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Tag: bounce back

  • ‘PDP will bounce back in Imo’

    Alphosus Gerald Irona is the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State. In this interview with CHINYERE OKOROAFOR, he speaks about the readiness of the party for the March 9 election, why an Oguta indigene was considered for the ticket and what he would contribute to the position, if the party wins the contest.

    YOU are the first Oguta indigene to contest for an executive position in Imo State. What does it mean to you?

    I see it as a challenge and a call to service to good development. Orlu zone has produced the governor for the past 16 years. Now, we are craving for a power shift to Owerri zone and the governorship candidate was magnanimous enough to con cede the position of the running mate to Orlu zone. I was among the few people that were considered. Based on certain criteria, I was nominated as the running mate. So, first of all, it is a vote of confidence on me. It is also a vote of confidence on my area that we can deliver, because you can’t give such a position to an area you consider to be weak. So, to me, it is a call to service and challenge, considering the fact that our area is the only area that produces oil in Imo State. Our area has also consistently delivered for the PDP in all elections since 1999. So, it is a part of the reward from the party to consider an indigene of Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta and Orlu West in particular and Orlu zone in general for the job.

    Do you have any previous experience in politics?

    My service to my people started with my two term role as a councillor in Oguta Local Government. From there, I became the state secretary of the then APP now NNPP. In 1999, I contested for the state constituency from 1999 to 2003. After that role, I served as a transition chairman of Oguta Local Government from 2003 to 2004. From 2004, I contested for the seat of the chairman of Oguta Local Government and succeeded. I was unopposed and therefore was unanimously adopted by all the political parties. I also represented Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Orlu West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly from 2011 to 2015. After one term I became the Deputy National Financial Secretary of the PDP. This was my last post before I emerged as the running mate to Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. When I was in the House of Representatives, I championed the exclusion of Imo State from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). I moved a motion on the floor of the House, calling on the then President Olusegun Obansanjo to include Imo and Abia in the NDDC. I made efforts to call for Oguta meeting. Led by Senator Arthur Nzeribe, some prominent Oguta indigenes, such as Barrister Eze Uyimadu, Ogbuage Oputa Iworisha, among others, joined me to demonstrate at the National Assembly. After this protest, Imo State and Oguta community became part of the NDDC and Hon. Tony Okenwa was nominated to represent us in the NDDC. I want to place it on record that I have never executed or benefitted from the NDDC until today. You will agree with me that there was a time Senator Arthur Nzeribe nominated me as an NDDC Commissioner. But I declined and I was asked to nominate someone else for the job. Subsequently, I nominated Ikechukwu Akeru to represent Imo and Oguta community in the board of the NDDC. Throughout my political career, I have never been indicted, either by my people or the EFCC. I couldn’t have achieved all these without a man I considered as my father, as my mentor and as my leader in the person of Senator Arthur Francis Nzeribe.

    What is your relationship with the governorship candidate, Ihedioha? 

    We are just party colleagues. He is someone I respect so much. We have a cordial relationship.

    How prepared is the PDP to challenge APC, APGA, and AA in the election?

    Power is not given; you only negotiate for power or you take power. We are determined to take over Imo State through democratic means, because the APC has failed the people of Imo State in particular and Nigerians in general. The indices are there to judge. The people of Imo are asking for an alternative and the only credible one is the PDP. It was only the PDP that conducted credible primary, not only in Imo State, but in Nigeria in general. From the state constituency primary, the House of Representatives primary, senatorial primary, governorship and the national convention, the exercise was free and fair. They were transparently done. We have a rebranded PDP where the talk of the day is the performance.

    What difference would PDP government make when elected?

    PDP government is going to do things in a different way. We are going to be accountable to the electorate. We believe in the rule of law and we are going to follow due process. Our cardinal principle is the rule of law. We will govern transparently and we will be accountable to the people. How can we be transparent and follow due process?

    We are going to domesticate the Due Process Act in Imo State. A situation where government awards contract for a road will not be the order of the day. We are also going to domesticate the Public Procurement Act. In the Public Procurement Act, there are processes to award a contract in government in order to be accountable. We are going to domesticate the Freedom of Information Act, so that Imo people can ask questions.

    What should Imo people expect from the PDP, if voted in?   

    The primary responsibility of every government is to protect lives and properties. We are going to protect the lives of the citizens, because they mean a lot to us. We are going to ensure that our people have access to qualitative education. We are going to ensure that there will be an enabling environment for people to relax. We are going to develop the tourism sector. We have a rich manifesto, which outlines our plan for the growth of Imo State. We have a clear cut definition of what we are going to do. We are not only going to revive education, we will ensure that technical education is given priority. Within the first 100 days in office, we are going to make sure that money meant for technical colleges are channeled towards developing the sector. We shall consider building additional technical colleges. When some people graduate, they go to look for a hand work to do. So, we are going to provide opportunities for our people to fully develop their potentials. Everybody cannot do a white collar job. There are people that are talented. Talking about tourism, Oguta Lake is one of the areas that will be revived. It should be a tourism hub and the present government has not done anything to revive it. Oguta golf course has also been abandoned.

    You said Senator Nzeribe is your political mentor. What can you say you have learnt from him?

    A lot! I learnt to negotiate and to recognise when to fight and when to retreat. He also taught me how to invest resources.

    How prepared is the PDP to take over Imo State in the coming election?

    What we had in Oguta before is the PDP and the APC, but as I am talking to you, the APC has split into three in Oguta. But in Ohaji/Egbema, it is the Action Alliance (AA) party that is on the ground. The APC is not prepared for election; they are banking on rigging, because they are not campaigning.

     

  • Can PDP bounce back in 2019?

    Can the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bounce back in the Southwest in next year’s elections? Correpondent MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE writes on the preparations of the crisi-ridden six chapters for the polls.

    The Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been struggling to put its house together ahead of next year’s elections. The task seems herculean, but the leaders are not leaving any stone unturned, in the efforts to reposition the party to win elections in the zone.

    PDP members are harping on the party’s presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The PDP believes that the former number two citizen has the weight and capacity to brighten its chances in the zone when the die is cast.

    Analysts have said that the outcome of the presidential election, which will come before other elections, will define the outcome of subsequent polls.

    The region has become the battle ground for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The PDP presidential candidate is starting his campaign in Lagos. Atiku has said on many occasions that he would return the Southwest to the PDP as he did when former President Olusegun was in the saddle.

    But, this time around, many are weighing the possibility of the former Vice President’s statement. Observers say it was possible to do that when the PDP was in government. They noted that the unfolding political situation appeares not to favour such permutation.

    The PDP is not cohesive like it used to be because major stakeholders who assisted Obasanjo to conquer the Southwest have either decamped to the ruling APC or are not around to fix it back. For instance, the late Chief Anthony Anenih, who supervised the routing APC in the Southwest in 2003 is no more around.

    Despite the challenges starring the PDP in the face, its National Vice Chairman, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, said the party would reclaim lost grounds. He said the failure of the ruling APC to meet its campaign promises would boost the PDP’s chance in 2019.

    He said: “It has never been brighter in the face of the tragic situation in the country, the insecurity problem, the economic stagnation and the social development that has been put at abeyance. Our people are tired of unfulfilled promises.

    “All we are saying at this moment is to mobilise our people and begin to rally for the February 16 general election. On our own part, we have been able to stabilise the party. We have tried as much as possible to ensure equity, fight imposition and remove undemocratic moves.”

    Oyefeso pointed out that the malaise in the country has been observed by the international community, stressing another four years of the stagnation would cripple the country.

    “We are all set and I am very confident that the PDP would do very well. Like me make it clear that the two elections in Ekiti and Osun states are pointer to the fact that the APC is a spent force. The APC used security forces to scuttle the two elections and order to steal the victory.”

    Public commentators say, the internal wrangling in the PDP would work against the party. They believe that the PDP had not done enough to push a common front ahead of 2019. For instance, in Ogun State where the court had declared Senator Kashamu Buruji governorship candidate is making temper to high.

    According to the Southwest PDP chairman, the internal contradiction in the PDP is far less than the APC. He said put side by side the APC was more fractured, noting that the Kashamu case was simply a distraction.

    “You cannot compare the internal contradictions in our party to the APC. Kashamu is just one entity in Ogun State. The case will be made to rest in the shortest time possible. We know that he is the black leg among us and he is working for the opposition.

    “We know we shall overcome, outside Kashamu, I think we have stabilized within the last two years. The truth remains that outside Ogun State, other states are in good stead and what we are doing at the moment is to begin to mobilise for the elections.”

    In Oyo, PDP the dust has not settled. But, the party claims its chances in 2019 are bright. Analysts said the party must go back to the drawing board if it must win.

    The governorship candidate Mr. Seyi Makinde said had made frantic efforts to get former members of the party who defected to other parties back to the fold. But, his effort had not yielded the desired results.

    Prior to the PDP primary, he visited the former governor Chief Alao Akala, Makinde, went in the company of Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeniyan, were to intimate him of the leadership vacuum since the exit of former Governor Rasheed Ladoja. But, the effort yielded very little results, prompting the PDP to look elsewhere for solution to its challenges.

    Commenting on the PDP’s inability to get Akala back to the fold, Olafeso said the former governor had never been stable politically. He noted that without him, the party would win the election.

    He added that Akala had moved across the major political parties in the state. Olafeso said: “Akala had joined the APC, Accord and lots of other parties and so we do not consider him as one of us.

    “If he was one of us, he would not be migrating from one party to another party. We are stronger without him, with new generation of leadership. We have evolved a collegiate leadership where everybody has a role to play and it is working very fine in Oyo State.

    “My best bet is Oyo State in the 2019 election, they are doing very well, we will win the state hands down. However, the ruling APC has promised to retain the state.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi said the state witnessed remarkable progress during his administration, noting that Oyo people will vote continuity.

    He added that effort by the PDP to foment trouble in the state was rebuffed, noting that the party membership had swelled over the period.

    “The meeting we held with President Buhari in Abuja was to fashion out ways of repositioning the party for victory in the 2019 elections. I am happy that despite the insinuation that that our party membership has been depleted, it has increased, we will win the coming election in the state.”

    The Osun election, according to observers, is a pointer to the fact that PDP had gained momentum in the state. The result of the governorship election won by the APC through a re-run exposed the weakness of the party.

    That notwithstanding, the elections in the state are different entirely. They believe the PDP may not command the followership it recorded during the governorship election in next year’s polls.

    But, PDP leaders maintained that Osun people would repeat the same feat. They added that the governorship election was marred by irregularities, noting that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts a transparent election, the PDP would win.

    Observers who monitored the election in Osun commended INEC for a job well done. They however, blamed the political party supporters and security agencies for widespread interferences and intimidation of voters. Analysts say the APC and PDP have chances.

    The Ekiti State governorship election exposed the danger associated with vote buying. The PDP and APC have been accused by observers.

    Though, the parties tried to absolved themselves of blame, analysts say the trend had to be nipped in the bud. The PDP was in control, prior to the last governorship election. But, the situation is no longer the same. Governor Kayode Fayemi won the election.

    The presidential election would be a test case for President Muhammadu Buhari, who former Governor Ayo Fayose had criticised vehemently. But many believe that the exit of Fayose and failure of the party to win the election will brighten the chance of the President in the state.

    With the support the President Buhari gave to Fayemi during the election, the PDP’s fortune in the state had been reduced. Analysts say the PDP would not make impact in the state.

    According to reports, the most important thing is for the people of Ekiti to make their choice, through free and fair election and in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

    Ondo State PDP has lost its shine since the exit of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who had since defected to Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The PDP had been struggling to keep body and soul together, but the centre had not held for a long time.

    Despite the shortcoming in the party structure, the Ondo PDP is still hopeful that it would bounce back. PDP chieftain, Prof. Olu Agbi, said victory is sure. He said PDP is the only party that can better the lot of Nigerians.

    Analysts have said that the APC government in Ondo State inherited the burden of unpaid salaries.

    In Lagos, observers have said the PDP has no chance. Accoding to them, it would be difficult to undermine the structure that had been laid close to 20 years.

    The two leading governorship candidates, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC and Jimi Agbaje of the PDP, said they would win the election.

    The APC which had not lost any governorship election in the state, believes that it would repeat the same feat. Agbaje has contested twice. He failed at the polls. What different can he make in 2019? Will he spring a surprise?

     

  • PDP will bounce back in Anambra, says chairman

    Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State. He spoke to reporters in Awka, the state capital, on preparations for next year’s general elections at the state and federal levels. NWANOSIKE ONU was there.

    THE PDP has not been able to regain power in Anambra State because of internal wrangling resulting from imposition of candidates. What your assessment of the primary?

    From the outset, when we started preparations for our party primary, we set out to ensure that internal democracy is brought to bear in all our activities. We made it clear to all our aspirants that their chances of becoming a candidate will depend on the delegates and the party followership within their respective constituencies. We started to demonstrate this resolve by ensuring that the election of delegates was done in a manner that was satisfactory to every member. During the primary, we made sure that we informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is the body constitutionally-empowered to supervise the conduct of the exercise. We informed INEC about the time and venue of the primary, the Returning Officers, and, all the Committees that came from the national headquarters of our party to conduct the primary. We also made sure that there were INEC officials in all the venues of our primaries to monitor the process. So, I’m confident that for the first time, there was no parallel primaries in Anambra State during the exercise. All the primary for each of the constituencies, either the  House of Assembly, the House of Representatives or the Senate, were held in one designated venue in each constituency. At the end of the day, the outcome of all the primaries has been adjudged as very transparent by even the aspirants themselves. Those who lost in the primary have even pledged to support those who won.

    How would you rate the chances of the PDP in Anambra State in 2019, given that APGA enjoys incumbency and the APC is the party in control at the centre?

    Anambrarians and Nigerians at large have come to appreciate the PDP this time around. What happened during the APGA and APC primaries was a sham; it was a charade! It was a day-light robbery where people came to the centres where the primaries were supposed to take place and those who emerged as delegates were jettisoned for some other names. At the end of the day, even where an election was said to have been conducted, the outcome would be unmotivated both the delegates and other party members. You can find out from the INEC, if any of its officials monitored the primary of any of those political parties in Anambra State. Even the security agencies will certainly confirm to you that the primaries of both the APGA and APC in Anambra State were a sham; that there was no internal democracy in what transpired in those two political parties during their primaries.  I’m sure that both INEC and the security agencies will testify to the fact that transparency and that internal democracy prevailed during the PDP primary; we got it right. As it was also clearly seen, the APC national convention was a sham.

    What is your reaction to the choice of former Governor Peter Obi as the running mate to your presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar?

    In fact, that action is the most reasonable decision by our presidential candidate, former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar, and the PDP national hierarchy. The Southeast has been very supportive of the PDP family. You reward people for their efforts; you don’t reward them for their inability to do what is right. So, the choice of Mr. Peter Obi by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as his running mate for 2019 general elections, is a reward to the people Anambra State and, indeed, the entire Southeast for their support to the PDP. We all know that the arrow head of the PDP formation was the late former Vice President Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme. He hailed from Anambra State. So, by this gesture of the PDP presidential candidate in picking someone from Anambra State as its presidential running mate, the PDP has deemed it fit to say “ Thank you, Dr. Alex Ekwueme “. It shows that the PDP has really realised the major role he played in the party’s formation and that his contributions helped in making it the largest political party in Africa. Besides, Mr. Peter Obi has excellent antecedents. He is a focused person and a great manager of wealth. We all saw what he did when he was governor of Anambra State for eight years. Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is someone who is greatly endowed with what it takes to give good governance to Nigeria, so as to bring the country out of the current socio- economic and political quagmire the APC government has thrown it into, given the experiences he had gained when he was Vice President. Again, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is great wealth creator. And Mr. Peter Obi has a deep insight into the economy of this country. So, I view Atiku-Obi presidency as the best thing that can happen to the people of this country at time it is in a mess.

    What will give PDP an edge in Anambra State over other political parties at the election?

    We allowed internal democracy to prevail during our primary. Other political parties, especially the APGA and the APC, did the opposite. They allowed godfathers to hijack their primaries and imposed candidates on their parties. Again, the PDP had been in the affairs of this country until the APC took over after the 2015 general elections and our people have now tasted the two parties and they have seen the difference. They have seen that the APC is a party that promises but denies its promises. But the PDP keeps its promises. That the PDP was able to keep this country together showed that leadership in this country can be done in a detribalised manner. The PDP had shown that no matter whose ox is gored, whether a person is in your party or not, if he or she goes against the laws of this country he or she will be brought to face the law. The PDP had shown that the economy of this country is sustainable. All these have been lost since the APC took over the running of affairs of this country in 2015. We have been telling Anambrarians in particular and Nigerians in general to give the PDP a chance once more and, you will find that, all the current hydra-headed problems facing the country in all spheres of life will become a thing of the past.

    Given the overwhelming victory of APGA in the last governorship election, what gives you the hope that PDP will win in Anambra next year’s general elections?

    The outcome of the last governorship election is not a good indices for predicting the possible outcome of the coming general election in the state. Politics is local. What made APGA and its candidate, Governor Willie Obiano, achieve that 21-over-21 victory in that governorship election have come and gone. I can bet you that the same thing will not apply in the forthcoming general elections. I can assure you that Anambrarians are going to look at the various candidates who are contesting elections for the state House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate and vote for the candidates and the party that can attract democracy dividends to them. They know that anybody who gets to the National Assembly on the platform of the APC will not have much say at that forum. When you are unable to speak, how can you be able to bring democracy dividends to your people? Anambrarians appreciate the fact that where they have a better opportunity now is in the PDP. So, they are going to cast their votes for only the PDP candidates for the state House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Again, let me remind you that one of the major factors that influenced that governorship election was the quest by the people of Anambra South senatorial district to produce the governor as soon as possible. And because they had this fear that since our party’s candidate, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, might want to go for a second term, since he will be serving his first term if voted for and that he may want to go for a second term, after completing first term, they decided to support the APGA candidate, because they knew that he may go for another tenure. So, the people of Anambra South saw supporting the APGA candidate as the fastest way for them to produce governor, based on rotational considerations.

     

     

  • ‘PDP can’t bounce back in Oyo’

    Former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on his ambition, the recent controversial congress of the party, the agitation for power shift by the people of Oke-Ogun, and the chances of the party in next year’s general elections.

    What are issues or factors that will shape next year’s governorship election in Oyo State?

    It has to do with the people of Oyo State. The people of Oyo know the type of person they want to vote for. I don’t think that my party will like to gamble. They should be able to present an acceptable candidate to the electorate. They will like to vote for somebody that they know, not somebody that will be introduced to them by somebody else. It is better to have a known person to go for the election. It is about personality, not about party. The election in 2019 is crucial. You have to present your self well. You have to have a good personality and be acceptable to the people.

    What are the qualities you expect from the person that will succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi next year?

    I have told you what is very important. Apart from the constitutional requirements, I have told you what is required. People will to vote for personality, not necessarily party.

    It is being said that you are going to throw your hat into the race again. Why do you want to return to the Agodi Government House?

    There have been calls on me to run. They have seen my performance while in office. If you have tasted a soup before, perhaps, you will want to have it again. There are constitutional provisions. I still have the constitutional right of contesting again. There have been calls on me. I am considering the calls. I will soon come up with my decision. I told them to allow me to do some consultations. You don’t take decisions without consultations. Very soon, you will hear from me on that particular issue.

    Is zoning likely to play a role in the selection of the governorship candidate?

    I don’t think there will be any zoning. Somebody who is also aspiring to be governor of Oyo State said in an interview in your paper that there is no zoning. So, there will be no zoning. We just want a good man to lead Oyo State. That’s all.

    What is your assessment of the recent APC state congress in Oyo?

    It was okay. Politics is about conflict resolution. You need to make sure that you solve problems in politics as they arise. We are talking to the aggrieved. The governor is doing his best by inviting everybody on board. I know the governor will soon see what he can do to persuade them to know that united we stand and divided we fall. So, if we are united, the opposition will not be able to get anything in 2019.  Crises and division are very dangerous. So, we are appealing to the aggrieved that they should come and let’s reason together and talk. Politics is just like that. In politics, you will always see people who are aggrieved. We have to talk and resolve it.

    Are the aggrieved chieftains now responding to the reconciliation?

    They are responding. They have started. We will resolve every issue and move forward as a united family.

    You came to the APC from the PDP. What is your assessment of the struggle for power now by the APC and the PDP in Oyo State?

    I am telling you that the APC is on ground. We are going to win. The PDP has no chance. We just have to sit together, talk together and understand one another. We know one another. We know people to talk to. PDP can’t have any chance any longer. Unfortunately for them, I have left them. I was the soul of the PDP in Oyo State. You can ask anybody. I was the soul of the PDP in Oyo State. Since I left the PDP, The PDP has never been the same again. It was a painful decision for me to leave the PDP. That’s why I said the PDP will not be the same again in Oyo State. They are battling with the constitution of their exco. Only today, they published in The Nigerian Tribune that they have harmonised their exco. They can’t win the election. APC will win. Our president, Muhammadu Buhari, will also secure a second term.

    Why did you leave the PDP, where you enjoyed so much relevance….?

    One thing is this: I told you it was a painful decision for me to leave. I couldn’t stand the impunity again. They were behaving as if you are nobody. Then, you have to prove to them that you are somebody. If your interest is not being protected, then, you leave for another place. That’s why I left. When they were engaged in a lot of impunities and they thing they could go away with it, I had to leave. The PDP is not the only party in Nigeria.

    The people of Oke-Ogun are clamouring for zoning. Zoning is not in the constitution of your party. How do you see their agitation for power shift?

    Everybody have the constitutional power to agitate for anything in democracy. I told you that politics is about interest. The agitators want to be part of what is going on in Oyo State. A lot of indigenes of Oke-Ogun have shown their intention to contest for governor in 2019. It is their constitutional right. They have the right and freedom of association, assembly and expression.

    There are many people in the race for governor in Oyo APC. Would that not result into chaos?

    There were so many people in the race in Ekiti. Only a person was chosen as the candidate. Most of them were qualified. So, in Oyo, many people want to be governor. When the time comes, we will choose a candidate that will make us win. There were so many aspirants in Ekiti before a candidate emerged. That is what will happen too.

    How can the strife and rancour that marred the Ekiti exercise be averted?

    We will avoid it. That is why we have started now. We still have some months to prepare. But, what is important is that we should first of all get the party right. Let’s have a very strong party. Restructure and nurture the party. Reposition the party. We need to build the party and take it to a more enviable level. After that, things will work. We will continue to engage in talks. That’s why they say politicians talk too much. We will continue to hold meetings upon meetings to resolve issues. When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it.

    What are the selling points of the Oyo APC? What are you going to tell the electorate that will make them to vote for your party in next year’s elections?

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi has done a lot. He has a lot of achievements to showcase to people as what he has done. He has a lot of accomplishments. He has done a lot of projects. Has done many things to contribute to ‘life more abundant’ in Oyo State. So, we will showcase all these. If you add to achievements of Governor Ajimobi to mine, we will have a lot to tell our people. I know what I have done for the people of Oyo State. So, when we join the two together, we will have a lot of things to tell them. The records are there.

    Outgoing governors used to have anointed candidates. Are you one?

    With due rest to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, any out-going governor who is interested in installing a successor should not use the word ‘anointed.’ It connotes that you can do it alone. People have to be carried along. With due respect to Governor Ajimobi, I don’t think he has an anointed candidate. You need to carry along a lot of people. People should not be seen as candidates of somebody. In politics, you don’t portray yourself as the candidate of a particular person so that you don’t miss a whole thing. What is happening is that, as time goes on, we will all sit down. It is not possible for a particular person to anoint. Anointing a candidate will not work in Oyo State. It has to be through consensus. A consensus candidate is better. Everybody will support a consensus candidate.

    Is it not confounding to you that while the APC is still the ruling party in Oyo State, you are losing a by-election in Ibarapa?

    It is one of those things. We have seen where we got it wrong. We are addressing the issues.  Some people are aggrieved. There is a lot of in-fighting. Some people decided to work against the party. If they didn’t work against the party, the PDP cannot win. But, they worked against the party by supporting the candidate of another party. We just open our doors for enemies to come in. but, we have realised the mistake. We will correct it. It won’t happen during the general elections. We will move ahead.

    People are saying that during the nominations for next year’s poll, a big crisis will break out between you and the governor….

    There will be no crisis. We are grown up people. We will put the prophets of doom to shame. If there is conflict in our party, we will always resolve it. The party is more important than the individual ambitions of members. We will apply maturity to whatever we do. We are adults and senior people in this business of politics. We will not fight.

    As your party prepares for election in Ekiti, how would you advise the chapter there?

    They should carry all the chieftains along. You should secure the commitments of aspirants who contested with the candidate, possibly through writing. They should be given opportunity to participate in the campaigns and in the government after winning the election. Nobody should be sidelined. You should carry everybody along. We should watch the movement of our opponent there, who has the power of incumbency. If we are really united, I don’t think we have problem in Ekiti. Unity should be the watchword. Everybody should be brought on board. The candidate should commit the aspirants in writing that this is how we will go about it. It is like people going for hunting. When people are going for hunting, somebody can bring a club for killing small rats. Some will come with their hunting dogs. Some will come with double barrel for killing elephants. When the chips are down, you gather the animals you killed during the hunting expedition, you know that somebody who brought gun is entitled to a big part of the elephant. Those who also brought cutlass to kill rats will have from the share of the elephant too, but you will first consider those who brought gun and cartridges to kill big animals. Going for an election is like going for a hunting expedition. After winning, you allow those who contributed to victory to be part of the government.

    Your party is preparing for a national convention. What are your expectations?

    We will have a successful convention. We have started by putting things right. There will be a lot of politicking before the exercise. The high command of the party is making preparations. I forsee a rancour-free convention.

    How can your party ensure amicable or cordial relations between the Presidency and the Nationl Assembly?

    The party got it wrong from the beginning. They got it wrong from the beginning. Look at our brother, Comrade Adams Oshiomole and how he is moving. He has not become the chairman, but he has started consultations with the National Assembly caucus of the party. Our national chairman has never done that. With due respect to him, he disconnected himself from the National Assembly. He shouldn’t have done that. He has allowed a lot of things to happen between the executive and the legislature. If don’t talk to me, I won’t know your intention towards me. I will try to defend myself first. That is what the national Assembly is doing against the executive. The party is supposed to be in charge. They are not in charge. You don’t talk to them. They feel they are not wanted. It is like O-Y-O, you are on your own. They will misbehave. But, our incoming chairman, by the grace of God, will solve the problem. He has not become the chairman. But, he has visited the APC National Assembly caucus. The party caucus is important. There must be caucus before caucus. You have to lobby. In the United States where we copied our political system, they lobby. Before the executive takes anything to the National Assembly, they would have discussed it at the party caucus. You can’t just rely on just normal correspondence or mere transmission of letters to the National Assembly. The party caucus would have discussed it and there will be party supremacy. The party should have ratified it before any correspondence between the executive and the legislature. The president may be busy. But, the party and the liaison officers to the Senate and the House of Representatives should actively work together.  That’s why there is a logjam. How can the president of a ruling party with the majority in the National Assembly send something to them and they say no. Why? It is because there is gulf. We should return to party caucus. The foundation has been faulty. That is why we are having problems.

    What do you expect President Buhari to focus on in this last lap of his first term?

    Security, security and security. The president should please, for God’s sake, fund the Nigerian police. Funding of the police is very important. Police is a civil organisation. If the police is well trained and well funded, there will be security. With what is happening now, with soldiers all over the place, we will soon be having civil-military conflict. Let the president establish more police stations. Instead of establishing military posts here and there, what we need are more police units. Recruit more police personnel, train them and fund them. I am emphasizing training. In those days, before you were promoted, you had to go for course.  You can’t get promotion without going on course. If there is no training, they will not be prepared for the work. The role of the police is to tackle insurgency. But, are they properly trained? We were trained. In those days, when you heard about mobile police, you shivered. They were called ‘kill and go.’ Do you how where we started failing. Gozer is where the training used to take place. Boko Haram captured the place. No tool to fight Boko Haram. Let’s fund the police. Soldiers will not be there forever. Police will be there forever. Build police stations in those areas liberated by the army.

    The president is trying in other areas. But, he should develop the police, train the police and fund the police. I am not talking about this because I am a former police officer. If our police are well trained and well equipped. I know they will perform. If you interview  people at the United Nations, they will tell you that our policemen were the best in peace-keeping. The police should not promote any policeman who has not gone on course.

    What is the chance of President Buhari in next year’s elections?

    There is nobody who can beat President Buhari as at today. Snot in the PDP. I am a politics and I know this country very well. There nobody yet who can beat Buhari. I have not seen any. May be, as time goes on, there can be other candidates. But, today, there is none. He will get more votes than he got the last time. I don’t see anything that has changed. The opposition is not preparing yet. I don’t see anybody who can beat him now. In politics, some politicians have political value. Others have electoral value. Fortunately, Buhari has the two; political value and electoral value. If the election holds tomorrow, Buhari will win.

     

  • Recession: Nigeria ’ll soon bounce back, says Dogara

    Recession: Nigeria ’ll soon bounce back, says Dogara

    House or Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday said there are obvious signs Nigeria will bounce back from recession soon.
    Dogara, who was represented by Jimmy Benson, said activities of the House Tactical Committee on Economic Recession were generating consciousness in the economic sector and relevant government sectors.
    The Speaker, who spoke in Lagos at the opening of a four-day retreat for members of the House Tactical Committee on the Economic Recession, said institutions had taken proactive steps that have cushioned the impact of the economic crisis.
    He explained that the retreat themed: “Proactive Steps to Abate the hardship” being experienced by Nigerians as a result of the current economic recession’ was aimed at gathering information from experts in the economic sector to enable lawmakers proffer solution to exit recession.
    Dogara said the House constituted the committee to monitor steps and policies of the government aimed at pulling the economy out of recession.
    He noted that the committee, inaugurated on Tuesday, February 14, came into being after the House, on Thursday, January 26, considered the motion on economic recession.
    The Speaker said: “The committee has the mandate to interface with government, ministries, agencies and departments as well as Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), civil society organisations and any other relevant bodies considered relevant in the bid to arrest the recession and return the economy to the path of growth and stability.”
    The committee’s chairman, Bode Ayorinde, said the committee had held several meetings and interacted with major stakeholders in government, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ministers of Finance and Budget and Economic Planning as well as Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Customs Service.

  • Ikefe happy to bounce back

    Ikefe happy to bounce back

    Niger Tornadoes central defender Andrew Evans Ikefe has hit cloud nine following his recovery from knee injury sustained in Match day 8 against Enyimba at the Conference Stadium, Lokoja.

    Ikefe, who was particularly impressive during Saturday’s training ahead of Sunday’s tie against Sunshine stars expressed his relief at getting back to action and in a position to contribute his quota in taking the team to greater heights.

    The former Kastina United player said  he never knew the injury will sideline him for that long, as he was eager to return to action.

    “Watching my mates playing while I am not in action was painful, but there was nothing I could do at that moment.

    I was really in agony, but thank God I am back and fully ready to wear my club’s colours again”, he said.

    He hailed the spirit of oneness among the players in the team predicting that it is sure to yield the much needed positive result.

    “Niger Tornadoes is a great family, there is a sense of belonging and oneness, the love and concern shown to me I must confess led to my fast recovery,” he said.

    Missing six matches, according to him, was like missing an entire season even as he prays against further injuries as the team continues to push upward on league table

    “I thought it was something like missing one or two matches, I couldn’t imagine missing up to six matches in a row, it was not a good experience. My prayer is that we have an injury free setting for the rest of the season”, he added.

    As for match day 15 tie against Sunshine on Sunday, Ikefe hinted that it will not be taken lightly adding “we are going to be business like. We must show character, discipline, and fight on from the start to the end.  Sunshine Stars are a good side, we know that they have been in NPFL for sometimes now, but I am confident we will triumph even though we respect them”, he said.

    Tornadoes currently occupy 6th position on the log with 21 points in 14 matches.

  • Cleric: Nigeria will bounce back

    Nigeria will bounce back stronger from the current recession, the District Superintendent of the Apostolic Faith Church, West and Central Africa, Rev EmmanuelAdeniran has declared.

    He said: “Nigeria is sure to rise and emerge stronger from the ashes of failure, disappointment, and the economic and social woes that seemed to have blighted her prospect for greatness.”

    Adeniran spoke last week ahead of the annual convocation of the church.

    He said the nation real saviours who will bring about the much-desired change and transformation in all facets of life.

    The cleric assured that despite the ominous signs in the country, there is hope for survival.

    He urged Nigerians to trust in God because He is sufficient.

  • ‘Nigeria stock market will bounce back’

    ‘Nigeria stock market will bounce back’

    Oscar Onyema, chief executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange in this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf speaks on the challenges and prospects of the nation’s stocks market

    The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) index threatened to remove Nigeria from the frontiers market. What’s your reaction to that development?

    Well it has always been a risk right from when JP Morgan removed Nigeria from the emerging markets. So we’ve been concerned about it. The risk seems to have been heightened. We’re currently working to dimension what that means for us. I do know that there is about $480m that is exposed in Nigeria so a lot of that from that index but we haven’t concluded dimensioning what it really means in terms of capital outflow should they remove Nigeria from the MSCI frontier market. However, we intend to engage with MSCI and to continue to engage with the government to make sure that the concerns that they’ve raised are properly addressed.

    The market has been suffering a lot of shocks lately. What is causing that?

    I’m you’re very active in the market place. The global commodity price shock that has affected multiple countries has led to macroeconomic challenges and Nigeria is not an exception. We just went through a reporting circle. While a few of the companies did well, we did not get the kind of bumper harvests we’re used to so all of those things impact on the market.

    As a result of FX rate, l’m sure you’re aware that a lot of the foreign portfolio investors have exited the market. But in the process of exiting the market it provides opportunities. I always say it when the market is doing badly you want to look at it closely because it provides opportunities. The Nigeria economy given our demographics, given the sheer culture of entrepreneurial growth that we have, it continues to remain an attractive growth story in spite of the fact that we’re going through short term difficulty right now.

    It is a circle and I expect that we should view it as such. There is nothing that is happening today that has not happened before. We just need to look at new ways to approach the problem to make sure that we continue to drive confidence, especially investor confidence to participate in the market.

    Do you see recovery before year end?

    It’s difficult to predict this thing. What we know for sure is that market moves in circles. How long those circles are going to be is anybody’s guess.

    What does the signing of the MoU with the London Stock Exchange portends for Nigeria?

    We signed an agreement with the London Stock Exchange in November 2014. And the whole idea was to create a platform to jointly market companies from both countries to the rest of Africa and to the world at large.

    For us it’s a very strategic move and it gives us an opportunity to help corporates that are looking to accelerate their growth to do that in a way that diversify risk because they are listing across two different geographies.

    It allows them to generate activities both trading and value trading activities if you have two possibilities. So we’ve done a lot of work in the background to create harmonised processes that allows you to buy a stock in Lagos, sell it in London the same day. We couldn’t do that before.

    So really this window allows companies to internationalise and offers opportunities for them to diversify their shareholdings structure. For us, we believe that it is a win-win between us and the London Stock Exchange and between us and the companies that will be coming on board.

    But as you know the London Stock Exchange has a lot of African companies that are already listed. So it’s really also a window to create international flow of capital. So that dual listing catchment is not only Nigerian companies or African companies it’s also for African companies that are listed anywhere else now taking position on the continent.

  • For Nigeria’s economy to bounce back

    President Muhammadu Buhari told the nation recently that Nigeria is broke,  as a result, the nation may need the services of 36 ministers but all may not be substantive ministers. Those who were responsible for the present economic predicament of our country were the first set of people that made the greatest noise about the statement of Mr. President. For 16 years the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) ruled the nation and they came on board when the world oil price was at its zenith. The world oil price rose as far as $109 under the PDP administration. If luck was all it require to run a good government, Nigeria might have reached the eldorado.

    Good governance depends on good ideas, wisdom and strategic planning. Unfortunately, those in the helm of affairs then appeared to be short of all the aforesaid. The collectivity were group of men who were merely concerned about themselves at that period in history, without a thought for the future.

    An x-ray of Nigeria Gross Domestic Products (GDP)  revealed that it grows by 2.35 per cent in 2015. It is the lowest GDP growth rate since the quarterly data due to decline in oil production and prices. The oil sector shrank 6.79 percent to a 5.14 per cent growth a year earlier and 8.2 per cent contraction in the previous quarter. Oil production stood at 2.05 million barrels per day (mbpd), 0.13 mbpd lower than the preceding period, and 0.16 mbpd down from a year earlier.  Electricity,  gas,  steam and water supply dropped by 11.61 percent (-27.92in Q1).

    In contrast, construction grew 6.42 per cent (+11.17 in Q1). Services expanded at a slower 4.6 per cent compared with a 7.04 per cent rise in the previous period. Information and communications sector grew 6.26 percent, internal trade went up 5.07 per cent, finance and insurance grew 6.41 per cent and real estate increased 2.97 per cent. Agriculture expansion slide to 3.49 per cent

    It is imperative to note that oil accounts for nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria public revenue and 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings. The fall in oil prices has negatively impacted the nation finances and currency with the naira losing nearly 9 per cent to the USD. In 1961 the OPEC average oil price was $1.57, it rose to $17.44 in 1999, by 2010 world oil price was $109.45. Unfortunately, our leaders under the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) during the economic boom lost the opportunity to conserve the oil gains and reinvest such in order to boost our economy. Development according to President Barack Obama “depends upon good governance” and not upon strong men. The Excess crude oil funds in Saudi Arabia were kept for the development of health sector and infrastructural development. Algeria utilised the ECF, excess crude oil fund for road development and Angola do the same but Nigeria wasted the fund on acquisition of eleven presidential jets, over invoicing contractual agreement and launders over $159 billion dollars abroad.

    The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo declared in a newspaper that he left N287 billion recovered from the looted fund from late General Sanni Abacha when he left office in 2007. Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala confirmed that $500 million was recovered from Abacha. In addition 167 million euro to about $ 2.5 billion she claimed was recovered. Few months ago, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo, claimed that $50 billion was found in the account of a former minister’ under President Goodluck Jonathan in an American bank.

    On power, the sum of N2.740 trillion has been expended in that sector in the last 16 years, this information was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igalu to the Senate adhoc committee recently.

    According to Transparency International Corruption Perception Index for 2014, Nigeria is up by 8 to 136 out of 175 countries. Large scale fraud was reported in NNPC to the extent that the whistle blower, the former CBN Governor Malam Lamido Sanusi was ridiculously suspended and retired from his post for dare to mention that a sum of $20million was missing. The Minister of Petroleum,  Mrs. Alison Madueke was summoned by the National Assembly over allegations concerning missing funds, and for chattering a private jet to the tune of N10 billion. The minister declined the invitation several times. Today, she is currently in the United Kingdom facing charges of money laundering and bribery. The oil subsidies suspected scammers have been charged to court for economic sabotage, but none of the suspects has been convicted.

    The former Aviation Minister Mrs. Odua was allegedly involved in inflation of purchase of new vehicles for the sector. She was charged to court but she obtained perpetual injunction against the trial. The Airport renovation nation wide was humongous, but the world survey of major standard airports found Nigeria unqualified among the best in the world. The same applies to the railway system, while the world has moved on to supersonic trains, Nigeria continues to drag behind. The Chinese loan obtained for the renovation of our rail system was said to have been diverted to other purpose. Yet we are bound to pay back the loan with interest.  The Adhoc Committee of House of Representatives headed by Hon. E.J Agbonayinma is currently looking into the contracts/projects in the Federal Ministry of Transport with particular interest on railway tracks, maintenance and procurement/rehabilitation of coaches and locomotives as records have it that a sum of N187.2 billion has been expended

    The road network is nothing but death traps that have been sending innocent lives into early grave on a daily basis. The Lagos-Ibadan express ways for instance has remained a sorry sight. The rehabilitation of the said road is grounded due to non-payment of the contractors. If the federal government is financially solvent, the project would have been completed by now. The Airlines services is sordid. It continue to be a “coffin” in the air. In all, there is no single sector one can point to as viable.

    The economic reality is an indication that the President is using to determine the numbers of ministers that the economy could sustain. History of the First Republic revealed that Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the premier of Western  Region (now 8 states) had only 13 ministers, and Ahmadu Bello government in the North had 12 ministers. In modern times, states like Califonia in United States of America with population of 38.8 million and a Gross Domestic Product of $1.95 trillion has 14 full cabinet members. In the United Kingdom the cabinet composed of the Prime Minister and 21 ministers. Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution gave power to the president to appoint minister from each of the 36 states . Noble as this suggest, but the reality of the economy cannot support 36 ministers.

    The way forward

    The economy is down but the solution lies not in lamentation, nor in apportioning blame, statesmen are made of tougher stuff to turn things around for the betterment of the society. The Buhari administration should therefore arm himself with the sound knowledge of economy and political sagacity that will turn the economic downturn to economic gains.  President Barack Obama came on board when the American economy was unstable, and today the economy is adjudged among the best in the world.

    It is a known fact that oil economy is no longer reliable in the world today, but ability to tap other resources such as mining of various minerals, resuscitation of Aladja and Ajaokuta Steel Mills in Delta and Itakpe in Kogi state, can bring hope to the hopeless economic  situation. Gas flaring, if well tapped can fetch the nation more revenue.

    Agriculture has remained an old occupation that we can always fall back on. Before we ban importation of rice, we can invest more on the plantation in commercial quantities. Local rice producers can be motivated with finances and agricultural equipment. Activities of rice smugglers will need to be curtailed. Other agricultural produces must also receive government attention so as to meet the domestic needs of the citizenry. Once hunger is conquered, the people will be fit to contribute their efforts to the country’s GDP.

    We can resurrect dead and aged cocoa trees. A lot of revenue can still be obtained from the production of cocoa. The coffee production is still relevant.  The cashew nuts and groundnuts remain a viable option for economic development.  Maize and beans productions must not be ignored. Fish farming is another source of revenue generation both for the states and the individuals. Billions of naira have been wasted on fish importation. If there is time to turn the money on fish importation, it is now.

    Poultry farming is growing daily, but government involvements are little or nothing. Instead of allowing the importation of poultry products, we must expand the local production and ban its importation totally. As we save money which would have been spent on the importation, so we are likely to save the lives of our peoples who are being exposed to dangerous poultry products.

    Cattle ranches should be vastly created in all locality in order to preserve cattle and diaries products. The time to make it compulsory for cattle rearers to maintain a healthy camp or farm has come. This will end communal clashes with herdsmen all over Nigeria. If we will do the needful now,  Nigeria’s economy is bound to bounce back soonest.

     

    • Obaditan, a public affairs analyst sent this piece from Osogbo, Osun State
  • Chime: Rangers’ll bounce back against El Kanemi

    Chime: Rangers’ll bounce back against El Kanemi

    Enugu Rangers have promised to bounce back from their unimpressive results when they visit Karkanda Stadium in Katsina ahead of their Sunday’s Glo Premier League Week 26 tie against El Kanemi Warriors.

    The Flying Antelopes have not been in  form since they were eliminated from the semi final of the Federation Cup and their latest loss was  a 0-1 defeat to Giwa FC in Jos last Wednesday in a rescheduled Glo Premier League Week 24 tie.

    The Media Officer of the club, Foster Chime told SportingLife that the management and the board of the Enugu side have had series of discussions with the players and the coaches and that they have been told they must improve in their forthcoming matches, especially the away tie in Katsina.

    “The management has told the players to improve in their forthcoming games, especially the away game against El Kanemi Warriors this weekend. We are not happy at the turn of events of the season that started with so much promises and we are not ready to ruin it now,” Chime told SportingLife.

    Rangers are 12th on the log with 33 points from 25 matches.