The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ELECTION

  • Election: Court declines request to disqualify Wike over alleged forgery

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a request to disqualify the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the governorship election in Rivers State and incumbent Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike on grounds of alleged forgery.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on yesterday, dismissed a suit filed to that effect by Elvis Chinda. The judge said the suit was statute barred.

    Chinda had prayed the court to disqualify Wike on the grounds that  the governor allegedly forged his statutory declaration of age, which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a candidate for the 2019 governorship election.

    The plaintiff, who claimed to be an indigene of Rivers State, filed the suit last year, faulting the statutory declaration of age attached to the Form CF001 which Wike submitted to INEC.

    Chinda alleged that the document deposed to on behalf of Wike on October 3, 1986, by one Collins Nyeme Wike, claimed that the governor hailed from Rumuepirikom in Obio/Akpor council area of Rivers State, when the said local government was only created three years after.

    Represented by Achinike William-Wobodo, Chinda claimed that the Obio/Akpor council area of Rivers State was only carved out of Port Harcourt  council area in 1989 by Decree No 12 of 1989.

    In his judgment on yesterday, Justice Ekwo noted that, not only did  the plaintiff fail to prove the allegation, the suit has become statute-barred, because it was filed outside the time stipulated  under Section 285 of the Constitution as captured in the 4th Alteration to the Constitution.

    Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiff failed to prove the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt as required of a case of forgery being criminal in nature.

    The judge added: “Forgery is a criminal offence. The onus is on the plaintiff to establish ingredients of the allegation with credible and convincing evidence.

    “I find that the plaintiff has not proved the allegation against the first defendant (Wike) beyond every reasonable doubt or at all.”

    Justice Ekwo further said that by virtue of section on Section 285 (9) of the 4th Alteration to the Constitution, the case had become statute-barred on the grounds that it was not filed within 14 days after Wike submitted the Form CF 001 to INEC.

    He said there was no evidence before the court to show that the plaintiff obtained the alleged forged document from INEC, and therefore cannot be believed.

  • 17,000 security men for tomorrow’s poll

    The Inter-Agency Consultative on Election Security (ICCES) in Rivers State says it is ready to clampdown on anyone who tries to foment trouble during tomorrow’s election.

    The agency is headed by the Commissioner of Police Usman Belel.

    At a combined news conference yesterday, ICCES noted that over 17,000 security men have been assigned to guide the polling units across the 23 local government areas.

    A breakdown of the number showed that 15,544 policemen were deployed, while sister security agencies deployed 1,500 personnel.

    Belel said: “As part of the security arrangements for tomorrow’s election, the command is deploying 15,544 personnel, to be complemented by the deployments from other sister agencies to cover and protect the 24 local government areas, 319 wards, 4,442 polling units and 2,424 voting points to ensure full security coverage of the process. Three security personnel are posted to a polling unit.

    “There will also be an outer perimeter deployment of armed men to guide against infiltration and hijack of the process by hoodlums or persons who want to foment trouble.

    “Apart from the deployments made to protect the voting areas, there will be joint convoy patrols of the security agencies to cover the entire state, with special attention on INEC offices.”

    The police boss also announced the restriction of movement from 12 midnight today to 6pm tomorrow.

    He warned “very important personalities and politicians from going to any voting centre with their security details or orderlies, no canopies should be erected close to any polling unit by food vendors or any commercial activities carried out close to any polling unit.”

     

  • Election: Southern Kaduna asks Makarfi, Sambo, Hunkuyi, Ashiru to explain PDP’s failure

    •Threatens to shift loyalty to APC at guber poll

    THE people of Southern Kaduna have vowed to align with another party and possibly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not explain to them what led to the woeful performance of the party in the northern part of the state during the presidential election.

    Southern Kaduna people who spoke through Coalition of Southern Kaduna Nationalities (CSKN) lamented that, none of the PDP’s bigwigs from Kaduna north, including former Governors Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Isa Mohammed Ashiru and Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi could deliver their respective local governments areas to the PDP during the presidential and national assembly polls.

    Towards this end, the CSKN said, an ultimatum of 24 hours is issued to the PDP and the party bigwigs in question to respond accordingly, or may be left with no option than to shift their loyalty to another party that will take care of their aspirations and yearnings in the zone.

    Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on yesterday, the leader of CSKN Dr. Yusuf Gandu Magaji said, “the Southern Kaduna Nationalities are disenchanted by the voting pattern as revealed by the results from Zone 1. We believe that there is a betrayal of confidence and trust along the party (PDP) stalwarts in Zone 1 who can no longer be trusted.

    “The pattern of the results of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on the 23rd February. 2019 leaves much to be desired. The results from Kaduna North caused a shock to the Southern Kaduna Nationalities and instigated a rethink in our longstanding marriage and commitment to the opposition party, PDP.

    “The result shows that PDP won overwhelming in the Southern Senatorial Zone. This stresses a fact that, the zone remained faithful and voted for the party en-mass. However, in a sharp contrast, the party performed woefully in Zone 1 as their loyalty was shifted to APC.

    “The key issue here is that most of the party heavy weights and those who benefitted during the PDP’s reign concentrate in Zone 1, yet they failed to deliver their wards to the party.”

  • Election peaceful in Enugu

    The Presidential and National Assembly Elections have been adjudged the best held so far in Enugu.

    No ugly incident was reported in any part of the state.

    The turnout of voters was high and impressive and the security provided was also impressive.

    Although the military were also involved, they were nowhere close to the polling stations. They only mounted obstacles on major roads and risked suspected vehicles.

    Except for isolated cases of shortage of ballot papers and result sheets, no serious complaint was recorded.

    House of Representative member for Aninri/Awgu/Oji River, Hon Toby Okechukwu expressed satisfaction with the arrangements.

    The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was also positive on the conduct of the election.

    Although he frowned at the minor shortcomings in some centres, he said it was too early to predict the outcome. Ekweremadu is seeking his fifth tenure in the Senate on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    His All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, however, complained of discrepancies in some local councils.

    But a chieftain of the APC and the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu expressed satisfaction in the conduct of the election.

    He said it was an indication of Buhari’s administration’s commitment to the development of an enduring democracy for Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr.Balarabe Suleiman, said he was satisfied with security arrangement in the ongoing Presidential and National Assembly elections.

  • Election: INEC expresses satisfaction

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is satisfied with the electoral process as the polls closed across the country for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    There have been reports of violence, ballot box destruction, delay in polls opening in many states, and card reader malfunction.

    A national commissioner of the commission, Festus Okoye, gave INEC’s impression of the polls at a briefing of journalists in Abuja.

    He said, “As at this moment, INEC is generally satisfied with the process and the procedures for the conduct of this present election, notwithstanding the challenges relating to the commencement of polls in some polling units.”

    Despite the delay or malfunctioning of the Smart Card Readers, the commission said accreditation for voting can only be done as stated in its guideline.

    According to him, the regulations and guidelines of the commission view the refusal to use the SCR for the purposes of accreditation as negligent conduct.

    “The smart card reader is mandatory, therefore no staff of the commission or any ad hoc staff of the commission is permitted in whatever guise to deliberately refuse to use the smart card reader for the conduct of the election” he said.

    “And any of them that refuses to use the smart card reader or deliberately violated the use of the smart card reader is subject to prosecution in accordance with the regulations and guidelines of the commission and the Electoral Act.”

    On reports of violence which the commission confirmed to have received from some states, Okoye said it had asked its resident electoral commissioners (RECs) to submit first hand reports.

    “We are still receiving reports relating to incidents in some states of the federation but we have received reports on incidents in Akuku Toru and Bonny Island of Rivers State,” he said.

    On Rivers, INEC said so long as the commission could not deploy in these areas, the implication was that polls did not open in these areas and the commission would hold consultations with relevant authorities and with the RECs in relation to these areas.

  • Election: OPC seeks massive turn out

    The Aare Gani Adams-led Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has enjoined Nigerians, particularly, all Yoruba sons and daughters to come out in large numbers, vote and defend their votes.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Yinka Oguntimehin, said though, the last minute postponement of the election is unfortunate, but it was a blessing in disguise, stressing that it is very important for the people to exercise their franchise.

    The group restated its belief in restructuring, adding that the best option for Nigeria is to restructure the country.

    Oguntimehin said: “Politicians are at it again, promising heaven on earth, but the Yorubas have their future in their hands. We would not be carried away by those unrealistic promises. We will throw our weight behind any candidate that is ready to restructure this country. We are where we are today because of our failed system and weak institution.

    “For a very long time in the history of our nation, we have embraced a wrong value and it is affecting us. Many companies are folding up by the day and the cost of running business in Nigeria is above the reach of ordinary Nigerians. For instance, the cost of postponing the election is enormous. The quality of our democratic process is nothing to write home about and there is reason for us to get it right with restructuring’’.

    He, however, advised the electoral umpire to brace up for tomorrow’s election.

    He said: “There should be no excuse, there should be no room for failure and INEC should not cave in to pressure over the elections.   It is just a matter of time, however, we must embrace peace, all in the interest of Nigeria and the Yoruba race in particular,’’

     

     

     

     

  • Our Girls; Election, what election? Stop Sexual Abuse – ‘Do No Harm’

    Our Chibok girls were kidnapped on April 15, 2014. Leah Sharibu and others are not released.

    Election, what election? The election has come but has not gone. Postponed, it will return on 23-2-2019. Election annulments and postponements and postponed delivery of the nation’s budget for nine months, the length of a pregnancy, are Nigeria’s democracy disasters, not dividends. We stupidly plan to re-elect the political perpetrators of four budget delays when the entire National Assembly (NASS) deserves our red card ban and total change! Incompetent politicians shout about INEC’s incompetence. Yes, but military and politicians have ruled incompetently and ruined Nigeria since 1966. Woe is Nigeria characterised by incompetence in budget and democracy delivery. In Nigeria only banks and politics are profitable!

    The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) should compute the cost of this postponement in INEC staff redeployment and material re-transport, state and federal public holiday losses, private business losses from work free and travel free Saturday, local and international voters travel, international and local media, international observers’ travel and allowances and accommodation – paid for by the foreign embassies –, party agents, redeployment/ mobilization for the election next Saturday.  Add the cost to the people of booked international travel and hotels for postponed thousands of weddings and other events long planned for the 23rd and now cancelled, no refund, and needing rescheduling at what cost? INEC should have been warned by NISER of this cost months ago.

    Theodore McCarrick was a Cardinal and a former Archbishop of Washington now defrocked for sexual abuse of the flock in his care. Good. Others knew of such devastation actions and also share guilt. And they are not alone.

    Nigeria also has much sexual abuse and violence. Media reviewers regularly report another rape, murder for sexual parts and sexual predator pastors, lecherous lecturers and teachers and injuries to eyes and bodies from school beatings. Horrifyingly, at a Kuje, Abuja School for the Deaf, a six-year old deaf child reported sodomy, murder and cannibalism. Nigeria has an abysmal record in preventive certification, background checks and non-corrupt supervision of educational institutions. We must take action before vulnerable have become victims.

    Many girls are forced into ‘I will fail you if..’ sex  or volunteer for ‘Sex for Pass Mark’ or are sexually abused by those who have the power by teachers, students, domestic help, family members, employers, employees and relations. Uniformed men in stations and barracks use belts and beatings and ‘pepper in the private part’ of girls and boys and needle-like broomsticks stuck down the penis to extract confessions. Political thugs happily strip naked a mentally challenged woman, Dada – sexual humiliation and abuse. Will prosecution follow this Friday Eluro’s atrocity? Fear and money must not cancel the human rights and justice. Abi, no be so?

    Unfortunately, sexually depraved people who maneuver themselves into authority, brazenly abuse that sacred moral trust and responsibility for their victims tearing the fragile fabric of morality, destroying respect and terrifying into silence vulnerable victims plunged into misery and let down by a silent oppressive society in which physical child abuse is the norm and sexual abuse is just one step further. Even one sexual assault or violence incident can make the vulnerable lose their humanity and destabilise minds leading to personality, academic and social instability undiagnosed in the veil of silence. These are manifest by personality disorders like introversion, depression, fixation, unpredictability, low self-esteem and cowering, rebellion, poor academic performance, self-deprecation, self-harm, drug dependency, alcoholism, death-wish and suicide attempts, some just to seek love or attention. If the abuser goes uncaught and unpunished, some victims become convinced that sexual abuse is normal and defend the abuser’s actions – the Stockholm Syndrome. The victim may, thinking ‘do unto others as was done to you’ or seeking revenge, become the sexually abuser of the vulnerable next generation. Harvey Weinberg, Bill Cosby, Larry Nassir, Professor Richard Akindele are the tip of the iceberg of sexual predators in every country. How can we safeguard the vulnerable?

    Introduce in your workplace and home – Eight Anti-Sexual Abuse and Anti-Violence Strategies: Vigilance! Preventive Education of potential victims and perpetrators!! Display Rules To Prevent Sexual Abuse and Violence!!! Reporting and Suspension!!!!! Documentation of Abuse!!!! Investigation!!!!!! Prosecution!!!!!!! Regular Review!!!!!!!!

    The price of moral victory over sexual abusers and perpetrators of violence is eternal vigilance and high suspicion. ‘Vigilance Must Be Institutionalized’. Do not wait for a sexual abuse crime to be committed on your watch. That is culpable failure. Take preventive action. No place is immune.  ‘Prevention Is Better than Cure’, with posters of ‘Guidelines/Rules To Prevent Sexual Abuse And Violence’ designed, discussed, displayed on notice boards and letters of compliance signed up every religious and secular worker and volunteer in every circumstance without exception. Say no to one-on-one private meetings, day or night, behind closed doors and windows and drawn curtains. Demand open windows. Doctors should refuse to see any patient alone.

    Do no act you would be ashamed of featuring on TV news. Victims must be protected when reporting while the violator faces suspension, documentation of abuse or violence, investigation and prosecution. Regular review of sexual abuse and violence strategy like for security will guarantee wide knowledge of their criminal nature and devastating effects.   A good anti-sexual abuse rule for your poster/notice board is Chris Anderson’s dictum to NGOs in conflict zones – ‘Do No Harm’ to populations.

     

    • Do not be apathetic. Please Vote ‘I LOVE NIGERIA’ KNOWLEDGEABLE CANDIDATES this Saturday -SDG 16.

     

  • Death at rallies

    •Organisers and security agencies should pay more attention to crowd control

    CAMPAIGN rallies attended by large numbers of party supporters have always been a prominent feature of election seasons in Nigeria, just as is the case in all liberal democracies. Apart from providing a forum for parties and candidates to propagate their promises and plans to the public, as well as address issues they believe to be of interest to their audiences, campaign rallies also serve a critical psychological purpose for politicians. Political parties, rightly or wrongly, use the size of crowds at their rallies to gauge and project the extent of the support they enjoy in given constituencies.

    But the high number of avoidable deaths at various campaign rallies in the run-up to this year’s elections is most disturbing and all stakeholders, including political party leaders, party members and security agencies should take urgent steps to avoid future occurrences. This is particularly so as there will most likely be a flurry of campaign rallies across the country, as parties and candidates seek to optimally mobilise support for the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the states.

    One major cause of deaths at rallies during this campaign season has been overcrowding at venues. Nineteen people died at the Adokie Amesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last week, during the presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when a stampede occurred at the end of the event. Overcrowding was also the cause of deaths when another eight APC members lost their lives at a campaign rally at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo, Taraba State.

    This suggests that organisers of rallies need to be more mindful of the relationship between the size of the crowd being mobilised to attend and that of the venues. Parties in tandem with security agencies must also work out more efficient and effective crowd management and control strategies.

    Violent clashes between rival party groups at rallies have also been responsible for a number of deaths and serious injuries. The bloody confrontation between feuding factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), for instance, marred the flag-off of the Lagos State APC governorship campaign rally in Ikeja on January 8. Also, three persons were reported to have died when rival groups of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed outside the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano during the party’s presidential rally.

    No less disturbing was the violence that occurred during the APC presidential primary at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, last week. The onus is on security agencies to adequately secure venues of rallies, particularly by disallowing party supporters from carrying weapons or dangerous objects into such places. The prompt apprehension and arraignment before the law, of perpetrators of political violence will also be a disincentive for such behaviour.

    Another cause of deaths witnessed at rallies pursuant to this year’s elections are auto crashes involving members travelling to attend political rallies. For instance, six APC supporters lost their lives last month when the vehicle conveying them to Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, for a rally had an accident. In a similar vein, about five persons died, 14 critically injured and 49 sustained minor injuries in an auto crash when 83 members of the PDP were travelling for a rally in Sokoto State.

    It is important that parties organise their rallies in such a way that their supporters do not have to travel long distances to attend. The less centralised party rallies are, therefore, the more unnecessary it will be for party supporters to travel long distances, thereby reducing the possibility of road accidents. Party leaderships at various levels will also have to work closely with their members as well as security agencies to address issues of excessive consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants by some exuberant party members during rallies, which may contribute to road accidents and other avoidable tragedies before and after the event.

  • AMANDA EBEYE: I try to stay away from election drama and politics

    NOLLYWOOD actress Amanda Ebeye is set to kick off her second production by the middle of the year. Amanda, who is now into directing after a year programme at Tribal Institute in 2017, in this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, speaks on her new productions, passion, and being a mom. Excerpts

    THIS is your first time as a producer. How would you describe the experience?

    I wouldn’t say it does not have its hiccup but so far, I have tried to overcome it in some way. Actually, on this set, I am the executive producer; a bit involved in the producing. And I also have a coordinator as well. There is a lot of distress, but I try to take it out, because I am acting and directing some episodes as well. So I don’t want anything that will bring me down as a producer – that is because you are dealing with actors, location, and so many others.

    I didn’t know you are also directing?

    I am a director; I went to Tribal institute, where I specialised in film/television production. So I did that in 2017 for a full year.

    We see directing as lot of yelling?

    I don’t think it has to do with yelling. I think it is what you make of it yourself. For me, I don’t think yelling at people will bring the best out of them. Because if you yell at me, it won’t yield any result. It will only make me more rebellious. So, I would prefer you take me to a corner and talk to me. I try as much as I can not to yell at people, because the kind of people I want on my set are not those that will just cram the script and spit it out. I want the interpretation to come from within and more natural. I believe talking to people and making friends with them, helps to get a good delivery.

    You started off as an actress and now, diversifying. Were you not fulfilled as an actress?

    I still tell people I am an actress. In as much as I like to create my own magic; that is why I am doing my own thing. Creativity in filming is what I have passion for. And when I go to people’s location as an actor, I have little input, besides what I am asked to play. I am just a pawn in the hands of the director at that point. So when I want people to see my own creativity, then I have to create mine and that is what I am doing now.

    You feature more in sitcom now. Is this deliberate?

    No, I do movies as well. It is just that I started with sitcom upon my entry into the movie world, so I am going back to what I started with. That is my root. And I am back to sitcom; in my own sitcom. I have passion for comedy and that is why I am taking it on.

    Tell us about yourself

    Amanda is an actor, a filmmaker, a mother and an entrepreneur in general. I told myself I have no other passion elsewhere except in the film business. And that is where I am, where I struggled, where I will grow, and be rich. And besides TV/film, I am taking care of my son. So those are the two jobs I have working for me.

    You also mentioned being an entrepreneur?

    Yes, I used to be in the hair business, but I actually liquidated my business and invested it in my film production. Actually this is my second time of being a producer. I did a short film titled Horrors; it is going to premiere soon. The money I got from my hair business, I put all into my film production. That is to tell you how much passion I have for entertainment.

    Tell us about your motherhood experience

    It is a wonderful feeling. It is just funny how I gave birth to my son. I am not a typical average girl that has a typical girly dream; which is get married, be a mom and all others. I think I am more of a career girl.  And when that happened I said to myself ‘let me embrace it’ and I did. I have not regretted and brings out the best in me. Before, I was only into acting and never thought of diversifying; I mean the business aspect of filmmaking. I was more of an actor; who didn’t care how much I was paid. It was just more of passion for me. But now that I have my boy, he is the one that takes all of my money. When I became a mother, I found out that you could actually love somebody, more than you love yourself. Yes I love my family, but my son is different for me.

    While pregnant, were you sceptical about having a son outside wedlock?

    While growing up, I have learnt that if you live by what people say, you are going to die faster than time. You will find yourself doing things just to please people and not to please yourself. And the question will be are they going to be with you till the end? Or be at a corner judging you? And that is where you’re always going to stay, at the corner. So if you live your life because of the people at the corner, then you are not living life. One commitment I made to myself; I would not let people influence me, my thought, and my act. Simply because that is what I wanted to do at that particular time and it worked for me. I made up my mind that even if I was going to get judged, I won’t care about what people were going to say. What I was going to care about was my inner thought.

    Are you thinking of having another child?

    I earlier said I am not the average typical girl. I am one person that says one child gives me joy, but I don’t believe that all the joy have to come directly from me. I might have kids tomorrow, but they might be directly from me. There are so many children out there without parents, and I can instead of giving birth and feel the world is actually watching out for me, help take care of those children that do not have anybody to call ‘mom’. I know I will definitely adopt, once I am more comfortable and be where I want to be. I can then adopt the number of children I want.

    You relocated to Canada and returned. Why?

    I did not relocate; my son is the one that lives in Canada. I am a Canadian and Nigerian. My son is there, so I am more with him, but I have not relocated at all.

    It is election time, what is your thought?

    I try to stay away from election drama and politics. I am not a politician, but there is something I will just tell people; that is to vote for the right person. I know sometimes we say the president might not be working the way they want him to. One thing I know is that nothing changes drastically, everything is time. I am not going to support anybody, because I stay away from politics, but when we are making a decision, we should make the right one. And know that change starts from us and not the top.

    What are your hopes as the year runs on?

    I already see it as a beautiful one and bright. I already started with a production and it is a Crazy World TV series, where I am the executive producer, director and also an actor. It is a lot of work; I planned this production for like two years ago (in) 2017 when I was in film school. And one thing I had going for me, was all the actors I dreamed of having on the set are in it. There was nobody that dropped along the way. It means that if we have faith and work hard, what we dream of must come through. I believe 2019 is going to be an amazing year. The rest, I always say, I leave to God, to make my dreams come true at the end of the year.

  • Election for the right will

    It is becoming evident that the presidential election holding this Saturday will not be ordinary. It might be complicated by the desperation of politicians, who will declare victory, even before the umpire announces the winners. Those seeking power at all costs are out to dampen the divine will.

    It has become apparent that many people in politics are deceitful. This is why several of them are making open promises of what they have no plan to implement. Rather than work for their people, all they want is to get elected and make money from public resources. They want to get more than what they spent on campaigns.

    The real question in the midst of the bad omen is: Who will emerge the next right president of Nigeria?, Nobel Laureate Prof.Wole Soyinka’s endorsement of a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, who is running on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), is coming too late. Soyinka’s endorsement should have come earlier than now for the party and other younger candidates to be better organised and then campaign very well to encourage real people to vote for them.

    The reality is that the battle is between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate President Muhammadu Buhari and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    If the right candidate wins and he is not allowed to rule, this nation will be dumped into a storm never seen. Only divine intervention can stop that.  And if the defeated one manipulates and is enforced to rule, the lost glories of the nation since 1999 won’t be recovered, as unrighteousness cannot exalt any nation.

    PDP, a past rigger, has been accusing APC of proposed rigging. Last week, Buhari professed that PDP has no reason to accuse any political party other than itself of rigging. He said former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been battling him, rigged in PDP in 2003 and 2007. Obasanjo rigged out almost all Southwest governors. Only Asiwaju Bola Tinubu returned as the governor of Lagos State. This same Obasanjo, who is now supporting Atiku, earlier worked against him. Ahead of the 2015 general elections when he chose Buhari, he described him as a leader who would “not be a good economic manager but who will be a strong, almost inflexible, and courageous and firm.”

    He described Atiku as a “shameless liar” who plotted against his infamous third term agenda. In his book ‘Olusegun Obasanjo: My Watch’, he proclaimed he knew the afflictions and disorderliness of Atiku. Up till last year, he still quoted: “How can I be on the same side with Atiku? To do what?” and declared: “If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me … he can never enjoy my support.” But today, he is now supporting him, not minding again if God will truly forgive him.

    The questions: how rich was he before he became president? Now, how rich is he? Does anybody still believe in all his bitter complaints, when so much money was spent on electricity power under him and yet light remains bad? Why is Olujonwo Obasanjo, his son, now supporting Buhari and not following his father? Will his purpose be fulfilled in the presidential election?

    Few days ago, the PDP proclaimed that “Nigeria has suffered enough in the last three and half years” and that people “have come to the end of the Buhari presidency. And they have seen that another four years under President Buhari can only sink us further into the abyss.”

    As the cost of oil went down globally few months after the PDP lost election, recession crept in. It was beyond Buhari. After trading at over $100 per barrel for some years, the cost began to tumble down, falling to below $30 per barrel. The situation created serious economic calamity for oil-reliant countries, including Nigeria. The financial flows from the nation’s oil and gas sector earnings of $68.44 billion generated in 2011 slumped to $17.05 billion in 2016 – a high decline. This was the report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). What the country earned in 2016 is the lowest in 10 years and the fifth lowest in the 18 years covered by NEITI’s audit reports from 1999 to 2016.

    This was the situation forced on Buhari by a development clearly out of his control. Even if he might be weaker at his old age, whether people like it or not, the problem did not start from him, but from the party that wasted money.

    As the PDP keeps declaring that Nigerians have decided to vote out Buhari, those endorsing Atiku are not real. For instance, a faction of OhanaezeNdigbo, the divided Afenifere, Northern Elders Forum and Middle Belt Forum are limited voters. Their leadership cannot determine who the people will vote for.

    Many politicians, who earlier dumped the PDP and joined the APC, and later returned to the PDP, might not be the best to help any of the parties as they are not real and factual. Since they couldn’t be allowed to continue in their corrupt ways, they are united in their quest to get Buhari out.

    It is not that Buhari is flawless, but the falsehoods against him are  from the mischievous out to block his glory. So, the more they are moving out of him, the better he is becoming. After all, through him, Boko Haram is no longer the same as it was when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was president. That does not mean it has been totally demolished. Again, the herdsmen that were killing people in some states some years ago are no more active. Also, electricity supply has improved, but can still be made better like what is manifesting in Ghana.

    What Buhari did for the late MKO Abiola family last year is not what the other part of Afenifere can now begin to work against. People voted largely for MKO in 1992, but the military under the Ibrahim Babangida regime frustrated the anticipated good efforts. Sani Abacha forced himself in and pulled down the nation.

    For those who will vote well from their height and spirit, in truth and indeed, it will indeed implant the next level to goodness in this nation, because what has not been doing well before might start working more gloriously.

    Whatever is the plan of all the adversaries to frustrate the election will come to nothing. After all, the same God who saved Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the helicopter crash can still do all things beyond what any man can do.