The Nation Newspaper

Tag: APC

  • Suspected hoodlums attack APC office in Ebonyi

    Suspected hoodlums attack APC office in Ebonyi

    Suspected hoodlums have attacked the All Progressives Congress (APC) office in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

    The incident occurred on Sunday.

    This followed the destruction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) office and the homes of the party’s supporters in Ohaukwu Local Government, by gunmen said to be wearing police uniform.

    Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu, who confirmed the incident, said: “Our men are working to fish out the culprits.”

    It was learnt that the APC office on Kipirikpiri Road, a few metres from the Government House and the headquarters of the police command, which also serves as the campaign office of the governorship candidate, Senator Julius Ucha, was attacked by thugs with objects suspected to be Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

    Although the attack was foiled, one of the aides to Senator Ucha, John Ekeh, said the incident occurred on Sunday night, as they heard a loud noise at the back of the building about 10:45pm when suspected hoodlums threw IEDs to destroy the office, but the explosives failed to detonate.

    Ucha expressed concern about the increasing rate of political violence.

    He described the incident as unfortunate.

    Ucha urged the Inspector- General of Police to order an investigation into the incident and advised APC supporters to be calm.

    Senior police officers including the area commander and the divisional police officer in charge of Kpirikpiri Police Station were seen on the scene. The bomb disposal unit was invited to evacuate the objects.

  • PDP, DSS plot to shift elections, says APC

    PDP, DSS plot to shift elections, says APC

    There are plans to postpone next month’s elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged yesterday.

    Its proof: claims by the Department of State Service (DSS) that APC planned to hack into the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) voter registration database.

    At a news conference yesterday in Lagos, APC National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed said the DSS fabricated lies to pave the way for INEC to postpone the elections.

    The APC spokesperson wondered why it took this long for the DSS to come out with its findings, noting that it was done in conjunction with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after discovering that Jonathan’s administration had been rejected.

    He said: “We will like to tell all Nigerians that the crap called ‘findings’ is part of the ongoing efforts by the Jonathan administration to postpone next month’s general elections. Having seen the handwriting on the wall vis-a-vis the growing rejection of the PDP by Nigerians, the Jonathan administration has gone into a panic mode, while embarking on a plan to postpone the elections.

    “The summary of the ‘findings’ is that our party, the APC, had an ‘’articulated plan to inflate the party’s membership data as well as hack into INEC’s voter registration database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC’s voters register across the country.

    “Our immediate response, which was issued on the same day and which got a big play, was to dismiss the ‘findings’ as hogwash, a great disservice to Nigeria and an embarrassment to all intelligence-gathering organisations around the world.”

    Mohammed added that having studies the ‘findings’, “we believe it is necessary for us to respond to the allegations in a more detailed manner that will show that we were even charitable to have described the report as hogwash. That DSS report is bunkum, garbage, and is not worth the paper on which it is written.

    “Before you say our claim is outlandish, remember that some prominent Nigerians have publicly called for the postponement of the election – which can only benefit the Jonathan administration and delay its impending Waterloo at the polls.

    “Place the calls side by side with the apparently doctored outcome of the DSS investigations and the timing of the report’s release, and you will understand where they are coming from.”

    The APC chieftain said  the “findings” cannot stand a serious scrutiny by independent investigators because the DSS worked backwards, from answer to question, in an effort to reach a pre-determined conclusion.

    Mohammed maintained that the party was not aware that INEC has made a complaint of anyone or group trying to hack into its system.

    “We are not aware that INEC has made a complaint of anyone or group trying to hack into its system. The DSS ‘findings’ are baseless as INEC’S database is a reflection of the registered members with the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs). Please note that at the time of the DSS’ raids, the PVCs had already been printed. Therefore, of what value would it be to hack into the system and input more names?

    “Simply put, it is not possible for the APC to hack into the INEC Data Base for the following reasons:

    “INEC’s database is not online; how then is it possible for anyone to hack into it?

    “To prevent virus intrusion, there is no Internet service at the APC Data Centre that was raided. Therefore, it is not possible to hack into INEC’s database.

    “The DSS has claimed that hacking tutorials were discovered on an external hard drive. This is a lie! All the USB ports on the pc systems in the office were disabled to prevent virus intrusion. Therefore, the use of external hard drives is not allowed at the APC Data Centre. If this is so, how is it possible for an external hard drive containing these so-called hacking materials to be found on the premises of the APC Data Office?

    “Please note that the work stations at our various data registration centres in the country are manned by unemployed youths with just basic computer knowledge. The question to ask is: Would the party have employed these people if the intent were to hack into INEC’s Data Base or employed gurus in the IT world?

    “It is clear that the DSS purchased a hard drive and downloaded the information themselves from the Internet. After all, the DSS, by virtue of its duties, should be the hacking experts, hence hacking tutorials will be part of their staff induction training.

    “As we have said, the overall motive of the raid of our offices and the so-called findings is to give the impression that the INEC voter’s register has been corrupted, hence cannot be used for next month’s elections. Now, a more specific question: Why did the DSS break into the APC Data Centre at the time it did?

    “It is no coincidence that the DSS raided the APC Data Centre on Nov. 22nd 2014, exactly one week before the start of the PVC distribution exercise on Nov. 28th 2014.”

    The party’s conclusion is that “the DSS came to vandalise our Data Centre is because the Service is working hand-in-hand with the PDP.

    “They carried out the raids to know our party’s strength, in terms of membership. Please note that after the raids, many of our registered members could not find their names on the list when they went to collect their PVCs. This is not a mere coincidence,” Mohammed said.

    According to him, “After the first visit of the DSS, it was clear to all Nigerians that the Service’s claim that we were cloning PVCs could not be sustained. That explains why they could not display single cloned PVC.”

  • APC elders fault Jonathan‘s campaign outbursts

    APC elders fault Jonathan‘s campaign outbursts

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum in Ekiti State has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to pull out of the presidential race for admitting failure in governance during the launch of his campaign in Lagos.

    The body, which described the outburst of the President at the Lagos rally as “unpresidential, clearly offensive, aggressive, combative and appalling”, said Jonathan had shown that he lacked solutions to the myriads of problems facing the country.

    The group’s Publicity Secretary, Dr. Bayo Orire, said Jonathan failed to use his campaign to convince Nigerians of his readiness to stop the slide of the country into deeper socio-economic ills.

    Orire said Nigerians should not expect a purposeful leadership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration by the tone of the President’s speech, which he said dwelt much on attacks on personalities rather than issues.

    He urged the electorate to vote for the APC’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who he believed has the integrity, maturity and experience needed to turn around the nation’s fortunes.

    The medical doctor-turned politician said if successive administrations built on the anti-corruption stance of the military administration led by Buhari, corruption would have ended in the polity.

    Orire explained that corruption would grow under the PDP administration, urging Nigerians to use their votes to send the umbrella party out of power.

    He regretted that Jonathan failed to convince Nigerians on how he would solve insurgency, low level of industrialisation, unemployment, non-existent mechanised farming and general decay in infrastructure.

    “The President disappointed many Nigerians with his outing in Lagos on Thursday and this has shown that he lacks the capacity to take the country out of the woods.

    “Jonathan extrapolated wrongly putting something that happened 30 years ago on top of what should be done today.

    “How would the solution that was appropriate for the low level of corruption that was experienced in the past be appropriate for today’s roof-top malady that we call corruption?

    “He forgot that as in the 80s, there was little known about ICT to pay salaries. He forgot that you could pick people who were corrupt, they were visible unlike today.

    “He forgot that when Buhari was in office, the people were queuing for buses. Nobody could throw rubbish on the streets. If the pace had been kept up, there would not have been corruption today in Nigeria.

    “Judging from the campaign speech of the President, we should expect a purposeless leadership worse than what we are seeing now. The PDP had ruled us for 16 years and we are worse for it.

    “We advise him to pull out of the race because he has told us that he would need a younger and more cerebral generation to rule this country.

    “But we in the APC believe in maturity borne out of experience. We believe in team work where we can pool the sharpness of the young brains and the experience of the old.

    “The President was talking of people not having brains in the APC. If nobody has brains in the APC, nobody has a skull in the PDP.”

  • Ondo APC condemns attack on members

    Ondo APC condemns attack on members

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State at the weekend condemned police’s attack on its members in Akure during the “Work for Change” rally last Friday.

    The party described the attack on its members as unjustifiable, barbaric, unacceptable, unfortunate and a threat to fair and credible elections in Ondo State.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, the party said the brutal attack on its members by police officers reportedly on the orders of Governor Olusegun Mimiko was a threat to fair and credible elections in Ondo State.

    The statement reads: “It is now clearer than ever that Governor Olusegun Mimiko is jittery and rattled by the growing popularity of APC in Ondo State, hence the need to use the security apparatus  to bully, harass, intimidate and silence progressive voices in our dear state.

    “We can assure Mimiko that he will fail resoundingly in his renewed attempt to manipulate and rig election in favour of the non-performing and out-of-favour President Goodluck Jonathan in Ondo State.

    “Is this how Mimiko will give Jonathan one million votes by sending the police to disrupt our peaceful gathering?

    “It is now clear that he is planning to intimidate the opposition with security agencies, but we are battle-ready for him and his PDP.”

  • APC Southeast hails Buhari

    APC Southeast hails Buhari

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast  has hailed the promise made to Ndigbo by its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhamadu Buhari, to revamp the abandoned coal deposits in Enugu.

    Buhari, when launching his presidential campaign in Enugu at the weekend, promised to revamp the abandoned coal deposits and use it for electricity generation in the Southeast.

    In a statement yesterday, the Southeast spokesman for APC, Osita Okechukwu, said Gen. Buhari had rekindled the hope of the Southeast people that the coal deposits abandoned after the civil war would be revamped.

    He recalled that in the 1970s and even up to the 1980s, abundant deposits of coal in Enugu were used to power the Oji River Power Station, which generated electricity for the East and beyond.

    Okechukwu said: “In those days, electricity from Oji River Power Station served industries in the East, such as Premier Cashew Industry in Oghe, Avop Vegetable Oil in Nachi, Sunrise Flour Mills, Aluminum Industry, Ohebe Dim, Niger Gas and Niger Steel.

    “Today, coal has been abandoned, while Oji River Power Station has gone moribund, throwing our region into darkness like other parts of the country.  These industries that formed the industrial base of the Southeast  have become moribund, hence there is massive unemployment.

    “We have confidence in Gen. Buhari to redeem his promise;  unlike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government that for the last 16 years has reneged on the promise to revamp the coal industry, which it made on the eve of every election.  I recall that in 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan promised to revamp coal and to date the 3D Seismic Study is yet to begin.

    “But, with the promise Gen. Buhari made last Saturday to revamp coal for electricity generation, we can see light at the end of the tunnel. His promise is a bond and commitment.

    “No doubt, our industries will come alive again and boost the economy of our region. Our youths will minimise their migration, as many will be employed. The economy of the Southeast will blossom once again and our region will reclaim its lost glory as the industrial and commercial hub of Nigeria.”

    He said with Buhari’s commitment, Ndigbo should be reassured, for he is a man of integrity, who, as the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) chairman, started the greater Enugu Water Scheme aborted by the PDP.

    Okechukwu added: “My brothers and sisters, kindly listen to the advice of our elder statesman, former Vice President and founding Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, to Ndigbo not to put all our eggs in one basket, especially when the PDP has lost the vision of its founding fathers.”

    He praised Buhari for his promise to give soft loans to farmers in the Southeast, unlike his opponent, President Jonathan, who came to Enugu to throw stones.”

  • Thugs bomb APC’s secretariat in Okrika

    Thugs bomb APC’s secretariat in Okrika

    •Three on danger list in Obio/Akpor  •Investigations on, say Rivers police

    The secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State was yesterday bombed by suspected thugs.

    The Okrika explosion, which occurred at 3:14 a.m., destroyed the party’s secretariat, according to APC’s Chairman in the area, Christian Asifamaka, who described the damage as extensive.

    Scores of supporters of an ally of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha, the leader of the APC in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State, were also attacked by thugs yesterday in Port Harcourt, with three of them on danger list.

    The attack on the supporters of Okocha, who is aspiring to represent Obio/Akpor constituency in the House of Representatives, took place in Ward 10, Rumueme-Port Harcourt in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

    One of the victims of yesterday’s Port Harcourt attack, Ogbonda Amadi, with machete cuts on his back speaking from his hospital bed in Rivers State capital, said the APC members were holding a meeting, when thugs invaded the venue with machetes, bottles and other dangerous weapons.

    Amadi said: “The Rumueme attack was masterminded by a loyalist of Nyesom Wike, who earlier vowed not to allow APC members hold their programmes or campaigns in Rumueme. Some of the APC leaders are still missing after the attack, as search party has been launched to know their whereabouts.”

    While also speaking from the hospital bed, another victim of the attack, Samson Amadi, whose head was battered, said the leaders and members of the APC were being targeted by PDP thugs for attacks.

    The APC chairman in Okrika said: “The APC in Okrika views this latest attack as a deliberate provocation by our opponents, the members of the PDP, to draw the APC members into a battle that will destabilise our beloved Okrika. This is unfortunate and the APC members in Okrika LGA will not allow Okrika to become a hotbed of crises, as the PDP members would wish.

    “We are Okrika people and we know what political crises had cost our people in the past. Our LGA had always been the worse hit in times of politics. Our young children are the ones they use as canon fodder. We know this and as a party, we have resolved to toe only the path of peace, in the interest of our land and our children.

    “We beg our daughter, the First Lady (Dame Patience Jonathan),  to remember that the land of Okrika has never spared any Okrika person who brings trouble to the land or destroys it. We beg her (President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife) to please call her people in the PDP to order, because Okrika is bigger than anyone of us and we should not destroy it.”

    The Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, while also speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, called for the arrest of Wike and his supporters “now.”

    Ikanya, who spoke through the Rivers Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Finebone, also called on the security agencies to investigate the introduction of violence into the politics of Rivers by Wike.

    Rivers APC chairman said: “Barely two days after prominent Kalabari chiefs, led by Chief Broadfield Michael-Jack, rejected Wike’s candidature as PDP’s governorship standard bearer for Rivers State and openly endorsed APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, supporters of Wike unleashed terror on his (Peterside’s) party members and innocent people of Abonnema (headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA of Rivers State), where he visited to campaign yesterday (on Saturday).”

  • Peterside condemns bombing of Okrika APC secretariat

    Peterside condemns bombing of Okrika APC secretariat

    Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has condemned the multiple bomb attacks on the party’s secretariat in Okrika.

    The APC candidate was accompanied to the scene of the explosion by the party’s senatorial candidate Andrew Uchendu, House of Representatives candidate Maureen Tamuno, party leaders in the local government and other APC supporters.

    He expressed shock at the attack, which he said signalled danger, ahead of next month’s elections, if not checked.

    Peterside said: “It is very sad and unfortunate that some persons have chosen this path. If you notice, there has been a pattern of violence. On January 6, when we had our presidential rally at Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, you would have noted that some of our party members from Abonnema, Degema and Asari-Toru were attacked around Sama Junction. Those coming from Khana and Gokana were also attacked around Sakpenwa Junction. Some other groups coming for the same rally were attacked around Elele.

    “Fingers point to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We have raised these issues with the police commissioner and the security agencies, but not much action has been seen.

    “Aside from this, you would have also observed a trend even among them. A few days ago, they were in Abonnema to campaign and a faction of the PDP fought with another faction of the PDP. Two persons have been confirmed dead. They have also exhibited several other acts of violence at many other instances. That portends serious danger for our democracy.

    “I don’t want to believe that this signposts what to expect on February 14 and 28 because Rivers people are peace-loving; we reject violence.

    “I am optimistic that the police will do something about this pattern of violence we are witnessing. If they don’t, they will force ordinary people to resort to self-help, and self-help does not do anyone any good.”

  • Cross River lawmaker dumps PDP for APC

    Cross River lawmaker dumps PDP for APC

    The Cross River State House of Assembly member representing Boki Constituency 1, Ernest Eki, has defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Eki, who chairs the House Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities, is the second APC man in the 25-member Assembly. The first is Alex Irek, representing Obubra 1.

    The lawmaker told reporters in Calabar that he defected because the PDP administration had not been faithful to Cross River people.

    He said: “The present administration has not done so well to Cross River residents. We live on deceit. I left the party for good to obtain my mandate in the field.”

  • South Africa APC warns against rigging

    South Africa APC warns against rigging

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), South Africa Chapter, has warned against rigging in the general elections.

    It said any bid to alter the people’s mandate will be resisted.

    The chapter said: “We appeal to the entire role players in the 2015 General election at all levels to allow the will of the people to be done.

    “Any attempt to rig the election in favour of any politician, a group of politicians or a political party will be vehemently resisted.

    “Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice. A peaceful atmosphere of electioneering will include a free and fair election in which all the candidate will freely allow the will of the people and accept the outcome of the election.

    “The power of incumbency, political thuggery, insensitivity, and all manners of behaviour that may thwart the peaceful conduct of 2015 election must be shelved in the interest of our nation,” it said.

    Its Protem Chairman, Bola Babarinde, and Protem Secretary, Fasina Oludayo, sais in a statement that the South Africa  APC is unhappy about the decision to disallow Diaspora voting.

    Babarinde said: “As of 2006, a total of 91 countries worldwide allowed voting by emigrants including 21 African nations, 13 North and South American countries, 15 Asian countries, six Pacific countries and 36 European countries.

    “By 2013, the list has lengthened to include at least 113 countries and territories but Nigeria kept lagging further and drag behind in the list of these progressive countries.”

    He added that some countries such as France, Portugal and Italy allow their citizens abroad not only to exercise their franchise, but reserve parliamentary seats for them.

    “The question can therefore, be rightly asked: Given the immense contributions of the diasporan Nigerians, is it not justified that they should be allowed to vote and be voted for?

    “Who is afraid of the vote of the diasporan Nigerians? Is it the politicians who want to continue to play on the ignorance of the local voters and who see the diasporan voters as a potent voting constituency that cannot be bought over by the languid and spineless campaign tactics that currently operate or the government in power who want to maintain power at the centre through the disenfranchisement of foreign-based votes?” the members asked.

    APC South Africa said Nigeria will need to fashion out how voting will be permitted for its citizens that live outside the country.

    “For example, certain countries allowed voting by registered voters through the use of valid passport of the country; others allow only diplomatic and military personnel on foreign mission to vote at the embassies and high commissions; certain countries placed age restrictions while others allowed one to vote only by having attained a certain status in the country of domiciliary.

    “Allowing Nigerians abroad to vote and be voted for in the national, state and local election may bring an interesting bend of diversities to the Nigerian polity and introduce a new dimension and fresh ideas to our political system.

    “E-voting may be a good alternative to cut the cost associated with voting abroad and it is easily auditable and verifiable. It will also allow the national and regional government test the popularity of its policies with the enlightened and socially active communities abroad.

    “The diasporan voters does not constitute a threat to national democracy and these election can be organised much cheaply compared to the home based election as our embassies and foreign mission can easily host these elections,” the APC members added.

    On the need for Nigerians abroad to vote, the communique added: “This can also become a potent means of getting a near accurate register of Nigerians living abroad, a project that has constantly failed to date.

    “The authorities will need to come up with a system that will allow them to register voters from abroad while preventing fraud, and decide on the logistics that will support how these individuals must vote and be voted for.

    “As a matter of reminder, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan promised to work towards the implementation of the diasporan election come 2015. Here we are on the path to that same election and the large Nigerian population are still disenfranchise.

    “A Nigerian leader that will facilitate the voting by Nigerians living abroad will have won the hearts of many Nigerians living overseas. The line between Democracy and Xenocracy remains thin.”

    On insurgency, Babarinde said the level of insecurities has currently reached an all time high.

    “While security is an issue that needs the contribution of all and sundry, it needs to be driven by the leadership. We use this medium to appeal to the leadership of Nigeria at all levels to take the issue of security seriously and frontally tackle insurgencies and provide an enabling environment for the citizens of Nigeria.

    “In recent times, the killing of many Nigerians living abroad who visited home on holidays have taken a centre stage among others. We condemn such attack and appeal to the leadership to ensure that both our airport and the roads in Nigeria are safe. The security forces should be empowered to respond promptly to threats to lives and properties,” the communique added.

  • APC, PDP and battle for Lagos

    APC, PDP and battle for Lagos

    For 16 years, the progressive parties have ruled Lagos and impacted on the city-state. Will the situation be different in the general election? Ade Adetayo, who examines the two parties — the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — contends that the ruling party will have an edge over the opposition platform in the general elections. 

    The struggle for the soul of Lagos State by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP) is taking on an interesting dimension. The issues that will shape the contest are many. They include security, economy, job creation and the infrastructure battle. But, the slogans have not excluded innuendoes, half-truths and flowery promises, which to the discerning electorate, may end up as the elusive rainbow on the lambent sky.

    On January 4,  Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the PDP flag bearer, was  in North London to present  a fanciful speech entitled: ‘My Master Plan for a New Lagos’ to a select audience of party supporters from Europe and America. It focused on three key areas of security, education and health. To the PDP faithful in the Diaspora, it all sounded more like some sweet music to their eager ears. But,  to the vast majority of discerning Lagosians, Agbaje’s claim of the ‘real change’ is laughable.And why not? It all boils down to the fact that they have immensely benefitted from what good governance is all about, especially during the tenure of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) and his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Agbaje’s treatise on the new Lagos therefore,cracks the rib all because a politician cannot give what his party does not have.

    Indeed, one pertinent reason why the APC’s mantra of ‘Change’ has caught the nation’s polity like a wildfire and millions of Nigerians are queuing behind its party flag bearers at both the state and federal levels is the incontestable fact that PDP has failed the citizenry and woefully too.

    In fact, it has become an inglorious acronym andsordid symbol for all that poor leadership entails. Name it-clueless leadership,failed electoral problems, prevailing decrepit infrastructure characterized by epileptic power supply and distribution, pot hole-riddled roads,mass youth unemployment all signpost our journey so far from 1999 to 2015 under PDP. Add these to the twin evils of crass corruption and inexcusable impunity all in high places.And that again explains the growing clamour across the political spectrum for the much-needed and long-awaited change.

    It therefore, stands logic on its head for anyone flying the leaking umbrella of the PDP which has been unable to shield us from the scorching sun of inept leadership as well as the lashing rains of corruption to promise change. Agbaje’s  promises to act as the key to unlock Lagos state’s huge potentials is not in tandem with realities on ground. The reasons are obvious  because those potentials have  already been made obvious to the generality of the residents courtesy of APC’s people-friendly policies, programmes and projects.Where do we start from as the list is endless?

    Do we talk of the unprecedented turn- around in the state’s economy, which even Agbaje admits has witnessed an exponential increase from an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N10 billion  in 1999 to N400 billion in 2014?And which has made it possible for impact-making programmes in the key areas of infrastructural development, healthcare delivery, education, skills acquisition and transportation? What about the  most modern ten-lane Lagos-Badagry  Expressway or the Lekki Export Processing Zone?

    What about the effective waste management system boasting of 5,000 refuse trucks within five years of Fashola’s administration across the state? Can we forget the Operation Green Lagos with clean toilets, eradication of the menace of floods assisted by the dredging of canals in such areas as Orile-Iganmu, Ajegunle and Ogba? What about the most modern mobile  sewage laboratory as the first of its kind in Africa? Do we speak about the clean,orderly and affordable Bus Rapid Transport system that has since become a model for other states?Are these the ones Agbaje refers to as the ‘give-and-take policies of the present administration’?

    If indeed, he is true to his conscience Agbaje would admit that given the spate of preventable fatal accidents caused mainly by the okada riders, government’s clamp down on their nefarious activities  is all meant  to save irreplaceable lives. Some were reportedly  engaged in the nefarious activities of armed robbery and ritual murders. Those whose motor cycles were seized ran afoul of the law. Every responsible government is based on the rule of law.

    In addition, Agbaje’s claim of the collection of N1,000 from market  women per day as unremitted and un-receipted for flies in the face of the aforementioned increase in the IGR. Maintenance of modern markets do not go for free anywhere in the world. And so is quality education delivery, whether we admit it or not. But graciously, the government has made sacrifice in other areas to make the reversal possible.With the vast improvement in the pupils’ and students’ reading culture as evident in improved performance in external examinations set by WAEC/NECO and JAMB, his claim of poor learning conditions in Lagos schools holds littler water. This is incomparable withwhat obtains in the PDP-led states.

    The same scenario plays itself out when the APC flag-bearerof the state, Mr.Akinwunmi Ambode, a thoroughbred, tested and trusted technocrat and financial guru, is pitched against that of the PDP, Mr.Jimi Agbaje, a run-of-the mill failed politician cum pharmacist. While Ambode parades a pride-evoking curriculum vitae as the former Accountant –General, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance and Auditor-General, whose experience traversed several of the local government councils in the state, Agbaje’s own pales into insignificance. His only credential in politics is having contested the state gubernatorial ticket on the platform of one the defunct political parties.

    This throws up the fundamental questions. Even as an un biased observer or a referee in the game of politics, who would score more of the vital goals? Ambode of course, based on his wealth of experience in the administrative affairs of the state and his robust qualification in financial management. He stands on the brink of history to carry on the baton of the culture of leadership excellence which the forward-looking administration of BRF will be handing over come May 29,2015?

    The preference for the vastly experienced APC in the Centre of Excellence above the untested and untrustworthy PDP is the wisest of all. The  difference between light  and darkness  is patently clear.