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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • You can’t blackmail Nigerians, PDP tells Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu Buhari he cannot blackmail Nigerians over his impending defeat in the February 16 presidential election.

    The main opposition party lamented what it described as the administration’s incessant blackmail and threats against the opposition and law -abiding Nigerians.

    In a statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians will not buckle under the jackboots.

    It also alleged efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to heat up the polity, inject crisis, undermine the general elections, then carry its heinous plots to use mercenaries from Niger Republic to unleash mayhem on the nation and blame it on the opposition.

    This plot, the PDP alleged, is because the APC have realised that there is no way Buhari can win in a peaceful, free and fair election.

    The party also drew the attention of the international community to what it described as land mines being set on the way of credible elections by the APC.

    It cited the clamp down on opposition, foisting of President Buhari’s relation, Amina Zakari, as head of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) collation centre.

    Read Also: PDP ‘ll fix economy — Peter Obi

    The PDP also cited the refusal by President Buhari to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, the creation of illegal geo-spatial centers and polling units for allocation of “fictitious” votes for the APC, listing of APC supporters as election officials and the opening of borders to “mercenaries” to participate in the electoral process as some of the danger signals.

    The party said: “It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonize and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry and pave the way for the actualization of a self-succession plan for President Buhari.

    “The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore states in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely choose their leaders, no matter the threats.

    “The PDP stands with Nigerians, across the board, in demanding for a free, fair, transparent and credible general election.

    “This position must be respected, as the citizens of our country will spare no thoughts in vehemently confronting and squarely resisting, head to head, any attempt by anybody, whosoever he may be, to subvert our electoral process.”

  • ‘Nigeria spends $10b on foreign certified welders yearly’

    Despite the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Executive Order Five to control job losses, Nigeria still spends over $10 billion yearly to hire certified welders into the country according to the Managing Director, Mudiame International Limited, Sunny Eromosele

    He said the nation’s current economic situation and unemployment crisis may worsen if the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other stakeholders fail to double efforts on the developing of local content in the country.

    He spoke at a briefing on National Welding Capacity Development Plan in Abuja.

     While the executive order aimed at increasing domestic production of goods and services and creating jobs in science, technology and engineering on one hand, the order equally prohibits issuing of visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria.

    Eromosele, who also operates Mudiame Welding Institute, stated the country lacks the strategy necessary for implementing the policy.

    He said the current skill gap has resulted in the influx of foreigners into the country such that the nation’s current railway projects and the ongoing Dongote Refinery are being handled by over 90 per cent Indians and Chinese.

     Eromosele, who noted that MAN and other stakeholders must pressure government to set up proper implementation mechanism for executive order five, especially in the areas of strengthening institutions, said critical sectors of the economy is being overlooked in the country.

    Eromosele described as unfortunate the fact that international communities compel their standards on Nigeria in the event of project execution in the country.

    He decried the idea of personnel certification system run by most International Oil Companies (IOCs), especially Saipem, Chevron and others.

    “We need the harmonisation of our personnel’s qualification so that the ideas of personnel certification system by some companies like Saipem, Chevron and others will be eradicated.

    “Role of Stakeholders must also be harmonised so the stakeholders will have common goals and role to play on all project executed depending on their areas of specialisations,” Eromosele added.

    He urged Buhari and the NCDMB being led by Simbi Wabote to channel efforts towards developing a key sector like welding.

  • N-PoD Summit: ‘Buhari’s anti-graft fight has made looting of public funds impossible’

    President Muhammadu Buhari has made looting of public funds impossible through the anti-corruption fight of his administration, a former Military Governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has said.

    Marwa stated this in his keynote address delivered at the National Policy and Development Summit (N-PoD), on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the change agenda of the All Progressives Congress – led Federal Government has delivered infrastructure and social investment on an unprecedented scale.

    Marwa, who was represented by Yakubu Muazu, said the Buhari administration had been able to deliver on its campaign promises despite inheriting an empty treasury.

    He said: “Anti-corruption for us is not all about arrest and prosecution of the corrupt. Anti-corruption is much more than that. It is the sum total of actions taken by government or private organizations to put a wedge between people that are interested in converting resources meant for specific public purpose into private use.

    “For instance, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) alone has consistently saved government N42million monthly since its implementation. This is in addition to ensuring that unutilized funds remain with government at the end of each fiscal year.

    “My understanding of governance confirms to me that governance model office of this government is capable of placing Nigeria on the path of fulfilling its manifest destiny if we are patient enough. Public funds must be available for substantial development in infrastructures that supports businesses.

    “In governance, what absence of funds means is that government capacity to deliver on its campaign promises has already been challenged from the very beginning. But because the government of President Muhammadu Buhari promised change, and our people yearn for it, the President has been able to deliver; however difficult and challenging this may be because it is the contract he has with Nigerians.

    “My submission here is this: If these herculean obstacles to governance and development had not been tolerated by past governments, and used as a conduit pipe to drain public fund, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari would not have inherited empty treasury in the face of these daunting challenges.”

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Barr. Boss Mustapha, said that change was introduced to address anomalies in the social and economic spheres of the country.

    Represented by Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), SGF office, Mr. Olusegun Adekunle, Mustapha said the summit presented a platform to evaluate the change agenda of the present government.

    “The promise of change was introduced to address anomalies in the social and economic spheres of the country.

    “We are here to review the strength and weaknesses of this administration’s change agenda, and work together to make Nigeria the trigger of the continent,” he said.

  • Buhari, Onnoghen and the rule of law

    Some Nigerians now appear to be finding it difficult to keep pace with happenings in the polity in the past few weeks.

    They wake up almost every day to have something new to ponder over and talk about.

    The latest of these saga was the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen’s case, which has taken many dimensions in the past few weeks.

    Among the issues against him was the tracing to his personal bank accounts of suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars and other foreign currencies.

    The bank accounts were said to be either undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.

    Onnoghen, who admitted that he made mistakes and forgot to disclose the accounts, refused to immediately appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    While many Nigerians have declared that his excuse was not tenable in law, others felt the discoveries few weeks to the general elections are politically motivated.

    Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and other lawyers, who should know more about interpretation of the laws of the land, were also sharply divided over the legality of Onnoghen to appear before the CCT.

    To ensure Onnoghen appear before the CCT and clear his name, the Presidency on Friday 25th of January, 2019 suspended him from office.

    Also to ensure no vacuum, President Muhammadu Buhari immediate swore in Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad as acting CJN the same day.

    This again caused more division, especially among SANs and lawyers in the country, who spoke for or against legality of the action of the President.

    In a twist of events, the National Judicial Council (NJC) in an emergency meeting last Tuesday directed Onnoghen and Muhammad to respond to the petitions against them within seven days.

    The Council at the meeting had elected former President of the Court of Appeal, Umaru Abdullahi, as Interim Chairman to preside over the meeting.

    The Court of Appeal, in its ruling on Onnoghen last week, okayed his trial by the CCT.

    With events fastly unfolding, not only stakeholders within the country, but outside the country have linked the various issues been thrown up to the forthcoming general elections.

    The United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) have also issued coordinated statements on Onnoghen’s suspension, criticising the decision by the Federal Government.

    “The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) is very concerned about the process and timing of the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen, on 25 January.

    “With 20 days until the presidential and National Assembly elections, political parties, candidates and voters must be able to have confidence in the impartiality and independence of the judicial system.

    “The decision to suspend the Chief Justice has led to many Nigerians, including lawyers and civil society observer groups, to question whether due process was followed. The timing, just before the swearing in of justices for Electoral Tribunals and the hearing of election-related cases, has also raised concerns about the opportunity for electoral justice.

    “The EU EOM calls on all parties to follow the legal processes provided for in the Constitution and to respond calmly to any concerns they may have,” it stated.

    Many Nigerians have also claimed that the Onnoghen issue has not been allowed to die down purely because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s moves to ensure a transparent and corrupt-free Nigeria.

    Reacting to the coordinated statements, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “We also note that friends, when not properly informed or acting in haste, can indeed make serious mistakes even with the best of intentions. Such is the case here.

    “The statements by the three seem more driven by unfounded assumptions and to be honest, a certain condescension to this African democracy. This is unfortunate. But this gives us an opportunity to clarify some points in the hope that these three friends reach a deeper understanding of the situation.

    “The statements by the US, UK and EU speak of their respect for constitutional practice and fair elections. However, the positions they stake tend to contravene rather than strengthen these laudable objectives.

    “CJN Onnoghen’s situation is one of his own making and, to a large degree, his own choosing.

    “The CJN was brought before the CCT because of a serious breach of law regarding his assets declaration. This is not a mere technicality like innocently placing a document in a wrong file or mistakenly placing yesterday’s date on a document.

    “All credible evidence indicates the CJN owned and operated several secret bank accounts. Unexplained large sums of money, exceeding several million dollars have passed through these accounts. Several thousand dollars are currently parked in the accounts. Multiple deposits of equal sums of money were deposited in some of those accounts during the same day. Such rapid and equal deposits are indicative of a person attempting to evade banking reporting laws and regulations.

    Read also: Three to die for killing 400 level student

    “Given the amount of money involved and the CJN’s inability to explain the source of the funds, the most plausible explanation at this point is also the most unfortunate explanation. No one did this to CJN Onnoghen. He and he alone is to blame for this turn of events.

    “Because of this he has been thoroughly discredited. It is untenable that a person in such compromised circumstances would be allowed to preside over the entire judicial system of a great nation. That would travesty the nation and what it stands for.

    “Had the situation been reversed and the US, UK or any EU member government found that its chief judicial official is the recipient of large sums of money of questionable origin and Nigeria suggested that you retain the person in that position, you would question Nigeria’s bona fides.

    “You also would swiftly move to suspend the official pending final determination of the causes against him. Not one of your nations would allow a person enmeshed in legal uncertainty to preside over your legal systems until the cloud has been cleared from him. That would incentivize corruption and assault the rule of law.

    “Last, the three make a curious direct linkage between the CJN suspension and the elections. However, in Nigerian law there is no such linkage. The CJN does not run the election. Nor is he the first arbiter of any electoral complaints. He and the Supreme Court will only get involved as the final arbiter at the end of the appellate process,” he said.

    Adding his voice to the issue last week Monday, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole said “But Nigeria is not a colony. We will not accept any foreign interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

    “When they dismiss judges in Europe…judges have been dismissed in the United States when they are found guilty of corruption and the Western world cannot on the one hand, when it suits them, describe Nigeria as fantastically corrupt and when a corrupt judicial officer is being charged, people want to interfere.

    “What anybody can insist on is, is anybody being framed? Is the suspended CJN guilty of the allegations made against him? Or is it something being cooked out from nowhere? Now, if a Chief Justice of the Federation admits that he has breached the law, if a Chief Justice of the Federation admits that he has several foreign domiciliary accounts, even though he also admits that by nature of his office, he is not s trader, what is he doing with accounts in British pounds, US dollars and in Euros and to the extent of forgetting that he has those accounts?

    “If he has such memory failure about the size of his number of accounts as to fail to declare them, you and I know that even ignorance is not an excuse in law. So, why are we being hypocritical?

    “And at a certain level of responsibility, it’s not even about legal technicalities. It’s about the moral weight, the moral burden you carry. So, nobody should make us feel as though we are at the mercy of any other country. The future of Nigeria is in the hands of Nigerians and our laws are clear. Our laws are meant to be obeyed,” he said.

    While the drama on the Onnoghen’s case is still unfolding, some Nigerians last Wednesday welcomed the moves by the Federal Government to press charges against Babachir Lawal and the former Head of the National Intelligent Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.

    Even though some Nigerians believed that the latest move was long overdue, others, who commended it, believed that it has shown that the government was not selectiveness in its anti-corruption campaign.

    Nigeria would really be the best for it if the anti-graft battle treats everyone alike and have no special treatment for any member of the kitchen cabinet or any top government official.

     

  • Elections: No alternative to Buhari, says presidential Aide

    Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Sen. Ita Enang, says among all the presidential candidates, President Buhari stands out as the best.

    Enang urged Akwa Ibom people to vote for Buhari in the Feb. 16 presidential elections as there was no alternative candidate to the seat for now.

    Enang said this in an interview with journalists at his country home in Ididep, Ibiono Ibom local government area of the state.

    He expressed optimism that Buhari will garner enough votes to win the forthcoming election.

    The presidential aide said the performance of Buhari for almost four years now had put him above all other presidential candidates, stressing that Buhari will win the election convincingly.

    “From all indications, I have seen and weighed all the candidates, particularly the two candidates, President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    “I have looked at the pedigree and manifesto of all of them, the records and the antecedents of each of them and concluded that there is no alternative to President Buhari, ”Enang said.

    The former lawmaker said that voting for Buhari would enable him to continue with his credible programmes, adding that on completion of his tenure, power would return to the southern part of the country.

    “And if we elect him, he will do only one term and power will return to the South, to go to either the South West or the South East,” he said.

    According to him, If former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar were to be elected, it will be difficult to get him committed to a single term, adding that he has refused to be committed on whether he would do one term or not.

    On the health of the President, Enang said Buhari has become younger and healthier than when he was first sworn into office in 2015, stressing that his health has been renewed by the providence of God.

    “I am sure you are aware that the health of the president is no more an issue. By God’s grace, his health is being renewed like eagle.

    He gets younger and stronger as he ages and am sure you know that Buhari looks younger now more than when he was first sworn in, “ he said. (NAN)

  • 2019: Lalong sues for peaceful, issues-based campaign

    As politicians intensify their campaigns ahead of the forthcoming general elections, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has charged his campaign team and supporters to focus on issues and avoid mudslinging.

    “We must focus on issues; we must be peaceful. We must put the common interest above every other consideration,” he said.

    Lalong, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on Monday in Shendam, while flagging off the campaign in the southern senatorial district.

    “We must avoid any form of acrimony; we must be peaceful as we solicit for votes,” he said.

    He said that the government had recorded “some modest achievements in the last three and half years that will earn us a second term”.

    Read Also: Lalong: I deserve second term

    Lalong urged Plateau people to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 presidential polls, to give him four more years to serve the country.

    Mr Pam Dung Gyang,  Director General, Lalong Campaign Organization, in his remarks, thanked the people for the massive show of solidarity, and expressed the hope that the APC would win the polls.

    Mr Prince Miaphen, APC Youth Leader, in his address, assured the governor that the southern senatorial district would for the APC in all elections.

  • PDP exposes INEC’s ‘rigging’ plans

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has alerted of alleged fresh plots by the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the 2019 general elections in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to the main opposition party, INEC has been taking directives from the Buhari Presidency and the APC on how to manipulate the electoral process at various levels.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja Monday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the electoral body of having collected a list of people that will serve as electoral officials, including ad-hoc staff and returning officers at the polling units, from APC state governors and candidates, across the federation.

    Stating that the directive was handed to INEC by the Presidency, the PDP claimed to be privy to how the lists were populated with APC members and agents of the APC candidates, after clearance by the APC leaders in various states.

    Ologbondiyan said, “The PDP vehemently rejects this wicked plot by the Buhari Presidency, which is tailored to ensure institutional manipulation of the electoral process, including accreditation, voting and collation of results at the polling units, which is the base of the elections.

    Read Also: We’re ready for polls, INEC reassures

    “The PDP holds that by following the directive of the APC in such dubious rigging scheme, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, has violated section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act (as amended) and shows that he is in clear deficit of the required political will to conduct a credible, free and fair election.

    “This is especially in the light of the boasting by agents of the Buhari Presidency and the APC to give the INEC chairman what they describe as the ‘Onnoghen treatment, and frame him, if he fails to comply with their rigging plans”.

    The PDP demanded of INEC to, within 48 hours, publish the list of all officials and ad hoc staff that will play any form of role in the election at all levels for verification by stakeholders.

    The party insisted that any delay or refusal by INEC to publish the list with 48 hours would be a clear acceptance that it has been compromised by the APC and this could lead to a very serious crisis with very dire consequences, as the PDP will never allow anybody to rig it out in the election.

    “The PDP wants Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to note that the fate of our nation lies in his hands. It is left to him to decide whether he would end as a national hero or as a villain.

    “Furthermore, the PDP calls on the international community to place the INEC Chairman, Directors and Commissioners in INEC responsible for this election on their watch list and proceed to impose travel ban on them as well as hold them directly responsible should there be any form of rigging in the February 16, 2019 Presidential elections.

    “Finally, the PDP directs all its members, teeming supporters and all well-meaning Nigerians across the nation to get ready to vote out President Buhari and protect their votes with all the energy available to them in the defence of our democracy and freedom as a people.

    “If President Buhari believes he is popular, he should make himself available for a free, fair, transparent and credible election. Anything short of this is completely unacceptable to Nigerians.

    “This is because Nigerians have already reached a consensus to vote out the incompetence, hunger, nepotism, pretense and manifest lies which the Buhari President truly represents”.

  • My objective is to do best for Nigeria, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday reiterated his main objective in contesting elections four times and ending up in Supreme Court three times before he finally won the election in 2015.

    Receiving retired army generals, admirals, marshals and former military governors/administrators who paid him a courtesy call at State House, Abuja, the President declared: “God has made this country great. We have human and material resources, and may God continue to give us the right leaders. My objective is very clear, and I will continue to do my best.”

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President recalled what he said in his days as military head of state that; “We have no other country but Nigeria. We will stay here and salvage it together,” President Buhari noted that even if one was blessed enough to send children for training abroad,

    “After such training, they will still have to come back here. We must, therefore, give our best for our country. The patriotism imbued in us by the military will ever remain relevant. Let’s do our best for this country,” he said.

    Describing Nigeria as “a fabulous country,” the President said if it were not so, “the country could not have survived the damage done to it materially and morally in the past,” glorifying God that after 30 months civil war, with over two million lives lost, “we are still one country.”

    Buhari prayed that Nigeria would not lack people who can exploit its human and material resources.

    He added “The higher you go in Nigeria, the hotter it becomes, and not the other way round. But I can’t complain. I tried so hard to be here three times, ending up at the Supreme Court. So, I can’t complain over anything I am going through now.”

    Read Also: 2019: ‘No alternative to Buhari yet’

    He described the military as an institution that gives amazing opportunities to know the country, its different peoples and cultures, “and I am very grateful that you have claimed me back as one of your own. I was governor of North-east, which is now six states, Minister of Petroleum for over three years, head of state; I was arrested and detained, but did not lose my rank, because nothing was found against me.”

    Leader of the delegation, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, who was military governor in Borno, and later military administrator of Lagos State, said the retired top officers thought it right to visit the President, “to say that you have represented your constituency very well. You announced a simple three-point agenda upon assumption of office namely security; fighting corruption, and the economy. You have kept your words as an officer and a gentleman.”

    Marwa added: “We the retired armed forces officers, representing 99.9% of our colleagues say that we are proud of you; proud to be associated with your administration; and proud to witness this era of Nigeria rising again under your able leadership. We support you fully and totally in the presidential elections next week and will do whatever we can within the law to contribute to your emergence as the victor in the election in order to take Nigeria to the next level.”

    The most senior of the retired officers, Vice Admiral Jubrila Ayinla, a former Chief of Naval Staff, who said future generations, would acquit President Buhari “most creditably,”

    He added: “On behalf of the generals here today, I congratulate you on the tremendous work done by this administration, and wish to state unequivocally that we are proud of you and fully behind you in the presidential elections next week. We pledge our full support and continued loyalty.”

    The delegation was made of one Vice Admiral, two Lt-Generals, 15 Major Generals, two Rear Admirals, eight Air Vice-Marshals, 12 Brigadier-Generals, three Commodores, nine Air Commodores, and 17 former military governors/administrators, among others.

  • Nwodo, An Enemy of Ndi’Igbo?

    Most times and in my quiet moments, I ponder about the fate of Ndi’gbo in the political and leadership configuration of Nigeria. I accept the constant reality that we have been marginalized in Nigeria, a country which remains our international identity for now.  Igbo nation has never had a fair deal in this country since the unfortunate Biafran war of 1967-70.
    I am not happy or even excited that the rest of Nigerians hold the Igbos in contempt and disdain. We are ranked among the three major tribes in Nigeria, pegging along with the Yorubas and the Hausa/Fulanis.
    Nigeria has had democratic leaders from these two other ethnicities, except Ndi’gbo. The highest we have ever gone in leadership of Nigeria is Vice President and some ministerial portfolios.  And for nearly four decades and after the end of the civil war, Nigeria has dumped us where we are today.
    I do not necessarily blame the rest of Nigerians for this erroneous perception of Igbo nation. A people in the comity of other competing ethnicities package themselves to attract attention.  A bride attracts the groom by her beauty. Unfortunately, Ndi’gbo has not packaged itself as a beautiful bride before Nigerians. That’s why the rest of the country scorns us; it is reason we flaunt ourselves naked before the communality of Nigeria.
    Worse of it all, our leaders, whether political, traditional or cultural are not leading us to the path of redemption. We are still living with the individualistic tendencies, our colonial masters found in us; ruled us for years and later granted us independence.
    I cry every day, wishing that the likes of Zik of Africa, Prof. Chinua Achebe and other intellectuals like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Odemegwu Ojukwu were still alive to guide us with the wisdom to navigate Nigeria. Though, dead, but their wisdom is stored in history books,   which we read every day, but  have refused to adopt in practicality.
    With no apologies to any of my kinsman, brethren, the elderly or the young, I wish to say, Ndi’gbo has no leadership at the moment. If there is one, it means, they were so enthroned to finally destroy the hopes and aspirations of Igbo nation in the Republic of Nigeria. I crave for personal independence and freedom as a human being. I like it.
    In same manner I have passion for the Republic Biafra. But you do not become anything of your wish with brute force and brigandage in today’s world. Tact, diplomacy and wisdom are required. Ndi’gbo leaders today have none of  these leadership acumen.
    Our leaders are partisan, uncouth and disoriented. Each time they howl, it means there is no  food on their dining tables or easy cash to leisure in Harlem. They hardly think about Igbo nation in fantasies that would invoke in anyone us, the fond memories of Zik or Ojukwu and the rest. These leaders exist today for themselves and their families alone.
    I am convinced they don’t even have the wisdom to interpret and explore to our advantage contemporary political cum leadership issues in Nigeria to speak on our behest. I am sure, our guardian god, “Amadioha” and other ancestral custodians have abandoned us to our fate.
    I was pained throughout the period of the electioneering campaigns for the 2019 general elections. I could not believe the extent Ndi’gbo leaders sang discordant voices.  It’s the disunity we market to Nigerians every time.
     Rather than unite us for a common cause, which should ideally be the pursuit and realization of a President of Nigeria of Igbo extraction, these leaders recoil into their shells, without consulting anybody and come out, disgorging petrifying rubbish, draping with the least understanding of the informal arrangement of power rotation in the country.
    In 2019 for instance, had these leaders known, the first bargaining chip would have been to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection bid to end North’s eight-year reign in Aso Rock, so that power can rotate back to Southern Nigeria.  An insightful Ndi’gbo leadership would have lobbied to have any of our kinsmen as Buhari’s running mate in 2019. They didn’t know or preferred not to know that a focused leadership of a people lamenting day in, day out about marginalization should have struck at that point.
    President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi’gbo, Chief  John Nnia Nwodo appears to be our greatest problem now and  archenemy in disguise, posed as our leader. He failed to discern the political undercurrents in Nigeria and aligned with some groups like Northern Elders Forum, Pan-Niger Delta forum, the Middle Belt Forum, as well as a faction of Afenifere, in  Abuja to kick us out of the leadership arena. They so senselessly made loud statements about the endorsement of PDP’s  2019 Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
    They left their own son, Prof. Kingsley Moughalu who also contested the elections and endorsed another Fulani man against Buhari. That’s the extent of the idiocy of Igbo leadership. My brother, Moughalu wept and wept over this betrayal by his own people. I gravely feel his pains. Atiku has lost the election to Buhari because only Southeast did not see anything good in President Buhari, but the rest of Nigerians, over four million of them overruled Ndi’gbo with votes in favour of Buhari.
    But Nwodo is not tired with his destructive plots against Igbo nation. He is still sniffing and vomiting the same rubbish after the post -2019 era against President Buhari. And it is unknown to him that the Southeast rejection of Buhari twice as reflected in the votes of the 2019 presidential elections might compel this President to form alliances with the Southwest in 2023 at the expense of Ndi’gbo. Are we cursed? Are our leaders insane? What is the beneficial imperative of pulling the daggers at Buhari now, as Nwodo is doing?
    Nwodo is personally free to hate President Buhari. But must he do it on behalf of Igbo nation?  He renewed the tears in me by his conscious destruction of the destiny of leadership of Nigeria by Ndi’gbo. I wept profusely when a read a recent interview credited to Nwodo published by  “The Sun” newspaper wherein he said; “If you are a Fulani and you are a Chief of Army Staff you can be there forever. When your tenure finishes it can be elongated, something that has never happened in the history of our country and does not have any justification in any establishment law that we know.”
    Ohanaeze Ndi’gbo President-General, please sir, there is neither wisdom nor diplomacy in this statement and your entire preachments in the interview about ethnicity. Maybe, you don’t know, but let me be blunt to you; there is nothing feasible that can enable Atiku wrest power from Buhari now!
     There is no Northerner that would endorse the leadership retirement of President Buhari in the manner you think for an Atiku. A focused leadership of Igbo nation should be courting Buhari and not these excoriates of his government by our apex socio-cultural leadership.

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    Chief  Nwodo, you are free to live with Atiku in your dreams; but stop mortgaging our political future in Nigeria because you want to sip from Atiku’s endless tea of wealth.  I am shocked to the marrow that you don’t know retired military officers are recalled to serve the nation in times of need like now. It happens everywhere in the world.
     That you are complaining about the elongation of the tenure of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai  and other Service Chiefs, speaks volumes about your intellectual inadequacy. It’s impossible for you to keep disgracing Igbo nation with backdoor deals, very hostile to our collective interests and expect the rest of us to keep quiet.
    I now perceive you in the mould and bearing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, very aberrational in every sense. Are we saying, self-determination must be realized through such criminality? Of course, some agree with Kanu’s style; but millions out there including me are opposed to it.
    At this age, we want to tell the whole world that Igbo nation is so ignorant of the lawful means of self-determination or secession, until a questionable “don” assembles a gang of criminals to unleash violence on us before it becomes a reality? I respect Senate Deputy President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu for telling Nnamdi Kanu and his apostates the gospel truth through a letter before the proscription of IPOB. When we are ready for a Republic of Biafra, we know the genuine and lawful, internationally recognized conventions to apply.
    Lastly, I appeal to Nwodo to use his leadership to unite Ndi’gbo with Nigeria. What I see now under our leader Nwodo painfully bruises me with scars of  lack direction, penchant for divide and rule with selfish and very biased political views.
    Ndi’gbo should think beyond today because tomorrow is greater. There is no reason to make President Buhari our enemy now for Christ’s sake! In spite our stout opposition to him, this President has continued to patronize the Southeast in capital projects. What else does Ndi’gbo want?
    Sadly,  Nwodo, majority of our people are beginning to think that you, Chief  Nwodo, as leader of Ohanaeze Ndi’gbo, is much more a problem to us now than Kanu, initially considered a huge burden on the progress of the Igbo nation. It’s better if you change your style, Sir.
    Mbani wrote this piece from Nsukka, Enugu State.

     

  • 2019: ‘No alternative to Buhari yet’

    The Imo State governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, Monday said there is no credible alternative to President Muhammadu Buhari as to who wins the 2019 Presidential election.

    Nwosu said that Nigerians are desirous to reelect President Buhari for fighting corruption and insecurity that plagued the country.

    According to him, “we will vote for President Buhari on February 16, his victory is already sealed and delivered. AA promised to give him one million votes and we are going to keep our promise”.

    Nwosu, who commenced his campaign tour of Local Government Areas with a rally at Onuimo Council Area, also said that that he remains the candidate to beat in the March 2 governorship election.

    He noted that his track record of achievements and youthfulness put him at advantage over other candidates “who have nothing to show for the years that been in politics”.

    He noted that while his policies are tailored towards consolidating and improving on the achievements of the present administration, others have no clear cut agenda or programme for the state.

    Addressing the mammoth crowd, Nwosu said, “some of the candidates say they want to restore Imo, but the truth is that they want to restore the old ways of corruption and selfish leadership but I have come to work. My vision for Imo State is clear; I will continue with the free education programme, there will be massive women and youth empowerment through investment in agriculture”.

    He continued that, “apart from completing the school projects, I will digitalise Imo school system. I have a comparative advantage because I am a youth. I understand what youth and women empowerment is all about.

    Read Also: Buhari to focus on three critical areas if re-elected – Osinbajo

    “My administration will provide free healthcare for children under five and those above 70 years of age. My contractual agreement with Ndimo is to work, I have done it when I was Commissioner for Lands and Chief of Staff. I empowerment hundreds of youths and women and I will do more as a governor.

    “I have come to work and do things like a young man. As a governor, I will encourage agriculture and support Onuimo people in rice production. The youths will be encouraged to return to agriculture and become employers of labour. The women will be given incentives to boost their businesses”.

    The AA candidate also drummed support for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said the party adopted because of his integrity and what he did with the mandate given to him in 2015.

    According to him, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory is assured on February 16, vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in APC. We promised to give President Buhari one million votes and we will keep our promise. President Buhari has done well; he has revived the nation’s economy and put a halt to the blind looting of our economy, which was Nigeria’s greatest challenge then”.