PDP will be enmeshed in one crisis or another. It goes to show how big the party is. You can’t rule out some differences here and there and at the end of the resolution PDP will emerge stronger. In any big party, there must be disagreement before agreement; then you forge ahead.

To me, the crisis will not affect the chances of the party, both at the state and national levels. PDP is one family.

Is the emergence of All Progressives Congress (APC) not a threat to the PDP?

We in PDP are very happy for the emergence of such an opposition. It goes to tell you the intimidating stature of PDP, thus making all parties determined to fight it. We in PDP want formidable opposition so that at the end of the day, PDP will also trounce them.

I can tell the APC will not stand test of time as it is an amalgam of strange bed fellow politicians. APC is a composition of position seeking politicians. If not because of that I wonder why a party that is controlling five states to condescend so low by bungling such goodwill and credentials by embracing a party with one governor or a party with two governors. I can liken the situation to devil dinning with the devil with long spoon.

Most of them that claim to have fused with the new party will still come back to PDP after the APC has crumbled.

What is your ssessment of the PDP government in the state?

Kwara PDP is the pacesetter. It is the first state that practices what is called continuity. With that continuity, there is no abandoned project in the state. After the projects that were brought forward have been completed we are now starting another ones, i.e in building schools, provision of water, electricity, roads and many other. That why will have peace which the best rock of development in Kwara state.

May 10, 2013
Day APC governors stormed Imo

All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have stormed Owerri, the Imo State capital, to solidarise with with their colleague, Governor Rochas Okorocha. Correspondent OKODILI NDIDI captures the mood of the people who witnessed the second year anniversay.

The crowd that welcomed them to Owerri, the Imo State capital, was huge. They cheered them from one end of the metropolis to another. Some waved brooms. Others waved their hands. For the eight All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, it was a popularity ride to the ‘Heartland State.’

The host governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, was excited at the warm reception. He told the people that the progressives governors had a mission to rescue the country from under-development. As he intoduced them- Babatunde Fashola (Lagos State),Adams Oshiomole (Edo), Rauf Aregbosola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibrahim Shetima (Bornu) and Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa)-the crowd jubilated.

It was an awareness and sensitisation rally. It was also a solidarity visit to Okorocha by the men of goodwill. The implication was not lost on the observers. APC, they believed, has enlarged its coast to the Southeast geo-political zone.

As from 7 am, the city was bubbling with festivities. The supporters of the governor thronged the Heroes’ Square, the venue of the rally. Politicians, statesmen, top government officials, women groups, youths and students were in one accord. They defied the scorching sun to honour the governors and the visitors.

Exuding confidence, Okorocha formally informed the people that APC is the answer. Announcing his intention to join the proposed party, he said only the progressives can build a better society.

The ceremony, which was also part of the activities for the ‘Imo Freedom Day’, marked his defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the APC. He urged the people to embrace the new light and bid farewell to darkness.

The governor clarified that the APGA is not part of the merger plan. Hoever, he described the coming together of like-minded parties, individuals and groups as the best step in the right direction.

“It is a matter of time; the APC will take over the affairs of the country. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the people of the Southeast in the 12 years of democracy. The entire Ndigbo are for APC”, he said.

Okorocha allluded to the APC’s selling point. He pointed out that the APC governors are achivers in their state, adding that he was not in a bad company. “These my brothers have transformed their states and are doing more; that is what the new party stands for. It means freedom to the people, the poor masses and the indigent widows, who have been victims of the PDP’s misrule”, he added.

The governors decried the PDP’s style of leadership, assuring that the APC would offer a better leadership.

Fashola, who drew a resounding ovation from the ecstatic crowd, described the APC as a great train of change. “We have set about a course that is irrevocably committed to giving power back to the people. We believe that Nigeria needs a change and APC will bring about that change”.

Ajimobi noted that the PDP has gone from bad to worse, stressing that the only option left to salvage the nation is the APC.

Shetima, said the exceptional performance of the APC governors is a pointer to their readiness to salvage Nigeria, urging the people to embrace the new party. “APC is on a rescue mission”, he added, enjoining the people of Imo State to support Okorocha.

Amosun expressed delight at the huge turnout. Hailing Okorocha, he said that the people have not voted for him in vain.

“This is what we want and this is what APC represents. The battle has just begun. APC must succeed for the benefit of Nigerians because there is no better platform”, he added.

Al-Makura said the performance of Okorocha was just the beginning of what the people will witness, in terms of development, adding that it was worth celebrating. He urged the people to support the governor, especially now that the right party has emerged.

“You cannot salvage the country with people who are fake; people who are pseudo-democrats,” he said.

Fayemi said: “A time like this calls for visionary leaders as seen in all the states where the APC is holding sway. No amount of intimidation will deter us from working together to salvage the country.

“No one is happy with what is going on. That is why we have embarked on this rescue mission; that is why we have embarked on the freedom journey”.

Aregbesola, who held the surging crowd spell bound with his songs and dancing steps, described APC as a bulldozer that will crush everything on its path.

He called on the people to reject unemployment, poverty, and hunger, which he said, PDP has unleashed on Nigerians.

Oshiomole recalled that, when he led the workers’ protest to Imo State as a labour leader, he met a state with filthy streets, dilapidated infrastructure. “But now, everything in Imo State has changed”, he said.

The governor called on the people to support Okorocha so that they can savour more dividends of democracy.

May 10, 2013
‘INEC must not toy with merger’

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain Senator Annie Okonkwo has enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to toy with the merger of the opposition political parties. He warned that any attempt to deny the All Progressives Congress (APC) of registration would be resisted.

He told The Nation that the APC was a property of the merging political parties-the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He clarified that the proposed platform is for all Nigeria.

Okonkwo warned against toying with the collective decision of the people, who now clamour for change through the mega party. “APC belong to us and we will not concede to any cheap blackmail to get our party registered”, he said.

The politician said that the APGA rally held in Owerri to mark the second year anniversary of the Okorocha Administration was a testimony that the Southeast was fully behind APC.

He stressed:“You saw the crowd that came to the rally and our resolve to support APC. We are not looking back because this is the only party where the Igbos will actualise their dreams.”

“Today, all the APC members are happy that Nigerians, who thought that these political parties will not come together, are rattled. APC is finally becoming a reality. What has happened is a full demonstration that APC has come to stay.”

“The party that controls the Southwest states has held its convention, where they adopted the APC as a new political platform. I think Nigerians should be celebrating this particular milestone that had been achieved by the ACN”

Okonkwo explained that the conventions of the other merging parties would not be counter-productive, assuring that the proposed APC will save Nigerians from years of exploitation and manipulation.

He called on his friends, who are members of the other parties that believe in survival of Nigeria, to join hands with the APC, maintaining that the party is the last hope for the people.

He added: “The country needs a change. We need to get back our country. People need to get employed and the problem of insecurity must be addressed. All these are caused by the ruling party. I believe that this time around, things are going to change. We thank God for the leadership of the APC that had decided to relinquish whatever ambition they have in order to save this country.

“I don’t need to mention it to anybody and all my friends that are in the People Democratic Party (PDP), who embrace our ideas, to join us to build this country. The leaders of the APC have announced that the party is a home for the common man who are oppressed and desired a bright future.

“I believe that this time around, our party is embarking on a rescue mission. So, those of my friends who believe in the philosophy of the APC should embrace the party to get country back on its feet.

“The truth of the matter is that a lot of people are still suffering under PDP and are scared to move away. I think we have provided them the platform and we are giving them the courage to move into APC. At least they will be able to contribute to the survival of this country,” he said.

May 10, 2013
The Chairman of the Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Kayode Olawepo, believes that the proposed All Progressives Congress (APC) will dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next general elections. But the PDP chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani, holds a contrary opinion. Both spoke with ADEKUNLE JIMOH on partisan issues.

Why do you think the AbdulFatah Ahmed’s government is a continuation of Bukola Saraki in office?

The reason is simple. It has been an appendage of the previous administration. Ordinarily, the buck should stop on the table of the governor. He is held responsible for every failure, just as he takes credit for every success. If truth must be told, this state has been in coma since the inception of this administration.

How do you mean?

In terms of infrastructural development, the state is zero. Talk of road development in rural areas, talk of sensitive areas of development like schools, talk of equipping hospitals with drugs, they are zero. Pension and gratuity very low, promotion not forthcoming; there is no landmark development that one can point to since the inception of this administration compared with other states. If you get to Imo, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states you will see landmark developments. If two babies are born on the same day and one is already running and the other is yet to start crawling, then something is wrong with the one that is yet to crawl.

This means there is a fundamental problem; the mantra of shared prosperity is actually shared acute poverty. Looking at the average Kwaran on the road, you can see acute poverty written all over his face. This is because the civil service, which is the engine room of the state, does not have the wherewithal to put smiles on peoples’ faces. Most of the contractors we have here do not reside here. As a result of that, there is heavy capital flight from the state. ractor is based.

Considering the fact that the state is one of the least in the ladder of the monthly federal allocation, can you really blame the government?

That is the popular alibi. But then, we all know that there is ecological fund; we all know that there is the excess crude, which if taken together are more in billions than the regular allocation. Nobody can say that this state is being run by only the regular allocation. In some other states where they take their people seriously, part of the security vote is used for development. The ecological fund can be used for infrastructural development like roads. What is the money from the excess crude account used for?I think the claim that the regular monthly allocation is meagre is untenable. Somebody must have to explain what the ecological fund is being used for because anytime there is a rainstorm about N30 million worth of materials would be bought and we know that ecological fund that comes into the state coffers runs into billions. Whatever project being executed ecologically in terms of drainages are largely sponsored by the federal government. The Asa Dam channelisa-tion project is one of such projects.

Nobody can explain how the money donated by the federal government to flood ravaged state was utilised in krawa. We in the opposition do not know. So blaming government’s failure or none performance on irregular allocation is just an inexcusable explanation.

How do you see the efforts by the state government on pipelines reticulation to ensure free flow of tap water?

Since the inception of the current democracy, almost 60 percent of Kwara’s budgets are said to have been spent on water reticulation. Given the billions of naira that has been spent on water in this state, it is expected that every home and public place should have water taps and there are no public taps in Kwara. In fact, the project has become a huge drainpipe of whatever money we have in Kwara State.

Are you saying the PDP government is a complete failure?

Yes. But let me assure you that there will be a change if the opposition takes over because you cannot perform better than the material you are using. You cannot expect better performance because the same set of people that have been there since 1999 are still at the corridors of power today. So there has not been any change of system, no change of personnel. It is a familycum friend affairs in Kwara State.

Do you think the people of Kwara South will be able to forge the unity to get the governorship in 2015?

The perceived lack of unity among the people of Kwara South can be said to be sponsored. I say this because, other things being equal, the people know that only one candidate should come from the district. But if some people allowed themselves to be sponsored, that does not mean the people of the district are not united. It means some people are playing commercial politics; politics of the pocket to ensure the status quo remains and the evidence of that is the disappearance of such people immediately after the election. They resurface again when their masters need their services. For instance, the sustenance of the opposition in this state is only by one person with faithful loyalists, but during electioneering many of them will feign to be in opposition. Where are they now?

Our people are now wiser. We have cautioned ourselves to ignore sponsored candidates that make Kwara Southerners look as if they are not united.

What future awaits the proposed All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state?

Yes, the only visible opposition in the state is the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), but we know that in the last election the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) presented a governorship candidate, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presented a governorship candidate. When ANPP candidate decamped the chairman of the party did not join him in decamping. So in Kwara north and central the CPC is well on the ground.

The ACN is making waves because the leader of the party in the state is a renowned leader in the whole country and the impact of his effectiveness at the national level radiates to the state. And he has been up and doing in making sure that the ACN is doing well in the state with able, highly dedicated and sincere supporters.

The CPC, too, is a virile party but their level of organization may be different. Since the discussion on this merger commenced at the national level we have been relating and we know that some decisions cannot be taken until the national merger give the go ahead order. They are meeting openly at the national level and we are meeting surreptitiously at the state level preparing us for the time the announcement would be made. By the time the announcement is made, we are not going to be new to each other.

If there are states that need the merger, other than at the federal level, it is Kwara state and the reasons are obvious. It is, therefore, indubitable that Kwara will embrace the merger more than any other state. It is a prayer answered if the merger is successful. If succeeds at the national level, definitely, it will be successful in Kwara State.

Can APC dislodge the PDP in Kwara State?

Definitely, yes. I know the materials that are in CPC and there are some people that will come out when the merger comes to fruition. One unfortunate appellation that ACN is a south-western party would be gone. So, everybody who believes he is a northerner can now be fully accommodated. People that would not have openly identify with a Southwest party can now say APC is their party. So, we expect serious in-flow of highly placed Kwarans into the party.

May 10, 2013
Ogun PDP: still far from reconciliation

There have been claims of reconciliation in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But beyond the facade of a reconciled and united party, the crisis is far from over, writes ERNEST NWOKOLO.

The crisis within the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is far from over.

For party faithful in the state, the crisis ought to have been resolved soon after the conclusion of the April 2011 general elections. Ironically, the more efforts made to reconcile the warring factions, the more polarised the party became. Those who desired an early settlement of the differences have discovered to their dismay that they have only engaged in wishful thinking.

Crux of the matter

The main cause of the crisis has been who controls the party in the state. The belief, or so it seems, is that the party machinery is an invaluable trophy that must be won and kept at all cost. Expectedly, this has continued to engender bitter, if not fierce, scramble for it. The major contenders are former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Governor Gbenga Daniel; billionaire hotelier, Buruji Kashamu and former Minister of State for Finance , Alhaji Jubril Martins Kuye . It is not difficult to see why efforts at reconciliation have ended in illusion than reality.

Before the April 2011 general elections, PDP held sway in the state. For eight years, it bestrode the state like a colossus, clinched all elective offices and dominated the politics of the state with enormous backing from the PDP controlled central government.

With the mindset that the party would continue to win every election in the state, the stage was inadvertently set for the dirty political intrigues and desperation among the quartet of Obasanjo, Daniel, Kashamu and Kuye. The understanding, of course, was that whoever controls the party structure automatically determines who get what in terms of both elective and appointive posts in the state.

How it all started

The crisis started in the run up to April 14, 2007 election. The forrmer governor moved quickly to assert himself as the leader of the party.

But this was largely ignored to enable the party go into the electoral contest as one big family and be victorious against the opposition parties – the Action Congress(AC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP), National Conscience Party (NCP) among others.

But the incipient crisis took a different dimension in 2008 when some members picked holes in the process that led to the emergence of the defunct Joju Fadairo-led executive committee. They claimed that the process was flawed. They alleged that it was manipulated by the governor to exclude others from participating which inevitably gave birth to the party executive committee filled by Daniel’s cronies.

But what seemed like a simmering crisis graduated quickly to a full scale political war among the foursome during the preparation for the April 2011 elections, with each either fighting directly or through proxies to execute personal interests.

Daniel, who had his mind fixated on having former Managing Director of Gateway Holdings, Mr Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, as his successor at all cost, used the party structure headed by Fadairo to undermine the interests of others while advancing his.

The other three parties went into an alliance to confront Daniel and his annointed candidate. That initial understanding among the trio of Obasanjo, Kuye and Kashamu was primarily to wrest the party structure from Daniel. The objective was simple: stall the plot to have his cronies run for elective offices.

While Obasanjo mobilised the federal might and PDP’s national force against Daniel, Kuye and Kashamu tackled him in from other directions and fought him to a stand still through the judiciary.

The National Executive Committee of the party waded into the crisis at that stage and recommended the dissolution of Joju Fadairo – led executives and harmonisation to accommodate all interests. It was the implementation of that recommendation that led to the emergence of the Bashorun Dayo Soremi led Executive.

Worsening crisis

Unfortunately for the party, rather than solve the problem, the harmonisation worsened the crisis. Daniel and his faction rejected the arrangement and continued to accord the Fadairo – led executive, not only recognition but also persisted in using it to pursue his political interest.

The logjam within the Ogun PDP worsened with the emergence of parallel party executive leading to parallel congresses and parallel candidates for the 2011 polls. Many who could no longer bear the contradiction in the party, moved to other parties like the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) and Labour Party(LP) among others.

PDP at the national level and the court recognised the congress conducted by Obasanjo’s faction and its outcome. At the same time , they rejected the congress conducted by Daniel’s group and all candidates who emerged from it.

The development compelled the then politically cornered Daniel to herd all his supporters into the Peoples Party of Nigeria(PPN), a party he hurriedly floated while still in PDP.

As to be expected, the PDP through the influence of Obasanjo, proceeded to pick former ECOMOG Commander and Sole Administrator in Ekiti State, General Tunji Olurin (rtd) as its governorship candidate in the April 2011 polls.

It was in this tattered condition that the party went into the 2011 polls and failed woefully. Despite this, efforts were made to resolve the crisis that brought defeat and odium to the party. The party at the national level and former national vice – chairman, Southwest, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo inaugurated a Transition, Reconciliation and Congress Committee (TRCC) headed by Chief Bode Mustapha to reconcile all aggrieved persons and also conduct congresses in the state.

According to Oladipo, “the reason for TRCC include the need to unify the party before the congresses, the need to provide a level playing ground for all interests within the party to be able to fulfil their aspiration, to midwife the congresses so that the executives to be produced in the congresses are acceptable to the generality of the party faithful.”

But this did not go down well with the actors and only succeeded in shredding the initial alliance among the trio of Obasanjo, Kashamu and Kuye.

The Kashamu group vehemently opposed the arrangement saying it was a ploy by the Obasanjo minority group to undermine the function of Dayo Soremi – led executives to pave way for the imposition of other persons as party officials.

Not contented with just opposing the arrangement, Kashamu group equally approached the court and even got an injunction declaring the then Tajudeen Oladipo’s TRCC as illegal.

According to Kashamu group, Obasanjo was pursuing a separate political agenda best known to him in Ogun State other than that of PDP.

The group argued that if the overbearing influence of the former PDP Board of Trustees’ chairman was not challenged, it could spell doom for the party in future elections in the Gateway State. It then proceeded to conduct its congresses in the state in-spite of directive to the contrary by PDP National Working Committee (NWC).

Expectedly, the new executive officers of PDP led by Bayo Dayo that emerged could not enjoy the recognition of all and the then National Vice – Chairman of PDP, Southwest, Mr Segun Oni, who succeeded Oladipo, maintained that another congress, which would accommodate all interests, would be organised in the state.

In one of his visits to Abeokuta, Oni dismissed the congresses conducted in the state by Bashorun Dayo Soremi- led executives-that produced Dayo Bayo -led executive, ostensibly because all the forces at play, particularly, the interest of the former President, were not accommodated.

Consequently, a congress that catered for the interest of the former President was conducted and Senator Dipo Odunjirin, a lawyer, emerged as the chairman of a parallel executive and the national body of the party began to relate with it to the chagrin of Bayo Dayo led executive.

This was resisted by the Kashamu group which approached the court for judicial intervention and the attendant court judgment led to the sack of Oni, all the decisions he took in respect of Ogun PDP as well as Dipo Odunjirin led parallel executive committee.

It was on the basis of that judgment, coupled with the directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognising the Dayo Bayo led executive committee that the party and the NWC accorded recognition to the Kashamu group as the authentic state organ of PDP in Ogun.

Today, the Kashamu group controls the party structure and operates from the party secretariat on IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta. What is still palpably missing, however, remains the unity, peace and harmony in the once powerful party in Ogun State.

With the 2015 general elections inching closer, there have been series of private meetings within and outside the state by the power brokers – Daniel, Kuye, Alhaji Sarafadeen Tunji Isola, Alhaji Sule Onabiyi, Chief Niyi Adegbenro, Kashamu, Chief Alani Bankole among others on the advise of the NWC of the party but not much has been achieved.

The big players in the state still relate with each other with deep seated suspicion. Recently, the Chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT) of partyPDP, Chief Tony Anenih, led a delegation of BoT members to Obasanjo in Abeokuta where he was urged to help re -build the party in the state. But it is not yet clear whether the former President would sit under the same PDP umbrella with former Governor Daniel who still control a large followers.

The party chairman in the state, Dayo told The Nation that the reconciliation efforts are yielding positive result in all the factions or groups, except that of Daniel. He alleged that the former governor was already negotiating with another party in the state with a view to herding all his followers into it.

Dayo hinted that the reconciliation has not yielded any worthwhile result from Daniel’s camp, saying it is being said that the former governor, who has the bulk of his followers in PPN, is spoiling to move them to either the Labour Party or Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN)

In Dayo’s reckoning, the next task now is to take the reconciled party chieftains to Chief Obasanjo, and beg him for forgiveness where mistakes were made so that progress could be made in the party.

He said: “What is left is for us to see Baba, Chief Obasaanjo, and beg him for forgiveness. You know in Yorubaland, the younger begs the elder even if the elder is at fault, the younger has to prostrate and beg for forgiveness in order for peace to reign.”

But whether the desired peace will ever reign in the state’s chapter of the party remains to be seen.

May 9, 2013