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Tag: politicians

  • ‘Why politicians are defecting in Anambra’

    ‘Why politicians are defecting in Anambra’

    In this piece, Okechukwu Anarado examines the spate of defections in Anambra State, saying many politicians are moving to the ruling party at the centre, believing that whosoever gets the party’s ticket will succeed in upstaging Governor Willie Obiano, with the assistance of the federal might.

    Elections in Anambra State usually throw up such eruptions that leave trails of strange bedfellows amongst erstwhile associates. With the next governorship election scheduled to take place on November 18, the trend is being witnessed once again. Besides election matters, nothing else seems of rational consequence any more in Anambra today. Different political groupings bent on upstaging Governor Willie Obiano’s applecart and ruin the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA) chances of winning the election are to blame for the trend.

    The publicity blitz associated with the Anambra governorship is not unconnected with the fact that the election is staggered, because it takes place every four years at a time different from that of the rest of the country. It is also due to the characteristics of Anambra politics, which is capital intensive, fractious and can be potty.

    The buildup to this year’s election aptly exposes the unpredictability and the unreliability of many Nigerian politicians whose missions in politics are driven by no conviction other than voracious hunger to either amass wealth or covet power. This explains the unrestrained, osmotic shuffles by many influential politicians to political parties that suggest protection of the defectors’ interests.

    For instance, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a grip of the Presidency (1999 to 2015), despite the poverty of its trajectory in Anambra politics, it was still fashionable for it to parade unprecedented numbers of governorship aspirants. While most of the political parties, including the parties that metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress (APC), usually perform woefully in governorship elections, the PDP always parades no less than 30 aspirants each election season. After losing to APGA, the contest usually lingers in the courts; with the candidates hoping each time to use presidential fiat to rob the party of the people’s mandate. That was PDP in Anambra State!

    In Anambra 2017, majority of those who nursed hard impressions of the APC before it chanced upon presidential powers now gravitate towards it for an embrace that was considered leprous before now. Indeed, most of those clamouring for the party’s ticket to contest the governorship lacked the boldness to call the party by name in Anambra until very recently when the delusions of their past and illusions of self-preservation exposed their ideological ineptitude and insincerity to any genuine political cause.

    But for phantom assurances of the Presidency to reward them with Obiano’s seat, probably why, for instance, would acknowledged PDP high chiefs suddenly clamour to ingratiate themselves with the leadership of the APC? Some suddenly forgot the humongous destruction their private interests caused Anambra State and are insulting the sensibilities of the people by taking the people’s sense of history for granted.

    But come to think of it: Of what electoral value is the APC in Nigeria today that the people of Anambra would risk trading in their trusted home grown APGA-government for a faltering concept that gladly ignores the participatory impulses of the people of the Southeast? What would the class of emergency apologists of the APC tell the people, to make the party saleable, when the owners of the party contemplate no remedies for the unprecedented exclusions Ndigbo suffer in the party? Could there be unspoken underhand bargains between the party and its Anambra governorship aspirants to gain the state’s seat of power beyond the legitimate electoral mandate of the people? What has any state in the Southeast gained from being run by the party in power at the centre?

    The shenanigan about the advantages Anambra would gain if governed by the APC is a hoax. Professor Chukwuma Soludo calls it ‘an elite talk; an elite game for the elite interest!’ He further admonishes that “some might join a political party so that the federal authorities might deploy the armed forces and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to write election results for them. It has nothing to do with the people and their welfare.” The APC in Anambra is a sure recipe for erosion of the tempo of development the state has known for about 12 years of APGA government.

    Observably, the temper of majority of residents of Anambra State over the political sophistry of most of the politicians now in circulation is suggestive of anxiety and reprehension driven by the singular constant element characteristic of Igbo success in their legitimate pursuits. The people’s suspicion of the buildup to this year’s election stems from their recourse to history. Disgusting memories of trodden paths and fears of their pernicious relive confront the people of Anambra. And they would not be cajoled into any gloomy political misadventure; not by whatever repackaged niceties the exponents of past missteps recommend. The people would not be intimidated into lavishing a cherished political heritage that does not only bear Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s imprimatur, but increasingly offers them safety, dignity and functional development. The stellar achievements of Governor Obiano in the past three years, in keeping with the APGA tradition, have further entrenched the party in the people’s consciousness.

    • Anarado is a Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Media and Publicity
  • Politicians join the craze, as BBNaija reaches peak

    Politicians join the craze, as BBNaija reaches peak

    In January when the second edition of Big Brother Naija reality TV show kicked off, it was greeted with apprehension from certain quarters. One of the criticisms was that it is being recorded in faraway South Africa.

    However, few weeks later, the show began to whip up sentiments.

    The first outcry was the fact that a country as large as Nigeria, with all its resources and manpower, could not muster the wherewithal to host the show.

    That dust was yet to settle when the organisers were again hit with a petition to the National Broadcasting Commission, calling for the stoppage of the show.

    However, indications that some politicians are fans of the show emerged when one of the strong contenders for the top prize, Kemen, was booted out of the house.

    Kemen was said to have been disqualified from the game for fondling his co-housemate, TBoss without her consent.

    Against the general perception, the sacking of Kemen proved to Nigerians that the Big Brother Naija competition stood for something.

    Prior to his disqualification, a billboard canvassing votes for Kemen emerged in his home state, Akwa Ibom State.

    From then on, the popularity rating of the show shot up and people began to show more interest such that even the speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke shared a thought on Kemen’s disqualification.

    He wrote: “Many who before now had celebrated Kemen are in a hurry to crucify him for his mistake(s).

    “My take here is not to hold brief for Kemen and whatever he might have done to merit his disqualification (which I am yet to know) but to reflect on how difficult it is to be in the spotlight in our clime –the fear of failing–the fear of making mistakes–the fear of mockery and the most dreaded of them all –the fear of Inua Uyo. We are all humans and are all prone to mistakes but when we are not the affected, we engage sanctimonious disposition that tends to confer sainthood…”

    With barely a few days to the end of the show, it has transmogrified into a battle of the tribes.

    The buzz is no longer about where the show is being held or its morality; it is now a question of who wins it.

    Back home, Nigerians are taking a stand for their favourite finalists consisting of Bisola, TBoss, Debie-Rise, Marvis and Efe.

    The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, for instance, is drumming support for its candidate, Marvis Nkpornwi who hails from Onne, Eleme in Rivers State.

    “By the special grace of god, she has moved to the final stage in the Big Brother Naija House competition. Let us give her all the support she needs to make Rivers State proud,” a statement by Michael Ejiohuo, Permanent Secretary for Hon. Commissioner reads.

    It the same vein, it was said that Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is campaigning for Debie-Rise who hails from that State.

  • Politicians want senate to tackle more important issues

    Some politicians on Monday advised the senate to give attention to enacting laws that would improve the lives of Nigerian instead of spending time on less important issues.

    The politicians told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews that some issues being pursued by the senate were not important to the average Nigerian.

    They spoke against the backdrop of the senate’s investigation of Sen. Dino Melaye’s academic qualification and its request for resignation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali.

    Alhaji Musa Umar, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Kano State Chapter, expressed dissatisfaction with the activities of the senate in recent times.

    “Issues that are of no importance are brought to the front burner in the legislature at the expense of urgent and sensitive matters.

    “Nigerians should condemn this,’’ Umar said.

    The National Chairman of National Conscience Party, Dr Yunusa Tanko, appealed to the upper legislative chamber to come up with bills that would tackle Nigeria’s socio-economic problems.

    He noted that the recession of the economy was biting hard on the masses and that enactment of relevant laws should be of interest to the legislators.

    Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, the 2015 Presidential Candidate of KOWA Party, said that she was not satisfied with the performance of the senate in recent times.

    “I hope Nigerians are watching and taking note of the happenings in the senate,’’ she said.

    Sonaiya called on the lawmakers to make good governance their primary concern.

    The 2015 Presidential Candidate of National Conscience Party, Chief Martin Onovo, also criticised the senate.

    “The legislature represents the people and must defend its constitutional authority,’’ Onovo said.

    Chief Ola Apena, the Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, however, said that the issues being attended to by the senate were important.

    “Issues about Ibrahim Magu, comptroller-general of Customs and Dino Melaye are no flippant issues. They are all serious issues, as important as the budget.

    “The major challenges confronting our nation are absence of institutions and institutional norms needed for nation-building,’’ Apena said.

    He noted that Magu was screened twice by the senate and that, on each occasion, the Department of State Services wrote an indicting report against him.

    According to Apena, senators should not be blamed for not confirming Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    “They have simply done their job,’’ he said.

    Apena also said that Melaye’s certificate issue needed to be addressed.

  • 2018 poll: Ekiti elders urge politicians to shun violence

    Ahead of the 2018 governorship poll, the Ekiti Council of Elders has advised politicians in the state  to eschew any form of violence that could heat up the polity.

    The elders’ council also advised the youth to either acquire formal education or learn vocations and not see politics as a profession.

    The chairman of the council, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, made the remark on Thursday during an interactive session held by the body with the aged in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola and the deceased  former Deputy Governor of old Ondo State, the late Chief Akin Omoboriowo, were honoured with the council’s award for their service to humanity.

    Oluwasanmi called on parents to rein in their children and prevent them from being used as political thugs to unleash terror in the run-up to the 2018 governorship election.

  • Why politicians must emulate Tinubu, by lawmakers

    Why politicians must emulate Tinubu, by lawmakers

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Senator representing Lagos East Zone ‘Gbenga Ashafa,  Afenifere chieftain Senator Ayo Fasanmi, House of Representatives member James Faleke and others have saluted the courage, determination, commitment and the will to succeed displayed by All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    In different statements to celebrate the 65th birthday anniversary of the former governor, they urged politicians to emulate him.

    Obasa, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Razak, described Tinubu as the architect of modern Lagos.

    He stated that the ingenuity of the former governor turned the state once regarded as the dirtiest in the country to the cleanest and also achieved a mega city status.

    “He’s not only the architect of modern Lagos, he’s also a great leader of men, whose unrivalled ability to discover talent has led to the discovery of great leaders, who have turned out to become reference points in great leadership and good governance,” the Speaker said.

    Obasa added that Asiwaju Tinubu would continue to remain relevant and the main reference point in Nigerian politics because of his selfless and humane nature.

    “His love for the common man knows no bound and his passion for the development and growth of this great country makes him arguably Nigeria’s greatest politician of the present political dispensation,” he said.

    He said: “On behalf of other members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, I greet our leader and wish him more years of celebration in good health and wisdom.”

    Ashafa described Asiwaju as a leader, who would never be bereft of loyal followership.

    Noting that the former Lagos State governor has paid his dues by building able lieutenants, the senator hailed Tinubu for being selfless. He described the quality as “uncommon among political elite”.

    In his goodwill message, titled: “Toast to an uncommon leader at 65”, Ashafa said of Tinubu: “He’s clearly demonstrated that leadership is all about service. He has always shown leadership by example.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu has never done anything for selfish motives. He sacrifices personal comfort for the benefit of the society. He will continue to enjoy loyal, faithful and dedicated followership.

    “There no gainsaying in the fact that Asiwaju as a leader sees ahead of others. Two of his lieutenants, who took the mantle of leadership as governors have confirmed his ability to groom successors. His dream of taking Lagos to loftier heights has become a reality.”

    The senator urged other politicians to take a cue from Tinubu by showing genuine commitment to the wellbeing of the society.

    Fasanmi, in a statement, rejoiced with the APC national leader and showered encomiums on him for his achievements in Lagos State as a governor.

    According to the statement, Fasanmi said Tinubu transformed Lagos State, laid foundation for good governance and has become a leading light in national politics.

    ”At 65, you have assured for yourself a place of honour in the contemporary history and archives of our society. Please continue to remain firm like an anvil under the stroke. I wish you many happy returns of your birthday. The struggle continues. God bless,” the statement added.

    In his tribute, House of Representatives member Faleke described Tinubu as a leader of leaders and a dogged political fighter.

    Faleke, who is representing the Ikeja Federal Constituency, said the former Lagos State governor has demonstrated an unflinching fate in developing a generation of future leaders.

    According to him, the APC stalwart would rather stand alone rather than jump the ship to join the bandwagon.

    The federal lawmaker, in his message, titled: “Hearty Cheers to an ICON @ 65”, listed the sterling attributes that endeared Tinubu to his followers.

    He said: “We are inspired by your astute political leadership, motivated by your sense of purpose and encouraged by your selfless service to humanity. You are respected for your sense of focus and resilience and cherished for your love and compassion.”

    Congratulating the APC stalwart, who he called a dynamic strategist on his 65th birthday, Faleke said: “Your best is yet to come.”

  • LASIEC boss to politicians: we’ll not be partisan

    LASIEC boss to politicians: we’ll not be partisan

    The Chairman, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd), has assured leaders of political parties that the commission will not be partisan in carrying out its responsibilities.

    Phillips gave the assurance while speaking at a Political Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the commission at the Central Business District, Ikeja, Lagos.

    She allayed the fears of politicians over the conduct of free, fair and credible elections into the local government and local council development areas of the state.

    “The commission will erase the wrong perception of some of you about its being partisan particularly from members of the opposition parties. We would therefore wish to place on record our avowed commitment towards ensuring that there is a level playing field for each and every participant and stakeholders in the forthcoming local government election, irrespective of the political divide and affiliations. The commission shall strictly adhere to best practices in election management and will not perform below the benchmark for excellence in electoral administration… we are aware of the fact that we as election managers and administrators must be fair and unbiased because perceptions in elections are critical issues which may make or mar any poll,” she said.

    Stressing that she would do everything to protect her integrity and reputation, Phillips urged the politicians not to heat up the polity.

    The political class, she said, has a major role to play in ensuring peaceful, orderly and successful conduct of elections, noting that the way the political parties and their members conduct their affairs directly impacts on the conduct of elections, positively or negatively.

    She stressed the need for stronger collaboration and cooperation between the key stakeholders and the commission for the entrenchment of democracy and sound democratic practices at the grassroots level.

  • Workers angry with Fayose over new cars for politicians

    Workers angry with Fayose over new cars for politicians

    Civil servants in Ekiti State have expressed outrage over the purchase of new cars for political office holders by Governor Ayo Fayose.
    The workers described the purchase of 60 units of Kia cars for governor’s aides as “insensitive, wasteful, offensive and demoralising” at a time they are being owed six months arrears of salaries.
    The brand new vehicles were distributed to House of Assembly members, commissioners, special advisers, chairmen of statutory boards and other senior government officials.
    Acting under the aegis of Enlightened Workers Forum (EWF), the civil servants said the purchase of brand new vehicles was unjustifiable at a time Fayose was complaining that his administration is hampered by paucity of funds to provide basic necessities for the citizenry.
    They called on anti-graft agencies to investigate alleged diversion of funds received from the Federal Government including September 2015 bailout cash, Paris Club refund and Budget Support Fund.
    The EWF in a statement on Saturday by its Coordinator, Mike Bamidele, said the purchase of new cars for political office holders when workers are dying of hunger and having difficulties paying their children school fees shows that workers’ welfare was no longer a priority in Ekiti.

  • Politicians warming up for Anambra governorship race

    Politicians warming up for Anambra governorship race

    The Anambra State governorship election is scheduled to take place in November. Owing to the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to fix a date for the contest, many politicians are still playing the waiting game. Correspondent NWANOSIKE ONU looks at how the various political parties are preparing for the poll.

    Less than 10 months from now, the people of Anambra State will go to the polls to elect their governor. Governor Willie Obiano’s first term will elapse early next year.

    The governor has already indicated interest to seek for second term. Interestingly, one of his aides, Dr. Elo Aforka, has also indicated that he would vie for the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Thus, the governor and his aide will complete for the APGA ticket.

    Aforka’s posters have adorned the streets of Awka, including the newly- constructed flyover at Aroma roundabout; a major transit corridor in the capital. It is not yet clear why he chose to challenge his boss, but some political observers believe that he is being used by some aggrieved APGA chieftains to extort money from Obiano through settlement.

    Aforka is not the only one eying the governor’s seat, which will be vacant in March 17, 2018. Legions of aspirants from various political parties have equally indicated their interest to run. Former secretary to the government under Peter Obi’s administration, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, is one of such aspirants. Obaze is running on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Obaze is not alone in (PDP). Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, is also in the race. The former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been talking tough.

    Philanthropist and industrialist, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, has also indicate interest to run once again on the platform of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA). Ezeemo was the governorship candidate of the PPA in 2013.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has the largest number of aspirants. This makes the APC the beautiful bride in Anambra politics this time around. The APC was like a political orphan during the 2013 election, because it was called unprintable names. In spite of the popularity of its candidate in 2013, Dr. Chris Ngige, who is currently the Minister of Labour and Productivity, it was derided as a ‘foreign’ party.

    Those aspiring to run on the APC platform include its National Auditor, Chief George Muoghalu; the lawmaker representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Tony Nwoye; as well as business mogul, Dr. Obinna Uzor. Others eying Obiano’s seat in the APC are: Barth Nwibe; and former governorship contestant on APGA’s ticket, Dr. Chike Obidigbo.

    Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, is yet to make up his mind this time around. Other aspirants are: Obinna Onunkwo, Donatus Okonkwo and Ifeanyi Ubah.

    From all indications, whoever that gets the APC is likely to give Obiano a run for his money; considering the number of heavyweights that have joined the party in recent times. Though some of them have not officially declared for the APC, but their body language suggests that they already have sympathy for the party.

    Only the oil magnate, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, has officially declared. Others like Senator Andy Uba still have one leg in the party with the other leg still in the PDP. Another aspirant is Donatus Okonkwo, who happens to be Senator Annie Okonkwo’s brother. He is the brain behind Tetrazzini fast foods across the country.

    A good number of the aspirants are however using the governorship race to position themselves for other juicy positions in the APC. Some of them are looking for the party’s ticket for the Senate or the House of Representatives.

    Other political heavyweights like former Governor Peter Obi are still holding clandestine meetings for the proposed mega party with some eggheads in the country.

    Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been keeping mum. As a result, most politicians are still playing the waiting game. Apart from Aforka, who is a political adviser to Obiano, and Ezeemo, no other aspirant has his posters on the streets.

    Like the 2013 election, which was a two-horse race between the ruling party and the APC, this year’s contest is expected to be very fierce. Governor Obiano is believed to have sacrificed the goodwill he enjoyed initially, even though he is adjudged to have done well under the current difficult economic circumstances in the country.

    Obiano’s difficulty may not be unconnected with the fact that he has stepped on toes of many party chieftains who helped him to win in 2013. Many of such chieftains have vowed to make things difficult for him this time around.

    Despite the state’s dwindling resources, Obiano has recorded some reasonable achievements, including building three flyovers in a swoop, putting up street lights in major roads in the capital and elsewhere and making agriculture a top priority for his administration.

    In spite of his good showing, members of his party are not happy; they accused his wife of unduly interfering in his government. The opposition parties have even refused to acknowledge that he has recorded any achievement.

    His open disagreement with former Governor Obi, who almost singlehandedly made him governor, in the face of a stiff opposition from other party chieftains, appears to be a big obstacle in his second term bid. Many APGA members have continued to accuse Obi of being behind the governor’s travails.

    The word making the rounds in the state is that Obiano is making frantic efforts to defect to the APC and fly the party’s ticket during the election. Though the allegation has been refuted by one of the governor’s aides, the rumour has refused to go away.

    This development has not gone down well with many governorship aspirants on the APC platform, who see Obiano as an opportunist.

    Observers believe that it is too early to direction the pendulum would swing. The only thing certain for now is that the Anambra governorship election will be held in November this year.

    Though Ngige has declined to join the race, he appears to be the one man who is in a position to influence the outcome of the APC primary. As a result, whoever curries his favour stands the chance of grabbing the ticket.

    Ngige is regarded as a political oracle in Anambra. The minister must be pleased with the growing popularity of the APC in the state. He is one man who laboured to build the party in Anambra.

  • 2019: Niger North gives conditions to politicians

    The people of Niger North Senatorial District have highlighted the conditions for re-election to their elected leaders , urging them to be more proactive in addressing issues affecting the zone.

    Expressing disappointment over their attitude, they said visible projects and adequate representation will be used as yardsticks for the re-election.

    The stakeholders made the resolution at the recent Legislative Outreach and Citizens Engagement for Niger North Senatorial District organised by the Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP) in Kontagora.

    A youth leader from Rijau Local government area, Bello Tukur, said the politicians only made themselves accessible during the election period and abandoned the people after election.

    He said: “We have been forgotten by the people we elected. Look at the bad roads from Kontagora to Rijau, it is a death trap, other amenities in the local government area are dilapidated and nothing to right home about.

    “We have decided that in 2019, we are not voting for anybody because we have been abandoned for so long. No road, no visible project, no vote. That is our declaration.”

    A member of the Wushishi Concern Group, Bello Bashir, lamented that most of their representatives in the National Assembly and House of Assembly have never moved a motion or sponsored a bill, adding that they never elected these leaders to be dormant.

    A youth from Kontagora, Saidu Bawa, called for the abolition of the local government joint account, warning that any representative, who does not support the removal, will not be supported in the next election.

    The Chairman of the meeting, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane,  said that the gap between the legislature and the people should be bridged because the legislature is the pillar of democracy.

    He, however, expressed disappointment over the non-appearance of the members of the National Assembly and House of Assembly who were invited to interface with the electorate, adding that, except for the House of Assembly member representing Agwara constituency, Honorable Bello Ahmed, no other person honored the invitation.

    “This forum would have gone a long way in making the elected representatives correct their lapses and give the electorate the opportunity to know what is going on.”

    Giving his stewardship in office, the Niger state House of Assembly Member representing Agwara Constituency, Honorable Bello Ahmed said the legislators in the zone will work towards synergizing to take the zone higher.

    “We, the legislators from the zone, have a big challenge in having synergy. We are not coordinated as one family but we are working on it. We will reorganize ourselves to fight for the progress of the zone.”

  • Arms and the politicians

    Arms and the politicians

    EVERYONE Likes to gloat now and then. It is no surprise then that the quiet and usually faceless Nigerian secret service is not exempted from that self-adulatory excursion. It boasts of its exploits in the Boko Haram war, especially the arrest of the third most wanted terrorist on the United States watch list. It exultantly recounts the phone call the US president Barrack Obama placed to President Muhammadu Buhari. And it mentions how Nigeria has in some quaint little way become the mecca of the world’s secret services. Well, the Department of State Service (DSS) does in fact have a few things to celebrate, and its officers must not be denied.
    Hear the unnamed DSS source who spoke to reporters last week: “This has been a very wonderful year for DSS. We are being challenged, but we are not complaining. If there is any one group that is dangerous, it is the politicians. They are more dangerous than Boko Haram. The way 2019 is being looked at, many knives and sticks are being sharpened because of some people’s interest. A politician now throws decorum to the winds because he wants to be president or governor. He is now dishing out stories that will make this country to be burning…We want to reach 2019 in peace and not in pieces. The way they are interested in power without any plans on what to do gives cause for concern. They are turning truth into falsehood.”
    So, that was the catch. All the celebratory and prefatory words were nothing but laying the foundation for that disturbing clincher. And that clincher is that when the secret service makes far-reaching statements about politicians, Nigerians had better believe them. To the service, it is not just that politicians are arming themselves for 2019, the politicians are also misguided and incompetent, hungry for power when in fact they have no programmes. Assuming the DSS was not describing what took place when the current government assumed office in May 2015, it is worrisome in the extreme that the secret service must now delve into politics and begin assessing which politicians and parties are politicking well. If this is not preparing the grounds for repression and tyranny, perhaps on a grander scale than the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan did, it is not clear what else it is.