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  • Buhari, Atiku: who will Nigerians choose?

    As Nigerians go to poll on Saturday, it appears the choice is between the presidential candidates of the two dominant parties, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). LEKE SALAUDEEN look at the antecedents of the two candidates.

    Nigerians with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will file out on Saturday to elect a new president, who will direct the affairs of the country for another four years. Although 71 candidates are jostling for the highest office in the land, the race has been narrowed down to two main contenders. They are President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar , the standard flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDPP).  Both of them represent the two dominant parties in the country.

    What is unique about the two candidates is that both of them are from the north. They are Fulanis and Muslims. Buhari is a retired military officer while Atiku also retired from Nigeria Customs Service.

    During his military career, Buhari had been Governor of the old North East which had been   broken into Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe States. He was also a minister for petroleum. In 1983, Buhari and the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon were selected to lead the country by middle and high- ranking military officers after a successful military coup that overthrew the civilian administration headed by Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

    There was no religious crisis during his tenure. Despite the fact that people have often regarded him as a religious fanatic, he has proved not to be one. For instance, he exempted Christian military personnel from performing duties on Sundays. When he was asked to exempt Muslims from duties on Fridays, he replied saying the Bible says Christians should rest on the seventh day and asked Muslims to show him where the Qur’an says they should rest on Fridays.

    Buhari, as military Head of State, fought against corruption relentlessly by initiating a campaign called War Against Indiscipline. He sentenced all corrupt governors and ministers under the Shagari administration to jail. This, however, affected some innocent ones who found their names linked with corruption, but were later discharged and acquitted by the court. The most significant part was that Shagari and his vice Alex Ekwueme were locked up while they were been investigated.

    As a politician, Buhari unsuccessfully ran for the office of the President in 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. He had lost hope of winning election. But, luck smiled on him when the APC gave him the presidential ticket in 2015. He won the election by more than 2.5million votes. The incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat before the results from all 36 states had been announced. The election marked the first time an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria.

    While serving as Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), Buhari refused to collect allowance. His reason was that his inner mind couldn’t let him as he is already drawing pension from the government. He remains a “folk hero “ to some for his vocal opposition to corruption

    He supervised the establishment of the existing refineries. He built and operated two petrochemical refinery during his short stay in power.

    Born on December 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was raised by his mother following the death of his father when he was only four years. He began his military bjourney at the age of 19 when joined the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) which was later renamed the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

    Atiku came into political lime light in 1998 when he was elected Governor of Adamawa State. While still Governor-Elect, he was selected by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as his running mate. The duo won the election in February 1999 and Atiku was sworn- in as Nigeria’s second democratically elected vice president on May 29, 1999.

    His second term as Vice President was marked by a stormy relationship with President Obasanjo. His bid to succeed his principal was rebuffed. It took a judgment of the Supreme Court  to allow Atiku to contest in 2007 after he was initially disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the grounds that he had been indicted for financial misconduct by an investigation panel set up at Obasnjo’s behest.

    The Supreme Court ordered INEC to  restore Atiku’s name onto the presidential ballot. He ran on the platform of the Action Congress Of Nigeria (ACN), having quit the PDP on account of his disagreement with Obasanjo. He lost the election placing third after Umaru Yar’Adua and Buhari.

    Atiku was banned from travelling to the United States for  corruption. He was implicated in an international bribery scandal along with William Jefferson and one of Atiku’s wives, Jennifer. In January 2017, the U.S. government in a statement said it would need the consent of Atiku before it can disclose the true state of his immigration status to the U.S.  Atiku had always claim that his visa was still being processed. However, in recent times,  Atiku in company of Senate President Bukola Saraki visited the U.S . with the aid of Brian Ballard.

    Atiku’s first foray into politics was in the early 1980s, when he worked behind the scenes on the governorship campaign of Bamanga Tukur, who at that time was the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority. He canvassed for votes on behalf of Tukur, and also donated  to the campaign.

    Towards the end of his Customs career, he met the late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua who was second in command when Obasanjo was military Head of State. He was drawn by Yar’Adua into the political meetings that were held regularly in Yar’Adua’s Lagos home. In 1989, Atiku was elected National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria (PFN), Yar’Adua’s political association. The PFN was denied registration by the Ibrahim Babangida administration. Atiku joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) one of the two parties decreed into existence by the regime.

    He had his first presidential run in 1992 when he contested for the SDP presidential ticket. Atiku came third in the primary won by M.K.O. Abiola of blessed memory.

    He won a seat to represent his constituency at the 1989 Constituent Assembly set up to decide a new Constitution for Nigeria.

    In 2006, Atiku was involved in a bitter tussle with his boss, Obasanjo, who wanted to amend certain provision of the Constitution to pave way for his third term in office. He said Obasanjo in an attempt to justify his third term bid told him that “I left power 20 years ago, I left Mubarak of Egypt in office; I left Mugabe in office; I left Eyadema in office; I left Umar Bongo and Paul Biya and I came back and they are still in power, and I just did eight years and you are asking me to go, why?” Atiku said he told Obasanjo that Nigeria is not Libya, Egypt, Cameroun and Togo. I said you must leave; even if it means both of us lose out , but you can’t stay.

  • Buhari or Atiku?

    As Nigerians go to the polls today to elect a President and National Assembly members that will preside over the affairs of the nation for the next four years from May 29, it is all too easy and tempting to assess the country’s evolving democracy from an overly pessimistic, even cynical, purview. Despite the plethora of parties and candidates, the election is a straight contest between the incumbent All Prospective Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Many consider this a dismal scenario. They contend that we are most likely set to vote mechanically without choosing, as the late Professor Claude Ake would put it, since there appears to be no genuine alternatives to select from.

    Apart from their organizational spread and relative structural solidity, it is argued that the two dominant parties are neither ideologically nor philosophically dissimilar. Again, there are those who would prefer any of the nearly half dozen younger, more articulate as well as rhetorically and sartorially seemingly more appealing candidates to the two leading septuagenarians contenders, President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who they dismiss as both unsuited to offer visionary, effective and competent leadership at this time.

    Furthermore, the nature of our politics is still seen, to some extent rightly, as  characterized, largely, by a vicious struggle for power by all means and at all costs mostly for self-serving pecuniary ends rather than altruistic, developmental motivation.  Yet, there is still, in my view, justifiable reason to take a more optimistic view of the country’s unfolding political development. The intensity of the political campaigns across the country suggests that no longer can the political class take the electorate for granted. No more can incumbency breed complacency. 2015 remains a lesson to everyone. Despite his age and the acute illness he went through early in his administration, President Buhari campaigned in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Atiku has also run an energetic and exhaustive campaign nationwide.

    Issues of performance and merit have also been significant in the run up to the election and will have an impact on the likely outcome. The speed with which the PDP has bounced back as a force to contend with in this contest, despite its devastating defeat as the party in power at the centre in 2015 and the resultant exposure of its morally repugnant entrails as a result of Buhari’s anti-corruption onslaught, is partly due to the perception of the APC’s performance in the last three and a half years. There has no doubt been a gap between the high expectations of change that the APC aroused during its campaign in 2015 and the party’s actual performance in power leading to some degree of frustration and disappointment among many of its hitherto enthusiastic supporters.

    However, an appreciable number of the electorate is also perceptive enough to assess the performance of the APC against the backdrop of the utter lack of vision, sheer incompetence and monumental corruption of the preceding 16 years in power of the PDP particularly the incredibly perverse six years of President Goodluck Jonathan. No one realistically expected the APC to magically correct in four years the cumulative rot and decay of over and one and a half decades that it inherited from the PDP.

    It is indeed significant that, despite the country earning less revenue from oil as a result of the sharp drop in oil prices under the APC compared to the PDP years, the Buhari administration in three and a half years has achieved more in infrastructure renewal across the country, diversification of the economy as well as massive investment in social intervention projects to benefit the poor on a scale unprecedented in this dispensation. Not surprisingly, therefore, the APC administration’s inexcusable unforced errors are insufficient to prevent what many analysts predict will be its inevitable victory in today’s elections.

    There is no reason whatsoever why either Buhari or Atiku should be offhandedly dismissed as being less capable than any of the other light weight candidates intensely admired in some politically ineffectual elite circles. Both men, no matter their limitations, are the two most exposed in terms of the management of public affairs over a wide scope and range of all candidates on the ballot. They have continually been in the public arena for the better part of the last four decades and their strengths and weaknesses well known.

    Some of the other bright candidates in other parties who clearly can make no impact in this election can always work towards the future. The enterprise of party formation, building and organization is no tea party. It is hard, back breaking work. In politics, it is unrealistic to expect to climb a tree from the top.

    The choices we have before us in this election realistically are Buhari or Atiku. Some cast their lot with Atiku on the basis of perceived competence and ability to run the economy efficiently. He and his running mate, Peter Obi, are successful businessmen. They have promised to bring their private sector acumen to public sector governance and create millions of job even though they have not told us how. Atiku had ample opportunity to display his ability in this regard as Vice President to General Obasanjo. In the first term before things fell apart between the two, he was practically in charge of the economy as his boss gallivanted the globe as an international salesman for Nigeria. Our best memory of that period is certainly not of creative and dynamic economic management. It was of the flawed privatization process characterized by sleazy opacity and debilitating cronyism.

    Others contend that Atiku has a penchant for attracting talent to work with him as well as having an expansive, pan Nigerian network of associates that will enable him run an inclusive administration in sharp contrast to Buhari’s unattractive insularity. Yes, the capacity to attract and utilize talent is good. But that is if a leader does not at the same time espouse as well as embrace lax ethical values that necessarily erode the gains of merit and expertise. In the same vein, an urbane outlook and cosmopolitan reach can become an albatross if at the same time a leader’s philosophy of governance sees nothing wrong in ‘enriching his friends’.

    Rules, standards, processes and procedures will necessarily suffer and good governance will be the ultimate casualty. In any case, if Atiku promises to offer ‘amnesty to looters’ if they invest their stolen money in the economy, does it mean that those from whom tremendous amounts of looted money and other assets have been recovered by the Buhari administration will be free to get their money back as long as they reinvest the money in the economy to create jobs? Will such investment be to make profit and further enrich the repentant looter or will it be an act of philanthropy?

    Again, Atiku has received enthusiastic endorsement from self-styled ethno-regional representatives of dubious electoral value because of his new found love with the idea of restructuring Nigeria. Restructuring means different things to as many individuals and groups as clamor for it. What does it mean to Atiku? It is difficult to say. The government in which he served as Vice President for eight years vehemently obstructed every attempt by the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in Lagos State to deepen federalism in Nigeria through judicial activism.

    In any case, there is a schizophrenic twist to Atiku’s current stance on restructuring. He waxes lyrical about his commitment to restructuring in the Southeast, Southeest and South-south but is curiously silent on the issue in the north. Is it therefore illogical to include that it may all be a vote harvesting gimmick after all, especially as a President cannot singlehandedly pursue and achieve a restructuring agenda without his party controlling an emphatic majority in the National Assembly?

    Buhari is non pretentious. It is not in his character to pander to populist gestures even if it will win him or his party plaudits. His inflexibility on principles he strongly believes in can be irritating, even annoying at times. The APC administration’s commitment to fighting corruption and enthroning greater accountability, transparency and efficiency in governance is a good starting point. As it achieves greater organizational cohesion and ideological clarity as well as hopefully establishes better dominance in the National Assembly in the next four years, the APC administration will be in a better position to pursue the federalist strand of its progressive agenda. This is different from the PDP, which even has no mention in its manifesto of the restructuring promise that its candidate has been so vocal about at least in the South.

    Much ado has been made about a few memory lapses on the part of Buhari during the campaign. But he at least has had sufficient presence of mind to have kept his eyes firmly on the ball of fighting corruption, recovering looted property and raising the standard of ethical rectitude in our public life. That is the critical thing. Buhari has had the presence of mind and character to keep a firm lid on the public coffers and preventing the kind of crazy dollar rain witnessed under Jonathan in the run up to the 2015 election even though as the incumbent that would have given him a substantial advantage over the opposition.

    Buhari does not pretend to be an extrovert or to have an armada of friends. All those are of course quite admirable attributes. But Buhari’s high standard of integrity, no matter his personal failings as a human being, will determine my vote today.

  • 2019 Election and national values (2)

    I received several private communications since the publication of the first part of this piece last week. It is not unexpected because of the passion that this election has generated for politically conscious citizens. Today, I will address a couple of the most fervent reactions.

    A respected elder asked whether we have any national values and, if not, what leg does my position have to stand on? And a professional colleague of many years challenged my claim that political preferences are reflections of moral values. For him, preferences are merely likings. Just as my preference for vanilla cake does not reflect any deep-seated moral value, so my preference for Buhari or Atiku carries no moral connotation.

    My response to the first reaction is that a nation without core national values cannot expect to survive, talk less prosper. Core values cement the various building blocks of the nation, preventing them from collapse.

    Fortunately, our national values are succinctly articulated in the holy book of the republic. Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution declares: ”The motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress (15 (1)). “The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power (15 (5)). And more clearly, Article 23 states that “The national ethics shall be Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labour, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance and Patriotism.”

    A lot is packed into the quoted statements of our national values. But if we truly see ourselves as a nation, what these statements require of us can be attained. And part of what it requires of us is to choose leaders who embody the national ethics as our constitution stipulates, or who, at least, aspire to attain its requirements. An undisciplined person or one who lacks integrity, doesn’t appreciate the dignity inherent in labour, is intolerant, corrupt, and therefore, unpatriotic, is a clear opposite of what our national values prescribe. To that extent, he or she cannot be trusted to lead.

    To suggest that our preferences in national election for the choice of national leaders is a simple expression of taste is to trivialize the significance of this vital aspect of democracy. Therefore, I stand by my position that this election and its outcome, would be an expression of our national values.

    Now, what I just stated in the last sentence is deliberately ambiguous. The first arm of the ambiguity is that national values could mean those expressed in the constitution as our national ethics. Certainly, there could be a coincidence of the outcome of our preferences and our stated national values. If we choose candidates who have integrity, are incorruptible, appreciate the dignity of labour, and are champions of social justice, then, our preferences and our national values are in sync. And the election would be regarded as an expression of our constitutionally mandated national values.

    Second, however, we could make our preferred choices based on individual value systems without respecting our constitutionally mandated national values. If I prefer a kidnapper as president, it means that kidnapping is not in conflict with my values. If majority of my fellow citizens also prefer a kidnapper as their president, then we would elect a kidnapper as president. And while our constitutionally mandated national values would be diametrically opposed to this outcome, there is a sense in which we could still say that our choice reflects our national values, where national values here simply mean a summation of our individual values.

    What I am suggesting here is that our individual values may be opposed to the national values articulated in our constitution. When this is the case, and the majority have values that diverge from constitutionally articulated values, the outcome of elections reflects that divergence.

    Let me put the foregoing in context. Four days ago, a Twitter subscriber posted a thread which describes the findings of a US Senate Committee on the investigation of former Vice President Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate. The findings include an allegation of money laundering and deposits of various dollar amounts in US banks. They are enough to raise eyebrows.

    However, what caught my attention was the reaction from other Twitter users. I quote here one which speaks to my point: “Yes, we know that Atiku is a thief. But we still prefer him to a 100 times Buhari’s Integrity.” Another challenged the writer to set up her shop with EFCC and it won’t deter them from their choice of Atiku. Of course, there are also others who insist that Atiku cannot be trusted with the presidency because of this question of integrity. When minds are made up this way, and question of ethics plays a back role in the choice of leaders, then, a nation gets the leader it deserves on account of the diverse values of her citizens.

    There is another level to this issue. Where there is an assortment of national values, citizens may decide to emphasize one or the other based on what they think are national priorities at any point in time.  For example, an individual may believe that social justice is the most important national value and then choose a candidate or vote against another because they are judged to be right or wrong on issues of social justice. Thus, those who accuse President Buhari of favoring the North in his appointments may close their eyes against the national value of a corruption-free society, which he has championed with fervor.

    We should note, however, that voters have other considerations that may not be as expressly specific to national values but are still tangentially related. Since 1999, the development and maintenance of national infrastructure has suffered gravely in the hands of successive PDP governments. There were abandoned road construction contracts from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to Shagamu-Benin roadway. Railroads were neglected. Airways was scrapped. The power sector was ignored despite a purported investment of sixteen billion dollars. PDP was voted out in 2015 based on citizens’ disenchantment with its record in the destruction of the economy and national infrastructure.

    Buhari administration apparently came in with a strong determination to impress the citizenry with its investment on infrastructure as well as the diversification of the economy in favor of mining and agriculture. In these areas, it has a record of achievements that it has been highlighting in its campaign for reelection. I just saw an impassioned commercial by an APC lady supporter on road construction across the country. For comical effect, she referred to Buhari’s magnanimity in rehabilitating even the road at the backyard of a former president who didn’t care for it when he was in power. Could that be Baba Obj? Ouch!

    The questions, then, are these: value voters have a choice to make in this election. If not all, which of our core national values do you prioritize? Discipline or something integrity? Dignity of labour or a society without the burden of corruption? Religious tolerance or social justice? Do you place value on using the resources of the country for the betterment of the lives of her people or for benefitting a few special interests? Do you prefer to reward failure and impunity or selfless efforts that yield abundant success for all? Then, just go ahead and vote your value and your conscience.

    Remember, however, the words of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, which I have paraphrased here: “Elections belong to (you), the people. It is (your) decision. If (you) decide to turn (your) back on the fire and burn (your) behind, then, (you) will just have to sit on (your) blisters.”  There are good reasons to choose wisely. It is unwise to get fooled twice.

    As I was finishing this piece, Opalaba, my friend, called. He had also read the last piece and was concerned about my “philosophical twist and turn” as he put it. Call a spade a spade, he shouted. “In any case, as for me and my household, for what PDP did to this country for 16 years, I will never vote for any of its candidates. Never. Do you hear me?” And he hung up.

    Happy voting.

     

     

     

  • Ndigbo endorsed Atiku in error, says Ngige

    Labour and Productivity Minister Senator Chris Ngige spoke with TONY AKOWE in Abuja on the endorsement of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and its implications for the Southeast.

    Do you think the President will win the region with the presence of Obi?

    Well, I don’t know. What I can tell you is that in Anambra State, we will struggle for the polls with Obi. We are not going to be pushed down like they did the last time.

    What do you make of the endorsement of PDP Presidential candidate by the leadership of Ohanaeze?

    The leadership of Ohaneze shut themselves in the foot. In a bid to please their masters, they went overboard. First and foremost, they went and did an endorsement in November 2018 and when the strategy committee of Ohanaeze confronted them in the executive, they denied. They said they were invited there just like every other person. But, the clips showed that they were at that meeting in Nike Lake and 99.9 per cent of the people in attendance were from the PDP. Professor ABC Nwosu, Dubem Onya, Prof Ogbu, Emmanuel Inwuanyawu were present. Only few came there without knowing that it was for an adoption. I am telling you that they found it difficult to conceal what they were doing. I personally spoke to the President of Ohanaeze, who is my personal friend of many years, and I said to him, we have a guest and so, he should do us the favour of moving this meeting to another day, so that we can all attend. In fact, the governors of the South East were to be involved because the governor of Anambra and Enugu will welcome Mr. President to their domain. President was to commission CBN centre of excellence build in University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. These were functions slated for that day and he said no, that he couldn’t do so because this meeting has been long fixed and I said no, the president of the nation takes precedence in appointments whenever he visits a place. Finally he said we can move the hours from 11 am and I said fine. Our president goes away from Enugu Airport by 6pm. He said no, that he can only move it to 4pm. I spoke to Ebonyi State governor, who is the chairman of South East Governors Forum, I urged him to look at the problem we have with the President of Ohanaeze,  maybe he can intervene because he is suppose to be part of this meeting. I had already contacted the governor of Anambra State, so he said he will take it up with him which he did. I personally invited the President of Ohanaeze and said, you should be at Zik’s place because this is your function. The governor of Anambra told me that he invited him. When Ebonyi governor called me that I should tell my colleagues that the meeting will be for 7pm because he had spoken with him. So by 6 pm we saw off the president at Enugu airport. Myself, Ken Nnamani, Governor of Enugu, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Science and Technology, former Governor Chime and many others started rushing to Nike Lake and got there around 6:30 pm for a meeting fixed for 7pm and we were told that the meeting was concluded by 20 minutes past 5pm. They have endorsed the candidate of the PDP. Two things are clear; Ohanaeze is a socio cultural organisation and not meant for endorsement of any candidate. What you are supposed to be doing, is to get the candidates, hear from them and give them your chatter of demands and not going to endorse because it is there in our constitution, that we are not allying with any political party. Some people have tried it before unfortunately they got their fingers burnt. With all due respect Professor Nwabuieze in 1999 without clearance from Ohanaeze general assembly endorsed Chief Olu Falae against Obasanjo. Olu Falae was flying the flag of APP/AD alliance. Chief Obasanjo won the election and held it against the Igbos and claimed that it was late Chief Alex Ekwueme that secretly told Nwabuieze to go and endorse. Little did they know that it caused a lot of bitterness between Alex Ekwueme and his friend Nwabuieze. Nwabuieze is a strong willed man so he did that by his own judgement thinking he was doing the igbos good. Obasanjo antagonised Alex Ekwueme and all of us who are members of Ohanaeze and all of us who he felt were close to Chief Alex Ekwueme and that was how he took some ragamofian from South East and made them his blossom friends. Again at another time, they went and endorsed in 2003 and the same thing happened. In 2015 the immediate predecessor of Nwodo Prince Igaliwe and the secretary general again went and endorsed president Jonathan and said his name is Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan that he is their brother. They failed because president buhari beat Jonathan in 2015 election. They claim marginalisation because of that endorsement and even the award and allocation of votes that followed there after. Some APC members used it against all of us in the APC. They said there was no vote from us and that the election was won without any input from the South East.

    Read also: Hoodlums set parties’ vehicles ablaze

    Obviously that affected the south east in the composition of government?

    That gave rise to the famous 5 percent; those who gave me five percent and those who gave me 95 percent been padelled against Mr. President. In any case, we are all human beings. If someone looks you in the face and say I will not vote for you and you eventually win the election and he didn’t vote for you and you saw he didn’t vote for you even though it is a secret ballot, but you also saw that there was allocation, tell me would you be very happy? However, I am not trying to justify anything. All I am saying is that we can be adopting candidates.

    The visit of a group from Ohaneze to the President, was that not an adoption?

    If you go and see what happened, it wasn’t an adoption, but a case of coming to say thank you for in infrastructural development that has taken place in the South East. The second Niger Bridge we can see it, he has put out N33 billion for it and no other government has done it. He put it in the national budget and put it as a flagship project in Nigeria and you are funding it. Unlike the previous governments that say it should done on an IPP bases for foreigners to invest and collect money, this president said I am building direct, I am funding direct. I queried with Okonji Iweala and Pius Anyim and the6 are still alive, when they came into the senate caucus of the South East in 2011 when we became senators. They came and told us that it is an IPP that they are doing on second Niger Bridge and investors were coming and I told them that they should clear away from here with the kind of proposal. Oweto bridge is being built for David Mark to connect Loco and Oweto for N80 billion and was funded from federal budget. At the time they came, the Niger Bridge was estimated to cost N110 billion and Madam Okonji Iweala and my friend Pius were saying that it would be built on contractor IPP and I said no and that was what happened. Today this man is building second Niger Bridge, he completed the Musullium. He is building Enugu to Okigwe to Umuahia to Aba to Port Harcourt which was abandoned in the last 16 years. He is building Enugu, Oji River, Amansil, Awka to Onitsha road which was also abandoned during PDP regime. I have no apologies to say that this man is doing well and that is what our people came to do. The people who came are members of the Ime Obi who don’t believe in what Nwodo and his group have done. A lot of us, don’t believe, the South East governors don’t believe in what they have done. Governor Obiano has voiced his own out. The Secretary to Government and delegations were with us standing there at Nike Lake and that was a total disrespect to us. I have worked in Ohanaeze, I was secretary of Ohanaeze Strategy Committee. I was deputy chairman of Ukpoko Igbo as President of Aka Ikenga. I brought Aka Ikenga from Lagos and we organised a forum for South East delegates under Abacha regime to go to the constituent assembly. We did it with our own resources. So no one will talk to me about Ohanaeze or Igbo politics to me. I have paid my dues. I was President of Aka Ikenga for 6 years. So nobody; I repeat, all these people that are parading and masquerading can’t talk to me about Ohanaeze or Igbo politics and non of them can tell me that he loves the Igbos than me. The Igbos of Anambra know that I love them more than any of these people that are parading all over the place. I put my life on the line for the people of Anambra state so that they will have freedom and I also ready to put it on the line again for the Igbo nation so that they can secure their future in Nigeria.

     

  • ‘Atiku only warming up for 2023’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is warming up for 2023 because he knows he cannot defeat President Muhammadu Buhari, an elder statesman, Chief Gilbert Olokesusi, has said.

    Olokesusi, a founding member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said President Buhari’s second term is sure on Saturday.

    “I am 76 years old. We have been into it since the First Republic. We know exactly who is contesting. Atiku knows he is not contesting now; he is only warming up for 2023 when President Buhari must have retired.

    “Then, Atiku will hope to collaborate with the North to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate who must come from the South,” he said.

    Read also: APC kicks as PDP plans its own results collation

    Olokesusi expressed optimism that the “philosophy of Buharism” would gain more prominence after the President’s second term.

    He added: “Before he finishes the second term, there will be somebody else who will continue with his good work.

    “I know he has the support of all the governors, with APC having the majority. So, where will the opposition come from to win the election?”

     

     

  • 2019 Polls: Buhari, Atiku peace accord ‘very strong message’—EU

    The European Union Election Observation Mission(EU EOM) says the final peace accord signed by the presidential candidates ahead of the 2019 presidential election is a very strong message to Nigerians.

    Maria Arena, Chief Observer, EU EOM, spoke with State House Correspondents, on Thursday in Abuja, after she led the mission to a private meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinabjo.

    She said that the participation of the two front runners at the peace accord was significant.

    The duo of President Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress(APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) alongside 70 other candidates signed the final peace accord on Wednesday.

    According to Arena, EU EOM is in Nigeria to monitor the process before, during and after the Election Day, Feb. 16.

    “The different contact we had with public organisations here in Nigeria and also with the authority gave us information on the election process.

    “We have a discussion today; first we say we have to congratulate Nigeria for signing the peace accord yesterday because it is a very strong message to the population. that all the political parties especially the two biggest presidential candidates took the commitment to have a peaceful process.

    “ We are here for this election and for Nigerians. It is important to have this strong message.

    “We have also discussed different issues on our observations, because Nigerians need to have a transparency process.

    “They need to trust the process; they need to be free to cast their votes during the election and this is just what we are going to observe as EU Observation Mission,’’ she said.

    Buhari, had, during the signing of the peace accord, appealed to his fellow presidential candidates to commit to the ideals of peace so as to keep Nigerians safe.

    He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already assured that it had done everything possible to ensure free and fair elections.

  • Buhari, Atiku, others sign Peace Accord

    President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties’ standard bearers yesterday signed a National Peace Accord in Abuja

    This is the second time they have signed to ensure peace before, during and after Saturday’s presidential poll.

    The deal was brokered by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee (NPC).

    Buhari, who is seeking re-election on the ticket of the APC and the former vice president, eyeing the seat on the PDP platform, urged for free, fair and non-violent election.

    Stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies have given their words in readiness to conduct free and fair elections, Buhari urged youths not to allow themselves to be used by self-serving politicians.

    The President, who acknowledged palpable fear being expressed towards the election just like any other elections, urged Nigerians to pray as they go into the elections beginning from Saturday.

    Identifying Nigeria as the “only real party”, the President noted that elections are only important to the extent to which they make the country peaceful to guarantee development.

    He said: “Another election is upon us and not unexpectedly, there is anxiety in the air. This is typical of any form of competition and contest, no matter how well prepared all contestants and regulators are. The forthcoming elections are very special and significant for the growth of our democracy.

    “First, they come immediately after one of the most peaceful elections in the history of our country. I am not saying this because I was blessed to emerge as the winner.

    “I am saying there had been a lot of fears and anxieties from within and outside Nigeria about the future of the country.  We are hopeful that this is evidence that we are all maturing in our disposition towards electoral outcomes. We see this as an opportunity to grow our sense of political culture in Nigeria.

    “Secondly, we are witnessing an exciting development in the area of the engagement of our Youth and Women in the democratic process. Hitherto, these groups have often not been in the mainstream of our political competition.

    “It is in appreciation of their contribution that we passed the Not Too Young to Run Bill last year. The success of the act is illustrated by the unprecedented number of young men and women who have stepped forward to participate in this process as candidates at all levels. Significantly, we have witnessed also the emergence of women as candidates across the political space.

    “Thirdly, these elections are taking place against the backdrop of the emergence of an unprecedented number of political parties. As of now, we have 91 political parties, out of which over 70 fielded presidential candidates.

    “Although some candidates have dropped out of the race, there is no doubt in our minds that our country is moving forward and that our democracy is expanding and also deepening.”

    “I call on all Nigerians to contribute to the building of a viable polity by more active participation well beyond the mere casting of votes. Elections by themselves do not constitute democracy. It is the spirit of citizenship engagement that utilises the energy of citizens towards the attainment of good governance.

    “We have assembled here to mark the final phase of our campaigns, and we are now at the doorstep of our elections. The campaigns so far have gone well and we thank God for that. For the few incidents in which people lost their lives largely through accidents, we pray that God grants them eternal peace. Now campaigns are over and our next assignment is for us all, citizens and contestants alike, to go out and exercise our civic duties.

    “We, the presidential candidates are here to sign and commit ourselves to do all that is possible to ensure the success of the elections but most importantly to accept the final outcome. I appeal to my fellow contestants to commit to these ideals so as to keep our country and people safe.”

    On the preparedness for the elections, he said: “The INEC, our electoral umpire, has already assured us that they have done everything possible to ensure free and fair elections.

    “It was to ensure this that I made sure that INEC received all the resources they needed to perform their job. Our Security Agencies have been fully briefed and they know that their visible neutrality is key to the conduct, credibility and success of the elections.”

    Urging Nigerians to pray, he said: “As we go into the elections in few days, please let us pray for our country. Let us use this opportunity to strengthen our beliefs in a united country.

    “Our elections are important only to the extent that they make our country peaceful and prepare us for development.”

    To the youths, the President said: “I am making a special appeal to our young people: Do not allow yourselves to be used to cause violence. Please eschew all forms of violence and cooperate with all the relevant agencies during these elections.

    “We will vote according to parties, but in the end, the only real party is Nigeria, our country. Our elections are important only to the extent that they make her strong. Let us do our best and ask God to bless us and our country.”

    The President thanked the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Patricia Scotland, members of the diplomatic corps, the international team of observers, for standing with Nigeria and showing commitment to the growth of democracy.

    He also thanked Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and other NPC members for the hard work they have put to ensure peaceful elections.

    Atiku appealed to INEC and the security agencies to ensure free and fair elections.

    He recalled the words of former President Goodluck Jonathan where he said that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    The former vice president said the Nigerian democracy should emerge stronger than the 2015 general elections that were adjudged the freest and fairest in the country.

    He said: “May I use this opportunity to renew my profound gratitude, firstly to my party, the PDP, and then to Gen. Abubakar and members of the NPC for their tireless enthusiasm, dedication, and passion towards ensuring the success of this peace accord process!

    “Our gathering here today clearly demonstrates the importance of the upcoming elections as well as how our democracy has matured, not only to our people, but also to the international community whose solidarity, Nigeria’s democracy has benefited from.

    “As we prepare to sign off on this Peace Accord, as representatives of our party and people, may I freely quote the words of former President Goodluck Jonathan, which remains a benchmark, for me, taking into account the deep feelings that prevail as February 16th, 2019, approaches.

    “My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. In this context, I appeal once again to every staff and the leadership of the INEC and the Police, to be fair arbiters in the upcoming elections while letting neutrality prevail.

    “For emphasis and in the spirit of fair play, I also urge our security agencies, not to embark on indiscriminate arrests of members of the opposition, 24 to 48 hours before elections, as has been the case in previous elections.

    “Hopefully, our democracy should emerge stronger from this process with the 2019 elections proving better managed than the 2015 process, which was adjudged free and fair with the then opposition’s victory unobstructed.

    “Consequently, I also appeal to the President, Gen. Buhari, to use his good office to ensure that every eligible person who casts his vote is confident in the process and in the belief that the vote will count.

    “Additionally, every candidate must remember that this election is about the future of Nigeria, therefore, we must abide by the will of the people as freely expressed through elections, under the terms of our constitution.

    “Once again, despite concerns expressed by my party leaders concerning likely electoral malpractices and the intimidation of voters and observers, I trust that our election officials and security services will do their duty in accordance with their oath and obligations.

    “In conclusion, I appeal once again, to our citizens, to go out and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice, to be peaceful at all times, and confident in our democracy, its institutions and processes.

    “So, please go out this Saturday to vote for your future and the future of our great nation,” he said.

    Gen. Abubakar explained why his committee decided to organise the peace accord signing in order to ensure a peaceful conduct for all elections in the country.

    According to him, elections will not hold in the absence of peaceful atmosphere, noting that even governance after election will not be peaceful without a peaceful environment.

    “Don’t do anything to make a bad situation worse,” he said.

    He said disharmony among political parties retards Nigeria’s development, adding: “Without cooperation among political parties, we are going nowhere.”

    He reminded the presidential candidates that by signing the peace accord, they had committed themselves to ensuring a peaceful election in Nigeria and that mere signing of the peace accord would not achieve the required objective “unless all other actors are forced to work with the same rules”.

    Gen. Yakubu Gowon, urged the candidate to tell their supporters to ensure peaceful conduct during the elections so that in the future, there may be no need for foreign observers because the right conduct would have been assured.

    “May the winner be as dictated from above,” the former Head of State said.

    The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland said that millions of people across the world were praying for Nigeria and its people hoping that the election will hold peacefully.

    She noted that Saturday’s election will be the sixth since 1999 when the country returned to democracy after military rule and expressed optimism that the election will entrench and build on the gains achieved since 1999.

    She said the world was holding their breath because Nigeria was the largest economy with the largest population and that what happens in Nigeria affects all.

    “It is a burden that Nigerian leaders gathered here today carry. We call on their party, supporters and public to follow their lead. Elections will come and go, but this great Nigeria will remain,” Scotland said.

    Speaking on behalf of the royal fathers, Diete Spiff, urged the politicians to place the interest of the nation above their personal ambitions.

    “We appeal to the people to keep the peace.” he stated.

    Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Clement Nwankwo noted that Nigeria at this time has a great need for peace.

    He said: “It is an opportunity for us to advertise ourselves to the world and tell them we can do it and get it right. We will report whatever we see. We urge you to respect the will of the Nigerian people. We will work with INEC towards conducting free and fair elections.”

    The document signed by the candidates reads:

    • Reaffirming our commitment to taking proactive measures towards a conducive environment for the conduct of a credible electoral process.
    • Anxious about the maintenance of a peaceful environment before, during, and after the 2019 general elections.
    • Reaffirming our commitment to fully abide by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to respect the rules and regulations as laid down in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria, and to adhere to best international standards.
    • Desirous of sustaining and promoting the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity.
    • Determined to avoid any conduct or behavior that will endanger the political stability and national security of Nigeria.
    • Mindful of our responsibility towards the Nigerian citizens and their democratic rights, we are determined to place national interest above personal and partisan concerns.

    At the signing were INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah and Ebitu Ukiwe.

  • Photos: Buhari, Atiku sign peace accord in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday joined other candidates to sign the second 2019 National Peace Accord in Abuja.

    The Presidential election comes up on Saturday 16th of February, 2019.

    Buhari and Atiku called for free, fair and non-violent elections.

  • INEC was never prepared for 2019 polls, Balarabe Musa says

    Former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, on Saturday expressed disappointment over the postponement of the general elections, but declared that INEC was never prepared for the exercise in the first place.
    INEC had announced the postponement, few hours to the kickoff of the Feb. 16 Presidential and National Assembly polls.
    Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, while announcing the postponement in Abuja, attributed the step to “overwhelming logistics and operational challenges”.
     The commission fixed Feb. 23 and March 9 as new dates for the  Presidential and National Assembly elections and ,   the Governorship and State Assembly polls respectively.
    But Musa, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),  in Kaduna on Saturday, said he was disappointed, but not surprised, at the development.
    “I am not surprised because INEC was never ready for the exercise, given the level of its preparations.
    “INEC had serious funding challenges; what was appropriated to the commission by the National Assembly was not adequate and everyone knew it.
     “We are not even sure if the approved amount was released to the electoral body by the Federal Government.

    Read Also:INEC distributes sensitive materials to LGAs in Bayelsa

    “The logistics and operational challenges are glaring. There are also serious security challenges that may affect the agency in the course of the elections.
    “The security services are facing the same funding crises and most of them are living  in fear.
    “You can also see the serious challenges being faced by the  Judiciary, who are supposed to play a major role in the election process,” Musa said.
    “So, I must say that I am disappointed, but, again, as I said, I am not surprised.
    “I hope that  all the stakeholders will take the  necessary measures to help INEC address the issues before Feb, 23, the new date for the Presidential polls, because the President can only handover power to an elected person.”
    Musa called on Nigerians to remain calm, while waiting for the new  dates for the polls.

     

  • Atiku promises to make Lagos Africa’s industrial hub

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar yesterday promised to revive the country’s ailing economy and make Lagos the commercial capital of Africa.

    Address a cheering crowd at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, venue of the PDP presidential rally, Atiku said as a Lagos boy, he passed through the hustle and bustle of the Centre of Excellence.

    The PDP candidate added he had never reneged on any promise, noting he would restructure the country and ensure true federalism.

    A vote for him, he said, is a vote for job security and end to unemployment.

    “I am not like the All Progressive Congress (APC) that makes empty promises. I promise Nigerians that I will restructure the country; I will do it.

    “I promise to create jobs, I will do it. Today, the country is writhing in insecurity. Initially, insecurity was limited to the Northeast, but had spread to the Northwest and Northcentral.

    “I promise to reverse all these trends. I promise to work with the National Assembly, protect the judiciary and respect the rule of law, if I become the President.

    “You also saw for yourself when President Muhammadu Buhari came to Lagos, all the trailers disappeared on the Ojuelegba and Apapa bridges, but immediately he left, they come back. It means the traffic issue in Lagos can be addressed.”

    PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus said the party was sure of victory on Saturday. He noted that the trend of the PDP rallies across the country was favourable.

    “Today, we are in the Centre of Excellence and commercial nerve of Nigeria. You saw what happened in Kano, Katsina, the Northwest, Northcentral and Southwest. Everywhere PDP campaigns, the whole place was shut down.

    “The man the PDP is putting forward is competent and can do the job. He will bring his full ability to rescue the country. Our financial and business climate will boom again.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said a vote for Atiku is a vote for better economy and better life. He noted that when Atiku is given the mandate on Saturday, the country would start a new journey for progress.

    He said the PDP candidate had the capacity to revamp the economy and hence, create massive jobs for citizens.

    Saraki claimed that the APC government had brought sufferings to the country, urging Lagos residents to reject the ruling party at the polls.

    Atiku’s running mate Peter Obi said the PDP was the best bet for the country’s progress and the citizens’ well-being.

    He urged Nigerians to cast their votes for the party on February 16 and March 2 “for a better Nigeria”.

    Agbaje, in his speech, said the PDP and Atiku had solutions to all the problems bedevilling the country.

    He said it was time Lagos State freed itself from what he called the political hegemony of people with vested interests and embrace a government that truly cares.

    He said if elected, he would deliver service and provides the real governance that residents deserved.

    Director-General, Atiku Campaign Organisation Gbenga Daniel said some Yoruba, who had been in the forefront of restructuring have backed out.

    He noted that Atiku was committed to ensure the country was made better, noting that it would start manifesting immediately he was elected.

    The Lagos PDP candidates contesting for the various offices were presented with the flag of the party at the campaign.

    Some hoodlums attempted to disrupt the rally.  A fight broke out among a group of miscreants, who found their way into the arena.

    The incident, which happened at about 1.50pm, saw the miscreants throwing punches and chairs at each other. It was not immediately clear what caused the fight.

    Those around the place fled, as policemen chased the hoodlums around the premises.

    It happened when flags were being presented to candidates for National Assembly positions.

    This was despite the heavy security presence as everyone was body searched before being allowed into the TBS before the event began.

    However, some boys were seen smoking within TBS, while drink sellers were allowed to sell assorted alcohol.

    Also present at the event are former PDP Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George; Atiku’s wife, Titi; former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose; Ogun State PDP governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu and former Kogi State Governor Idris Wada.

    Other are former Minister of State Defence Erelu Olusola Obada, PDP chieftain Doyin Okupe, former Majority Leader House of Representatives Mulikat Adeola, Senator Ben Bruce, Southwest Vice Chairman PDP Eddy Olafeso, Oba Olateru Olagbegi, Lagos PDP Chieftain Adedeji Doherty, former Minister of Integration and Cooperation in Africa Abimbola Ogunkelu, among others.