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Tag: Olusegun Obasanjo

  • 2019: OBJ’s CNM collapses into ADC

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, political pressure group, the Coalition for Nigerian Movement, CNM, has fused with the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

    This is with a view to forming a formidable force to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC in 2019 poll.

    A Co-Convener of CNM, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who made the pronouncement at a world press conference in Abuja, posited that with the fusion, the coalition has ceased to exist.

    Oyinlola noted that with the understanding of like minded persons and organizations across the country, Nigeria will be rescued, and that the elections of 2018 and 2019 will be used to cure the curse and afflictions of failed leadership and perpetual underdevelopment.

    Explaining the choice of ADC, the former Osun state Governor said that it is an appreciation of the progressive essence of the party and its untainted existence on the terrain of our nation’s politics.

    He said, “We have said it before and we are stating it here again that the current state of despair and despondency in our dear country is an ill wind.

    “It is foreboding and can only lead to a conflagration. Between January when CNM was formed and now, can we say that the story of Nigeria has changed for the better? Have things not worsened at all levels?

    “I thank all of you for being here today. You will all recall that in January this year, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM, was formed by some of us across the country as a political platform to create a new generation of leaders for our country.

    “Between that time and today, a lot of grounds has been covered in achieving the set  goals. One of such is what we are doing here today – the formal fusing of – our movement into the African Democratic Congress.

    “Beyond what we are doing here today, we put our countrymen and women, old and young, on notice that they should expect more from us; that they should expect deepened political engagements across platforms in the coming days and weeks. In other words, this is just the first in a multi layered action plan to give back the country to its much deprived people.

    “As we stated in January during the launch of the CNM, we are taking on this task not minding the inconveniences and other expected and unexpected consequences of our efforts at reinventing the country.

    “We admit that structural inadequacies and failure of leadership have robbed our country of greatness. We also note that a future of greatness for Nigeria will only be birthed by a new generation of youthful leaders with fresh ideas and knowledge of what it takes to govern a 21 st century nation.

    Read Also: I ‘ll never endorse Buhari, says Obasanjo

    “This gathering here today is a proof that the modest efforts at waking up the vast majority of our people to for once, take their destiny in their hands as demanded by the constitution are bearing fruits already. Our constitution guarantees all Nigerians their fundamental human rights, including freedom of association and the right to hold political views.

    “The decision to move in to African Democratic Congress therefore, is an appreciation of the progressive essence of the party and its untainted existence on the terrain of our nation’s politics.

    “While I on behalf of the leadership and the over three million members of the CNM congratulate ADC as the vehicle for national reinvention, I urge us to let us know that the task ahead is an arduous one that needs further strengthening of the forces of change. What I am saying is that we should be open to new engagements and alliances being forged and crystallizing across the country.

    “We should remain committed to the use of the tools of democracy to recreate a •Nigeria that will truly serve all, irrespective of religion, tribe or socio ‘economic status.

    “We have said it before and we are stating it here again that the current state of despair and despondency in our dear country is an ill wind.

    “ It is foreboding and can only lead to a conflagration. Between January ‘when CNM was formed and now, can we say that the story of Nigeria has changed for the better? Have things not worsened at all levels?

    “Indeed, every one of us who has been in power before at whatever level may have a share of the blame for the state of the nation. That fact, however, will not disqualify us from being part of, and indeed, stand at the vanguard of finding a lasting solution to this problem.

    “Indeed, those who have seen it all but with the right perspective are better placed to bring in knowledgeable young men and women to come and reinvent the country for the challenges of the future.

    “ADC and other like- minded political parties should join other patriots in democratically building and enthroning a new set of youthful, knowledgeable and goal- oriented leadership for this country. We believe, therefore, that through right engagements and fundamental reordering of the affairs of our nation, our country will be out of the woods. Nigerians are a very resilient people. They are great optimists.

    “They have invested so much trust and hope in our democratic infrastructure with very miserable returns, so far. As I stated during the launch of the CNM our country must not continue to be condemned to a four yearly ritual of voting without results.

    “To get positive results, therefore, we must get right the choice of leadership. But the apple does not fall far from its tree. Only credible, positive platforms can produce positive results. A tree conceived and nurtured in lies can only bear imaginary fruits. Every government has ideas and programmes – most times packaged in flowery prose.

    “The deficit in leadership is noticed at the point of implementation of the ideas and policies. ADC from its well enunciated policies and Programmes is well placed to make democracy work for the people.

    “ADC is properly placed to join other patriots in moving Nigerians in all the wards, the 774 local governments and the 36 states to join hands to make our country truly great. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have a job to do.

    “The destiny of Nigeria is not to remain forever in crisis and in the doldrums. As the CNM takes this momentous step of coalescing into ADC as a vital step in building a national consensus to reconstruct the country, we assure all Nigerians with there support.

    “And the understanding of like minded persons and organizations across the country, Nigeria will be rescued. God willing the elections of 2018 and 2019 will be used to cure the curse and afflictions of failed leadership and perpetual underdevelopment.”

    In his remarks, the founding National Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Chief Ralphs Nwosu described the fusion as the dawn of great Nigeria project; Leading with the right ethical Compass.

    Chief Nwosu said, “Nation building could be a very daunting exercise. But with good and committed leaders, the journey could be much easier. I invite all Nigerians to have very deep reflection concerning our Nation Nigeria, and its lOO years of Nationhood.”

    According to him, “Today our great country with 200 million population is in a dysfunctional state. Our biggest resources in human capacity and diversity seem to be weighing us down and tearing us apart.

    “However, I do not want to dwell on our failings. I want to assure you all that we the African Democratic Congress ADC working with Coalition [or Nigeria Movement CNlM, and many strategic coalition partners, involving a Rainbow coalition of Political parties, civil societies, labor and trade.” unions, and well-meaning eminent Nigerians are determined to reframe the narratives about Nigeria.

    “We have worked tirelessly to put this coalition together. Many important stakeholders helped to guide our party. I wish to specially mention President Oluscgun Obasanjo for his tireless support. His word “I am not perfect, but 1 enjoin you to join me in having deep passion and unshakable commitment for Nigeria”.

    “This will guide this new ADC always. The formal launch of our new ADC party will take place so. I wish to enjoin all of us to embrace our philosophy of role modelling leadership as a way to building the new Nigeria and a greater Africa.

    “In everything we do, to be successful, we must remain true to ourselves. Deep reflection helps leaders to clear their heads, clarify their path to be able to focus purposefully, for each party involved; we expect true and committed engagement to the Nigeria Project.”

     

  • Obasanjo supports Ooni’s GiveBack Concert

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on corporate organisations and good spirited individuals to support the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja in his commitment to the well being of orphans and less privileged in this country.

    The Give Back Concert which was recently endorsed by the former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is slated to hold on 24th June, 2018 at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

    High profile Nigerians and corporate bodies are expected to be in attendance as all hands will be on deck to ensure the orphans and less privileged in the country’s needs are met.

    Chief Olusegun Obasanjo while speaking about the Concert said this is going to be the first time Nigerians will come together to remember the orphans and less privileged in a positive way without government interference. He then implored all well meaning Nigerians to support by donating in their capacity to the lives of these less privileged ones.

    The GiveBack Concert is aimed at raising funds to cater for the needs of the orphans and less privileged people in the country.

    The Ooni began this journey through Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI) saying there’s the need for everyone to participate by sowing a seed into the lives of all underprivileged.

    According to him, many young less privileged succumb to peer pressure and eventually choose criminalism as a way of life because they lack proper care required to positively shape their future. He said if Nigerians do this right there will be less crime and violence in our nation and the peace we so much crave will be achieved.

    The Deputy convener Temitope Adesegun thanked everyone for their support and endorsement of this project.

    She reiterated that Non-Governmental Organizations are the major backbone of the underprivileged in the society stressing that this is the reason Hopes Alive Initiatives is launching a television programme: HAI TV for all NGOs to embrace.

    The initiative also intends to identify, nurture and showcase talents of the underprivileged ones.”It is with a view to making them live a fulfilled life without being held back by the social circumstances capable of denying them deserved respect and attention in the society”, she said.

    Meanwhile, The Project Director Eluwole Elusiyan thanked His Majesty for his love and kindness towards the orphans and less privileged ones since he ascended the throne of his forefathers.

    He described Kabiyesi as a king, a father, and a god to the entire Yoruba race. He pleaded with His Majesty to continue his support for orphanage homes across the nation and the Almighty God in his abundance will continue to bless him more.

    According to him, this year’s event will have the kids showcase their talents to the world while artists like Tuface, Tiwa Savage, Flavour, Sir Shina Peters, Niniola, Kenny Blaq, Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st and others will be there as entertainers whom they can draw inspirations from.

  • Buhari orders recruitment of 6,000 policemen

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recruitment of 6,000 additional policemen as part of fresh measures to address the nation’s security challenges including the farmers/herdsmen clashes across the country.

    The President made this known in a special interview session with Voice of America, Hausa service, in Washington, United States on Tuesday morning.

    President Buhari, who is in the U.S. on the invitation of the American President Donald Trump, revealed that additional security measures were being put in place to check cases of insecurity in Nigeria.

    “We will put in place more measures to check insecurity in the country including increasing the number of policemen and train them.

    “I have approved the recruitment of 6,000 policemen by the police authorities and I directed that those recruited must come from all the 776 local government areas of the federation.

    “Even if it means recruiting one person each from the 776 they should do that instead of going to motor parks, railway stations or market for the recruitment exercise.

    “I gave (Police authorities) them this directive,’’ he said.

    The president, who expressed reservation on the call for the establishment of state police as being advocated by state governors, said Nigerians must abide by constitutional provision in regard to the matter.

    It would be recalled that the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, had in February said creation of state police would help in addressing spate of insecurity in the country.

    Yari, who is also the Zamfara State Governor, said this at the end of a two-day summit organised by the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Review of Current Security Infrastructure in Nigeria.

    He said: “Today we have reiterated the position of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “And the position of the security summit we held in August, that there is a need for the state police; we can say it is the only answer.”

    However, President Buhari maintained that the creation of state police would not augur well for the finances of the states, adding that some of them were finding it difficult to meet their financial obligations to workers and other state needs.

    “We must carefully look at the position of the nation’s constitution on the issue of state police before we take final decision on the matter if the constitution allows state police so be it.

    “But don’t forget that many times the Federal Government gave out what we referred to as bail out to state governments for payment of workers’ salaries. How many states can pay salary promptly? and you want to add more financial burden to the states.

    “It is not proper to employ a person, train him on how to handle weapons and then refuse to pay him – you can imagine what would happen in such situation,’’ he said.

    On his purported comment on youth while in London, President Buhari dismissed the report, saying that the media only preferred to interpret and report what they like instead of concentrating on developmental journalism.

    He said: “You know Nigeria’s population is now between 180 and 190 million and 60 per cent of this population is youth that is 30 years down ward.

    “You know in the North most youths are uneducated or school dropouts. If not because we had good harvests in the last two farming seasons the situation would have been deteriorated.

    “These youths even if they travel out of the North for greener pasture they hardly make it economically because what they earn as income cannot afford them to meet their basic needs or return home.

    “All these explanations I made, they refused to highlight them in their report and you know the media in Nigeria in most cases only do what they like.

    “For instance the nation’s achievements in the agricultural sector where millions of Nigerians benefitted financially were left unreported by the media.

    “Even when the Minister of Information and Culture wanted to reply that abusive letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, I had wanted Lai not to reply the letter but I said I should allow him to highlight the achievements of our administration.’’

    President Buhari also used the opportunity to debunk the insinuation that Christians were being killed by herdsmen.

    He said that clashes between farmers and herdsmen had been in existence for the past years, saying that Nigerian herdsmen were not in the habit of carrying dangerous weapons while moving their animals around the country.

    On what he does during his leisure time, President Buhari said he hardly listened to music but rather always obeyed his doctors’ advice on the need to eat and have enough rest.

    NAN

  • Soyinka, Falana to Nigerians: Beware of Obasanjo

    Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) on Sunday warned Nigerians to be wary of a coalition formed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, purportedly to rescue Nigeria.

    They said Nigeria was in danger when politicians like Obasanjo, who “supervised the sacking of democratic governments” in Oyo and Anambra states, pretend to be the messiah.

    Obasanjo formed the Coalition for Nigeria Movement on January 24, 2018, which he said was meant to salvage the nation.

    He asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to contest next year’s election as he had “failed.”

    Soyinka and Falana, who described but didn’t name Obasanjo, spoke in Lagos at the 80th post-humous birthday of the late human rights lawyer Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).

    The event was the themed ‘Democracy for the masses through proper and effective governance.

    It also featured former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Senator Shehu Sani, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Afenifere chieftain, Senator Femi Okurounmu, among others.

    Soyinka said: “All I want to say in connection with the title of today is just one word: vigilance….There is no question whatsoever that democracy is in danger.

    “And so I find it ironic, that those who’ve proved themselves the enemies of democracy who’ve really taken, they’ve really committed acts, not just negligence, but actually inaugurated certain policies which contributed to our being at this point again are once again coming out and positioning themselves as saviours, as messiahs, as the sole possible rescue mission that this nation can even dream of, a nation of nearly 200 million people.

    “I find it very strange, and I find it even stranger because at the beginning of this movement towards ‘Rescue Mission’, there were one or two organisations that came out under different names and they had people in them whom I considered worth following, worth encouraging, worth encouraging others to study closely and even consider following.

    “The next thing I knew, these movements were being hijacked by the very people who laid the foundation, an ironic word by the way, for the collapse of the democratic edifice.”

    Soyinka said he turned one of the groups down when it approached him.

    He said: “The next thing we know, they are forming coalitions and I was invited by one of the rescue missions to address them and I telephoned them and I asked the question, ‘wait a minute, which one are you? Are you the original people I saw or is there a faction or is there now a fatherly umbrella under which everybody is moving?’

    “And I told them; don’t even come near me, if you’ve signed up on one of those who are the enemies of democracy in this nation.

    “Those who inaugurated so-called constitutional amendment programmes, total charades, to assist them to continue to run, which has been scuttled by the direction known as tenure elongation, third term, etcetera for which the entire national treasury was almost bankrupted. And suddenly, here they are they are forming coalitions all over the place, once again, confusing people.

    “Who are the genuine leaders, who are those that we can trust?  The answer to that is very simple: look at their track record. That’s all.

    He advised Nigerians not to allow themselves “to plunge into a zone of amnesia, in which you conveniently forget unpleasant realities.

    “We’ve had presidents in this nation, some of whom inaugurated a never-ending democratic process, which landed us eventually under the most brutal dictators that this nation has ever known.

    “We had others also who actually supervised sacking of ‘democratic government’; I’m speaking of Anambra, I’m speaking of Oyo State. A governor was kidnapped under their watch with their complicity; in another instance, thugs actually entered the House of Assembly, sacked the legislators and installed their own candidates; under the same watch.

    “And they call themselves the God-designated watchman over the fortunes of this nation? And suddenly, here they are and I see Nigerians flocking to them and asking them once again to lead.

    “Mind you, they’ve said very clearly if it becomes a political party count me out o, but paths are already being beaten to their doors, control by subrogation.

    “Even if they do not individually put themselves back in the position of power, they are already smoothening the way for their surrogates, their stooges, so that they can continue to misrule from their cosy farmsteads. So, all I’m urging is: be very vigilant. Just look closely at their records, look at the company they keep.

    He urged the youth to “grow up” and take political power.

    “Why can’t a new generation actually rise, throw us all out of the window and take control of their own lives by themselves? Why do we keep recycling the same jaded, traitors, enemies of the people? Why do you need to go for blessing somewhere if you’ve made up your mind that it is time to take control of your own existence?

    “Once again, I don’t want to be misunderstood, I know what I think about this government when voting time comes, I know exactly where I’m going to cast my vote but I’m not going to allow anybody to hoodwink me and say I will show you the path. No, this will be adding insult to injury.”

    According to Falana, the government would confiscate some of Obasanjo’s assets, including a university, “at the right time.”

    Falana said: “Our country is undergoing serious crises of governance but we must be very careful so that we do not allow those who destroyed the country, those who ruined the nation to pose as the saviour of our people.

    Read Also: 2019: Obasanjo under fire for anti-Buhari campaign

    “There’s somebody living very close to this place who has been parading himself as the saviour of our people; this guy ruled the country for 11 and a half years cumulatively – three and a half years under the military, eight years under a civilian dispensation. And even wanted to do a third term but Nigerians rejected him.

    “The guy is going round the country now, claiming to have solutions to our problems; I wish to say here and we are challenging him to name one thing that he did, any problem of the country that he solved.

    “On the contrary, this guy wasted $16billion to generate darkness for the country. This guy formed and took over the resources of the country blindly under what he called blind trust.

    “Nigeria is the only country in the world where a sitting President and a sitting Vice-President established private universities when the government refused to fund public universities and other tertiary institutions. But let me tell,

    “Gani went to court to challenge the extortion of state governments and contractors by a man who realised about N7billion to set up a so-called library.

    “Under the constitution, any gift received while you are in office, other than customary gifts, is forfeitable to the state; therefore, at the right time, this country, when it is properly organised will take over all those universities and libraries that were set up with public funds and that may be sooner than you think.”

    Kaduna State Senator, Sani, said Nigeria is not yet in a true democracy.

    He said: “In fact, our country is sick, the republic is sick; our people are dying, violence, bloodshed, killings, mass murder is becoming the emblem of our democracy today.

    “We are out of PDP misrule but we will be deceiving ourselves to say we are in the Promise Land; we are not in the Promise Land. We must keep vigil,

    “The political ruling elite are not yet prepared to see to a democratic Nigeria. Nigeria’s political reality is about personal interest.

    “Those who destroyed our country in the past are very much present as born against.”

    He urged Nigerians of integrity to support Buhari because “You can’t build a country because of the integrity of one person. The integrity of one person is not enough to rule and sustain a state. We have a President who is a man of integrity but integrity is not enough for leadership.”

    Sowore lamented that Nigerians rejected Gani for Obasanjo in 1999.

    He said: “I want to say very briefly that Nigeria must be regretting that when they had a chance to choose between Chief Gani Fawehinmi and a Barabbas, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, they decided to choose Obasanjo instead of choosing Gani Fawehinmi and that is why we are regretting today.

  • A grandstanding ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo

    The letter below, from Chief Deji Fasuan MON, JP, Asiwaju of Afao –Ekiti, retired Permanent Secretary, and at different times General Manager of both the Western Region Investment Credit Corporation (IICC), and the Ondo State Investment Corporation, and a former member of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, is the leitmotif for this article at a time when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s one-upmanship has again reached its crescendo. The two-term Nigerian Head of State has been grandstanding  of late describing, in lurid terms,  the sitting president, just as he has done to everybody who ever held that position besides himself.

    Many have tried severally to posit that it does not lie in Obasanjo’s place to continuously trash a sitting President since he has access and has, indeed, been justifiably described as the greatest pilgrim to Buhari’s Aso Villa until recently, but that is when you hear some people asking you to mind the message and not the messenger. Of course, I do not share such sentiments since my position is that deeds, rather than talk, which is cheap, should be the determining factor, being much more indicative of who really the preacher is.

    In justification of my views, I present below a sample of Obasanjo’s performance in office using election rigging, which was archetypical, of everything he did in office and because a decent late President Yar Adua could self-confess the rigging of his own election, the 2007 presidential election is preferred for analysis. Without a single word of mine, I present below, a report of that election as captured byWikipedia, the free encyclopedia directly after Chief Fasuan’s letter.

    Happy reading.

     

    Dear Femi,

    I have a grouse against the print media about sidelining, ignoring, downplaying, or turning a blind eye to events of monumental dimensions in our country. I must confess that in very recent times, perhaps in the last one year or so, there seems to have been a major conspiracy among most Nigerian news papers against the current realities in Nigeria, a concept that includes the Buhari Administration. The only exception perhaps is The Nation paper which is, even at best, half hearted in reaching honest conclusions or appropriating faults where they are due.

    For me the recent confession by Senator Mantu has no comparison in recent years. It is the open admission of a collective, and individual, wrong doing by a political party for more than 16 years. Mantu was unequivocal, and without mincing words, as he reeled out the atrocities that Nigerian politicians have wrought on this unfortunate nation in the past many years. As if you and I don’t know, Mantu posted that election manipulation does not consist only in changing figures at polling booths. But he confessed to Nigerians that the process usually starts with bribing, yes bribing everybody connected, even remotely with an election. The list includes messengers, all security outfits – that is, the police, the army, the SSS, Civil Defence etc. It also includes, tragically, every cadre of INEC.

    Together, all of these officials are made, by reason of bribes, to perform their statutory functions in favour of one party to the detriment of all the others. The interviewer was astonished, and asked: “Does that include you”? To which he blatantly said: “Yes, including me”.

    Now if that is not a confession of the century, what is?

    Mantu, the survivalist, any government in power politician, has been in one post or the other, probably longer than any living Nigerian. What he told the world on live television should engage the attention of the media, especially the print media. Only The Nation referred to it but tucked it in a corner, not giving it the prominence it deserved.

    Even your Sunday Column, surprisingly, did not find it important enough to mention it.

    I read somewhere during the week that Mantu should be charged with election rigging. Is that the essence of his confession, or a call to all Nigerians that this country is sick, sick to the marrow? And that an active participant now has the guts to say it?

    Femi I thought you are one of the bright spots in our dark horizon. Am I right?

     

     Nigerian general election, 2007

     

     Reactions

    “Ikimi and Amusu, the representatives of the AC and the ANPP at the INEC Collation Centre in Abuja, denounced the results announced by the INEC Chairman. According to Ikimi, “In states like Edo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Akwa Ibom etc., we know that the elections did not start even as late as 5 pm. The results collated showed that over 80 percent of the votes being counted were in favour of the PDP and they are totally flawed. In most of the states, only the Resident Electoral Commissioners and the PDP agents signed the results. We have been here since yesterday (Sunday) to observe this collation and we only collated eleven states and the INEC Chairman just rushed down to declare the results and declare Umoru Yar’Adua as the winner.” Said Ikimi: “The result sheets we viewed so far was not signed by any of our agents at the state level. They were only signed by Resident Electoral Commissioners and only the PDP agents.” Also, Admiral Lanre Amusu who represented the ANPP at the INEC collation centre concurred what Chief Tom Ikimi said. “I am in total agreement with what Chief Ikimi has just said. Only results from 13 states and they were collated and signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the states and the PDP agents. Our agents did not sign these results.”]The national Chairman of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), Chief Olu Falae, with leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Action Congress (AC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), National Advance Party (NAP) and the National Democratic Party (NDP), has called for the setting up of an Interim National Government to conduct credible elections in the country. Falae explained that the country needed an ING to guard against the emergence of the military on the political scene. The Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation claimed that the INEC deliberately left 70 percent of the ballot papers in a warehouse in Johannesburg, South Africa. They claimed that the contractors could have freighted the entire 200-ton consignment into the country three days before the election (Thursday) but the INEC told them to bring only 30 percent of the ballot papers.[31]

    Nigeria’s Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka said the West should deny entry visas to election commissioner Maurice Iwu for his “complicity in the fraudulent elections.” He said he has heard of the financial prudence and moral uprightness of Yar’Adua. “I wish he [Yar’Adua] would carry his decency even further by publicly renouncing this poisoned chalice to say: ‘I’m not a receiver of stolen goods’.” [32]

    Observers

    Following the presidential election, groups monitoring the election gave it a dismal assessment. Chief European Union observer Max van den Berg reported that the handling of the polls had “fallen far short” of basic international standards, and that “the process cannot be considered to be credible”,[33] citing “poor election organisation, lack of transparency, significant evidence of fraud, voter disenfranchisement, violence and bias.”[27] They described the election as “the worst they had ever seen anywhere in the world”, with “rampant vote rigging, violence, theft of ballot boxes and intimidation”.[2] One group of observers said that at one polling station in Yenagoa, in the oil-rich south, where 500 people were registered to vote, more than 2,000 votes were counted.[24]

    Felix Alaba Job, head of the Catholic Bishops Conference, cited massive fraud and disorganisation, including result sheets being passed around to politicians who simply filled in numbers as they chose while bribed returning electoral officers looked away.[34]

    International reaction

    A spokesman for the United States Department of State said it was “deeply troubled” by election polls, calling them “flawed”, and said it hoped the political parties would resolve any differences over the election through peaceful, constitutional means.[25]

    “Nigeria has once again failed to rise to the occasion…. Size isn’t enough…. It is a failed giant,” said prominent Ghanaian economist Nii Moi Thompson. He compared its elections to those of Liberia in 2005, saying, “Even Liberia, which is coming out of war, had more credible elections than Nigeria.”[35]

    “There is the saying: ‘How goes Nigeria, so goes the rest of Africa’. To have this widespread abuse of the democratic initiative certainly doesn’t do Africa any good,” said Scott Baker, a professor at Champlain College in the US city of Burlington, Vermont. “How can Nigeria sit at the meetings of the African Union African Peer Review Mechanism or ECOWAS and talk about other people’s elections?” he asked

    In conclusion, would Obasanjo still be this assuming a messiahship in a decent country driven by democratic ethos?

    It’s time for an ELECTION MALPRACTICES TRIBUNAL.

  • Between PMB, Obasanjo and Danjuma

    The triad of Muhammadu Buhari, Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma number among that post-Yakubu Gowon military elite, gathered behind the short-fused but short-lived Murtala Muhammed (1938-1976).

    They prided themselves the post-Gowon military’s golden reformers, on account of Gen. Gowon’s failure to deliver civil rule, which they did under Gen. Obasanjo.  With that, however, they awarded selves a huge dose of patriotic entitlement, which an uncritical media parrots as sacrosanct.

    Still, as a class, but with different degrees of culpability, they delivered more tinsel than gold.

    Despite that shortfall, as a collective, they are loudest in trumpeting a monopoly of public sainthood; with the hollowest grating the loudest, of the holy noise.

    On this scale, Gen. Obasanjo is clearly first. Under that dynamics, he has grossed a two-term elected presidency, essayed a disastrous third term, and canonized himself Nigeria’s No. 1 public conscience — at least, among the obtuse, the gullible and the naive.  That was aside from becoming accidental military head of state, after Murtala’s assassination in 1976.

    President Buhari, clearly with the most reasonable claim to decency in the public space, even after tenure as military head of state, is clearly last.

    That virtue, of personal probity, propelled him to a democratic era presidential encore in 2015, after the accumulated decadence of his peers almost crashed the republic, under the effete President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Gen. Danjuma, taciturn and respectable, is in-between.  As chief of Army staff, he was military enforcer of Obasanjo’s tenure as military head of state (1976-1979).  Also, as Defence minister, a key player, during Obasanjo’s first term as elected president (1999-2003), though the two would later fall out, in a bitter public spat.

    To this triad, you might add a fourth: Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda who, as self-named “military president”, spawned the most decadent government in Nigerian history.

    This brief background is imperative, for the triad of Obasanjo, Babangida and Danjuma are involved in some media grandstanding of late, with the usually taciturn Danjuma’s the latest rally.

    It is nothing but an elite gang-up, which again the unwary, among the deprived public, is programmed to cheer as some redemptive push.

    There is nothing redemptive about it all — just another selfish gaming, to clothe base, selfish interests, in immaculate public-spirited garb.

    Why, the empty racket is even aided and abetted by a sensational media, bawling: the generals are speaking!   Which generals?

    It is the tragic hysteria of a howling media, that boasts no institutional memory; nor is guided by history, the rich fount of that memory.

    But more tragic: the most decadent segment of former military plutocrats are on the war path; and, as of right, decree thunderous public applause.  What hubris!

    They hide behind the present challenges under PMB to goad an unwary public into rebellion.  What conceit!

    In a high season of high cynics, even IBB saw no irony in his so-called letter to PMB.  Well, he first wrote.  Then, he didn’t.  Finally, he did, but …!

    It was the classic IBB hee-haw!  But it was enough.  There is nothing more telling than opportunistic grief, in a land of piercing pains!

    Of course, IBB clambered on the back of Obasanjo’s “press release”, excoriating PMB, strafing both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the doomed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which, by the way, he thoroughly ruined during his presidential years.  He now  pushes yet another racket, in his so-called Coalition for Nigeria (CN).

    It is the latest Trojan horse: the Hobson’s choice from Obasanjo’s hypocritical stable of holy mischief, to which the gullible have a democratic right to embrace.

    But then, this caveat: the self-consecrated holy pope of Nigerian politics — and governance — has a clear, demonstrable record of nexus between public strain and private g(r)ain.  Whoever trades at his stall and goes home with a bargain?

    Still, folks are entitled to their democratic follies and foibles!

    That brings the discourse to the Danjuma put down — a ringing denunciation of the security forces under PMB, that must be taken seriously.

    After accusing the security forces of siding with “Fulani herdsmen” to kill his Taraba locals, he slammed the military as a “Fulani” hegemonic army and called on the Taraba people to “defend” themselves.  He spoke at the inaugural convocation of the Taraba State University.

    These are grievous allegations, made even more thunderous by Danjuma’s natural taciturnity.  Might there be any truth in it all?  The Buhari Presidency must get to the root of the matter fast.

    Even as a mere allegation, any supposition that the Nigerian military is beholden to any ethnic group is explosive enough; and should worry everyone.  Like Caesar’s wife, the security forces must be absolutely without slur.

    Still, why is Gen. Danjuma projecting the Taraba conflict as a one-way killing spree?  The objective situation on the ground negates that claim.

    The whole swath of Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau and Kaduna are a near-eternal belt of conflicts, with the Fulani taking on the Junkun, the Junkun taking on the Tiv, the Tiv taking on the Fulani, and the Christians and Muslims, of southern Kaduna, sizing up one another for combat.

    In this explosive vortex, fired by mutual hate and mass poverty, the politics of religion often ruthlessly imposes the religion of politics; with zero-sum winners and losers pushing aside present fate to plot future wars for dear faith!

    Incidentally, Kaduna and Danjuma’s Taraba provide the latest spooky examples.  Under Jonathan in December 2012, Patrick Yakowa, Kaduna’s first Christian governor, died in an air crash.  The Muslim lobby could not wait to correct that historical blip.

    In Taraba, in October 2012, Danbaba Suntai (now dead), the state’s umpteenth Christian governor became gravely ill, from another air crash.  But the Christian lobby there dug in, stonewalling any prospect of a first Muslim governor for the state.

    In the politics of religion and religion of politics, therefore, there appears no love lost between both divides: in Kaduna (tilting Muslim) and Taraba (tilting Christian).

    So, that is why Danjuma’s one-sided killing theory can hardly stand logical scrutiny.  And the general himself, with all due respect, cannot claim total neutrality in the matter.

    The patriotic love that drove him to cry out for his people also drives the Fulani to look out for their own.  But what is bad — and must be condemned — is the wilful spilling of blood on both sides.

    It is on this high pro-life principle that both sides must unite and force a stop to the carnage.  That cannot, however, be with Danjuma’s Taraba call to “defend yourself”.  That borders on the anarchic, a perfect recipe for more bloodshed — of the poor and the vulnerable.

    Though PMB’s profile doesn’t quite fit into that devious fellow that would turn the Nigerian security forces into a Fulani ethnic army, the government should look out for such rogue elements in the security forces and root them out fast.

  • Migration is ordained by God- Olusegun Obasanjo

    Ex- President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that migration is an act ordained by God.

    He expressed this statement at the maiden edition of the Youth Migration Summit tagged “Curbing Youth Irregular Migration” which held at Olusegun Obasanjo Public Library (OOPL) on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Reacting to the stories of seven Libyan returnees at a panel sessions which he led, he said that their experiences were very unpleasant and hazardous.

    “The lesson is, it is not the way to go. I was in Italy, four weeks ago and the ambassador told me there were 1,600 youths in Italian prisons. I asked to see them but I could not.” The Former President said.

    Obasanjo who is also the chief promoter of the Olusegun Obasanjo Public Library (OOPL) explained the need to prevent youths from taking the risks on illegal migration.

    Migration is not something we should stop,” he said. “It has led to development and civilisation. We are all migrants. It only depends on how far back we want to be. Migrants are not refugees or bad people. Einstein was a migrant, having migrated to a land of opportunity.”

    However he emphasized the need for illegal Migration to stop.

    “We have to do what we had to do at home for us to prevent you from the type of risk you are taking. All of you from your diverse stories felt it will be better. There is no better thing in what you did, it is death and danger. It is either death, deformity, pain stress and anguish.

    “The solution is not the way out. Even as bad as things may be at home, things are still better than what you go through. Migration is ordained by God. God told Abraham to leave your home and go. One of the greatest Migration is the movement of the children of Israel to the promise land.”

  • Democracy and the Obasanjo paradox

    Sir: Over the years, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has demonstrated a penchant for badgering elected presidents with his open letters. His open letter to the then President Jonathan was a farrago of aspersions, innuendos and falsehoods. His recent open letter to President Buhari, though devoid of obvious confections and embroideries, was still disturbing. It enumerated the president’s weaknesses and strengths, and disconcertingly, it advised him not to seek re-election. It was an advice that assailed the president’s constitutional right (like every other Nigerian) to vote and be voted for.

    Despite the impressive number of books he has penned and his recently acquired doctorate degree, nothing about him conveys erudition, brilliance or intelligence. Those that soldiered with him in the battlefields of the Nigerian civil war described him as an unimaginative military strategist and an inept military commander. But, despite his obvious limitations and inadequacies, he became the most successful Nigerian politician ever. And that is the Obasanjo paradox.

    It was the political fallouts of the June 12, 1993 crisis that propelled Obasanjo to the presidency in 1999. For years, the Yoruba-dominated National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) unremittingly fought for the realization of the June 12 mandate, and the president-elect, Moshood Abiola, died fighting for his mandate. Paradoxically, the harvest of their collective labour and sacrifice was handed to Obasanjo on a platter of gold. To assuage Yoruba restiveness, the northern powerbrokers made him president. He remained president for eight years, longer than any other Nigerian civilian president/prime minister.

    Undoubtedly, fate had been unusually generous to Obasanjo; it repeatedly catapulted him to unmerited heights. Evidently, these consistent levitation to unearned prominence got into his head. No wonder, he thought he could breach the Nigerian constitution and snooker Nigerians into electing him president for a third term. The rejection of his third term presidential bid hurt his pride and left him with a chip on the shoulder. His restless, desperate, intrusive attempt to impose his will on Nigerians through proxies and hectoring open letters to presidents are primitive expressions of his bitterness from that rejection. It is these unyielding and crude vents of his embedded bitterness that has made him the loudest, and the most obnoxious and obtrusive of all former Nigerian presidents.

    The people are the ultimate repository of power. It is therefore their constitutional prerogative to decide who presides over them come 2019. Despite Buhari’s perceived failed leadership, Nigerians may still choose to re-elect him. Nigerian voters reserve the right to, deliberately or inadvertently, make the wrong choices, and then, learn from their mistakes. After all, it is through democratic experience and its inherent lessons that Nigerian democracy will evolve, and then, flower and flourish.

     

    • Tochukwu Ezukanma, Lagos.
  • Okowa congratulates OBJ on 81st Birthday

    Okowa congratulates OBJ on 81st Birthday

    Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated ex-President of Nigeria, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of his 81st birthday, describing him as a true nationalist.

    Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, eulogized the octogenarian for his patriotic and unrelenting service to the nation, calling him an “outstanding patriot, a committed leader and a man of courage, whose gargantuan contributions towards the development, stability and growth of the country is legendary.”

    He said: “On the occasion of your 81st birthday anniversary today Monday 5th of March, 2018, I write to heartily rejoice with you and your family on behalf of the Government and people of Delta State.

    “In the past 81 years of a life of outstanding accomplishments and great personal fulfillment, you have not only served our nation at the highest levels with an uncommon sense of patriotism and unwavering dedication, you have also ensured peace and unity of our nation when you fought in the war front to keep Nigeria one.”

    Read Also: Okowa: Yet another feather to his cap

    “Till date you have continued to give yourself in the service of our fatherland through your nationalistic ideals”, the Governor added.

    The Governor noted that the legacies of the former Nigerian leader at various times in key infrastructures, economic reforms, banking consolidation, pension reforms as well as revitalization of the telecoms industry through the introduction of the Global System for Mobile Telecommunications, GSM were the hallmarks of his administration.

    Continuing, he said; “I join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for your life and to pray that He continues to bless you with robust health and imbue you with His continued guidance, protection, and enduring provision.

    He wished Chief Obasanjo a very well deserved 81st birthday.

     

  • I have not relented in fighting corruption – Buhari

    I have not relented in fighting corruption – Buhari

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said that his administration has not relented in fighting corruption in the country in the last two and half years.

    Apart from open letters by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, some Nigerians also felt that the President’s anti-graft battle has been selective.

    In a keynote address at the first Adamawa State Anti-corruption Summit in the state, the President said that it was very encouraging that a State Government on its own is venturing into the subject matter of fighting Corruption.

    He said “You may recall that on 29th May 2015, when I stated that we are faced with enormous challenges in this Country, with insecurity and institutionalized pervasive corruption being key and that my confidence remained high that together we will tackle them head on.

    “As I had predicted, today I am proud to note that we have not relented in our determination to fight corruption.  We are fixing our problems together.

    “Even though under our system the Federal Government cannot directly interfere in the details of the operations of States, but to see that the gross corruption at the local level is being checked and transparently reported is a thing of satisfaction and joy for me.” he said.

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    According to him, the administration will try to ensure that there is more responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country.

    He said “I note with satisfaction the logical steps taken by Adamawa State Government in the last two and a half years to demonstrate that transparency, fiscal responsibility, accountability and timely delivery of strategic goods and services to develop the state and enhance the confidence of its people is a viable template to fighting corruption.

    “Team work, the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, the respect and compliance with fiscal and procurement laws, the institutional reforms to improved efficiency, the drive to achieve value for money, as demonstrated by this administration, are worthy of note.

    “I recommend to other states this model along with all other winning approaches to enhance the progress and development of our Nation.

    “The projects and progress I have seen in Yola along with the reports and presentations made here have given me encouragement on the future of the State.  I hope this momentum will be sustained.

    “To the Government of Adamawa State, I say “well done and keep it up”.  To the people of Adamawa State, I congratulate you all on supporting the Government and encourage you to continue to give your maximum support to the State Government in its drive for a much better future.” he said