The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDP

  • PDP members protest alleged imposition of candidate by Fayose

    PDP members protest alleged imposition of candidate by Fayose

    Aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State are protesting the alleged imposition of a candidate on them by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    They have sued the party.

    The members, who are House of Representatives aspirants, are Cyril Fasuyi, Dotun Onipede, Victor Bamidele and Banji Oyinloye.

    They said in a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja that Fayose was working with the party to “impose Chief Thaddeus Aina on us” as the House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti North Federal Constituency.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court to declare that no valid primary election known to the party’s constitution, its guidelines for primary elections and the Electoral Act, took place as scheduled on December 6 last year to select a candidate for Ekiti North Federal Constituency.

    They seek an order compelling the PDP to organise and announce a new date for the primary election for the selection of a candidate for the Ekiti North Federal Constituency.

    The plaintiffs named the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a defendant.

    Onipede, who deposed to the supporting affidavit, said they were cleared for the primaries, having obtained the nomination forms.

    He said on December 7 when the primary election was to hold, everyone was at the venue, only for the organisers to produce election materials in the evening.

    Onipede said the election was later postponed when visibility became difficult about 7:30pm.

    He said while postponing the primaries, the Youth Leader, Taiwo Olatunji, promised that a new date would be communicated to members.

    Onipede said when they did not hear from the party in relation to the new date, they appealed against the non-holding of the primary to the Election Appeal Committee and later the National Working Committee, but got no response.

    On Friday, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, G. Uche, urged the court to hear the case in view of the fact that time was of the essence.

    He said the elections were fast approaching and the issue about primary ought to be concluded.

    Uche said the defendants were served on December 23 last year but chose not to file any response.

    Justice Evoh Chukwu acceded to the defendants’ request and adjourned till Wednesday for hearing.

  • Students disown Kwara PDP candidate Ajibola

    The National Association of Ekiti Kwara Students and the Ekiti Local Government Area’s chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) have disowned the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship candidate, Sen. Simeon Ajibola.

    The students’ group told reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, that they took the decision because Ajibola had not affected their lives as students or youths.

    They also accused the senator representing Kwara South in the National Assembly of not sponsoring a Bill in his 12 years at the Senate.

    Adeniyi Daramola, who spoke for the two groups, said the senator had never attracted any befitting project to the district.

    The spokesman said the PDP candidate only patronised the Millennium Development Goals (MDAs) for contracts.

    He said the little projects he credited to himself with were poorly executed and carried out by his company, which allegedly served as the project consultant.

    Daramola said: “We are embarrassed by imaginary projects adorning posters, billboards, print, electronic and social media …which Kwara South people cannot see.

    “We hereby disown Sen. Simeon Ajibola for denigrating the good people of Ekiti Local Government Area for misrepresentation and going against the collective wish of our people.

    “In fact, to show the disdain he has for our people, the wedding ceremony of his son held in Lagos and Ilorin, instead of his hometown. It would have been an opportunity for his friends to know how unpopular he is at home.

  • Plateau PDP chief denies dumping party

    A chieftain of Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Godfrey Miri, has denied dumping the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Miri, who contested the governorship seat but lost in the primary, reportedly planned to join APC.

    But a statement yesterday in Jos, the state capital, by his campaign coordinator, Chaplain Gideon Yoila, said the PDP chieftain had not dumped the party.

    The statement said: “It has been reported in the media that my boss, Mr. Miri, has defected from the PDP and joined the APC. That report is malicious and unfounded.

    “I was told that a man, posing to be Miri’s campaign director-general, at the beginning of APC’s governorship campaign in Jos, announced that he had moved to the APC with Miri’s blessings and that Miri would do same on his return from Abuja.”

  • Why PDP is jittery, by commissioner

    Why PDP is jittery, by commissioner

    Former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Wale Ahmed defected to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011. The Commissioner for Special Duties is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Committee. He spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on the succession battle in the Centre of Excellence. 

    As Lagosians prepare to vote, what are the issues on the front burner?

    The first issue is experience. Then, trust. Our candidate has more experience than the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr. Akinwumi Ambode rose through the ranks in the civil service in Lagos State. He has worked as an accountant at the local government level. In the civil service, he rose to the position of the Accountant-General of Lagos State. I am emphasising on experience because Lagos State is so big and the economy of this state is like of that of the five West African states put together. This is not a time for anybody to start learning rudimentary administration. The candidate of the PDP, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, belongs to a noble profession. He is a pharmacist. But, nothing in his profession and practice as a pharmacist over the years qualifies him to be the governor of Lagos State. His training and practice could not have prepared him for that. Trust, belief and love are issues. another thing that will mark our candidate out is that he is the candidate of the party the people of Lagos believe in. Then, he emerged as a candidate in a clean, clear and transparent primary election. Lagosians see him as the candidate of a party, whose leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was governor of the state that took over from the military in 1999. I was fortunate to be part of that government as a member of the House of Assembly. In eight years, Asiwaju worked for Lagosians and that it still his selling point.  Nigerians believe that he has the love of his people at heart and he is always ready to serve them. He handed over to Governor Babatunde Fashola, whose record of performance is not debatable in the country. These two people are going around with Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, who also have his own sterling qualities. Lagosians believe these people and they trust the party. To the glory of God, Lagosians believe that the party has served them and its government has delivered dividends of democracy to them.

    Some people are calling for the postponement of the elections. Do you see any justification for that?

    There cannot be any justification for that. I will describe it as an expression of extreme jitteriness. The PDP is jittery. It is occasioned by a feeling of impending woeful failure on the part of the PDP. They are jittery. They see what is going on. In fact, the election cannot go any other way, but for the APC to win. The ovation is louder for the APC in all the nooks and crannies of the country. People want change. So, they should not try it. I heard what Sambo Dasuki said. I don’t know when it has become the business of the National Security Adviser to talk about when the INEC should conduct elections. Everybody has been able to see through their game. All Nigerians are speaking with one voice. They are saying no to the postponement of the elections. Gen. Buhari of the APC is coasting home to victory by moon slide. There  are questions: are we better than we were four years ago in all areas of national life? With a budget of N5 trillion every year, the government should have done better. But, what the government done? They say inflation is going down. They said they have rebased our economy. They say it is now bigger than that of the South Africa. But, has this impacted positively on our life in terms of security, poverty reduction, employment for youths after leaving school? The fact is that we are not feeling it.

    How can violence be averted during the general elections?

    Nigerians should troop out to vote. After voting, they should wait behind to police their votes. They should wait until the votes are counted and results announced. They should refuse to be intimidated by anybody. If violence erupts, it will be easy for the whole world to know who started violence and who fomented trouble. People should be peaceful. They should go to the polling units with food and water. They should be on the queue and have the patience to vote. After voting, they should wait as the votes are being counted and the results announced. They should be orderly. If they are orderly, there will be no excuse for anybody to attack anybody. Violence will not work in this election. People have made up their mind that they want change. The platform for change is the APC and the person that personifies the change is Gen. Buhari.

    Are the campaigns issue-based?

    The APC is campaigning based on issues. The PDP is attacking our candidate. Initially, they said that he did not have a certificate. Later, there was a statement of results from his school. The principal of the school is saying that the result is available for verification. When the result was published, they said they noticed some marks and  lines there. They said it was forged, it was fake. Gen. Buhari should not have responded. he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army. He held command positions. He fought in the civil war. he was military governor, federal commissioner, GOC, Head of State, PTF Chairman. They said that he toppled a democratic government. In the army, that was the practice. He is now a democrat. He is not the only Head of State who came through a coup. Obasanjo, Babangida came to power in a coup. Section 131 of the constitution has listed the requirement for a person to become the President. It is school certificate or its equivalent. In Section 318 (1), it is any other qualification acceptable to the INEC. The requirement is that the person should be educated up to the school certificate level. He may not even have the school certificate. That is my belief, until the court says otherwise. The testimonial is enough. The main requirement is the ability to read and write. Any other certificate that is equivalent is the training on the job. There is any other qualification acceptable to the INEC. The INEC has not said that it has problems with Buhari. What is the hue and cry about? Nigerians want Buhari. he represents the change they want. They are talking about the certificate of a Major General in the Nigerian Army.

    The PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje, has said that Ambode will not be able to perform because he will not be independent of his godfathers. What is your reaction?

    I don’t know whether they saw any godfather in Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos when Ambode became the candidate at the clean, clear and transparent primaries. It is Agbaje who has godfathers. After he was declared the winner in a rancorous primary election at Oregun, the second day, there was the picture of Chief Bode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe hugging one another with broad smiles on their faces celebrating Agbaje’s victory. That gave me an impression that they are his godfather. They should talk about issues. They are talking about bold ideas. His bold idea is fishery. What is the bold idea in that? I will refer Mr. Jimi Agbaje to Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture so that he can tell him the giant strides in agriculture.

  • PDP’s desperate push for polls shift

    Towards the end of last year, the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised the alarm and alleged that there were subterranean moves by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the presidency and its cohorts to postpone the general elections scheduled for next month. Not many Nigerians took the APC’s allegation seriously, considering the level of allegations and counter-allegations between it and the PDP since its successful merger. Some assumed that it was part of campaign and politicking that will precede the election. But consistently APC repeatedly alerted Nigerians about plans by the PDP to shift the February elections. When the allegation was made, neither the PDP nor the Presidency refuted or acknowledged it. The duo maintained studied silence, pretending not being in the knowhow of the plan to postpone the election.

    True to the APC allegation, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) recently canvassed for the postponement of the elections to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) time to distribute over 30 million outstanding Permanent Voter Cards to registered voters. Dasuki, according to report, said he had told the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that a postponement within the three months allowed by the law, would be a good idea. Before Dasuki spoke at the Chatham House, a London think-tank, supportive of the PDP had also advised that the elections should be shifted.

    Dasuki told participants at a talk in London that INEC which had distributed over 30 million cards late last year, had assured him that the outstanding PVCs would be given out before February 14, the first day of the elections. He however stated that he believed it would make more sense to shift the elections since the law provided a 90-day window during which elections could legally take place. “It costs you nothing, it’s still within the law,” Dasuki said, adding however that it was for INEC and not for him, to decide.

    There is no doubt that Dasuki’s call is a confirmation that the Presidency and the PDP were tinkering with idea of compelling or pushing INEC to postpone the elections as earlier alleged by APC. For the National Security Adviser in the PDP-led government to openly canvass for the shift of the polls calls for concern. It also raises question on the independence of the electoral commission ahead of the polls. It may not be out of place to suggest that the Presidency, PDP and their cohorts have infiltrated INEC to ensure that they have their way.

    Before Dasuki’s call, Adamawa State governor, Bala Ngilari made a similar call for the shift in the polls. The unison with which they chorused the shift is not only suspicious, but conspiratorial. Their reasons are not tenable because INEC had assured that the remaining permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) would be continuously distributed till February 13. It would also be recalled that in most of his campaign speeches, President Jonathan had always said that May 29 handover is sacrosanct, but has never mentioned that February polls are sacrosanct.

    Instead of calling and championing for the shift of the polls, the PDP and its allies should call for the use of the temporary voters’ cards for the elections as demanded by members of the House of Representatives during their last session. Hiding under the flimsy excuse that previous elections have been conducted in April to justify their position for the shift is hypocritical and questionable. If that is the case, why not call for the shift earlier than now to save the commission and Nigerians the waste of time and money?

    The report that PDP and Presidency are desperately trying to procure jankara court injunction to stop the polls and the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) from contesting it is not only worrisome, but illegal and undemocratic. If the report is true, it means that the country may be heading back to the days of June 12, 1993 political chaos. Nigerians should remind the PDP and its champions of poll shift about JP Clark’s poem titled “The Casualties.” As can be seen across the country, some sponsored groups have staged protests to INEC offices across the country including Abuja asking for the shift of the polls to allow Nigerians collect their PVCs. Actions and body languages of these groups are not quite different from what some PDP chieftains and their allies are asking for. So it is obviously the hand of Esau and voice of Jacob.

    The questions that should be troubling the mind of Nigerians are: why should PDP chieftains be asking for the shift of polls now and mounting pressure on INEC to disqualify Buhari on the ground of non-qualification? Presently, PDP is in dire need of peace, unity and cohesion following the intra-party crisis that had trailed the outcome of the party primaries across the country.

    From Ebonyi to Delta, Bauchi, Abia to Cross River and other states, there are obvious discontent and division within the party and the party chieftains know that such will hurt them in the elections if conducted as scheduled. It may not be out of place that the push for the poll shift by the PDP is to enable them put their houses in order and to further demonise the APC presidential candidate, Buhari through fabricated documentaries and spurious adverts. It seems they also need more time to spread false propaganda on President Jonathan’s unverifiable achievements in the last six years which Nigerians have called to question.

    Whichever way one looks at it, PDP chieftains’ push for poll shift smacks of desperation and lack of confidence in the ability of the party to win the general elections convincingly. If not, many Nigerians had expected that such call for shift should have emanated from the opposition party APC.

    Apart from the call for polls shift, PDP’s undue pressure on INEC to disqualify Buhari on the ground of non-possession of requisite qualification is pure pettiness and undue distraction from germane issues at stake. PDP should heed INEC’s advice to approach the court because by law, INEC has no power whatsoever to disqualify candidates submitted by political parties in an elections. Why is the PDP or Presidency afraid of going to court over the issue, but have continued to mount campaign of calumny against the leadership of the INEC?  The leadership of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation has even threatened to pass a vote of no confidence on INEC for not disqualifying Buhari! What a cheap blackmail for a party that is drowning and has continued to chase rat while its house is on fire?

    Meanwhile, INEC has stated that it was yet to receive any formal request for the postponement of the elections, it insisted that it would stick to its timetable for the polls. Its quick response is a welcome development. It shows the readiness and firmness of the commission to conduct the polls as scheduled. The commission should work hard to ensure that all registered voters get their PVCs before the elections as promised.

    Apart from this, the commission should know that it is its  constitutional right to fix date for elections not PDP or anybody including the Presidency. The commission’s leadership should be aware that all eyes are on them, and should not allow themselves to be use as pawns in the political chessboard of anybody ahead of the polls. Nigerians are quite aware that the hiccups being experienced by the commission towards the preparation of the polls is as a result of the federal government’s failure to release all the commission’s 2014 budgetary allocation.

    Nigerians at this critical time in the search for true and capable leadership cannot afford to witness a compromised, rigged and crisis-ridden elections.

    • Ntama a retired civil servant wrote from Asaba, Delta State
  • Desperation in PDP camp frightening – Buhari

    Desperation in PDP camp frightening – Buhari

    An unusual large crowd on Saturday welcomed the Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)’s All Progressives Congress (APC)’s presidential train to Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
    The train which touched ground at the Ilorin International Airport at about 10:40 am could not get to the Emir of Ilorin’s palace until around 12: 41 pm; a distance of less than five kilometers.
    This was due to the mammoth crowd of supporters that thronged the airport and also lined the road that leads to the palace.
    The presidential team which comprised of Gen Buhari, his running Prof Yemi Osinbajo, National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governors of Kwara, Osun and Rivers state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chibuike Amaechi eventually arrived the Metropolitan Square venue of the event at about 1.35 pm.
    Their arrival threw the whole arena into ecstasy as shout of Buhari and Ahmed rented the air.
    Addressing the crowd Gen Buhari said that the desperation in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is frightening.
    He added that “there is so much resources in their hands and with their coercive resources at their command, we have a problem and God’s willing we will overcome that problem.”
    He said a vote for PDP is tantamount to ruining the future of the country and in coming generations.
    The general said: “The most important thing is that you should vote. Make sure you get your permanent voter cards and on the election day you come out and make sure you vote and that your vote counts. If you allow the PDP by any chance to continue to run this country, you are ruining yourselves and you are ruining your country.

  • PDP loses Niger East senatorial seat to APC at tribunal

    PDP loses Niger East senatorial seat to APC at tribunal

    The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Minna yesterday upturned the result of last year’s Niger East Senatorial by-election in favour of Mr. David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared former deputy governor of the state, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election.

    Mr. Umaru filed a petition at the tribunal which proclaimed him winner with 79,779 votes as against Nuhu’s 68,525 votes.

    In arriving at its judgement, the tribunal nullified the results of about 100 polling units affected by irregularities during the by-election.

    The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Bako, also granted an order  nullifying the return of the 1st Respondent (Nuhu) on the grounds that he did not win the majority of the lawful votes cast at the election held on August 30, 2014 and concluded on September 6, 2014 at the Niger East Senatorial District.

    Also granted by the tribunal were orders “declaring the 1st Petitioner as the winner of the election held on the 30th August but concluded on the 6th September, 2014, having won the majority of the lawful votes at the election and he is hereby granted.”

    Justice Bako directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to “issue a Certificate of Return to the 1st Petitioner forthwith as the duly elected Senator of Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State”.

    The electoral body had declared on September 7, 2014 that Nuhu of the PDP polled 92,050 votes while Umaru had 87,425 votes. But after the deduction of the unlawful votes, the respondent had 68,525 and the 1st petitioner polled 79,779 votes to be declared winner.

    Reacting after the judgment, the lead counsel to the winner, Barrister Chris Osuagwu said:.”We give glory to God for this judgement. Today’s judgement has shown that no matter how long evil thrives, judgment must surely prevail. The tribunal has given judgment and it shows that there is hope for the masses.”

    The counsel to the respondent, Barrister Musa Sulaiman, said his client would respect the decision of the tribunal.

    Congratulating the judiciary for keeping the hope of the common man alive, Publicity Secretary of the APC in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, told newsmen at the court premises that the judgment had given hope to the masses.

    “The judgment has shown that the common man can have his right defended and protected by the judiciary,” he added.

    The judgment brings the number of APC senators in the state to two – Niger East and Niger North senatorial districts. The Niger South senatorial ticket is held by the PDP.

  • APC shielding candidate, says PDP

    APC shielding candidate, says PDP

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation yesterday flayed the decision by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to shun the presidential debate being organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

    In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the PDP said the APC knew that Gen. Buhari could not stand a rigours debate on issues of national governance and development.

    Fani-Kayode said the APC had already said, when approached by an unnamed international news channel for a debate, that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who has capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.

    According to Fani-Kayode, “We have just read a report in the media credited to the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation that the party would not allow its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in the radio and television presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

    “The APC accused the organisers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.

    “We had envisaged that the APC would be reluctant to expose General Buhari to the rigours of a live television debate because the opposition party knows that its candidate will flunk it.

    “If the APC truly believes that it is a party of progressive intellectuals, as it claims, it should allow General Buhari to prove that at the debate.

    “Should the APC fail to participate in the debate, it would also show the disdain both the party and its candidate have for the Nigerian people, denying them the opportunity to make informed choices on the basis of what each candidate will articulate as propositions on issues that will be raised.

    “We are convinced that General Buhari does not have what it takes to sustain a coherent argument on germane issues of governance and development.

    “We challenge General Buhari to a debate on any national and international medium of mass communication and our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be ready to participate.

  • APC shielding Buhari from debate – PDP

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign organisation on Friday flayed the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to shun the presidential debate being organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

    In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the PDP said the APC was trying to shield its presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s “intellectual laziness” and “inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues” in a live television and radio debate.

    The statement said the APC knew that Buhari would flunk it if subjected to the rigours of debate on issues of national governance and development.

    Fani-Kayode said the APC had already expressed its concerns when approached by an unnamed international news channel for a debate, about the intellectual acumen of Buhari, and had assured the said news channel that it was only comfortable with its vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who has capacity to feature brilliantly on the programme.

    “We have just read a report in the media credited to the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation that the party would not allow its candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to participate in the radio and television presidential debate organised by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

    “The APC accused the organisers of the debate of unhidden bias and campaign of calumny by some key organisers of the programme against the corporate political interest of the party and its candidates.

    “Whilst we will not bother ourselves with the many reasons adduced by the APC, we wish to state that we see the APC decision as an attempt to shield its presidential candidate from displaying his intellectual laziness and inability to constructively engage contemporary national issues in a live television and radio debate.

    “We had envisaged that the APC would be reluctant to expose Buhari to the rigours of a live television debate because the opposition party knows that its candidate will flunk it.
    “If the APC truly believes that it is a party of progressive intellectuals, as it claims, it should allow Buhari to prove that at the debate.

    “Should the APC fail to participate in the debate, it would also show the disdain both the party and its candidate have for the Nigerian people, denying them the opportunity to make informed choices on the basis of what each candidate will articulate as propositions on issues that will be raised.

    “We are convinced that Buhari does not have what it takes to sustain a coherent argument on germane issues of governance and development.

    “We challenge Buhari to a debate on any national and international medium of mass communication and our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be ready to participate.

    “On the other hand, President Jonathan’s running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo, is also ready to participate in the debate and any other debate.

    “Our presidential candidate and his running mate will not raise flimsy and escapist excuses such as ‘unhidden bias’ and the like, since we believe that they are well-rounded intellectuals who have been prepared by their experience in office to answer any question under the sun on the governance of our nation.”

  • PDP circus show begins

    PDP circus show begins

    The Nigerian political sphere is replete with mind-boggling wonders. But quite sadly, the surprises of the polity are not usually for the larger interest of the people but to serve the greed of the few power mongers around. When all seemed to be going reasonably smooth for the coming February elections, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, in a manner akin to what happened in previous notorious administrations, called for a shift in the scheduled February elections.

    It was during his recent appearance at the London think-tank, Chatham House, where he reportedly delivered a lecture titled: “Nigeria’s Insecurity: Insurgency, Corruption, Elections and the Management of Multiple Threats.” Dasuki, at the question and answer session, scandalously sought the postponement of the February elections by three months. His reasons: “INEC had distributed 30 million cards in the past year but had another 30 million to hand out.” He further pointed out that despite the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman had assured him that the commission would meet up with the February date, he (NSA) still ‘thought it will make more sense to take more time and there was a 90-day window during which the election could legally take place. It costs you (INEC) nothing; it’s still within the law.’

    Since the NSA spoke, it was as if other puppeteers of President Goodluck Jonathan were waiting for a man of his standing to set the template before they start parroting same. Except for the leading opposition party, All Progressives Congress(APC), and perhaps another party, the others without insignificant political presence have queued into the shameless call for a shift which obviously was meant to scuttle the impending electoral loss awaiting the president and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming general elections. The United States, through her Secretary of State, John Kerry, had told the Nigerian government that the general elections must hold as scheduled. Rather than re-echo this, it is frightening to note that our president merely stated the cliche that the ‘May 29 handover date is sacrosanct.’ What a nebulous response to a serious challenge! So, it means that even if the elections are shifted, the May handover date will stand. One can’t but laugh!

    This column wants to know what kind of handover the president wants to do because his statement is pregnant with frightening imports. But the truth is that Nigerians will take nothing other than handover to a democratically elected president and governors come May 29th. Any contrary thing could be an invitation to avoidable anarchy. And this reminds of Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), an English philosopher best known for his political thought. He was concerned with the problems of social and political order. He talked about how human beings could live together in peace in order to avoid civil conflict. Hobbes advocated obedience to an unaccountable sovereign (under the presumption that the sovereign would be reasonable and responsible). And that this could be a person or group empowered to decide every social and political issue. Failure to do this according to him could lead to what he called a “state of nature” that is anarchical where the life of the people is ‘brutish, nasty and poor.’

    But looking at the past and current situations in the country, it is doubtful if Hobbes contemplated human beings, especially politicians, as purely self-interested or egoistic. This poser has been the speck on the theory of this founding father of modern philosophy because it gives no reverence to the need for good ethics, morality and conscience as parameters for leadership obedience by the governed.

    This postulation becomes more germane through the way and manner that otherwise men of honour are clamouring for a shift in the February elections which to this column, is quite damning. Yours sincerely wonders if public morality and the larger public interest have impact on a politician’s or public office holder’s decision on public affairs. The impunity against morality and character going, especially on this clamour for election postponement by the ruling PDP has underscored the fact that conscience as the inner voice that warns us in our overt conducts that somebody may be looking is lacking in the party and the government it runs. The directing minds of the parties behind this condemnable scheming have no feelings for the groaning Nigerians that are tired of the misrule of the PDP and President Jonathan.

    What the presidential surrogates behind the plot are doing is to lay the perfidious ending for the president except reason prevails. Let the president be reminded that they did same thing to military despot Ibrahim Babangida as Head of State before he was ignominiously forced to step aside; late tyrant Sani Abacha suffered similar fate from his bootlickers, while the same set of politicians/aides deceived and encouraged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to pursue a well-designed orchestrated disgraceful end. One will perhaps be correct to state that Obasanjo ended abysmally with the ultimate collapse of his Third Term agenda through which billions of state funds were reportedly disbursed as alleged gratification to politicians perceived to be strategically positioned to bring that inordinate ambition to fruition.

    Again, President Jonathan must realise that Nigerians no longer want him but CHANGE. Except he wakes up from his deep political slumber, he may not be realising earnestly that these same set of choristers/political bigots that destroyed former leaders are presently goading him to an avoidable political precipice. It is high time he realised that his game is up because he has demonstrated in six years of being at the saddle that he does not have the capacity to rule this country. What the country needs most at this crucial period is a party that could inspire the country to do what she is capable of being.

    The elections must hold as scheduled because there is no sincerity of purpose, truthful justice and realistic reliability in this odious call for election postponement by the PDP and the president’s henchmen. This column is almost certain that the words of gratitude of presently suffering Nigerians and the future generations will not be kind on these political jesters in PDP and other atmosphere- fouling political parties of negligible consequence. This circus show by the PDP and President Jonathan on election shift is unacceptable. It is a sad repeat of the better-forgotten history that has, sadly, taken the country to nowhere.