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Tag: Jonathan

  • Jonathan orders probe of alleged phone conversation with King of Morocco

    Jonathan orders probe of alleged phone conversation with King of Morocco

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday expressed shocked and embarrassment over the controversy bordering on whether or not he had a telephone conversation with His Majesty, King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that the regrettable furore over the matter was due entirely to misinformation.

    The President claimed that he has neither spoken with King Mohammed or told anybody that he had a telephone conversation with the Moroccan Monarch.

    It reads: “It is true that President Jonathan has been speaking with some African leaders to seek their support for Nigeria’s candidate for the position of President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).”

    “In continuation of his efforts in support of the candidacy of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina for headship of the AfDB, President Jonathan indicated that he would like to speak with the King of Morocco, the President of Algeria and the President of Egypt.”

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was consequently directed to make necessary contacts with the embassies of the three countries and arrange for President Jonathan to speak with their leaders.”

    “Since that directive was given, President Jonathan has spoken with the Prime Minister of Algeria and subsequently sent Vice President Namadi Sambo to Algiers as Special Envoy to follow-up on his discussions with the Algerian Prime Minister on support for Nigeria’s candidate in the coming elections for the AfDB Presidency.”

    “The President has, however, not yet spoken with King Mohammed VI and President Al-Sisi of Egypt as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must know.”

    “President Jonathan has therefore ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali to urgently undertake a full investigation of the claim which emanated from the Ministry that the President spoke with King Mohammed VI,” It added

    The investigation, the statement said, is to identify all those who were responsible for the unacceptable act of official misinformation which has resulted in an unnecessary diplomatic row with another country and national embarrassment.

    “It is also expected to unveil the motives of the culprits. President Jonathan has also ordered that prompt and commensurate disciplinary action be taken against the culpable person or persons,” It stated

    While awaiting the outcome of the investigations, President Jonathan has also urged Nigerians to disregard “the vituperations of opposition elements, who have, true to type, latched on to the regrettable faux pas as a fresh opportunity to unpatriotically denigrate the government of their country and advance their irresponsible quest for victory at any price in the coming elections.”

  • Anti-graft: Blame EFCC not Jonathan for low record – Clark

    Anti-graft: Blame EFCC not Jonathan for low record – Clark

    Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has blamed the anti-graft agencies for President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration lack of success in the corruption fight.

    Clark noted that the inept of the agencies to investigate and prosecute corrupt cases especially that of public office holders were responsible for the various corruption allegations against President.

    Stressing that rather than doing proper job, the agencies are only focusing on cyber crime and petty theft.

    Consequently, Chief Clark urged President Jonathan to re-organize the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.

    Clark who addressed journalists in Abuja Friday claimed that the agency has not done enough: stressing that the agency was due for reorganization and armed with teeth for effective discharge of its mandate.

    He also disagreed with the present orientation of the agency waiting to receive petitions first before investigating open cases against public office holders.

    Clark also faulted the report credited to ‎the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari that his fight against corruption will start on May 29, 2015 when he would have be sworn-in as the President, if he wins the March 28 Presidential elections.

    He noted that it would be wrong to just ask those who have looted the treasury to go and sin no more.

    Clark who noted that the implication of Buhari’s statement was that those who were facing corrupt charges or alleged of corruption before May 29, 2015 would be pardoned.

    According to him, “had the agencies charged with fighting corruption been up and doing, no one will accuse President Jonathan of not doing enough to fight corruption. Given that nothing substantial is being done, one is primed to advise Mr. President to immediately reorganize the EFCC for effective discharge of its mandate.

    “In all advanced democracies, anti-graft agencies would swing into action following the kind of revelations and allegations against most people walking free on our streets today. Unfortunately, our own anti graft agencies have simply adopted a ‘sidon look’ position”.

    Clark further stated that it was on that note that Buhari changed the tune of his music as to when he will begin his fight against corruption‎.

    He however stated that the APC is not qualified to fight corruption contrary to what Buhari had said during his campaign.

    He said; “General Muhammadu Buhari has always anchored his campaign promises on two planks: to wipe out insecurity and corruption. With the renewed offensive against the terrorists leading to the killing and dislodgement of the Boko Haran anarchists, the first campaign plank of Buhari has been given a technical knock-out by President Goodluck Jonathan and the whole world is witnessing the reclaiming of all territories hitherto held by Boko Haram.

    “This leaves him on a one-legged platform. Again on the remaining plank; corruption, General Buhari himself got jittery and gave himself another technical knock-out when he said that he will not probe past leaders. With this development, Buhari has conceded that he has nothing more to offer the good people of this country.

    “I am puzzled to hear Buhari say that ‘whoever has been indicted on corruption between 1999 to the time of his swearing-in would be pardoned. According to him, like a village sports man, he will draw a line, anybody who involves himself in corruption after he assumes office on May 29, 2015 will face the music, while no matter how corrupt a person has been before then, he/she would be asked to go and sin no more.

    “One wonders if the man, Buhari knows what the law says about corruption. Will General Muhammadu Buhari’s proclamation take the effect of law?

    “What is Buhari really afraid of? Why is he promising a blanket pardon to all corrupt office holders before the election? Is that his new selling point?”

     

     

  • Jonathan not solution to Nigeria’s stability – Tafida

    Jonathan not solution to Nigeria’s stability – Tafida

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto state, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Tambari Tafida has said that voting President Goodluck Jonathan is not the panacea to Nigeria’s stability.

    According to him, “Nigeria’s stability is the function and desire of its citizens not Jonathan.”

    “A nation that has been thrown into predicament of political confusion and uncertainty as a result of bad governance resulting to gross incompetence, insecurity, poverty and economic undergrowth.

    “This is disaster and where we have able and capable persons that can lead in order to rescue the country from colossal collapse you are talking of Jonathan and PDP which by all assessment have failed the expectations of Nigerians all round.”

    Tafida spoke exclusively to The Nation in Sokoto while reacting to recent statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe.

    Okupe had according to newspapers reports said the elections are about the stability of the country, also urging the north to wait for 2019 presidency,” when Jonathan completes his term, the region would have what he described as an “unequivocal” and “indisputable” opportunity to rule for eight years.

    He said the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari from the North as the APC presidential candidate was not staged managed for sentiment rather on competence for a new Nigeria where its citizens will feel positive impact and belonged in affairs of governance.

    However, Tafida said “Okupe cannot and is not to decide on the wish and desire of Nigerians who are rooting for change.

    “The same PDP kicked against zoning at various instances and today they are talking of zoning,” he pointed out.

    He said” APC is not afraid of the general elections and their outcomes. And the issue of conceding to Jonathan is out of place.”

    According to Tafida “the APC journey for fresh air to Nigerians is a majority voice and collective decision that cuts across all ethnic, political and religious divides.

    “Is a desirous political formation of those who have lost confidence in the present system under president Jonathan.

    “Since he (Okupe) acknowledges that the north has been a stabilising political factor in the country, then why should he be over stretching his veins at this time that majority of Nigerians are fed up and willing to support a change of system,” he rhetorically asked.

    He maintained that the same north has now come together with the south west, noting that “It is a union that has never been thought by political leaders either post or pre-independence era,” he pointed out.

    Tafida said “Okupe should not be talking and making comparison with pre and early independence era of the country. They are two different circumstances.

    “Our independence was paramount to our growth and unity as a nation seeking sovereign power from the colonial masters. We are talking of choice and abilities as politics demands of leadership.

    ” But what we (APC) are struggling to give Nigerians today is a place in the scheme of affairs of governance where they will be carried along in the most democratic ways for their individual and collective advancement where basic facilities will be available for and accessible to them under a transparent and accountable leadership,” he stressed.

  • Jonathan, Buhari in struggle for Benin monarch’s endorsement

    Jonathan, Buhari in struggle for Benin monarch’s endorsement

    President Goodluck Jonathan and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari are struggling for the endorsement of stakeholders in Edo State. With the recent endorsement of the former military Head of State by Benin palace chiefs, there are indications that the APC will have an upper hand at the general elections. OTABOR OSAGIE reports.

    The Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa, seldom makes speeches whenever he welcomes visitors in his palace. His responses are usually brief. But, palace chiefs who understands his body language know what to say when they are asked to speak on behalf of the monarch.

    However, for the first time, the in-fighting among top Benin chiefs over whether Oba Erediauwa should support President Goodluck Jonathan re-election bid or back the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu buhari has been a source of worry to the people of Edo State.

    During the last governorship contest between Governor Adams Oshiomhole and General Charles Airhiavbere, the monarch did not openly endorse any candidate. But, speeches by palace chiefs suggested the monarch’s preference.

    To General Airhiavbere, Oba Erediauwa said: “I have been watching you on the television and I will continue to watch you on the television.” But, the royal father, who spoke through Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, during the campaign visit of Governor Oshiomhole, said: “Adams Oshiomhole is the Benin candidate. He is the one who wants Benin City to join other modern cities in the country. So, he is our candidate. Some people said the palace is playing politics. What is politics? The Oba himself is an embodiment of politics.

    “If you have a house and you are old and your children did not come to paint the house and somebody from outside came and painted it and decorate it for you, will you leave that person? Once again, we are voting for Adams Oshiomhole.

    “As the Odionwere of Bini Kingdom, and I am speaking on behalf of the Oba, you are going to win. The oracle has spoken. Anyone who disputes it or fights against the oracle, then, let him fight on. We will wait and see the result.” Governor Oshiomhole later won the election in a landslide.

    In 1991, when Lucky Igbinedion of the defjunct National Republican Convention (NRC) contested against Chief John Odigie-Oyegun of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), the support of Oba Erediauwa saw Oyegun to victory. Chief Gabrial Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin and father to Lucky, later dragged the Oba before the tribunal.

    During the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan on February 4 for royal blessing, the Benin monarch, in a letter read by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, said the Benins would accept whoever God chooses to lead the country after the presidential elections

    He said: “God and our ancestors already know your (President Jonathan) aims. Whoever God has chosen is our choice.”

    There was controversy over royal support for candidates recently when Chief Edebiri, who doubles as Chairman of the Benin Forum, said at a press briefing that Benins would not support President Jonathan. The statement was seen by many as the voice of the Oba because the forum, which is the umbrella body of  body all Benins in Nigeria and the Diaspora, reports to the Oba and its is personally appointed by the Oba.

    Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin, is the Odionwere (head) of all witches and wizards in Benin Kingdom. He listed the sins of the President against the kingdom. He said President Jonathan sacked the Minister of State for Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi, an engineer, and gave it to his (Ogiemwonyi) ex-wife, Stella Oduah, who hails from Anambra State.

    Edebiri added: “What was for the Benins was taken to Anambra by the present administration. That is why the Benin people will not vote for the PDP. Besides robbing the Benin people of the ministerial appointment, the home of the former minister, Ogiemwonyi, was completely broken by the action of the Presidency.

    “Is that what they have done for the Benin people that will make us to vote PDP? Impossible. If they want to postpone elections 20 times, the people are here waiting for them. The consequences of what Jonathan has done will be very grievous for him and his party. You met a man who was appointed half minister by the previous administration. His people in Benin voted massively for you during the elections. You now want to compose a new executive, you dropped him and took his wife, who comes from across the Niger.

    “Consequently, his home became divided and irretrievably broken. Robbing Benin of their ministerial appointment, destroying their son’s home for the interest of some people in Abuja. And this time around, you are coming to campaign here that we should vote for you. It is not possible that we will vote for such people because the Benin nation has been sidelined with ignominy in the present arrangement.

    “Nothing that the Federal Government can come to point to in Edo state that this is what he has done in the last four years. We have a governor who is performing. We have a governor we all love because of his developmental strides. The same Federal Government is starving the state government of funds. They don’t want the government to perform any more for us. How do we vote for people like that? The die is cast, whether they like it or not, the defeat of the present Federal Government is imminent and irreversible”.

    The Esogban’s statement did not go down well with members of the opposition parties. Chief Patrick Eholor, the Enobore of Ute Kingdom and President of One Love Foundation, frowned at it. Chief Eholor said Chief Edebiri should desist from using his position as the Odionwere of Benin to speak on behalf of the Binis on political choices. But, the Esogban said the criticism was inconsequential.

    Eholor pointed out that Chief Edebiri has no moral right to speak for the Binis since the Binis are enlightened people who have the right to their freedom of political expression. He said: “This is a rat race. The Esogban must remain neutral and should not use the Benin Forum to conclude that the palace has taken a stand on who the Binis should vote for and he should desist from such utterances or we will resist him

    “The Binis has its proud culture, which must be separated from politics and, if we are to maintain our cultural heritage, the palace should not be dragged into politics. That is why we are worried about what he said.”

    A chieftain of the PDP and palace chief, who is lower in rank to the Esogban, Chief Amos Osunbor, the Eson of Benin, described the comments from the Benin Forum as “vexatious.”  He warned that such mis-formation portends an inherent danger to the Benins. “I wish to state categorically that Omo N’ Edo Uku Akpolopkolo, through our revered Crown Prince Ehenede, had already expressed his desire to have President Goodluck Jonathan serve a second term to enable him complete the transformation that he has already started.

    “Every Nigerian witnessed the epoch royal visit. I am therefore, wondering about the intention of Chief Edebiri because his latest comments amount to an affront on His Royal Majesty. No one, except the monarch, has right to speak for the Binis,” he said.

    President Jonathan has sent a powerful PDP delegation led by his campaign coordinator in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to woo the Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure. Chief Isekhure was nominated as a delegate to the National Conference by President Jonathan. Isekhure, who reiterated the Oba’s support for the President’s re-election bid, promised to mobilise all southerners to vote for him.

    He said: “I have not seen a person who has dedicated himself to Nigeria like Jonathan. I am very confident that he has good agenda. Therefore, I will vote for Jonathan more than one hundred and ten times. Even though I am of the APC, I will not only vote for him, I will mobilise all the traditional institutions in Benin and elsewhere in the South and I believe he will win. The only candidate I know is Jonathan and I will vote for him. If heaven is going to fall, let it fall.

    “Those calling Benin people not to vote for Jonathan are just wasting their time because there is no such platform that can tell the people who they should vote for. During the 2011 presidential election, the Oba of Benin not only endorsed Jonathan, but was the one who set the impetus for the president to run and so, I do not think the monarch has change his stand on that.”

    The campaign team of President Jonathan also visited the Holy Arosa Cathedral, the traditional church of the Benins where the Oba is the General Overseer. At the church, Pastor Ize-Iyamu met with some palace chiefs led by Chief Sunny Omorogbe, the Osafuoba of Benin.

    However, the Benin Royal family in its reaction condemned the presence of Jonathan Campaign Organisation at the Holy Aruosa Cathedral and warned against its desecration. The Oba’s younger brother and Enogie of Obazuwa, Prince Edun Akenzua, hinted that some of the palace chiefs would be sanctioned by the appropriate authorities.

    “We will not allow the Holy Arousa to be desecreted. Invading the Holy Arousa Cathedral, as Pastor Ize-Iyamu-Iyamu’s team did, shows how desperate they are to capture the royal institution. It is even more so when the leader or the coordinator is a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church. I wonder if he will do that in his church.”

    Prince Akenzua explained that it was against the rules of the palace for Chief Amos Osunbor to openly castigate the Esogban, since the Eson is lower in rank after the Esogban in the hierarchy of the palace Chiefs.

    He said: “The disturbing aspect of the whole episode is the indiscipline and disloyalty to the Benin cause and our revered institution. In order to comprehend the gravity and implication of Eson’s act, it is important to explain briefly the organogram of Benin chieftaincy.

    “Palace or royal chiefs belong mainly to three groups namely: Eghaevbo n’ore, Eghaevbo n’Ogbe and Ibiwe. Iyase is the head of Eghaevbo n’orhe. Esogban, Eson and Osuma belong to the same group and are in that order of seniority. That means Eson is next to Esogban in the hierarchy of that group.”

    “Both Esogban, Eson and Isekhure can exercise their freedom of speech, but that freedom of speech does not extend to a chief or member of the Royal Court to publicly and derisively criticize his colleague, more so a senior one. In the military or the uniformed forces, the erring person would be court marshalled”.

    “I have even said it myself that. after the Benins voted the President in 2011,when Oshiomhole said we should support him, the man has not done anything for our people. And when the Esogban spoke, he did not say he was speaking on behalf of the Benin Forum which I am a member, he said he was speaking his mind. And let us not forget that as chairman of the forum, he protects the interest of the Binis and not that of a few, so if he says Benins will not vote for Jonathan because he has not done anything for the Benins what is wrong with that comment. Personally I have not seen anything that Jonathan has done for us as a people and if there is anything let them come and show me”.

    The Benin Royal Family was however, shocked when a sponsored advertorial by the PDP on the television showed last year’s visit of Benin Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa to President Jonathan at the behest of his father. A replay of the interview granted journalists by the Crown Prince was perhaps to hoodwink people that the Benin Monarch endorsed President Jonathan.

    Crown Prince Erediauwa warned the PDP to desist from politicising his visit to garner votes, ahead of the general election. He urged the public to discountenance the use of his pictures, images, audio and video to campaign for votes.

    The Benin Prince noted that his visit to the Presidential villa as directed by his father, Oba Erediuawa, was to douse negative comments that the Oba does not support the government of President Jonathan. He maintained that the palace has not endorsed the President for a second term.

    A statement by Royal Palace Chiefs last week and read by the traditional Prime Minister of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin, reiterated that the Benin monarch has not endorsed any candidate for the March 28 election.

    Chief Igbe, whose son, the Speaker of the House of assembly is an APC candidate for the House of Representatives election, said the media should stop the partisan advert showing the Crown Prince’s visit to President Jonathan.

    He said the palace seriously consider the continuous use of the video to boost support for a particular party as image-tarnishing of the palace.

    Also, the Southsouth sentiment is collapsing. Apart from Ijaw, other ethnic groups are accusing the President of being clannish. Can the President still get bloc vote from the Southsouth? March 28 will tell.

  • Is Baga visit boosting Jonathan’s reputation?

    Is Baga visit boosting Jonathan’s reputation?

    Faced with declining brand and reputation equity, President Goodluck Jonathan hopped onto an aircraft and headed for Baga, one of the Northeast towns retaken from Boko Haram. Will the visit raise the Commander-in-Chief’s profile? Brand experts are divided on this, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    Abrand analyst and blogger, Ugochukwu Ezeagwula, foresaw in his article on January 17, 2012 that by 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan would lose his reputation equity and thwart his party’s chance in for the general election campaign.

    Ezeagwula wrote against the backdrop of Jonathan’s unimaginable share of minds in the 2011 elections victory, especially among the youth whom he captured through the social media. But certain policies, which the President undertook some years ago and their chain reactions appear to have been his Achilles’ heels in the campaign.

    “The implication of this loss of brand equity will definitely reflect in the performance of his political party at the 2015 general elections. Even if Mr President does anything remarkable and tangible to redeem his image within the next three years, it will only take the grace of God, the sheer forgetfulness of Nigerians and the bite of luck that he has experienced all through his life to regain this lost brand equity,” Ezeagwula wrote.

    “A brand that has lost the trust and loyalty of its consumers cannot think that the best way to earn back these key ingredients of its brand equity is to increase the price of its product without improving on its functional attributes. Neither is it sensible to attempt to increase the price of the product before improving on its functional attributes, which is exactly what the Federal Government has done,” he concluded.

    Four years down the line, the brand loyality that gave him huge votes seemed to have dwindled going by a growing dissonance among his brand consumers in some key geo-political zones.

    For instance, Jonathan pulled over 2.7 million share of votes in Southwest as against Buhari’s 321,609 in the same geo-political zones. His dwindled reputation obviously stemmed from the removal of subsidy on January 1, 2012, when Nigerians were in festive moods of Xmas and the New Year. His action led to nationwide protest and made those who voted for him feel betrayed like a consumers, who had parted with money for a product and ended being dissonance.

    The reputation loss was further worsened by the inability of his team to suppress raging insurgency and its attendant bombing. The series of kidnapping of young boys and girls, loss of lives to Boko Haram until the kidnap of the Chibok girls saga dragged the government global perception rating into the red line, prompting world leaders, the media and celebrities to cry out with an # tag BringBackOurGirls.

    However, these issues undoubtedly are making it difficult for the President to a roller-coaster re-election bid this year as predicted by Ezeagwula.

    Two weeks to election, Jonathan’s new military offensive on the insurgents appeared to be shoring his image after the military had been equipped with  more weapons and strategic cooperation with neihgboruing countries such as Chad, Niger and Cameroun to end the militants’ tenancy in  the Sambisa forest.

     

    Will the onslaught reverse Jonathan’s reputation?

    To some of his loyalist, the success being recorded is key to his bid, especially with the postponement of the election, which gives the President an ample time to regain his lost reputation that gave him the seat four years ago. The commendation that came after the military bombardment of the insurgents has been torrential, even from members of the opposition party. Prompted by a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon. Muhammad Tahir Monguno of All Progressives Congress (APC), Borno State, the House praised the military for its bravery and steadfastness, noting that in the previous months, Boko Haram nearly overrun Borno State.  The tide, according to Monguno, is now turning against the insurgents as a result of the gallantry of the soldiers.

    Also, Jonathan is being scored high by some economic experts. “The truth is that when placed on a dispassionate measurement platform, President Jonathan has recorded more accomplishments than people are willing to give him credits for,” said the Chairman, African Centre for Business Development, Strategy and Innovation, Sam Ohuabunwa, in his article  in a business paper. “In the years Jonathan has been president, our economy has grown between six and seven percent per annum. This is one of the highest growth rates in the world,” Ohuabunwa said.

    Against his renewed efforts to rebuild his reputation, brands and communication experts are divided if the efforts will rejig his brand equity. A top manager at Caritas Communication, a reputation management and brand development agency, Robert Utiko, said the president has regained his reputational equity. “It has helped GEJ regain lost reputational equity. The military has been proactive, posting updates on it successes in the campaign. GEJ has visited the troops on the battlefield to encourage them. GEJ is gradually being projected as a leader, who can take tough decisions,” he said.

    But a Managing Partner at Radi8, a PR agency, Mr. Toni Kan, believed otherwise. “There are many things that can erode a brand. In Jonathan’s case Chibok and Boko Haram have been key brand erosion. So, it follows that winning the war against Boko Haram will help with his brand equity. What the Boko Haram insurgency has done is to show the CEO of Brand Nigeria as an incompetent and incompetence has a negative impact on public perception, which then affects the brand.”

    While the efforts appeared enough to redeem the president’s reputation equity, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at Ashton&Layton and former communication manager at Cadbury, Mr. Gbenga Adebija, said GEJ renewed positioning has limited gain because the timing is late. “Timing is a critical factor in any brand building initiative and so it is difficult to forsee any significant benefits to the GEJ brand, especially because in the view of major stakeholders, the military onslaught against the insurgents is obviously orchestrated for political reasons.

    “A brand equity is significantly enhanced when it’s objectives are seen as altruistic or at least not so transparently driven by personal motives. Brand GEJ also brought the bells and whistles with the military attire, dark shades and swagger stick, but the dysfunctional timing means limited gains to the brand Jonathan. At best, the Sambisa military initiative provided a platform for GEJ supporters to cheer, but in terms of actually winning over doubters and increasing the number of GEJ brand ambassadors, the benefits are definitely at lilliputian levels,” said Adebija.

    A manager at Hi-Media Network, Mr. Sanjo Oyekan, said it was too late for anyone to judge the result on the president image building effort because this has worked for some personality brand in the political sphere in the past.

    Wether the onslaught will add up and contribute little or nothing to his reputation and brand equity, time will tell on March 28 when the election holds.

  • Jonathan has neglected Ndigbo

    Jonathan has neglected Ndigbo

    Chief Ralph Obioha, Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, speaks on the organisation’s challenges as well as President Goodluck Jonathan’s perceived disregard of the Southeast, in this interview with CHRIS OJI. Excerpts:actional chairman of Ohanaeze, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey alleged that money was the underlying issue in the organisation’s crisis. What is your take on this?

    Yes, on this we firmly agree with him. No one can accuse the Caretaker Committee of any financial underhand, whilst to the contrary it is the Igariwey era that has serious financial questions that remain unanswered. That is what informed the Elders Council to mandate the Caretaker Committee to conduct a detailed probe of the finances of Ohanaeze Ndigbo from 2009 to 2014 and a probe panel has been inaugurated.

    Igariwey is raising this financial issue as a lame tactics to confuse his dilemma. How can he explain the documented collection of millions of naira belonging to Ohanaeze that is in black and white? How can he explain the disappearance of buses belonging to Ikenga Mass Transit, a subsidiary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo? How can he explain the over N300m in the Diamond Bank account of Ohanaeze that simply grew wings and disappeared into thin air. He has been given a chance to appear before the probe panel and explain his involvement in this sordid financial abuse of monies and assets of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The issues are quite simple and all attempts to cause confusion and diversion will fail. Let Igariwey give account.

    The Caretaker Committee issued what can be described as a directive on how the Igbo should participate in the elections.

    The Igbo nation has been short-changed in the history of Nigeria and yet the Igbo have offered most in the building of this country. In the struggle for independence Igbo sacrificed most, in building up the country, Ndigbo embraced the spirit of one Nigeria by their presence in all parts of the country. But when it comes to leadership, the Igbo are regarded as a pariah, people who should not be allowed to be president of Nigeria. It was the coming of President Jonathan that informed the Igbo to mount a massive support for him based on the mistaken belief that the jinx of Igbo exclusion could be at an end if a minority is allowed to assume the position of president of Nigeria. But to the consternation of Igbo, the very president the Igbo massively supported four years ago could not see any return on our political investment as far as Igbos are concerned. In the past two years, concerned Igbo started to agitate that President Goodluck Jonathan is taking Igbos for granted.

    At Ohanaeze Ndigbo meetings these concerns are raised pointing out that the infrastructure in Igbo land has completely collapsed and in fact the total mileage of the main axis of these roads is just under 400km, to cover the entire five states of the Southeast whilst a road of more mileage in just one state in the North is tarred and maintained. We raised [the issue] that the Second Niger Bridge seems to be a mirage, and that we cannot point to a single project that has been completed in Jonathan’s five years in power.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo raised a Reparation and Restitution Committee headed by Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and myself to dust up the Oputa Panel to bring about a closure on the deaths, injuries, destruction and marginalisation inflicted on Igbo before, during and after the representation sent to the president.

    The neglect of Igbo land continued and remained unabated. It reached an alarming stage when the President in his campaigns in the North started peddling the promise that he will hand over to the North without any consultation with the very Igbo who massively voted for him. This action was echoed by Chief Edwin Clark and the patience of well-meaning Igbo people snapped and an open rebellion then started. The Igbos saw a clear picture that if we are tricked again into a blind blanket and all in one basket endorsement of President Jonathan this could foreclose any road map to Igbo presidency in the near future. The Igbo demonstrated good faith in their massive support of President Jonathan in ensuring his ascension to the Presidency at the demise of President Yar’Adua and affirmed it at the election of 2011. One would have thought that Jonathan would have contributed to our nation building by adopting options that will enhance the spirit of inclusiveness required for stable nation building. He should have considered how a twist of providence brought him to power and how the Igbos rightly calculated that twist of providence must be for a reason and that Jonathan should be supported.

    President Jonathan had six good years to pay back but he did not. I had the privilege to have discussed with Chief Alabo Graham Douglas the disturbing observation the Igbo are feeling about President Jonathan and the need for him to urgently address them. Chief Graham Douglas assured me that he will pass the message. A president’s words are to be taken seriously. What I had expected from the president was to sacrifice any ambition to context for another term which would have stretched the term limit and raise the legality of that grey area. Considering the circumstance of his assumption of the presidency, a shift that if truth must be told belongs to the North and the same North showed an understanding to allow him for a continuation albeit with protestation. Jonathan would have affirmatively structured a political engineering that will have firmed the rotational arrangement that will have stabilised the Nigerian polity. He squandered an opportunity to have attained the status of the father of a new Nigeria. In that political engineering I have envisioned, President Jonathan would have groomed a Northerner from the Northeast with a Southeast Vice-President with a clear understanding that after eight years, the turn of Southeast MUST be established. The Southeast will then get a vice-president from the Northcentral who will succeed him with a vice from the Southwest and a national convention is established creating a stable nation moving forward and growing in unity, harmony and peace.

    Is this picture you have created possible now?

    It is up to General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd)  to play the Mandela of Nigeria by immediately grooming an Igbo man to take over from him after four years and engineering what I painstakingly narrated above. Nigeria is a potentially great country that has unfortunately been managed by inept and unfit leaders. God must be on the side of Nigeria, holding her out as a nation that will give the black man on this planet a place for them to excel once again as they did some 3000 years ago. It is not accident that Buhari has refused to give up after 3 attempts at the presidency and he continued to fight on, there must be a divine reason for such a determination.

    What message do you have for Buhari in the event he wins?

    To know that Nigeria is in a lot of problems, economically, socially and religiously. To start without delay addressing these multi problems with the best hands Nigeria has irrespective of tribe or faith, to tackle corruption and waste head on. To be transparent and get Nigerians to rebuild their country by themselves with help from friends who are sincerely friends. To expand the untapped opportunities that are abundant in Nigeria left to lie idle because of the easy revenue from hydrocarbons that rendered us indolent; to build up trust amongst us by being equitable to all; to address the injury and unfair treatment of Igbos in Nigeria; to restore the diminishing confidence of Nigeria; to restore the dignity of Nigerians as it was at independence and finally to maintain absolute allegiance to our constitution.

    From your prediction it means that your vote will go to Burahi?

    Answer:  How did you come to that conclusion? Iadvised Igbos to cast their votes according to their choice and conscience. Casting votes are still by secret ballot and I shall cast my vote according to my conscience and choice.

    Why is your committee suspicious of possible violence?

    You may not be aware that each time violence occurs, it is the Igbos that suffer most. The reason is simple because the Igbos are the most dispersed in Nigeria, living in all nooks and corners of Nigeria. It is an unfortunate contradiction of our nationhood where Nigerians still see their fellow Nigerians as foreigners even when they were born there. These are all tasks facing Buhari when he wins. A fearless leader can, by his affirmative action, create a new Nigeria that will banish all these fears and distrust amongst Nigerians and the issue of people casting and making their choices in elections a simple matter that should not breed or create violence. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee is praying for a non-violent election but due to our unfortunate history in the past, the committee owes a duty to advice Igbos to take precautionary measures for their safety everywhere in Nigeria.

  • Don’t expect me, other Obas to campaign for you – Adetona tells Jonathan

    Don’t expect me, other Obas to campaign for you – Adetona tells Jonathan

    The Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, on Thursday, made it explicitly clear to President Goodluck Jonathan that neither him (Adetona) nor any other monarch in Ijebuland should be expected to campaign for Jonathan in respect of the rescheduled March 28 Presidential election.

    Adetona said any monarch who took the path of seeking to persuade the people to go in one way or another over the forthcoming general elections which he described as being “full of tension,” would surely bring “trouble” upon himself.

    He advised the President Jonathan to sell his achievements and programmes to the Ijebus by himself, explaining that he had already told his subjects – whether Christians and Muslims, to act wisely and never to vote for corrupt politicians (ojelus).

    Adetona said: “in Ijebu here, it is not possible for any Oba, not even in Ijebu, in Yorubaland, to go out and say vote for this, vote for that, that person is looking for trouble, but give them the opportunity to present their programme so that people can make up their minds on what to do.

    “I think this is a very sound democratic principle and that is what I have decided to do, to give you the opportunity of meeting with thepeople.

    “Once, they see you as a person, how beautiful you are, whether to engage with you or not, to listen to you and see if there are areas where we can meet, as a result, everybody congregating here, they belong to different groups.

    “They are PDP member, APC member, APGA, they belong to various interests, and when they come, they get to the gate, and they shed their togas.

    “In all our churches, after prayer, they pray for you, they will pray for the Governor, pray for me and all their leaders both in the mosque and churches as it is so required both in the Bible and also in the Qur’an.

    “Each time I have course, occasionally to talk to our people, I have always told them, in the churches and mosques that when you are going to vote, make sure, you back your sons and daughter who will give something back to you, not the ‘Ojelus.’

    “But those who will be honest with you, who knows the way of God, those are the people you should vote for, not those who will give you two three spoons and mortgage your future, it is not right.

    “I am sure over the years, there has been improvement but this election is full of tension, I don’t know how it is so, why has elections never been like this, about 55 years, I have never seen any election that is full of tension and than the one we are having now, my prayer is God should guide us and make sure that there’s peace, harmony and tranquility in the country.”

    Also, the Dagburewe of Idowa – Ijebu, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, who spoke on behalf of the Ijebu Traditional Council (ITC), drew the attention of Jonathan to the life -saving Mabolufon fly – over that runs across the Sagamu – Ore expressway at the Ijebu – Ode stretch of it and constructed by governor Ibikunle Amosun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Oba Adekoya said the Ijebus remained very grateful to Amosun for the intervention and urged the President to quickly “reimburse” the Governor of the cost of building the bridge so that the money could also be channelled to other worthwhile projects being executed in parts of the state by his administration.

    He also enlightened the President on the history of the Ijebu people in Ogun state, saying they have been around in their present location for more than 1,000 years with the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as the Supreme head.

    According to him, Ijebu has always been the land of peace and harmony and made up of people reputed for commerce and industry and which has also immeasurably contributed to the development of Nigeria.

    Adekoya also reminded Jonathan of the moribund Iwopin Paper Mill, a federal government project in Ogun Waterside, the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), Olokola Deep Sea Port, their long standing clamour for an Ijebu state among others and urged the President to do something about them urgently.

    Adekoya said: “your Excellency, it is however germane on this epoch visit to make very few observations about the Federal presence in Ijebuland.

    ” it is not very pleasant that Ijebus that over the years, the paper mill has not been completed for one reason or the other in order to provide jobs for the teaming population of unemployed youths roaming the streets.”

  • Jonathan meets Oba Adetona, others amid heavy security

    Jonathan meets Oba Adetona, others amid heavy security

    President Goodluck Jonathan arrived Ijebu – Ode, the royal home of the Awujale of Ijebuland, amid heavy security.

    The President was on a visit to the Paramount ruler, Oba Sikiru Adetona, to solicit support from him and other traditional rulers in his domain ahead of the rescheduled March 28 Presidential election.

    A military chopper that brought him touched ground at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu – Ode few minutes to 11 am.

    Jonathan who is facing a stiff opposition to his re – election ambition on the same ticket of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the main challenger and the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, arrived the palace at 11: 15am to meet with Oba Adetona.

    He was accompanied to the palace by chieftain of PDP in Ogun state including former governor Gbenga Daniel, the party’s flagbearer, Prince Gboyega Isiaka among others.

    Over a dozen of journalists from Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, who had laid siege at the enterance of Awujale’s Palace as early as 10:30am were barred from entering the Palace by hordes of soldiers, operatives of Department of State Security Service (DSS), the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) dispatched to provide security cover for the President.

    About two of the journalists managed to beat the security and entered the expanse Palace compound in disguise but were prevented from gaining entrance to the venue of the meeting between Jonathan and Ijebu monarchs.

    President Jonathan was accompanied by Adamu Mu’azu, PDP National Chairman, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state as well as Senator Musiliu Obanikoro among others.

     

  • Jonathan okays oil jobs for Tompolo, Fasehun, others

    Jonathan okays oil jobs for Tompolo, Fasehun, others

    The Federal Government is set to execute its new plan to safeguard the waterways and oil pipelines.

    The Presidency is believed to have directed the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to quit the job for some companies, which have been signed on by the government.

    The companies are owned by some former Niger Delta militants and prominent citizens. They include Government Tompolo; Mujaheedin Asari-Dokubo and Chief Bipobiri Ajube (aka Gen. Shoot-At-Sight).

    There is also  founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun who said last night that his company was being considered for the multi-billion naira contract.

    The  OPC National co-ordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, who is also said to be part of the deal, declined comments last night, saying he was at a meeting.

    The takeover is said to be with effect from March 16.

    According to a source, seven companies have been allocated “regions” or operational areas as follows: Egbe Security River One (Bayelsa);  Gallery Security (Mosinmi -Ore); Close Body Protection (Edo State);  Adex Energy Security(Rivers) ; Donyx Global Concept(Lagos and Ogun);  Oil Facilities Surveillance-(Delta) and New Age Global Security (Mosinmi-Ibadan).

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will coordinate the jobs.

    Details of the deal are sketchy as only few in government are in the picture.

    A source said: “The so-called new deal for the protection of waterways has not been made known to members of the Federal Executive Council, unlike in the past.

    “Maybe this is an ad hoc arrangement to achieve a political purpose because some ex-Niger Delta militants on January 24 met at the Government House, Yenagoa and vowed to declare war if President Goodluck Jonathan does not win the March 28 election.

    “Asari Dokubo specifically said: “We are going to war. Every one of you should go and fortify yourself.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “These former Niger Delta militants are benefiting from all manner of pipeline protection contracts.

    “Apart from being on retainership with NIMASA, I am aware that in 2009, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaette presented a memo on December 2, 2009 to the Federal Executive Council for the award of the N1.8billion Kurutie Shoreline Protection and Reclamation contract.

    “A company, KFT Kpudoh, allegedly owned by Tompolo and another called Phoenica Nigeria Limited, bid for the said contract.”

    Based on the advice of the Bureau of Public Procurement, after a thorough technical audit, the Shoreline Protection and Reclamation Contract was awarded to Phoenica Nigeria Limited by FEC. But the award of the contract to Phoenica fetched Akaette death threats. The government later reviewed the contract.”

    A source in Warri, Delta State, said the contract for pipelines in Delta State would be executed by Oil Field Surveillance Limited, the same company, which had previously handled it. It is owned by Tompolo.

    “What I was told is that it has been awarded for Delta, Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos and Ogun states. Like the one of Lagos State, I learnt it’s being anchored by Dr Frederick Fasshun and that it’s going to commence on Monday,” the source said.

    The NSCDC Deputy Commandant General in charge of Operation, Evans Ewuurum, said the corps was yet to receive any circular on the contracts.

    Nigeria has been battling with huge revenue due to vandalism of oil and gas pipeline.

    The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, recently disclosed that Nigeria had been losing an estimated 100,000 barrels of crude oil valued at N1.18 billion daily to oil thieves.

    This amounts to an annual loss of N433.62 billion.

    The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said pipeline vandalism led to shortage of gas for firing power plants.

    The electricity market, which has 5,500MW installed capacity now generates an average of 3,575.85MW following paucity of gas as vandals who always strike whenever the sector is about to hit 4,500MW”.

  • Jonathan to meet emirs over re-election

    Jonathan to meet emirs over re-election

    President Goodluck Jonathan is rushing to emirs in a last–ditch effort to win the March 28 election.

    He is scheduled to meet with the monarchs tomorrow in Kaduna to make what a source described as a “strong case” for his re-election.

    The president will move to Adamawa State, for the third time in three months, to salvage the dwindling chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), occasioned by the cracks in the party’s structure.

    He will meet three emirs/ traditional rulers from each of the 19 states in the North, The Nation learnt.

    Some of the royal fathers arrived in Abuja yesterday en route Kaduna.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said the president was worried that his chances in the North were getting slimmer.

    Out of the three geopolitical zones in the North, Jonathan has not been having it easy in the Northwest and Northeast, despite having a vice president from the North.

    The game appears even between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in North-Central, with the opposition stronger in Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Benue and Plateau.

    It was learnt that Jonathan has decided to take his destiny in his own hands by reaching out to the emirs.

    Although the president has two of the respected emirs covertly coordinating for his plans, it was gathered that he felt it was “politically safe enough” for him to address the larger body.

    A source said: “The penetration of the North and the Southwest has been a Herculean task for the president. This time around, the president has offered to discuss with emirs to clear allegations of shortchanging the North with another four years in office; alteration of the nation’s unwritten power rotation formula; marginalisation of the North; and to canvass the need to allow him have a second term in office.

    “He will also use the opportunity to explain what he had done for the North, especially the Almajiri project; Boko Haram; and he will table his plans for the region, if re-elected.”

    Another source said: “The president needs to earn the confidence of the emirs following recent utterances of First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, who accused the North of rearing children without taking care of them, but only to turn them into Almajiri (miscreants).

    “The anger in the North over First Lady’s comments was much, to the extent that the president might need to apologise for such campaign oversight.”

    It was not immediately clear if most of the emirs will honour the invitation or not.

    A traditional ruler said: “Well, the president wants to meet with us in Kaduna on Friday as he has done in some geopolitical zones.

    “Three emirs from each of the 19 states will attend the session. We are going to listen to him. But you know that some of us are non-partisan.”