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Tag: 2015

  • Why Nigerians should give APC mandate in 2015- Onu

    Why Nigerians should give APC mandate in 2015- Onu

    In this interview with Assistant Editor, Onyedi Ojiabor, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, former governor of Abia State and former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) before the party merged with the All Progressives Congress (APC), x-rayed the June 21 Ekiti State governorship election and returned a verdict of a skewed and slanted poll. He also reveals how the APC was able to pull through its merger and its national convention. He did not leave out the Igbo question in APC. Excerpts

    What is your perception of the way things are going on in the country?

    Nigeria is a great nation and God blessed the country enormously in both human and material resources. Nigeria has a very important role to play, particularly in Africa and also in the world. If there had not been a country like Nigeria, I’m sure that Africa would have called for a nation like Nigeria. But we have not developed at the pace that we should. The great potential in Nigeria has not been realised. Currently, we have various problems but what worries many people like me is that many of these problems are self inflicted and can be avoided. Right now we are a nation that imports almost everything. We have all the raw materials, we have the human resource to convert these raw materials into products and goods that we need but we are not doing it.

    Most of these issues you raised are blamed on the leadership of the country. Most Nigerians believe that Nigerian leaders have failed the country. Do you share this sentiment?

    Definitely, this is why we are concerned; those of us who are in opposition, who hold current executive leadership positions. We are saying that we, as a nation, we have tried one political party for a period of time, now at the federal level we’ve tried the ruling party for 15 years; by May of next year, it will be 15 years. If these problems are there, as a nation why don’t we try another political party?

    You were the National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which fused with other parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). Not many Nigerians gave the parties the benefit of the doubt that the merger would work. Leaders of major opposition parties pulled through a successful merger. How did it happen?

    Yes, you are right, not many Nigerians believed the merger would work. Actually at the time they were feeling that way, some of us didn’t feel bad because we knew that for political parties that control governments to come together, give up their identities, assuming a new name, motto, logo, it is not easy. It has not happened before in Nigeria and it has never happened even any where in Africa and it has happened rarely in the world. So, those who were skeptical, those who thought that it could not happen, yes nobody could really blame them. But those of us who wanted it knew what we were doing because we know that that was the only way our country can develop at the rate we want it. You know that if you have smaller opposition political parties, it will be extremely difficult to defeat a political party that, take for example, the ruling party that controls 28 out of 36 states of the federation. But by coming together, you will now build a new opposition party, strong enough to defeat the ruling party. As at today, we are controlling 16 states, the ruling party is controlling 18 states. You can see that the difference is substantially narrowed now. We also felt that the only way those in government can really put in their best is if they know that if they don’t do so they can be voted out. If they believe that no matter what they do they will always win, they will go to sleep. So, by give and take we were able to come together and it is good for our country to do so.

    What about the insinuation that APC is a party of strange bed fellows?

    Certainly it is not true. You find that the progressive credential is in the APC. This is a party that is very committed to having a new and a modern Nigeria. Coming together for them didn’t really pose a problem. Even with the ruling party there were people who had progressive credentials and obviously they will not fit very well in the ruling party. It will be like oil in water. So they came to us. So we have shown that the parties that came together were driven by love of the country. They desire to make our country truly great. That is the very strong driving force for our coming together, the desire to make our country truly great.

    Some party men and women were not happy with the outcome of the National Convention of APC. What is the party doing to ensure that aggrieved members do not carry their anger too far.

    APC is now a very big party. The party is controlling two of the most populous states in the country, Lagos and Kano States. So in terms of even registered voters, you find that we have majority of the registered voters. So it is a very large party and it is very difficult to organise a convention and you won’t have ripple effects. You are likely to see certain persons who may be dissatisfied. But the important thing is that the party has taken it upon itself to do all it can to make sure that, one, you find grievances, two, you get those grievances resolved. The process of ensuring harmony in the party is ongoing. We believe and hope that in the end, the party will get everybody on board.

    Considering your pedigree, many people, thought that you will go for the chairmanship of APC. What really happened that you didn’t take a shot at the party’s chairmanship?

    No, the position of national chairman of our party was zoned to the South-South geo-political zone and I am from the South-East. So it won’t be nice for somebody like myself who believes in party discipline to go outside that zoning. It will not be proper.

    How will you explain the much talked about Igbo question in APC. Some believe that people of Igbo extraction are not really in APC. Is there any problem?

    No, Igbo are in APC. Imo State, for instance, out of the five South Eastern states is the most populous. APC is controlling Imo State. Igbo are in APC but we are not satisfied with what we have and we are working very hard to attract more people not just in the South-East but across the country into the fold of the party. I must also say that Igbo, by our nature, we travel a lot and we reside in places outside our indigenous home. So you should not limit Igbo in APC to only those who reside in the South-East. We have Igbo everywhere in the country. We are working very hard, those of us who are in APC, to attract more members. And there are quite a number of people who have expressed interest. We are working, it is a gradual process. Don’t forget that APC is just about one year old even though it is made up of old political parties that are now defunct but it is a new party. It will take some time but we are working.

    As one of the leaders of APC are you satisfied with the positions assigned the South-East in the party?

    Right now we just completed the national convention and the convention was designed to elect officers of the party as zoned to the six geo-political zones of the country. Other things will also follow and I believe that the South-East will always get its due. APC is going to do well in the South-East. It is true that the incumbent governor of Imo State won election on the platform of APGA, he is doing extremely very well in the state. The governor has improved substantially the infrastructure base in the state.

    The unexpected happened in Ekiti State on June 21 when the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Ayo Fayose, winner in the governorship election against the candidate of the ruling APC in the state. In your view what went wrong?

    As a party we will be meeting to look at what happened in Ekiti State on June 21. We will draw a lesson that we will be learning from what happened in Ekiti State. And I think the nation also, including the ruling party, has some lessons to learn from Ekiti.

    We will not allow what happened in Ekiti to affect the party in future elections. I’m sure you know that even though that election was said to be transparent and credible, certain actions that took place before and during the election question whether that election was truly free and fair.

    For example, the final campaign which took place two days to the election, I was a victim. We traveled by air from Abuja to Ekiti, through Akure (Ondo State). We landed and went to Ado Ekiti through Akure. When we wanted to come back we couldn’t, the plane was there. We had to go back to Ado Ekiti and travelled all through the night by road to Abuja. Even the governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, had to travel by road to Owerri (Imo State).

    You know a situation where a serving governor was not even allowed to enter Ekiti, he was stopped at the boundary of Ondo and Ekiti. These are acts of harassment which you can also classify as intimidation. Certain actions like that question whether an election under such an environment can truly be called free. When at the eve of an election and also on the day of election you start arresting leaders of a major political party like APC, arresting and detaining them, you wonder whether such election can be considered free.

    An election can be credible, an election can be transparent but an election that is credible and transparent may also not be free. We believe that the Federal Government also learnt a lot of lessons from Ekiti to ensure that future elections are truly free. People should not be intimidated, people should not be harassed because a situation where serving governors cannot move freely in any part of the country is a very serious problem.

    So also the ruling party I believe ought to learn a lesson from what happened in Ekiti because in 2011 there were serving governors who ran for re-election like in Imo, in Nasarawa, in Zamfara , in Oyo. They were defeated but they didn’t concede defeat. They didn’t congratulate those who won and these were all of the ruling party. But look at what the APC has done now, the Ekiti State governor yet may have been defeated , has already congratulated the man who won and told him look we will work together for the good of the state, to bring peace and remove violence.

    I think that the ruling party ought to learn this and everybody should be aware that election can go either way. So if you are in government today you can be out of government tomorrow. So the ruling party should not rejoice too much, they should also be getting ready to be in opposition because this is a possibility. It is important that we learn lessons because if we say that everything went on well, next time the same level of intimidation or even more, that will be very unfortunate.

    The APC has gone through the hurdle of merging and came out successful. The party again succeeded in organising its national convention. Skeptics are now focusing on the presidential flag bearer of the party. How is the party working to ensure that there would be no rancour in choosing its presidential hopeful?

    The national convention that will elect our presidential candidate will most likely come in November. But I just want to say something, you see, at every stage our people have been skeptical, the party will not be registered; it was registered, during the membership registration exercise, people said it will not work; it worked, the national convention to elect officers of the party will collapse, it succeeded. So I believe that so long as the party continues to be fair in whatever we do, so long we would continue in give and take, and so  definitely we will be able to pick our presidential candidate and then come out to offer Nigerians the alternative to what the PDP has failed to offer.

    Former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun emerged national chairman of APC. You were governor of Abia State when he was Edo State governor. Do you think the party made the right choice for a man who can carry the weight of the party?

    Yes, very well, he will, yes he will. Both of us were colleagues. While I was governor in Abia, he was governor of Edo State. There were 30 states then, I was the first Nigerian to be chairman of conference of Nigerian governors. So that gave me an opportunity to interact very closely with governors. You know when you are chairman, you get to know people more than every other person. We worked very closely together when I was the national chairman of ANPP in carrying out functions of the party.  I believe he has the capacity to move the APC to greater height. He has the drive and also the capacity to do what is best for our party.

  • 2015: Stop dropping Jonathan’s, Mu’azu’s names, Ogun PDP tells Bankole

    2015: Stop dropping Jonathan’s, Mu’azu’s names, Ogun PDP tells Bankole

    Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Forum of Local Government Chairmen in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned aspirants and their backers against name-dropping.

    The forum spoke against the backdrop of the outbursts of Chief Alani Bankole, the father of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, who stormed a recent meeting of the forum where he boasted that President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of our great party, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, asked his son to join the governorship race, adding that they had promised to give him an automatic ticket.

    In a statement issued yesterday and signed by the Chairman of the PDP in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area and Chairman of the forum, Hon. Kehinde Sofenwa, the group said, “The elder Bankole’s conduct is unbecoming of an elder and a democrat. We urge him and his son to follow the due process and not seek to usurp constituted authority.”

    The statement reads in part: “We recall that some months ago, they were going about to say that the President and the National Chairman had assured them that the authentic and legally constituted state exco of our party would be dissolved. But till date, nothing of such has happened. Rather, the party, under the leadership of our able Chairman, Engr. Adebayo Dayo, is waxing stronger.

    “Much as we shudder to think if it is the younger Bankole that is in the race or the father, we wish to state without mincing words that all these are unfounded. They have no basis in fact and in reality.

    “If anything, his comments showed clearly that he has not been in touch with the party in the state. Otherwise, he would have known that the party has been restructured from the ward, local government and state levels, such that its structures are in the firm control of the respective leaders and elders.

    “The days when one powerful man sits in the comfort of his bedroom to determine what happens elsewhere are gone for good. That was what was ably demonstrated with the primary election in Ekiti State.

    “On the purported assurances they claimed to have got from the President and National Chairman, our simple reaction is that we are not deceived. We do not need anyone to tell us that our amiable President and the cool-headed National Chairman are sticklers for due process and respecters of the rule of law.

    “They have shown time and again that they would never lend themselves to lawlessness and illegalities. Having seen the gains of a free and transparent primary, as exemplified in the Ekiti election, they cannot afford to reverse the gains. We wager that a thousand Bankoles cannot change that.

    “We advise the Bankoles to come down from their high horses of living in the past and face the reality on ground. This is even more so that his four years’ reign as Speaker had no positive bearing on the lives of the people of Ogun State. If they are intent on salvaging whatever is left of their political careers, they should join hands with other leaders, elders and members of the party and work for it. They should know that when they literally decided to play Nero while Rome burnt, some people stayed back and worked to keep the party together. The question is: if everybody had abandoned the party like they did, would there be a platform that they now seek to impose themselves on?

    “We recall with nostalgia his membership of the infamous cabal which frustrated the then Acting President Goodluck Jonathan from assuming office as the substantive President. We also recall that upon his losing his re-election bid (he could not win one local government area  which makes up his Abeokuta South Federal Constituency), he colluded with the opposition to deny the South West the Speakership of the House of Representatives that was zoned to it.

    At press time, Chief Bankole could not be reached for comment.

  • 2015: Jonathan, govs, Reps members meet at Aso Rock

    2015: Jonathan, govs, Reps members meet at Aso Rock

    • Senators turned back from meeting

    President Goodluck Jonathan last night met behind closed doors with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state governors and PDP members of the House of Representatives in discussions believed to be connected to the President’s declaration of interest towards the 2015 presidential election.

    The House of Representatives members were led to the meeting by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha; and the Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, did not attend the meeting.

    Members of both chambers of the National Assembly had earlier been conveyed to the venue of the meeting in Coaster buses, but some senators who were not supposed to be at the meeting were turned back.

    President of the Senate, David Mark, had led the senators to the meeting before they left the venue.

    Senator Hosea Agboola said that senators were invited to the meeting in error, hence, the need for them to leave the venue shortly before the meeting started.

    National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Adamu Muazu, arrived the venue at 9:15pm in the same vehicle with the chairman of the party’s Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus.

    The meeting started at about 9:50pm with the arrival of the President at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja venue of the meeting.

    The governors who attended the meeting included those of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Kebbi, Bauchi, Katsina, Gombe, Cross River and Delta.

    About four deputy governors also attended the meeting.

    Ekiti Governor-elect, Ayo Fayose also arrived the venue after the meeting started.

    A source said a date for the President’s meeting with senators would be communicated to them later.

    Journalists were not allowed to cover the meeting which was described as private.

    The journalists managed to get the attendance from a distance.

  • House of Reps PDP endorses Jonathan for 2015

    House of Reps PDP endorses Jonathan for 2015

    Members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives Tuesday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the 2015 presidential election.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal was absent at the meeting.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa few minutes to midnight, the House Leader, Mulikat Adeola-Akande said the caucus passed a vote of confidence on him.

    She said: “We are PDP caucus of the House of Representatives, a meeting like this is not strange because we met with the President who is our leader.”

    “We deliberated on issues affecting our party. The House caucus  on our own decided to pass a vote of confidence on Mr. President and also endorse him for second term.”

    On whether the President accepted, she said: “We did the endorsement and we are urging him to run for second term.”

    On why the Speaker was not present at the meeting, she said: “I am sure when you see Mr. Speaker, you will ask him, this is a PDP meeting.  Obviously, he will have his reasons why he was not at the meeting.”

    According to her, security issues were also discussed at the meeting and the government was commended for efforts to restore peace in trouble spots in the country.

  • 2015: INEC urges adherence to guidelines on political adverts

    2015: INEC urges adherence to guidelines on political adverts

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, has urged political parties and their candidates to follow best practices in their advertising ahead of the 2015 elections.

    Jega spoke at the weekend in Abuja during an international seminar on: Political Advertising, Perception Building and Voter Education at the Yar’Adua Centre, organised by Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN).

    Jega said: “As we approach the general elections in February 2015, no effort should be spared by stakeholders in promoting civic enlightenment among the electorate and global best practices among the political elite. One of the major requirements of liberal democracy is mobilisation and participation of the people in the process. We should learn about international best practices in grassroots mobilisation, perception building and voter education.”

    The INEC chairman said the commission had revised the regulations in its Code of Conduct for political advertisements and campaigns to ensure strict compliance among parties and their candidates.

    He said: “It is very important that we regulate and sanitise our campaigns. A lot of that sanitation can be done without regulation, if only politicians can change their attitudes and mindsets. But we in INEC have revised the regulations governing campaigns and we have already shared a draft of those guidelines with political parties.

    “We hope to finalise it and, very soon, we will put it into effect so that political parties will know clearly where to draw the lines and the sanctions that would apply, if they do not act according to the rules and regulations.

    “I think what this seminar has shown is that you can learn a good practice from other countries and factor it into your own preparations. It is very important that we sanitise the electoral process and political campaigns. They should be research-based, well informed and expertise should be brought to bear in the preparation and conduct of political campaigns.”

    All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman Victor Umeh said political advertising is critical to electioneering process.

    He urged advertising practitioners to collect the code of conduct already signed by political parties at the INEC headquarters.

  • Journalists to monitor 2015 election

    Journalists to monitor 2015 election

    Journalists under the aegis of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) will be accredited to monitors the 2015 election.

    NAWOJ will also be co-opted into the National Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voters’ Education and Publicity.

    This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a training on Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE), Media and Elections segment, involving NAWOJ, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), INEC and the European Union.

    Stakeholders agreed that more training programmes should be introduced to bridge the communication gap between the electoral body and the media.

    The communiqué added: “In as much as credible elections greatly depend on the ability of the media to function in an impartial and professional manner, the stakeholders agreed that the training was timely and appropriate, given the upcoming 2015 general elections.

    “The participants resolved that there is strong need for synergy between the media and the electoral management body (EMB). It was agreed that NAWOJ, beneficiaries of the training, be accredited by INEC (EMB) as observers for all elections in the country.

    “Stakeholders resolved that social media should not be seen as a threat to the practice of journalism. Rather, it should be used to enhance the profession.

    “The participants agreed that, to be able to deter the activities of fake journalists in the profession, it was necessary for INEC to liaise with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

     

  • 2015: Campaigns before the whistle beat INEC

    2015: Campaigns before the whistle beat INEC

    For over a year before the official lifting of the ban on campaigns ahead 2015 elections, INEC has seemed helpless over anonymous banners and other surreptitious campaign strategies, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports

    The rule of the game is for political parties and aspirants to flag-off campaigns after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would have blown the whistle formally. Not so with the 2015 General Elections.

    As far back as 2013, over a year before the official kick-off of the campaigns, major actors have devised surreptitious campaign strategies to beat INEC. So far, observers say virtually all the major actors, from the seat of power in Abuja to the remotest local councils, may have devised illegal means of campaigning before the whistle. The list has been in-exhaustive:

    All through the night that Wednesday, in the first week of January 2013, some faceless youths worked tirelessly, pasting anonymous campaign posters in the choice areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FTC), Abuja.

    At sunrise the following morning, residents expressed concern over the glossy second term posters of the president boldly pasted on streetlight poles, walls, dustbins, traffic sheds and other strategic places in the capital city. Some of the posters read, “2015: No vacancy in Aso Rock,” “Let’s do more,” “One good term deserves another,” “Support Dr Goodluck Azikiwe Jonathan for 2015 Presidency.”

    Following the widespread complaints, security agents, weeks after, said they were looking for the people that pasted the campaign posters bearing the image of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The president’s political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in its reaction dismissed the suggestion by some observers that the emergence of the anonymous posters means President Goodluck Jonathan has commenced campaign for the 2015 presidential election.

    Chief Olisa Metuh, who spoke for the party then said “We are totally unaware of it. I have not even seen it. But we are not unmindful of the fact that several times in the past; a lot of people had taken it upon themselves. The whistle has not been blown for politics. This could be the handiwork of mischief makers,” he said.

    Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, also said: “Those pasting the posters are trying to express their own view. The president had stated that he will talk about the presidency from 2014. Those doing these do not have the consent of the president.”

    Abati added: “We do not know those behind the posters. So, the president cannot do anything. Our appeal is that those behind this should allow the president concentrate on the job at hand. The president’s main pre-occupation now is to continue to provide service and quality leadership.”

    In spite of these denials, there were reports that Jonathan had, as far back as 2013, secretly commenced his re-election campaigns and had even inaugurated a 21-member committee to work under-ground in preparation for the 2015 political battle.

    Denying these, Abati had said then: “This is totally untrue and without any basis in reality. As he has truthfully declared on several occasions, President Jonathan has not yet taken a decision on whether or not he will seek re-election in 2015. He has, therefore, not mandated any individual, committee or organisation to start working on his behalf for the 2015 elections.’’

    He added: “Political jobbers and their collaborators in the media should stop heating up the polity with baseless speculations and falsehoods revolving around imaginary plans and schemes by the Presidency for the 2015 elections.”

    Abati also acknowledged what he described as an emerging trend whereby political opportunists were using the president’s name to promote themselves and their ambitions.

    He lamented that some unscrupulous persons were printing 2015 campaign posters with President Jonathan’s photograph when INEC had yet to announce the beginning of campaigns.

    Ironically, this has since become the pattern, as posters of many politicians have since adorned streetlight poles, bus-stop sheds and other strategic locations in Abuja and other major cities across the nation. In all the cases, the politician involved has always denied having anything to do with the posters and besides mere allegations and counter allegations between such politicians and their rivals, law enforcement agencies or INEC have not been able to identify and or punish any sponsor of these illegal campaign posters.

    As a result, the political actors have continued to play the game even at a wider dimension while INEC and Nigerians seem helpless. Just last week, there were reports that Jonathan’s campaign posters have again flooded Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, even as residents complained that it was untimely.

    Some of the posters, according to residents of Enugu metropolis read: “Join us to forge the nation ahead,” “Mr. President, you deserve some more.” This time however, the posters were allegedly signed by a group called National Youths Support for Jonathan (NUSJ), 2015. But as Dr Francis Mba, said in a chat, “that organisation, if you check its records, must be another faceless group. It amounts to the same thing. Our politicians are using these faceless and jobless entities to ridicule the system. It’s a shame.”

    However, it is not only President Jonathan’s posters that have graced the billboards spaces in recent time. The list is indeed endless and in the same fashion, the politicians concerned have denied having any knowledge of the posters. The question observers are asking therefore is who is playing this dangerous game against Nigeria and its democracy?

    Just last week, former governor of Abia State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu’s posters also reportedly littered the major streets of Umuahia and other major cities in Abia State.

    Orji has succinctly dissociated himself from the posters purporting his senatorial candidacy and presidential aspiration on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), describing them as a “flood of deceptive, mischievous and malicious posters.” In a statement issued by his media adviser, Mr. Ebere Wabara, Kalu said: “Only gullible sections of the public and latter day members of the PDP can be misled on where I stand in terms of party membership, loyalty and my political convictions. The people who matter in our party know full well where I belong and my standpoint on national politics.

    “I strongly believe in President Goodluck Jonathan’s robust and enduring transformation agenda and holistically subscribe to the profound implementation of the blueprint to the letter.

    “No amount of scurrilous blackmail from any oppositional quarter can dissuade me or tarnish my image in the eyes of right-thinking people in the PDP,” Kalu said.

    Last year (2013), when similar posters were reported in Abia, Kalu had accused his opponents of being behind the printing of the posters as a way of frustrating his efforts to reconcile with PDP leadership. In a statement by his Special Adviser then, Oyekunle Oyewunmi, Kalu claimed he has uncovered plots to print and circulate presidential campaign posters for 2015 in his name to deceive the people about his political ambitions.

    Dissociating Kalu from such posters, Oyewunmi said “any poster proclaiming Uzor Kalu’s declaration for the presidency in 2015 remains the handiwork of his political enemies, who have become more desperate in the last few weeks.”

    Governor Theodore Orji himself had cause to also deny knowledge of some posters purporting his interest to contest for a senatorial seat in 2015.

    Speaking with newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia on the alleged posters last week, Orji said his aides called his attention to the posters, which adorned strategic locations in Umuahia and its environs after his return from the council of states’ meeting in Abuja.

    He said the posters were the handiwork of those urging him to run for the Senate in 2015, especially people from the Abia Central Senatorial Zone.

    The governor said that different groups, individuals and communities in the zone had at various times come to persuade him to run for the Senate in the 2015 elections.

    “But I continuously tell them that I have not made up my mind and anytime I do, I will make categorical statement regarding their request.

    “I have not printed posters, neither have I mandated anybody to print posters for me. Let me put it on record that those posters are not from me.

    “I want to suspect those who are urging me to go to the Senate to be the brain behind the printing of the posters,” he said.

    He therefore appealed to those behind the campaign posters to exercise restraint and wait until the ban on electioneering was lifted.

    The governor also spoke on the recently released INEC timetable for the 2015 general elections, saying it would enable political parties and politicians to make their observations.

    He noted that INEC would also have ample time to consider all the complaints and observations and make amends where necessary.

    “INEC has released the timetable for the elections early enough to allow politicians to prepare adequately for the exercise.

    “It will also help the commission to make adjustments where necessary,” he said.

    It would be recalled that in the election timetable released by INEC in January, the body fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 14, 2015, while the governorship and state Assembly elections were fixed for February 28, 2015.

    Other politicians that have had to deny knowledge of campaign posters bearing their names and pictures include former governor Bukola Saraki, who in May this year denied presidential campaign posters bearing his name and picture; Governor Rochas Okorocha, Rivers State Governor Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Governor Sule Lamido and the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, among others.

    Former governor of Kwara State and Senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, Dr Bukola Saraki, had in May denied rumours of his alleged presidential ambition, saying he had no knowledge of his posters which flooded Abuja and Katsina State.

    Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Bamikole Omishore in Ilorin blamed the development on his political opponents.

    The statement read: “This is not the time for politicking on the sensitivity of millions of Nigerians who have in their collective wisdom, elected us as leaders to be the managers and custodians of their welfare and interest.

    “It is our strong belief that those working on this barbaric mission do not have the interest of Nigeria at heart but rather to instill their personal and selfish interest and agenda on the Nigeria polity. This is unacceptable…As a politician of repute and as someone who had contested for this exalted position before and one who knows the seriousness such office deserves, printing of posters will definitely not be the starting point of such campaign if at all the need arises.”

    In the case of Okorocha, he said in a statement, signed by his SSA on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemodu that the governor has not made any official pronouncement on his presidential ambition and has not also printed campaign posters to that effect and that he has not set up any campaign organisation.

    When posters bearing Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s photograph and that of Governor Sule Lamido for the 2015 presidential election flooded Abuja, Amaechi, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said he neither has any political ambition for the 2015 presidential election nor printed posters.

    In the case of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, he also distanced himself from the campaign posters that littered Port-Harcourt metropolis bearing his image and interest to contest in Rivers State 2015 governorship election, describing the posters as the handiwork of his detractors, and that the move was aimed at portraying him as an over-ambitious politician.

    A statement by his media aide, Simon Nwakaudu, said “Those behind the circulation of such posters are bad losers because the Rivers people and indeed, all Nigerians are better informed and too knowledgeable to be deceived by such fluke.”

    It added that Wike was too committed to the success of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan to indulge in the posting of governorship posters.

    Besides printing and circulation of anonymous posters, Nigerians have also expressed concern over organisation of rallies that are in all intents and purposes open campaigns. Here, each of the leading parties has been accused of being guilty. A politician for example, recently said, “The President, has been moving from one part of the country to another campaigning in the name of PDP unity rallies. INEC refused to do something about it.

    Commenting on the trend of campaigning before the whistle, Dr Francis Mba, a political scientist, told The Nation: “It is disturbing because it not only shows the level of desperation on the part of the major political actors but also the extent they are ready to lie and deceive Nigerians. How do you want us to believe that in all the cases, it is only their political opponents that are printing and distributing the posters as a way of blackmailing them? Nigerians are too knowledgeable to believe that cock and bull story.”

  • Don’t scuttle 2015 polls, NAS warns politicians

    The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) has cautioned political office holders against using state resources and the machinery of government to manipulate the 2015 general elections.

    It also called on the Federal Government to imbibe the spirit of good governance and encourage popular participation of the citizens in the electoral process, even as it urged the government to strengthen democratic institutions and the practice of rule of law; equity and justice to enhance socio-economic and political development of the country.

    Speaking at a lecture organised by NAS in Abuja with the theme: “Unity in Diversity: Our Nation’s Strength for the Future,” a senior member of the group and a senior lecturer at the Plateau State Polytechnic, Emmanuel Nanle said all votes should be allowed to count in the 2015 elections.

    He said: “All over the world, the focus for Africa is actually mandate protection which is that when you vote, the votes should count. I think that is what happened in Ekiti State.

    “If the people are desirous to effect a change, they can effect a change. If they are desirous to protect those in government and protect the mandate given to those in the government, they will be able to do it.”

    Mr. Nanle said the election of a President for the country in 2015 should not be based on religion or ethnic extraction but based on competence.

    He urged politicians to subject themselves for approval by the publics, adding that past Presidents that ruled Nigeria evolved as a final solution to the country’s lingering problems.

    He added that there is nothing wrong in the South continuing in the Presidential Villa if they have good things to offer than the North.

    According to him, there should be give-and-take syndrome in the country to allow for integration and representation.

    “What is the justification for power shift to the north? If the north wants power shift, I hope we are not talking about having a president for the north because that unfortunately is the situation we are having.

    “When you bring a President from the South, it becomes a Southern President. When you bring a President from the North, it becomes a Northern President. I understand that in this project called Nigeria, there must be a give-and-take situation to allow for integration and representation.

    “I believe that the selection or the choice of a candidate should not be premised on religion, should not be premised on ethnic extraction but should be premised on competence.

    “If we find such person in the North why not, but I am an ardent believer of Nigeria as a project and I do not see anything wrong in anybody from the South continuing if he has anything to offer,” he said.

     

  • 2015: Friends urge APC to adopt Buhari

    2015: Friends urge APC to adopt Buhari

    Friends of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, under the aegis of Buhari Friends Organisation Network, at the weekend urged the party to adopt the former Head of State as its presidential candidate for the 2015 election.

    They spoke in Abuja at the inaugural general meeting of the group.

    The group’s National Coordinator, Saint Athanasius Okon, noted that like Buhari, his friends also hate corruption, lawlessness, impunity and other vices.

    Okon said: “We have to take it upon ourselves as his good friends who hate corruption, indiscipline, lawlessness, impunity in government and insecurity, to first call on the APC leadership and other members of the party to adopt General Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2015 general election.”

    Explaining how Buhari’s candidature would help the party and Nigeria, the spokesman said the Head of State embodies peace, good governance and the rule of law.

    Okon noted that because of the high level of corruption, unemployment, poor economy, indiscipline, insecurity and sundry vices forced on the nation by incompetent leadership, Nigerians should ask for Buhari’s return to power through a democratic process.

    According to him, history is replete with the ex-Head of State’s record of zero tolerance for corruption and advocacy of a  debt-free economy with priority for employment generation when he was in power.

    Okon recalled that industries were functioning at full capacities and electricity supply was adequate under Gen. Buhari’s leadership.

    The spokesman said during Gen. Buhari’s short administration, Nigeria was united and peaceful, adding that the nation was better off than the 15 years of the present civil rule.

    He noted that although Gen. Buhari’s friends would not advocate for a military rule, “history shall continue to have a place for him as an exemplary leader”.

    “As far as we are concerned, it is either those in government, whose responsibilities are to ensure that the above-mentioned problems and lots others are addressed, are incompetent or not sincere enough. That short-lived administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, which was in place for just one year plus, was better than 15 years of the so-called civil rule.

    “Considering the situation we have found ourselves now, with high level of insecurity occasioned by incompetent leadership with no will power to enforce our laws, you will agree with me that there is no better time than now for the man who matters most to come out and salvage the ugly situation for this country to become good again to live in.

    “He (Buhari) did it before; he can do it again, even better. My brothers and sisters, comrades and associates of General Buhari, let us rise and ask for Buhari’s return to power through a democratic process.

    “In view of the significance of this objective, we have to take it upon ourselves – as his good friends, who hate corruption, indiscipline, lawlessness, impunity in government as well as insecurity – to first call on the leadership of the APC and all the members of the party to please adopt General Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2015 election.

    “For those who accused Gen. Buhari ignorantly of sponsoring insurgency or supporting same, there are questions for them too: Are these people aware that Gen. Buhari’s convoy was attacked …by the Boko Haram insurgents? His cars and other valuables were destroyed. And it took God’s intervention to save his life.“

     

  • Okwuosa targets 2015 AFCON

    Okwuosa targets 2015 AFCON

    South Africa-based defender James Okwuosa has told AfricanFootball.com he hopes his form at newly-promoted Chippa United will earn him a place on Nigeria’s squad for next year’s African Cup of Nations.

    The former Enugu Rangers skipper was part of the Super Eagles squad in the qualifying tournament for Brazil 2014, but was eventually overlooked for the championship.

    “I want a return to the Eagles and I hope that my performance at Chippa United by God’s grace will help me make the AFCON final squad,” Okwuosa told AfricaFootball.com

    The big central defender played a big role as Chippa United bounced back to the South African top flight after they were relegated last season.

    He said he hopes to now ensure the club do not go down again.

    “We are in pre-season now and my main target with Chippa in the new season is to retain our PSL status, any other thing would be a bonus,” he declared.