The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Buhari’s camp upbeat over Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Ekiti, Adamawa, Ogun

    CONFIDENCE. That was the general feeling in the All Progressives Congress (APC) last night as results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections began trickling in from across the nation.

    Leaders of the party  were particularly upbeat  at the strong showing of President Muhammadu Buhari  and the party’s national assembly candidates in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Ekiti, Kano, Borno and Adamawa among others.

    But the party warned its supporters to be vigilant, saying the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had hatched a plan to unleash violence during collation of results of the elections.

    The PDP said it was the APC that masterminded the killings in some states.

    Early returns from the Southeast and much of Southsouth looked good for the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Buhari and Atiku said, moment after casting their votes yesterday, that they were optimistic of winning.

    Buhari, asked by reporters in his home town, Daura, whether he would congratulate the winner in the event that he (President) lost, he said:  “I’m going to congratulate myself, because am going to win.”

    Responding to a question on his expectation in Yola, Atiku said: “I look forward to a successful transition.”

    But it was Buhari who appeared to be coasting home to victory last night on account of yet to be confirmed results.

    Some of the key backers of Atiku who were expected to deliver  votes for him failed in show of their  electoral worth.

    They include former President Olusegun Obasanjo who could only muster 18 votes for Atiku in his Abeokuta polling unit against the 87 for Buhari.

    Buhari himself floored Atiku at the former vice president’s polling unit in Yola with 186 votes to 157.

    Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba delivered 147 votes for Buhari at his Abeokuta polling Unit while Atiku received 81.

    Another former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel who is the Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Southwest, delivered 137 votes for Atiku while Buhari got 88 votes.

    The governorship candidate of the party in the State and Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial district, Senator Buruji Kashamu also delivered his Sopen unit 26 in Ijebu Igbo to the PDP Presidential candidate.

    While Atiku polled 138 votes, Buhari polled 110 votes

    As we projected in our assessment of the chances of the two candidates a few weeks back, Buhari is doing very well in Akwa Ibom State where the former  Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio delivered 1,553 votes for him  in his Ukana West 2, unit 9, Essien Udim Local Government Area. Atiku got only 11 votes there.

    Buhari also defeated Atiku 84 -80 votes in the Apapa, Lagos polling unit of the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje while it was the other way round in the Ikoyi polling unit of the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Atiku attracted 52 votes in the unit while Buhari got 48.

    Atiku got 219 votes as against Buhari’s 68 at   the Agbaji polling unit, Ilorin of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    In another unit at Agbaji, Ilorin, Saraki’s younger sister, Gbemi got 275 votes for Buhari while Atiku received 71.

    It was also Buhari all the way in most of the units in Ekiti, Kano, Borno, Adamawa States.

    But it seemed to be a close race in Edo State although APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole  made it 770  0  in favour of Buhari while Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu gave it all to Buhari in his Mpu units in Enugu State.

    Atiku also got 84 votes, nine more than Buhari at one of the polling units at Aso Rock Villa, and 207 votes at the Kaduna polling unit of former Vice President Namadi Sambo.

    Buhari got only  34 votes there but made up for it at Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State’s  polling unit with 453 votes to Atiku’s 80.

    Other results that came in last night are as follows:

    Owan West Unit six Ward one (Edo State)

    APC  — 124

    PDP — 90

    Kabiyesi: Ona-Ara unit (Essa B ward) (Kwara)

    APC – 290

    PDP – 64

    Kabiyesi: PU Ilesha Primary School, Ilesha Baruba  (Kwara)

    PDP=39, APC=190

    Idi Agba Polling unit 004  Ilorin (Kwara)

    APC 397

    PDP  57.

    0de imam 005 (Kwara)

    APC=195

    PDP=231

    Ward 06 (Orokere), Unit 001 (Kogi)

    APC   90

    PDP 100

    Ward 06, Unit 002 (Orokere, Kogi).

    APC 54   PDP 112

    Ward 04 (Ileteju Mopa), Unit 004 (Kogi)

    APC   43

    PDP 138

    Yagba Ward 04, Unit 003 (Kogi)

    APC  46

    PDP 131

    Yagba House of Representative:

    APC=30, PDP=76, ADC=69.

    Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Kubwa, Abuja, unit 006

    PDP: 953

    APC: 182

     

    APC to supporters: Be vigilant

    The All Progressives Congress Campaign Council last night issued  a security alert that about an alleged plot by the PDP to unleash violence during the collation of the  results of the elections.

    Spokesman for the campaign council, Mr. Festus Keyamo said:

    “It has come to our knowledge from insiders within the PDP Campaign Council who are making last-minute efforts to switch allegiance to President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress that the PDP is currently recruiting armed thugs and miscreants nationwide to attack ward and local government collation centres this evening till the wee hours of tomorrow morning.

    “The purpose is to disrupt the collation process of the elections nationwide in order to cause crises and make this election inconclusive. As we know, most of these collation centres are usually in schools or other places that are poorly protected.

    “This is, therefore, a clarion call to all law enforcement agencies to mobilise extra armed security to protect all collation centres nationwide. We also appeal to Nigerians of goodwill and our supporters to provide standby electricity this night at these collation centres.

    Read Also: EFCC operatives at INEC collation centre in Lagos

    “We also call on all our party agents, supporters and patriotic Nigerians to stick with these election results from the various units up to the State Collation Centres. There is no cause for any political party at this stage to jubilate or be dejected. Nothing has been won and nothing has been lost. Official results have not been declared. Hence we call for eternal vigilance on the part of our agents and supporters.

    “We repeat: NOBODY SHOULD JUBILATE NOW AND ABANDON HIS/HER DUTIES. LET US KEEP OUR FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND AND STICK WITH OUR ASSIGNED ROLE(S) UNTIL FINAL RESULTS ARE DECLARED BY INEC.”

     

    APC killing Nigerians, burning ballot boxes, PDP alleges

    The PDP in its reaction to the conduct of the elections accused the APC of killing innocent Nigerians, and snatching and burning ballot boxes during the polls.

    The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the unleashing of violence was the major part of the script by the APC to intimidate Nigerians and disrupt the election, in a bid to enforce President Buhari’s self-succession plot.

    His words: “President Buhari and the APC leadership must know that they are directly responsible for the killings in Rivers state, the violent snatching of ballot box and burning of electoral materials in Lagos and various other states where compromised security agents were used to directly interfere in the electoral process. “In Lagos State, the world watched in amazement as security agents aided APC thugs to invade polling centres, disrupt electoral process, manhandle voters, destroy and burnt electoral materials, including ballot papers and boxes.

    “In Rivers State, voters were shot and killed by agents of the APC in their desperation to manipulate the elections.

    “Our party is compiling a list of all infractions and the killings as well as securing the identities of all individuals who played roles in these the atrocities.

    “The PDP deeply salutes the resilience, courage and sacrifices by Nigerians, across the board, in resisting the Buhari’s anti-democratic forces and insisting that their votes must count, against all odds.

    “Nigerians, across the country are exceptionally upbeat in their resolution to vote out this incompetent, divisive, vengeful, violent prone and corrupt APC administration, despite the machinations of the Buhari Presidency.

    “This election has shown President Buhari and in particular, certain individuals in Lagos state, who thought that they were emperors, that the will of the people is bigger than them. The APC turned the election into a war but Nigerians have shown that nobody can suppress their resilient spirit.

    “The PDP therefore calls on INEC to ensure that all votes count as Nigerians are following all the figures from the polling units.  Having come thus far and after making huge sacrifices, Nigerians will never accept any result that does not reflect the reality of their already expressed wishes and aspiration at the polls.”

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara   won his polling unit at Gwarangah in Bogoro, Dass, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State for Atiku with 285 votes as against 15 for Buhari.

  • Uti Nwachukwu, Chioma Akpotha, others attend Alita premiere

    NOLLYWOOD actors, Uti Nwachukwu, Tope Tedela, Chioma Akpotha, Ufuoma McDermott were among other celebrities present at the Nigerian premiere of Hollywood movie, ‘Alita: Battle Angel’, at the Filmhouse Cinemas, Lekki, Lagos, recently.

    Written by James Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis and directed by Robert Rodriguez, ‘Alita’ was shot in 3D and not converted to 3D according to Keean Johnson who played Hugo (Alita’s love interest) in the movie.

    ‘Alita’ is about a cyburg trying to remember her past but eventually became a leader. It however revolves around an abandoned cyburg girl (Alita) found in the scrapyard of Iron City by Ido, a compassionate cyber-doctor who takes the unconscious cyborg Alita to his clinic. When Alita awakens, she has no memory of who she is, nor does she have any recognition of the world she finds herself in. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious past.

    Rosa Salazar stars as the titular Alita, a cyborg who sets out to learn about her past after she awakens in a new body with no memory of who she is. Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley and Keean Johnson also star in supporting roles.

    The Robert Rodriguez-directed film has been a passion project for James Cameron for over 20 years. Adapted from Yukito Kishiro’s manga graphic novel, ‘Alita’ is a cyberpunk sci-fi thriller about a young cyborg trying to survive in a morally compromised world and learn the truth about her past.

    ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square on January 31, 2019, and was released in the United States on February 14, 2019 by 20th Century Fox in Real D 3D, Dolby Cinema and IMAX 3D formats. The film has grossed over $137 million worldwide.

  • Osinbajo, Durotoye vote in same polling unit

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Mr. Fela Durotoye,  the presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), both residents of Victoria Garden City(VGC), Lagos, yesterday, voted at the same polling unit-Code 33, Unit 2 in the estate.

    Osinbajo, who arrived at the unit at 10:28 a.m., exercised his franchise at 10:53 a.m while Durotoye voted at 12:11 p.m.

    Chairman, VGC, Property Owners and Residents Association, Mr Adetokunbo Ladega, said he was excited having two key players in the presidential contest living in the community.

    According to him, it is a rare feat which makes him feel VGC is the right place to live in.

    He said that VGC was a very large community which had two main polling units.

    “We are a very large community, with a little over 5000 registered voters.

    “So, we know from previous experience that there is always a need to put in place effective crowd management,” he said

     

  • Elections: Police arrest 23 in Lagos

    No fewer than 23 persons were arrested for various electoral offences in Lagos State on Saturday, according to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Zubairu Muazu

    Muazu told newsmen after monitoring the exercise with the AIG Mr David Folawiyo that nine persons were arrested for allegedly burning and destroying election materials at Okota.

    The CP said that 10 motorcycles used by the hoodlums to move to Okota were recovered.

    He said nine persons linked to a cult group were also arrested for thuggery in Somolu area and for attempting to cause problems during the elections.

    Muazu said during a stop and search operation by some policemen, two suspects were arrested at Stadium area Surulere in a private car, and one locally-made pistol was recovered from them.

    “At Alakara area of Mushin, three suspects were arrested trying to disrupt the elections.

    “No death was recorded in Lagos State. Although social media says so, in all the areas I visited, I did not see any dead person and none of my officers reported any death to me,” he said.

    Muazu said that the police was investigating the free movement of some persons on motorcycles at Okota where hoodlums disrupted elections.

    “There were some crises at Ijora area, but they were brought under control.

    “The elections were peaceful generally. Voting went on smoothly and ended well in most of the polling units.

    “Those arrested will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation,” Muazu said.

  • AYE founder visits old school

    The founder and President of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE), who is based in South Africa, Mr. Summy Smart Francis, visited his old school, Victory Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos, to express his gratitude to the management.

    Francis, who also formed the Aliens Rights Organization with the aim to advise and protect the rights of aliens in foreign countries, during the visit, paid off all the debts incurred by some indigent students of the school.

    He also institutionalized  annual scholarship awards for brilliant students in the school.

    Francis is the executive director of Africa’s biggest entrepreneurship reality TV show produced in Nigeria and being aired across Africa on MNET.

    His AYE has also empowered thousands of Africa with grants and equipment.

    In his welcome address, the managing proprietor of Victory Group of Schools, Chief Christian Francis Ipoola Olaniyan, showered praises on Summy Smart Francis for remembering the alma mater by making  an indelible mark  by starting scholarship awards in the school.

    He advised other old students who have excelled in their careers to emulate the good examples of Francis Summy and Yemi Alade, a musician of note , adding that Francis achieved the feat because of his foresight and perseverance to succeed in life.

  • Polls: Kwara, Kano, 10 others major flash points, says CCC

    The Centre for Crisis Communication on Friday identified 12 states including Kano, Kwara, Kogi, Kaduna and Imo as major flashpoints during the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday.

    The CCC whose findings are usually based on credible intelligence from military and security agencies stated this in its mid-February collation and dissemination of data on crisis situation across the country.

    Other states in this category included Adamawa, Taraba, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Anambra, said the group’s Executive Secretary Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd).

    These disclosures which were made at Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) in Abuja was confirmed to The Nation by Anas, a former spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    He said the possible flash points were arrived at after a review of recent incidents and violent activities in some of the states.

    “We strongly recommend that adequate security arrangements should be made to ensure that the elections are not disrupted in some of the states we have identified.

    “We identified these states and grouped them according to geopolitical zones. In the north, Kano and Kaduna are major flashpoints. We have Kwara and Kogi in North Central; Adamawa and Taraba in Northeast.

    “In the south, we identified Lagos and Ogun for southwest, Rivers and Akwa Ibom south-south and Imo and Anambra States for southeast.

    “We appeal to politicians and community leaders to advise their subjects against involvement in any activity capable of inciting violence that could have negative effects on the electoral processes.

    “We also urge all security agencies deployed for elections to be proactive and conduct themselves professionally by carrying out their duties with absolute neutrality, devoid of bias, while the media and Civil Society Organizations should continue to monitor and keep Nigerians abreast before, during and after the elections,” said Anas.

    According to him, the centre gathers, collates, processes, harmonises and disseminates information on potential crisis situation in the country.

    “It has been providing credible and professional crisis information and early warning alerts to strategic institutions with the view of taking appropriate measure towards ensuring adequate security as well as promoting peaceful coexistence in the country.“

  • Lagos CP assures residents of peaceful polls

    Lagos Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has again appealed to residents to come out on Saturday and exercise their franchise, assuring that nothing would disrupt the peace, security in the state.

    Muazu gave the assurance after a meeting with all heads of security agencies in the state held at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

    According to the police chief, security had been adequately deployed across the state to ensure peaceful conduct of the exercise, security of lives and properties.

    A statement released by the spokesman for the command Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) appealed to residents to contact emergency numbers- Control 1: 08127155132 and 07035068242; Control 2: 08127155150 and 08065154338 Control 3: 08127155071 and 08063299264- in case of any distress.

    Oti said: “The CP restates that the command, as part of its commitment to a peaceful conduct of the polls, has adequately deployed men and officers to different parts of the state.

    “He assures Lagosians that the command in collaboration with other sister agencies has put in place all the necessary security measures to ensure that the exercise is free, fair and credible.

    “The CP says eligible voters have no cause to entertain fear or feel intimidated in performing their civic duty, urging them to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    “He warns violence-minded people to steer clear from engaging in acts capable of truncating the election, noting that whoever is caught will face the full weight of the law.“

  • PDP’ll be defeated on Sat, says Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council Co-chairman Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday urged party members in Lagos to intensify  the mobilisation for Saturday’s rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was jittery, he said the ruling party will defeat the opposition party at the poll and put it to shame.

    The former Lagos State governor also explained why Igbo in Lagos should vote for the APC, saying that the government in the Centre of Excellence has never discriminated against them and other non-indigenes in the distribution of the dividends of democracy.

    Tinubu, who urged women leaders to mobilise traders for the crucial poll, also advised youths to heed President Muhammadu Buhari’s advice by shunning thuggery, ballot snatching and other forms of violence.

    He advised party faithful to accommodate defectors from the rival PDP, saying that they had become legitimate members of the fold whose cooperation are required for mobiliasation for victory.

    Tinubu, who urged them to use their index fingers to thumb print on the ballot paper, advised the party agents and canvassers to be vigilant.

    He said: “You agents must report early. Be vigilant. Shine your eyes. If an agent goes to ease himself, the canvasser will take his position. A canvasser is also an agent.”

    The party said there will be a meeting of party leaders with council chairmen at his Ikoyi residence today to discuss the preparations for the Saturday election.

    Exuding confidence, he said: “We will win on Saturday and we will hold a celebration rally next week.”

    Tinubu addressed party members, shortly after the stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja.

    The meeting was attended by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule; Secretary to Government Tunji Bello; governorship candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his running mate Obafemi Hamzat; and APC Governorship Advisory Council (GAC) members – Prince Tajudeen Olusi; party chairman  Tunde Balogun; one-time Finance Commissioner Olawale Edun; Prince Abiodun Ogunleye; Chief Busura Alebiosu; Chief M.A. Taiwo; Chief Murphy Adetoro; Chief Mutiu Aare; Alhaji Akanni Seriki; Olorunfunmi Basorun; Dr. Yomi Finnih; Chief Muyiwa Sosanya and Cardinal James Odunmbaku.

    Other chieftains included: Former Minister of State for Defence Demola Seriki; former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro; Oyinlomo Dammole; Ademorin Kuye; APC Vice Chairman (Lagos West) Funso Ologunde; party secretary Wale Ahmed; publicity secretary Joe Igbokwe; his deputy Abiola Salami; Senators Musiliu Obanikoro; Ganiyu Solomon; and Adeola Olamilekan; Southwest APC Women Leader Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Lagos APC Women Leader Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; Mrs. Fausat Gbadebo; Cornelius Ojelabi; Ayodele Adewale; Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye; Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke; Sanwo-Olu’s campaign manager Tayo Ayinde; Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara; Arewa leader Kabiru Ahmed; Chris Ekwilo and House of Assembly members-Wasiu Eshilokun; Rotimi Abiru and Tunde Braimoh.

    Welcoming the chieftains and party followers, Balogun urged them to pass Tinubu’s message to other members who are busy in their local governments with door-to-door campaigns at the wards.

    Tinubu, who told the party congregation that he has not slept for three days, owing to his involvement in preparations for the polls, urged members to gird their loins.

    He said: “Are you ready for the polls? Go out on Saturday. Don’t’ be discouraged. Take your PVCs. Go and vote and we will win. Who are we fighting? It is the PDP.”

    Reflecting on the postponement of the poll, he said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ship ran into turbulence, praying that the ship should land safely and happily on Saturday.

    Tinubu, who spoke in English and Yoruba, said: “INEC will land safely and happily on this election and APC will win. They destroyed INEC office and materials in Abia. They are finished on poll day. We will bury PDP. They don’t want you to vote. They don’t want you to be around. Their plot has failed.”

    He added: “We are not fighting INEC. There is no nation without obstacles. No leadership without challenges. Leadership must address the challenges. We are in a growing democracy. I was governor during the bomb explosion at Ikeja in 2002. It was very daunting. But, we responded and cared about our people. That is the concern of all of us and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “WE are not fighting INEC. INEC is not our opponent. We are going to compete and we will defeat them. They do not have our strength in the Southwest, Northwest, Northeast, Middle Belt. How will they win?”

    Warning against hypocrisy and divisive tendencies in the political family, the party leader said leaders were aware of the allegations against a chieftain from Badagry, Mr. Bamgbose, who has refused to work for the party after benefiting from the party’s slot.

    Tinubu, who advised members to mobilise vigorously to demonstrate the strength of the APC in Lagos, said defectors to the party should be carried along.

    He said: “You should emulate me. I have accommodated Obanikoro, Demola Seriki and Da Silver. This is a good example of leadership. We are a big party. We cannot but offend ourselves. As you beg God for forgiveness, you should learn to forgive your fellow human beings.”

    Turning to the women, Tinubu said: “Don’t rest in your local governments. Go to the markets and stalls. Mobilise them to vote.”

    He also said members who have problems and complaints should not hesitate to inform their leaders at the ward and local government levels.

    Stressing the importance of grassroots mobilisation, Tinubu said: “Get the attendance register at the ward. Call meetings. You know the number of polling units in your areas. Work hard. You must win. Tomorrow, I will hold meeting with the 57 council chairmen at Bourdillon.”

    The former governor admonished youths to shun unruly behaviours on poll day to avoid unpleasant consequences.

    He said: “Let me warn our boys. You heard President Buhari’s warning on thuggery, ballot snatching. You heard him. I don’t command an Army. The Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is my Army. We must go out to vote for president Buhari and our National Assembly candidates on February 23 and our governorship and House of Assembly candidates on March 9. The warning is: don’t fight.”

    Tinubu also warned some restless youths against the harassment of of esteemed party elders during meetings, saying that anyone who is culpable is an agent of the PDP. He said APC is interested in celebrating democracy and not violence.

    Urging Igbo in Lagos to vote for the APC, he said: “We appeal to our Igbo brothers from the East. This is the state where you conduct your business. Your children are in our schools. There is no discrimination against them in WAEC, NECO  and tertiary fees. This time, we are asking you to help us. We will look at the votes from Ojo, Alaba, Surulere, Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi Ifelodun.”

  • INEC’s ‘force majeure’ and matters arising

    “ELECTION is no war.”

    I’m not the author of that profound statement ; the copyright belongs to the United States Consul General in Lagos, Mr John Gray, who was interviewed by the BBC. Is Mr Gray right? Yes. No.

    Democracy offers us a chance to exhibit our freedom of choice. Just get the ballot paper, thumbprint your choice and drop it in a box. The votes are counted and results announced. The winner and the loser are expected to be patriotic – the country first. That is when an election is no war. Just the ballot; no bullet. That is the ideal.

    Consider the reverse. How dare you go into an election without an army of roughnecks and a huge cash vault to buy votes, hire legal giants and procure justice,  should you have to take the battle to court. You cause some heads to be smashed here and some limbs broken there; it is all in the spirit of the game. Now tell me, isn’t this a war?

    Why is it so here? The Nigerian attitude. Put a round peg in a square hole, tell the world that it is working, refuse to play your part and blame it on others. Do everything surreptitiously to smother the system. Invite experts and charlatans – we are never short of them – to analyse why everything failed and get everybody talking at the same time. This goes on and on, until the next disaster.

    Many had the funny feeling that the February 16 elections would run into a hitch. An obviously troubled INEC trying to get by; desperate politicians talking as if we were headed for a motor park officials’ election and marauders taking advantage of the tension.

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai issued his “body bag” warning and international observers restated their altruistic motives. Two vehicles carrying voting materials were burnt in Akwa Ibom; two people were killed in the incident. Hundreds of thugs were seized by the police. INEC offices and materials were burnt in Anambra, Plateau and Abia states. There were stories of compromised INEC officials in some states.

    In Abeokuta, the President and the Vice- President became victims of some wild ego, stoned by some wild people at a wild rally that was to be their party’s. Nobody has been arrested for this treasonable action. Incredible.

    And then the banal remark about the weather. A plane carrying the materials for the Southeast could not land in Enugu due to poor weather. Where was the weatherman? Did he play his part? A minister actually ruled out weather as the culprit here.

    Trust Nigerians. They consoled themselves by turning it all into jokes. Such jokes flooded the ubiquitous social media. One wondered why event planners were not hired to organise the election since it was, after all, an event. Another started sending his greetings (Happy postponement o). And many replied (Same to you o).

    My plan was to suggest that a 200-man “high powered” probe panel  be set up to find out what went wrong. Were the reasons given for the postponement tenable? Was anybody negligent by his or her act or acts of omission or commission? At what point did INEC decide it should postpone the election? What led to the postponement of the announcement of the postponement until about five hours before the voting? Who and who were informed before the announcement was made? Who was not informed? What are the remote and immediate circumstances of the postponement? Is the postponement real or part of an invisible game by some key elements of the system? Is somebody a puppet here? If so, who is the puppeteer?  The panel should examine also all other factors that may help us make some sense of all this.

    To chair this all-important panel is Maurice Iwu (remember him?), a professor of pharmacognosy and a former chairman of INEC, who hopefully will want to deploy his vast experience to save the nation at this difficult time. Just then, I stumbled on a social media post that I may have been a bit late – the amiable professor was already consulting for a party in this electoral battle. I couldn’t immediately confirm this.

    Tempers are rising. Allegations – that money has changed hands, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) are wrecking their residences and card readers are being compromised in collusion with some unscrupulous foreign powers – are flying around. The puzzles are getting more puzzling. What is to be done?

    To the barber shop I headed yesterday.  As usual, it was packed full of all manner of people– experts and expats, youngsters and gangsters, workers and wreckers. Some were watching soccer on television; others were engrossed in a game of draught as two fellows slugged it out on the board.

    Suddenly, all heads turn to the wide door as an old man stomps in, screaming: “What a hell! Damn it!” He is sweating. A young man offers his seat and the bearded man sits on it, the old furniture creaking as if it is set to break.

    “Long time, Papi D,” says the distracted barber, a rotund fellow in a white coat like a doctor’s and a blue apron that shields his dress from the strands of hair that stray off after succumbing to the sharp blade of the clippers.

    “It’s all nonsense. It’s all nonsense what we are facing in this country,” the old man replies. “I have been going up and down to tell our people to be prepared for the elections because after chasing away the military, we don’t have any other means of choosing our leaders. And now, here we are.”

    Some  young men harrumphing about the postponed elections descend on Papi D, an old lawyer who claims to have studied in England “when cocoa money was the king”, firing questions.

    “Easy, easy, young men. I am also agitated, but I have refused to be confused. No. Never. Ask your questions one after the other. I have time today.”

    “Sir, why did INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu announce  the postponement in the dead of the night?”

    “You see, I don’t know how many of you are Yoruba. What is the difference between ‘Yakubu’ and ‘abuku’? When it all seems hazy and there are questions of sincerity and character, elders will start warning that you should beware of ‘abuku’ and ‘ete’. They both mean ‘disgrace’. If your name is Yakubu, you will easily be told to be careful not to become ‘Yakubu alabuku’(the disgraced Yakubu) so that the world will not be saying ‘abuku Yakubu ni o’ (It is Yakubu’s disgrace). That is my positon; I won’t blame anybody, not even Yakubu – for now.

    “We are all Nigerians – those appointed to run the show, those who have gone round the world to seek how to compromise the system and those carrying cash around to simply buy or purchase or procure or obtain everything, believing that money can do all things.”

    Just before Papi D calls for the next question, the heavy clouds that have darkened the sky give way to a downpour. It begins to rain and more people rush into the shop. Everybody is talking at the same time. Confusion. The barber keeps shouting: “Order, order; I say order, gentlemen.” Nobody is listening.

    Papi D deeps his hand into his bag, whips out a small bottle, opens it and turns the content into his month. He frowns his face as he battles to cope with the biting effect of the drink, smiles like a baby and bites his lips. “You see, Mr barber, you should also be in the spirit; these are unusual times. I can see that the noise you are trying to stop will continue. That is what some people want. When it reaches a crescendo, they will now move in with an interim plan for peace. But I can assure you, we won’t let it pass; we have been there before.”

    The rain subsides. Papi D carries his bag on his shoulder and shouts: “See you later, everybody. And don’t forget to vote on Saturday.”

     

    That Keyamo and Dino encounter

    DINO Melaye is back – in his rambunctious best. The senator has been off the scene for a while – no thanks to a brush with the law. He was hospitalised after a botched attempt to resist arrest.  He released a video recently, thanking Nigerians for standing by him.

    There he was on Tuesday, sparring with Buhari Campaign spokesman Festus Keyamo (SAN). At issue was the presidential order that ballot box snatchers will pay dearly for their action. The Kogi West senator was as abusive and reckless as ever as he made his point that President Buhari was wrong to have spoken the way he did. Keyamo insisted Buhari was simply following the law – ballot snatching is treasonable.

    keyamo

    The force with which Dino spoke has forced some to ask: “Is Dino planning to snatch a ballot box?” Others have been asking why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been so vociferous in criticising the presidential order. Are its members planning to snatch ballot boxes?

    It was revealed during the encounter that Dino has been studying law. Keyamo advised him to spend more time in class than “clowning in hospitals”. Some viewers chipped in: “Has Dino gone to the right hospital?”

  • Anchor Varsity inducts 134 freshers

    Anchor University, Lagos, has admitted 134 students at its third matriculation ceremony.

    The ceremony, which coincided with the second anniversary of the school and the first investiture of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Afolayan, was held at the school’s auditorium in Ipaja.

    Addressing the new students, Afolayan expressed the university’s commitment to raise students, not only as leading professionals in their fields, but disciplined and courageous leaders who demonstrate the fear of God in all their dealings.

    Noting that the university’s impact and efforts are anchored on divine directives, Afolayan assured them that through their cooperation, their journey to greater height would be accomplished.

    He explained that the school’s Outcome-Based Education System is  designed primarily to raise skilled and innovative workforce for the 21st century economy, adding that the facilities,  libraries and sporting facilities have been equipped  to unleash students, potentials.

    He said: “Today you are now formally inducted into this invincible family and this comes with lots of privileges, both now and in the future. I counsel that you take this with all sense of gratitude and responsibilities, and the sky will be your springboard.”

    He remarked that within the short period of the school’s existence, the school has shown commitment and determination to fulfil the vision of its founding fathers.

    Recounting the achievements of the university, Afolayan said the school has taken countless steps geared towards positioning the school as a respectable university internationally.

    He noted that the school’s target was to be one of the top five universities in Nigeria within its first 10 years of existence.

    The VC warned the students to be of good behaviour as the school would not permit any anti-Christian lifestyle.

    He expressed gratitude to the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry and Chancellor of the university, Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi for his support to the school.