The Nation Newspaper

Tag: defeat

  • ‘Polls postponement can’t save PDP from defeat’

    ‘Polls postponement can’t save PDP from defeat’

    Femi Fani-Kayode accused APC leaders of holding meetings with INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega in Dubai and other places. The Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly (SNPA) also accused him of holding meeting with Northern leaders. Did your party leadership meet him in Dubai or any other place?

    To answer your question, nothing like that happened. When someone like Fani-Kayode makes a statement, we should be able to ask him: where in Dubai did the meeting take place? Which leadership of the party met Jega in Dubai?

    But, he said he was not going to release any more information…

    He has not done so, because he doesn’t have any. If he has that information, knowing himvery well, he would have wanted it published.

    It is like the PDP is trying to do a damage-control, as its National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu came out last week to pass vote of confidence in Jega…

    Yeah, let me tell you; it is clear from what is going on that the PDP does not want Jega; the party does not want this election to go on at all and if it wants it to go on it don’t want Jega to conduct it. It doesn’t want the use of Smart Card Readers too; they don’t want free and fair election. Let me explain. One, if there is no pressure from Nigerians and the international community, there will be no elections because if the military has asked for at least six weeks. But, perhaps, six weeks may not be enough. Two, the postponement was done by President Jonathan using the military to blackmail INEC, so he can have more time for the party’s smear campaign, have time to militarise the election and perfect his rigging machinery. He is also hoping that, within that time, the court will be used to disqualify Buhari, steal more money and buy more PVCs. Those are the reasons they postponed the elections.

    Three, you can see that the moment the postponement was made, the only party on record, when we met Jega that supported the postponement was the PDP and 16 other portfolio political parties. I am serious. When, the position was made, the PDP justified it; it was happy about it. Last Saturday, I was on a TV programme, Okupe said there was no way the election could have held because X number of people had not got their PVCs. But, surprisingly, they did not use the argument of PVCs. Is it not surprising that the same day that the Council of State was meeting and the PDP co-travellers met and made allegations against the INEC chairman, asking for his arrest. They were preparing the ground for the postponement.

    The PDP said, I mean Ahmadu Ali, that they had no confidence in Jega. Now, given the fact that INEC had given a four-week extension for people to go and collect their PVCs, even as of February 5, 2015 about 67 per cent of registered voters had collected their PVCs, so it is reasonable to assume that within four weeks all those who intended to collect their PVCs could have done so. Now, how come they are now asking that we should not use PVCs again and that we should use TVCs? But, most people don’t their TVCs because either they’ve lost it or have submitted have their PVCs. The question people will be asking is, how do you want the election to have integrity? What has happened to the money you invested in card readers and in training? So, purely you can see that these people don’t want elections.

    Hasn’t what the President said a few days ago changed your perception about the election holding?

    There is no way I would believe anything Jonathan says. Absolutely not possible. You all watched the tape on Ekiti rigging. These are the same people that came out to say that the Ekiti election was free and fair and trying to justify that it is only when APC loses elections that they complain. After what I saw in Ekiti, in that tape, I don’t believe Mr. President one bit.

    There are two conditions we want to put on ground. One, election must hold as scheduled. Two, the elections must be free, fair and card readers must be used. Thirdly, there must not be militarization. The military must not play any role in these elections. If these conditions are met, we are going to accept the outcome of the elections. You heard what Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, then serving as Minister of State for Defence, said in the audio. He said we are not here for a tea party, I have been sent by Mr. President. Fayose said in this election, I am Jonathan. So, Mr. President assure who? No way.

    Obanikoro has sued; he is contesting the matter in court…

    Obanikoro can sue anybody he wants to sue. Look, we are not idiots. If you wake me up in the middle of the night, I know Obanikoro’s voice. They can’t deny it, unless there is an inquiry with that tape.

    Some people felt if Ekiti election had been rigged, there would have been violence…

    Look, that election was rigged so clinically that there could not be any protest. You heard and you saw that each tactical commander was given explicit instruction to go to each local government and work for the PDP. They did three things: one mass arrest of our leaders before and during election. Do you know what it means when you arrest leaders of the party? It means the man who has the resources to even pay agents and also mobilise is out, other person is just shoot-at-sight. Thirdly, which they did, which affected us, they were given specified instruction to work for the PDP. Let me be honest with you, we suspected it. In Ekiti, in run-off to the election, we were afraid about the movement, why did they change the Brigade Commander? What are these nocturnal meetings about? A serving governor, Rotimi Amaechi, was physically prevented from entering another state. So, what are we talking about and how could we have protested about those things? You think if we had known about this audio/film, we would not have presented it in court?

    Are you going to do that?

    You see, it might be late for the tribunal thing, but from now we will still go to court to say that this election was not conducted properly and that will be the bottom line. But, surely the military connived. What is going to happen is that this will help us in 2015 elections, in that we would not allow this kind of thing to happen again. Those military officers that compromised in the film have done great disservice to the military.

    Do you regret that this kind of audio or film is coming very, very late after the Ekiti election?

    We don’t regret it. I think it has come at a good time. You see, don’t forget that the man who made this video is not a member of the APC. He made the video and he confessed that when he decided to join the military, he didn’t expect to be used like this.

    What is the assurance that the March 28 and the April 11 election date will stand and, two, what happens if they start to reverse the order of election?

    We would resist it. For it to happen, they must tell us why? What would be the logistic reasons for putting one first before the other? We did not dictate which one should come first. As a matter of fact, we wanted it from the bottom up. Now, if anybody had planned to have National Assembly and presidential polls first, if they tell us they wanted to change, it means they are trying to rig for Jonathan and that election would lack credibility.

    We are not going to accept any change. Some Nigerians are asking me what would they do in case the shift they election again, and I said they should resist. The Presidency, the government, the political parties are products of this country.

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria has set up Tribunals ahead of the elections. Will the period between April 11 and May 29 be sufficient for litigation?

    Don’t forget that the Chief Justice set up Tribunal way ahead of February elections believing that elections would on February 14 and February 28.

    How has the postponement affected your plans?

    Clearly, the intention of the Jonathan administration in postponing the election is to create chaos and create an atmosphere where elections would not hold at all. But, we thank God that they have been disappointed. I think the reaction of our party and our presidential candidate, appealing for calm must have shocked them immensely. During the run up to the postponement, they were deliberately showing videos of post-2011 elections where people say Buhari asked his supporters to be burning cars and killing people. So, this is what they are expecting. But, thank God, wiser counsel prevailed and today we have frustrated their first initial plan. We thank God that postponement has annoyed more people and they have lost more supporters than they thought they would gain. Thirdly, I wouldn’t pretend, it would affect us because, one, we now have to look for more money; two, it would now give opportunity to continue with their smear campaign. It would also allow them to perfect their rigging plans; that is why you see the deployment of soldiers to some duties, but I can assure you, if anybody takes a survey between last Saturday and today, I can assure you that the APC has gone higher in the rating and the PDP has gone down. Yes, the intentions were to derail us and ensure they arrest our momentum, but unfortunately, what they have done was to postpone their funeral; you can’t wake up a dead man. What we would do is to make the best of a bad situation within the six weeks to gain more ground and acceptance everywhere.

    The PDP and some critics are asking why the APC is crying over the postponement of elections, while it has postponed local government elections in Lagos…

    Did they ever conduct election in Anambra? What are they talking about?

    But, it doesn’t make it right?

    No! Excuse me, what does the law say? What does law say about council election? It is a state law.

    What if those after Buhari get a pliable judge to get disqualify him…

    Nobody should toy with the fate of this country because the consequences would be too dire. Not all the people that are chanting change, change belong to the APC?

    Because it is clear, if one is qualified as a General and he retired as a General in the Army, it is clear that Jonathan’s aim is only to ensure that Buhari does not run. It is clear that it is between him and Alex Barde, the Chief of Defence Staff. Buhari’s certificate was removed from his record and it is on record. General Alani Akinrinade’s interview is so illuminating. Akinrinade said it is not true; he joined the army before Buhari, they requested for their certificates and their certificates were still with the army till today.

    You mean the removal of Buhari’s certificate is between Jonathan and the Chief of Army Staff, Barde?

    Yes. Buhari told me that he knew his certificates were in his file when he was the Army Secretary. They removed it. The army has become completely politicised. Quote me. The leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces has been completely politicised and the major casualty is this current political saga; it is not Buhari and it is not the APC. I am happy that some courageous generals are speaking up. It is insulting. For a man who went for several military trainings in Britain, India and the War College in US to be described as an illiterate leave much to be desired. They have condemned your entire military institution. So, everybody that goes to those military institutions are illiterates!

  • Olaitan saves Ergotelis from defeat

     

    Nigerian star,  Michael Olaitan   proved  a super sub yesterday as he rescued a point for his Greek club Ergotelis in their 2-2 draw with Panionios.

    The 22-year-old watched from the bench as the visitors raced to a 2-0 lead courtesy goals from Taxiarchis Fountas and an own goal from Manolis Tzanakakis but thankfully before the break Ergotelis won a penalty when he was expertly dispatched by Greg Houla.

    With the energy inside the Stadio Pankritio in full swing, manager Pavlos Dermitzakis sent on Olaitan at the restart of the second half and the Nigerian completed the turnaround when he collected a pass from Houla and applied his finish with great aplomb to make it 2-2.

    Ergotelis will next be in action against Atromitos in the Greek Super League and will need a win to get off the bottom four as they are currently placed 15 on the 18-team  log.

  • Marta: Brazilians don’t take defeat well

    Marta: Brazilians don’t take defeat well

    Such is her stature in the women’s game that Marta has found herself on a plane to Switzerland every winter for the last ten years. A serial attendee of the FIFA Ballon d’Or, her invite is by no means just a courtesy. Indeed, the Brazilian No10 has finished in the top three of the Women’s World Player category every year for the past decade, scooping the main prize herself at five consecutive Galas (2006-2010).

    Always amenable and available for a chat with FIFA.com, the 28-year-old naturally cuts a more mature and composed figure these days than on her early visits to Zurich. Yet she has not lost her spark, sense of fun nor burning desire to continue to push the growth of women’s football in Brazil. On the agenda for the conversation this time around were her high and lowlights of 2014 and, of course, A Canarinha’s major challenge for 2015: the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada.

    FIFA.com: You’ve not missed a Gala since 2004. Does it still feel like a special occasion?

    It’s fantastic! In a way, you end up setting this, being here, as one of your goals. This is proof that you’ve been playing at a very competitive level for a long time. That’s why, when the season finishes, you’re already hoping to come back and get your dose of Zurich! (Laughs) The first time I came here I was very shy, but I’m much more relaxed in these situations now.

    Taking a look back at your 2014, what’s your most striking memory?

    I think it has to be the Champions League final [Editor’s note: Marta netted twice in Tyreso FF’s 4-3 defeat against German and European champions VfL Wolfsburg]. We didn’t win, but we were going through tough times at the club. We knew that we were going to play the final and then the next day the club would fold. In the months leading up to the final, there were problems even for us to train, but the squad all pulled together. We said: ‘Let’s forget about everything off the pitch, the late wages… We’re going to work for each other and we’ll reach the final, because this squad deserves it.’ We grew into one big family. That’s how we managed to reach the decider and go toe-to-toe with a very solid Wolfsburg team. It was a very special time.

    Was that the year’s best women’s football match?

    It was a brilliant game! But there’s another match I have to mention too. Late in the year I played in a tournament with the national team and the USA were also in it, the first time the US women’s side had come to Brazil for several years. We were losing 2-0 but ended up winning 3-2. It was another game that had a big impact on me in 2014. Both of them are in the mix, 50-50.

    Let’s talk about A Seleção. There’s not long to go until the Women’s World Cup in Canada. How are the players preparing for the challenge ahead? Are Brazil not as strong as they once were?

    That’s a fact. We’re now eighth in the FIFA Ranking, while we’ve been higher in the past… What’s gone wrong? Well, from my point of view, we hit a high standard in 2004, 2007 and 2008 when finishing runners-up at the Athens Olympics, Women’s World Cup China and Beijing Olympics respectively… From that point on we’ve kept a core of players together, but some new ones have come in and others hung up their boots. We weren’t able to properly replace the players that left though, so we’ve had to start afresh with a new generation.

    We’ve got a league championship in Brazil now, though it’s still not very competitive or popular. A few years back we didn’t even have that and the national coach faced enormous difficulties in finding quality players, because he couldn’t get to see them… We wasted a lot of time and we didn’t manage to take full advantage of the generation that burst onto the scene in 2004. There should have been a more consistent, long-term project put in place, to develop promising players to a high enough standard to adequately replace the ones who moved on. So we started from zero again. And we have to be very thorough this time too, because us veteran players, like me, Cristiane, Formiga and Andreia Suntaque won’t be around forever. Only through consistent hard work can we keep the national team strong.

    Realistically, what are Brazil’s chances at Canada 2015?

    I think that we’ve got the ability to do very well, to battle it out with the heavyweights like Germany, USA, France, Sweden, Japan, Canada, England… That said, our current status doesn’t reflect that, because we’ve fallen down the Ranking. If we want to be compared to those past Brazil teams, we have to prove it out on the pitch. The World Cup is coming up, the Olympic Games are next year… it’s crunch time now. New coach Vadao [Oswaldo Alvarez] is doing a very good job, he’s giving all the girls a chance, he’s training with the Brazil-based players every day… That’s hugely important if we want to get the best possible team together and do well at these competitions.

    What’s the new coach’s biggest strength?

    His straightforwardness. He’s a very friendly guy and the girls feel comfortable with him. If there’s something that needs saying he’ll say it, but without going over the top. That’s to say, before we were a bit more restricted, told not to do this or that, but now we’re given more freedom and it helps. The girls join up with the national squad happy, with smiles on their faces, knowing that things are going smoothly. The whole squad are chasing the same goal and nobody thinks they’re better than anyone else.

    Vadao coached in men’s football for over 20 years. Do you think that makes a difference when it comes to his coaching style?

    No, I don’t think so, though one thing you do notice is the amount of experience he has. He makes it easier for everyone to get on together. For things to go well, you need to feel good in the workplace. That makes a difference and the players notice it. Vadao, and also Rene Simoes, give you the opportunity to have your say. Just because you’re a player doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an opinion, and we like our voices to be heard too. We can talk to him and that’s a good thing. We’re feeling good and that makes things go better.

    Taking a brief look back at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, which you attended first-hand, what’s the main lesson you drew from that tournament?

    Germany’s teamwork. They didn’t have just one standout player, a superstar, but their teamwork was vital in them winning the title. It shone through in all their games and it was what impressed me most.

    And what was your view on their 7-1 defeat of Brazil? Where did you watch it?

    I was in the stadium. As a Brazil fan I was devastated, very sad… Not about the defeat so much but by the manner of it. I’ve tried to find an answer for it, but to this day I can’t fully understand what happened. As I said, Germany had a very strong team ethic but we weren’t expecting to lose like that. As a sportswoman I’ve been through difficult situations, such as when you see your team is slipping out of a match and needs to get going again, but there’s not enough time. Things happen very fast. I could sense that in that match: the goals were flying in so fast that the Brazil players couldn’t react, couldn’t say to themselves, ‘Let’s sort ourselves out, let’s do something different. We might lose but not like this.’ They didn’t even have time for that: it was a situation I’d never seen before and one that I don’t think will ever happen again [to Brazil].

    How did you feel after the game?

    I felt a bit apprehensive. There were so many people in the stadium, on the streets and we’d just lost 7-1… Brazilians don’t take defeat well. In fact, I decided to slip out of the stadium about ten minutes before the end.

    The result appears to have led to some major changes in working methods in Brazilian football. What’s your view on the fallout of that result?

    I’ve not followed it too closely because I’ve been living abroad for so long, but I read the news, the players’ comments… Of course, that defeat meant that everybody started looking for scapegoats. But when things aren’t working, what you need to do is look for solutions to your problems, not for someone to blame.

  • Marta: Brazilians don’t take defeat well

    Marta: Brazilians don’t take defeat well

    Such is her stature in the women’s game that Marta has found herself on a plane to Switzerland every winter for the last ten years. A serial attendee of the FIFA Ballon d’Or, her invite is by no means just a courtesy. Indeed, the Brazilian No10 has finished in the top three of the Women’s World Player category every year for the past decade, scooping the main prize herself at five consecutive Galas (2006-2010).

    Always amenable and available for a chat with FIFA.com, the 28-year-old naturally cuts a more mature and composed figure these days than on her early visits to Zurich. Yet she has not lost her spark, sense of fun nor burning desire to continue to push the growth of women’s football in Brazil. On the agenda for the conversation this time around were her high and lowlights of 2014 and, of course, A Canarinha’s major challenge for 2015: the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada.

    FIFA.com: You’ve not missed a Gala since 2004. Does it still feel like a special occasion?

    It’s fantastic! In a way, you end up setting this, being here, as one of your goals. This is proof that you’ve been playing at a very competitive level for a long time. That’s why, when the season finishes, you’re already hoping to come back and get your dose of Zurich! (Laughs) The first time I came here I was very shy, but I’m much more relaxed in these situations now.

    Taking a look back at your 2014, what’s your most striking memory?

    I think it has to be the Champions League final [Editor’s note: Marta netted twice in Tyreso FF’s 4-3 defeat against German and European champions VfL Wolfsburg]. We didn’t win, but we were going through tough times at the club. We knew that we were going to play the final and then the next day the club would fold. In the months leading up to the final, there were problems even for us to train, but the squad all pulled together. We said: ‘Let’s forget about everything off the pitch, the late wages… We’re going to work for each other and we’ll reach the final, because this squad deserves it.’ We grew into one big family. That’s how we managed to reach the decider and go toe-to-toe with a very solid Wolfsburg team. It was a very special time.

    Was that the year’s best women’s football match?

    It was a brilliant game! But there’s another match I have to mention too. Late in the year I played in a tournament with the national team and the USA were also in it, the first time the US women’s side had come to Brazil for several years. We were losing 2-0 but ended up winning 3-2. It was another game that had a big impact on me in 2014. Both of them are in the mix, 50-50.

    Let’s talk about A Seleção. There’s not long to go until the Women’s World Cup in Canada. How are the players preparing for the challenge ahead? Are Brazil not as strong as they once were?

    That’s a fact. We’re now eighth in the FIFA Ranking, while we’ve been higher in the past… What’s gone wrong? Well, from my point of view, we hit a high standard in 2004, 2007 and 2008 when finishing runners-up at the Athens Olympics, Women’s World Cup China and Beijing Olympics respectively… From that point on we’ve kept a core of players together, but some new ones have come in and others hung up their boots. We weren’t able to properly replace the players that left though, so we’ve had to start afresh with a new generation.

    We’ve got a league championship in Brazil now, though it’s still not very competitive or popular. A few years back we didn’t even have that and the national coach faced enormous difficulties in finding quality players, because he couldn’t get to see them… We wasted a lot of time and we didn’t manage to take full advantage of the generation that burst onto the scene in 2004. There should have been a more consistent, long-term project put in place, to develop promising players to a high enough standard to adequately replace the ones who moved on. So we started from zero again. And we have to be very thorough this time too, because us veteran players, like me, Cristiane, Formiga and Andreia Suntaque won’t be around forever. Only through consistent hard work can we keep the national team strong.

    Realistically, what are Brazil’s chances at Canada 2015?

    I think that we’ve got the ability to do very well, to battle it out with the heavyweights like Germany, USA, France, Sweden, Japan, Canada, England… That said, our current status doesn’t reflect that, because we’ve fallen down the Ranking. If we want to be compared to those past Brazil teams, we have to prove it out on the pitch. The World Cup is coming up, the Olympic Games are next year… it’s crunch time now. New coach Vadao [Oswaldo Alvarez] is doing a very good job, he’s giving all the girls a chance, he’s training with the Brazil-based players every day… That’s hugely important if we want to get the best possible team together and do well at these competitions.

    What’s the new coach’s biggest strength?

    His straightforwardness. He’s a very friendly guy and the girls feel comfortable with him. If there’s something that needs saying he’ll say it, but without going over the top. That’s to say, before we were a bit more restricted, told not to do this or that, but now we’re given more freedom and it helps. The girls join up with the national squad happy, with smiles on their faces, knowing that things are going smoothly. The whole squad are chasing the same goal and nobody thinks they’re better than anyone else.

    Vadao coached in men’s football for over 20 years. Do you think that makes a difference when it comes to his coaching style?

    No, I don’t think so, though one thing you do notice is the amount of experience he has. He makes it easier for everyone to get on together. For things to go well, you need to feel good in the workplace. That makes a difference and the players notice it. Vadao, and also Rene Simoes, give you the opportunity to have your say. Just because you’re a player doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an opinion, and we like our voices to be heard too. We can talk to him and that’s a good thing. We’re feeling good and that makes things go better.

    Taking a brief look back at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, which you attended first-hand, what’s the main lesson you drew from that tournament?

    Germany’s teamwork. They didn’t have just one standout player, a superstar, but their teamwork was vital in them winning the title. It shone through in all their games and it was what impressed me most.

    And what was your view on their 7-1 defeat of Brazil? Where did you watch it?

    I was in the stadium. As a Brazil fan I was devastated, very sad… Not about the defeat so much but by the manner of it. I’ve tried to find an answer for it, but to this day I can’t fully understand what happened. As I said, Germany had a very strong team ethic but we weren’t expecting to lose like that. As a sportswoman I’ve been through difficult situations, such as when you see your team is slipping out of a match and needs to get going again, but there’s not enough time. Things happen very fast. I could sense that in that match: the goals were flying in so fast that the Brazil players couldn’t react, couldn’t say to themselves, ‘Let’s sort ourselves out, let’s do something different. We might lose but not like this.’ They didn’t even have time for that: it was a situation I’d never seen before and one that I don’t think will ever happen again [to Brazil].

    How did you feel after the game?

    I felt a bit apprehensive. There were so many people in the stadium, on the streets and we’d just lost 7-1… Brazilians don’t take defeat well. In fact, I decided to slip out of the stadium about ten minutes before the end.

    The result appears to have led to some major changes in working methods in Brazilian football. What’s your view on the fallout of that result?

    I’ve not followed it too closely because I’ve been living abroad for so long, but I read the news, the players’ comments… Of course, that defeat meant that everybody started looking for scapegoats. But when things aren’t working, what you need to do is look for solutions to your problems, not for someone to blame.

  • 2015: How Buhari ’ll defeat Jonathan, by ex-Speaker

    2015: How Buhari ’ll defeat Jonathan, by ex-Speaker

    APC candidate ‘to run issue-based campaign’

    The push to win next February’s presidential race will get a fillip this week as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) get set to open their campaigns.

    At the weekend, the PDP raked in about N21 billion for its campaign. The APC is getting set for action, with a meeting today of its Chibuke Amaechi-led campaign committee.

    There is optimism in the APC that its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu buhari, will defeat PDP’s President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, who is Katsina State APC governorship candidate, spoke about how, in his view, Gen. Buhari will win the election.

    Masari said should the people’s votes count, Gen. Buhari would beat President Jonathan hands down.

    He spoke in Kaduna during a meeting with Katsina State indigenes resident in Kaduna.

    According to him, bad leadership, corruption and lack of foresight are the problems of the Jonathan administration.

    He said: “Take the number of votes from Northwest, take the number of votes from Southwest; 90 per cent of Northeast is APC, 90 per cent of Northwest is APC, 80 per cent of South-west is APC. Edo is APC. The worst scenario is Rivers. There we have the state government, so it cannot be easy for anybody to try and rig election there.

    “We all know that the entire population of Southsouth is not up to Lagos or Kano. We know the total number of voters in the Southeast. The only stronghold of PDP now is the Southsouth and the Southeast. As at today, the collection of PVC in the PDP stronghold is not more than 30 %, so let us see how 100 per cent will come.”

    President Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs Dr. Doyin Okupe last week said election is not mathematics.

    Okupe, speaking during his visit to a media house in Lagos, said the calculation that APC would win the presidential election is “an error.”

    Gen. Buhari has mandated the party to ensure that his campaign team reflects all tendencies in the party.

    He also urged the party to seek input from all presidential aspirants, APC governors and party leaders at all levels.

    In deference to Gen. Buhari’s request, APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun will today meet in Abuja with the Presidential Campaign Organisation Director-General Governor Amaechi and the Chairman of the Campaign  Advisory Committee, Mr. Audu Ogbeh on how to constitute an all-inclusive campaign team.

    A source told our correspondent that Buhari unfolded his plans to key associates at a meeting in Kaduna.

    He said he would not want his campaign personalised as it happened when he contested on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).

    The source quoted Gen. Buhari as saying: “This time around, I want party ownership of the campaign. The campaign team will reflect all the tendencies in the party.

    “Some of you who have been with me over the years may not be included but I want everyone involved because this is a collective mandate. The overall target of defeating PDP is more important than personalising the campaign.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Buhari said all presidential aspirants, governors and leaders at all levels will be involved in his campaign.

    “So, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, ex- VP Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah and all the governors will play key roles in the APC campaign. They have rich experience in politics and campaign that cannot be wished away.

    “The colour of APC campaign will be based on grassroots mobilisation. We want to take PDP to the cleaners. The ruling party may rely on money; we will campaign for change and explain why it is necessary to effect this change.”

    Another source added: “The APC will be decorous and lay the facts on the table for Nigerians to appreciate that a change is desirable for the nation in 2015.”

    The APC plans to make what a member of the NWC described as “substantial” inroads into the SouthSouth and the Southeast.

    The NWC member said: “APC is targeting huge votes from these two zones where it has been stigmatised.

    “ By the time the people of the two zones realise the misrule of the PDP, the story will be different at the poll in February 2015.

    Speaking on his chances in the Katsina governorship race, Masari told his supporters:”We are in democracy. We must deepen democracy. And we believed in 2011 we won the governorship election in Katsina. Even those who were responsible for the collation of election results told me personally that we won the election.

    “So this 2015, we are not afraid. All what we want is give the people what will make them vote; simple.”

    On his plans for the people, if elected as governor in 2015, Masari said Katsinans are farmers adding that he would revamp agriculture.

     

     

  • Aspirant accepts defeat, begs others to sheathe swords

    Aspirant accepts defeat, begs others to sheathe swords

    A member representing Sagbama Ekeremor Federal Constituency  in Bayelsa State, Dr. Stella Dorgu, on Tuesday accepted the out come of the Senate’s primaries which she lost to Dr. Foster Ogola.

    Dorgu in a statement made available to The Nation in Yenogoa said her desire to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Bayelsa West Senatorial District was not a do-or-die affair.

    She called on her supporters to remain steadfast and transfer their loyalty to Ogola whose ticket was being dragged by the incumbent senator, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri.

    Dorgu in the statement said her journey into politics was borne out of her desire to improve the lots of the downtrodden.

    “I expect other contestants to sheathe their swords and work in tandem with the current state of affairs because any attempt to thwart the process will see us many steps behind our contemporaries”, she said.

    She said the outcome of the primaries would no deter her from using her foundation to help her constituents to acquire self-reliant skills.

    She called on her constituents to see her foundation as platform to spur them to greater heights irrespective of the electoral outcome.

    “My belief on democracy is not only hinged on occupying elective offices. But as an individual I believe I can contribute in uplifting people in my private capacity”, she said.

    Dorgu insisted that the collaboration between private partners and the government would help to create a better society and reduce people’s over-dependence on government.

  • Mysteries of Fayemi’s defeat ’ll be unravelled, says Soyinka

    Mysteries of Fayemi’s defeat ’ll be unravelled, says Soyinka

    •Tambuwal, governors, clerics attend outgoing-governor’s thanksgiving

    The mysteries surrounding the defeat of Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election will be unravelled one day, the Nobel laureate, Prof. Woke Soyinka, has said.

    Soyinka spoke yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while inaugurating the new Government House , christened “Ayoba Villa”.

    He was apparently amazed at the outcome of the election despite Fayemi’s performance, which he said had placed Ekiti on a strong footing through the programmes and legacy projects put in place.

    The dramatist said the state had been “resurrected from its dull state by Fayemi’s good works,” adding that the joyful atmosphere that permeated the event was an indication of his conviction.

    He advised the people to put aside all the mysteries surrounding the loss and continue to build on the “good foundation” the governor had established.

    Soyinka said the government lodge is open to the next governor to “either honour or desecrate.”

    He added however that the decision to toe Fayemi’s honourable path is the choice of the governor’s successor.

    The poet, who noted that Ekiti State had known many honourable people like the late Governor of the old Western State, Adekunle Fajuyi, stated that he had been watching Fayemi and he was happy that the outgoing governor did him proud.

    His words: “I have known you, I am watching you and I am proud of you. This building here, this edifice, has known honourable people. This edifice, I know it didn’t exist at the time I want to speak of very briefly, but I am talking about the seat of government in Ekiti State. It has known honourable, brave, intelligent and committed people like for instance Adekunle Fajuyi.

    “My hope is that it will after the departure of Kayode yet again know honourable, intelligent, committed, humanistic rulers. Don’t despair, don’t give up. I have the honour and the delight of opening this building and applauding the gesture that it is being done without the slightest rancour, being done to leave it open to a next governor to either honour or desecrate. The choice is his”.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said posterity would be a better judge that Fayemi ruled Ekiti State in dignified ways to the extent that he left indelible marks.

    He  added that Fayemi combined good governance and politics, saying despite losing election, the governor still continued to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

    The speaker hoped that successive administration would continue where Fayemi stopped.

    Earlier, a church thanksgiving was held at the St. Patrick Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti for the successful completion of the four-year term of the Fayemi-led administration, which is the second time a governor would complete his tenure in the state since the beginning of civil rule in 1999.

    The Vicar General of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Most Revd Felix Odesanmi, in his homily, praised Fayemi for his consistency in gratitude to God.

    He recalled that the governor had on assumption of office in 2010, came to give thanks to God.

    The assistant Bishop of the Ekiti Catholic Diocese added that the governor’s achievements would continue to speak because he is leaving Ekiti better than he met it.

    Fayemi, who read the second lesson from Philippians 4 verses 12 – 20, thanked God for helping him successfully complete his tenure and fulfilling the promises he made to Ekiti people.

    The governor, who said that it was the extraordinary grace of God that made it possible for him to be Governor of Ekiti State – which was an opportunity for him to serve the people, added that the Ekiti success story had not yet ended.

    He noted that everything that happened during his administration was about moving Ekiti forward so that it could be better than what he met.

    The governor said it was left to the incoming administration to either honour it or desecrate the service done to the people.

    He stated that honour, integrity and compassion to the people had guided his government in the last four year, even as he thanked the people for their support.

    “For us, the job is not finished. It is not yet over. We are committed to deepening democracy in this country. We are not tired of serving our people and we will continue to offer service to our people. You can see this building. It shows that we did not just start strong, we also finished strong. We have not concluded. We are on a journey. We are not yet at the destination. We will keep moving until a greater Nigeria, a Nigeria of our dreams becomes a reality”, the governor said.

    At the event were the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, his wife Olufunso, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence, the wife of the Governor of Osun, Mrs. Serifat Aregbesola, wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed.

    Others were the former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, and wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu.

    The Bishop of Ondo Catholic Diocese, Most Revd Jude Arogundade, his Ekiti counterpart, Most Revd Felix Ajakaye, retired Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev Samuel Abe, the Alaaye of Efon,  Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye and the Alare of Are Ekiti, Oba Boluwade, among other important dignitaries, were also at the event

  • PDP accepts defeat

    PDP accepts defeat

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his re-election last Saturday.

    In a statement yesterday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh praised his party’s candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, for “his impressive outing” at the election.

    Metuh said: “After a careful appraisal of the overall conduct of the election, the national leadership of the PDP, in spite of perceived anomalies, hereby accepts the result and congratulates Aregbesola on his re-election.

    “This is entirely in the interest of the growth of democracy, peace and political stability of the country in line with the PDP’s ideology and the visions of its founding fathers.”

    The party hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for “creating the enabling environment for Osun people to freely and peacefully exercise their franchise without rancour or blood-letting”.

    It also hailed security agencies for keeping the peace during the poll.

    The party said: “The PDP urges Nigerians to note that for the All Progressives Congress (APC), elections are only free and fair when they win and rigged when they lose. Such is not acceptable in a democracy.

    “While urging the APC to learn from the election and desist from actions and utterances that overheat the system and create room for violence, we call on Nigerians to mark the trends and make their deductions regarding which party is actually committed to the survival and growth of democracy in Nigeria.”

    The PDP urged its members and supporters to remain calm and praised Osun people for conducting themselves with decorum.

  • Gombe Utd will pay for our defeat – SALOMON

    Gombe Utd will pay for our defeat – SALOMON

    Bayelsa United captain Salomon Junior left the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt with a sad face but vowed that Gombe United will be at the receiving end of their anger in Benin when they meet on Match Day 22. Bayelsa United were beaten 2-0 by Sharks in one of the Week 21 games of the Glo Premier League decided on Wednesday.

    The defeat in Port Harcourt was United’s first in the league under new Technical Adviser, Solomon Ogbeide. Goals scored in each half by Abraham Okereke and Salawu Ibrahim condemned Bayelsa United to their 10th loss in the current campaign and leaves them hovering above the drop zone.

    In an interview with www.lmc-ng.org after the game, the brave centre-back bemoaned his side’s performance stating that it was not what they set out for.

    “I am not happy because it is a match we had hoped to win or at least pick a draw given Sharks’ form but we lost and it is not a good thing for us,” lamented Salomon.

    The Beninoise international, who has been a regular for the team since the start of last season, was, however, quick to dismiss the below par performance while affirming their readiness to get it right in their next game.

    “Some of these things happen in football,” he said of their performance, “We have to forget that quickly and go back home to the drawing board and bring back a good performance in our next home game against Gombe United,” Salomon added.

  • Champions League defeat: Celtic boss blasts Efe Ambrose, teammates

    Nigeria defender Efe Ambrose and his Celtic teammates have been heavily criticised by manager Ronny Deila following their embarrassing 4-1 loss to Polish side Legia Warsaw in a UEFA champions league qualifying match on Wednesday night.

    The Super Eagles defender got the marching order just before half time in Poland, as his teammates failed to get anything from the game despite opening scoring in the eighth minute and Deila hasn’t hidden his disappointment at his team’s display on the night.

    “It was a very poor performance and worst of all was the commitment, the energy, I need much more energy in the game.We didn’t stay together for 90 minutes.

    “We started well and got the first goal but then gave way to pressure and we lost our heads and started giving the ball away in midfield so many times and mistakes in the back four, some were high, some were low, instead of being together.

    “But what is done is done, we have to learn from this very quick, we got the away goal and we still have a chance,” he told the Scottish media after the game.

    Deila however remained confident the Hoops can still progress to the group stages of the Champions League.

    “It is possible to win 3-0 again – like we did last year in the play-off – with the help of the supporters and we will do everything we can to do that. But we have to learn from this week.We need a whole different attitude and discipline in our play.”

    Ambrose has hardly had a rest since helping Nigeria to a round of 16 finish at the World Cup in Brazil, where they lost 2-0 to France. He will miss the return leg against the Poles, but should be available for the start of the group stages, should Celtic progress.