The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Vote wisely

  • Vote wisely and, Choose well!

    Text:”….. one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part…..” (Luke 10:42)

    In our dealings in life, we are always faced with choices of who to serve and obey (human beings or God; physical or spiritual; temporal pleasures or eternal blessings), who to hand over the governance of our states and Houses of Assemblies to for the next four years and who to vote against, where to go and how to go, what to do or what to leave undone among two or more options. It is pertinent to state that the challenge of choice is more manageable within the clime of the economically challenged than people with wealth. Problems of choice among the rich begin with the choice of what to eat among the lashings of foods and drinks in the store, kitchen and refrigerator to what to wear and shoe to put on from their walk-in wardrobes and shoe-racks to the automobile to take out from the fleet of vehicles etc.

    Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus had this problem of choice when Jesus Christ visited them at their house at Bethany and both of them were torn between taking care of Jesus Christ and sitting at His feet to listen to His word. They were caught in the web of choice between temporality and eternity. Martha chose the former. She went to the kitchen and was preparing Jesus’ meal while Mary chose the latter, she sat at Jesus’  feet to listen to the word of God. This drew the ire of Martha who apparently was so distressed and “distracted with much serving” and frustrated that her sister wasn’t helping but sat at His feet while she did all the work. Jesus then replied her that the choice that Mary made was the only needful thing while her own part was needless. He added that the choice of Mary was not only needful but it’s a part that no one could ever take from her.

    Mary of Bethany was a lady that knew the right way and pursued it without counting the cost or minding whose ox was gored (Luke 9:62). One day, Jesus Christ visited her family with the disciples at Bethany and while all were seated to eat, Mary had the option of using her costly perfume on herself and ‘wasting it’ as Judas Iscariot assumed when he said in John 12:5-6 that “why  was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein”. Mary broke the costly ornament on Jesus Christ and also used her hair to rub it on His leg. By implication, she used all that money could buy (costly ointment) and what money couldn’t buy (the hair on her head) to give honor to Jesus Christ.

    Mary voted for the better of the options and was acknowledged by Jesus Christ that she chose wisely. She voted for the manna from above, she chose Jesus Christ who is “….. the bread of life….” (John 6:35) and had the guarantee of never to hunger or thirst. Mary chose to meditate on the word of God and strained herself to do all that was written therein hence she had good success (Joshua 1:8 cf 2 Timothy 2:15). She didn’t lose her reward as Jesus Christ promised that “….Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her” (Matthew 26:13).

    By “choosing the better,” Jesus meant that those whose priority in life is Christ, the knowledge of Him, and nearness to Him have chosen what will last through eternity, such as the “gold, silver and costly stones” referred to in 1 Corinthians 3:11-12. From this incident, we learn that those who are distracted with mundane and earthly cares are building upon the foundation with “wood, hay and straw,” materials which will not stand the fire that come to us in times of testing, nor will they be remembered in eternity.

    It is incontrovertible that some people vote for things that are needless, like Martha, as against the things that are needful; a lot of people opt for things that have temporal value to ways of eternal life while others choose to be selfish as against being selfless. It is important to remind you that things of this world shall pass “… away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). Solomon in Proverbs 27:24 said that “… riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation”. Jesus Christ encourages us to “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed”. (John 6:27)

    Beloved, kindly note that what or who you vote for today and the choices you make will determine your joy and peace tomorrow. In all your choices, you must choose the things that are needful as against the ones that are needless; you must opt for the things that no one can take away from you and not the things that wouldn’t last. The food you are eating today have a limited time to function as against the meal of love you share with the less-privileged. Are you aware that the expensive clothes you are purchasing now will become rags in due course but the clothing provided for the naked will remain indelible in their hearts and there will be a record in heaven. Maybe, you need to be reminded that your love for latest electronics expires the moment that purchase has been made as newer ones will be introduced to the market almost immediately. Solomon said that “When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?” (Ecclesiastics 5:11).

    Are you serving at the tables or learning at His feet? Are you concerned and troubled about pecuniary gains and benefits for yourself and your family as against the kingdom of God and it’s righteousness? Are you living for yourself alone or using what God has blessed you with for the benefit of other people? It needs be said that the choices you make today determine how you will be rewarded here on earth and of course when this world shall be no more. As we go to the polls on Saturday, please vote for credibility and integrity – choose wisely as nothing lasts forever!

     

    Prayer: Lord, give me grace to be like Mary of Bethany and not her sister Martha. When my life ends here, make me worthy of your heavenly crown, in Jesus’ name.

  • Oyo poll: Group urges voters to vote wisely

    Two months to the governorship election in Oyo State, a socio-political group the Oyo K’ajola Group (OKG), has urged voters to vote wisely.

    The group said Oyo State will be better, if men of vision are elected.

    The group, in a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, said in the  19 years of civilian rule, the state has not witnessed monumental progress, in terms of physical development. It said: “its people have been left behind in terms of economic prosperity and well-being,” noting that that trend must be reversed.

    The group said people must look beyond sloganeering to elect a candidate “with no selfish interest or an incorporated political company within or outside the state.

    Read also: 32-year-old man accused of sodomy

    It added: “More than ever before in the 42 years history of Oyo State, the processes that will produce the next governor of the state cannot be left to the whims and caprices of politicians, so that they will not hijack the processes like they always do and keep our collective poverty in perpetuity.

    “It is time for all well-meaning people of the state to get involved by electing an individual with no selfish interest or an incorporated political company; it is high time Oyo voters say: K’ajola, k’a jolowo (together, we prosper).”

    Flaying the self-centeredness of some governors, which saw their families and few cronies amassing wealth, the group urged the electorate to take action by looking in the direction of a governorship candidate with concrete plans for wealth creation, equitable distribution, an all-inclusive programme for shared economic prosperity and creation of enabling environment for residents’ prosperity.

    The group maintained that though the high numbers of governorship candidates had made the political situation of the state complex, the voters must rise above primordial tendencies and distill the campaign promises of the candidates with a view to making a decision that would be in their interest and that of the state.

    It stressed: “The 2019 election provides the Oyo voters with an opportunity to end the personal and crinies enrichment policies of the last eight years and vote in a governor who possesses a track record of doing good and empowering the less-privileged. It is time to hand over the keys to Agodi Government House to a governor whose focus is the collective prosperity of Oyo State people. It is time to say “K’a jola , ka jo lowo !” (shared prosperity),” the statement added.

     

  • Ojudu: Delegates should vote wisely

    Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Senator Babafemi Ojudu is a governorship aspirants in Ekiti State. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain spoke with ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on the primary holding on Saturday and the party’s preparations for the July 14 poll.

    You recently concluded a tour of the 177 wards and 16 council areas to meet the delegate. How was it like?

    It was quite interesting; that was the second one that I did since I embarked on this project. I went round and we were well received, the evidence of that can be seen in the videos we have posted in the social media. People were ecstatic, I delivered a message of hope to them, I let them know who I am, who I was and where I want to be. I also preached the message of unity, that we can only win this coming election if our party is united. I told them the story of what happened in 2007 when we had thirteen aspirants and one of them won and eleven others quit the party and joined up with the PDP and since then, we have not been able to win election clearly in Ekiti State. I told them that if we fail to unite this time around, it will be very bad for us; I asked them to eschew bitterness, rancor, not to damage anybody’s image. That we all still have to come back united at the end of this primary to win election in Ekiti State. The people warmed up to it and I also let them know that they need a man of courage, somebody who has a history of struggle, somebody who can give a bloody nose to Fayose and his baby. They were happy, they received us warmly and quite a good number of them has been calling ever since, that ‘I may not have campaigned for you in the past but hearing you talk, I am rest assured that you are the right person to fly the flag of our party.

    What message do you have for delegates as the primary election beckons?

    They should elect someone who can win, they should elect someone with good record, they should elect someone who majority of voters in Ekiti State will vote for. Less than five per cent of the population of this state, are members of our party, Therefore, for them to know who they should vote for, they should go round the state, talk to civil servants, talk to teachers, talk to pensioners, talk to local government workers, talk to market women, talk to farmers, talk to the youths. Ask them, they are all tired of Fayose but who will you put forward for us to win this election? They know, people know that if you ride okada here and strike a discussion with okada riders, they will tell you, if you go to the market, they will tell you, if you call on a pensioner or a teacher, they will tell you that we don’t want this person, we don’t want that person. I have asked them and they said they love our party if we pick the right candidate. Our delegates should ask these questions even if somebody gives them millions of Naira, they should take the money but they should ensure that they vote somebody who can win. In the primary in 2014, at the national level, people collected money from some aspirants and Buhari didn’t give anybody a dime and people still voted for him because they knew Buhari could win election for them. These are the kinds of things I want to tell them, that there are some of us who have been struggling and fighting for Ekiti State and taking a lot of risks on behalf of the people of Ekiti State. They know that I am that one, they should vote for me and I won’t disappoint them, I won’t steal their money, no enquiry set up to probe me in my entire life in public office, I have not stolen any money and I have not been indicted in any way. So, they can trust me.

    What makes the Ojudu candidacy different from those of other aspirants, what makes you different from other aspirants?

    Again, it has to do with my record in public service, my engagement with the military even when I was not yet an active politician, when I was a journalist. What makes me different is my person, my character; people know that I am a courageous person, I don’t run away from battles. I take up struggles on behalf of the people and secondly, my public record is very clean, sparkling. Nobody can say Ojudu has stolen his money, nobody can say Ojudu has done any deal with anybody in the past and in the present. Another factor is where I come from; Ado-Ekiti has registered voters of 180,000 plus, the next local government to it is Ikere with 65,000. In our party primary, we have thirty three persons contesting across the state. From that population of 180,000, I am the only one contesting from that local government, there is a reason for that. Ado people want their son to be governor this time around and they are backing him with their votes. Oye local government area where Dr. Kayode Fayemi comes from, there are five aspirants there and they are not just pushovers. A former senator is there, a former member of House of Reps is there, former chieftain of PDP who actually won the primary of PDP in 2007 and it was taken from him and given to Segun Oni, is also from there. In Segun Oni’s local government, there is (Muyiwa) Coker, in Emure with less than 40,000 voters, there are two aspirants from there. In Gbonyin, with not to large population of voters, there are two aspirants from there. Same goes for Efon, there are two aspirants from there. I am the only one where we have over 180,000 voters; if Ado supports you in any election, you have won, if Ado is against you in any election, you have lost. I don’t want us to lose this forthcoming election.

    Therefore, there is a strong reason for our party members to look at the candidate from Ado, particularly a candidate who is very strong, who is not a pushover, who is brilliant, who is bold and balanced. If they do that, if I am elected and presented as their candidate from the 6th of May, it’s a walkover, it’s a forgone conclusion. Ikere, where Fayose went to pick the candidate for PDP, has 65,000 votes, Ado has 180,000 votes. From that Ikere, there are five aspirants from our party, so all of these are going to come into play. I am having a head start already from these factors I have just told you.  I, also can be trusted; I am not arrogant, I am not haughty, I relate freely with people, I move around with them, I eat with them and I am very sincere. Those are the qualities.

    What is your message to voters as the July 14 governorship election draws nearer?

    My message is that, let us vote to win; don’t let us vote because of money. Yes, people will bring money, take that money, in some cases, it is their money. So, take that money, it is the money they supposed to have used in the past to take care of them; take that money and vote according to your conscience. If you love our party, don’t vote for anybody because he is boasting that he will give delegates N1 million or N2 million because we will later ask them where they got that money from. That is for a later day but take the money first and then do what is going to give glory to our party, APC, what is going to make us win. Do what is going to give you hope; we don’t want to stay outside government again for another four years, we don’t want any remnant of Fayose again in this state after this election. Then, let them know that I have stood by this state over a long period of time, I have taken risks, I have used my resources, I have had some kind of engagement with everyone who is on the field in this state. This man (Fayose) is ruining Ado-Ekiti, he has demolished several homes and rendered thousands of people homeless. He has abused our traditional ruler, so, they are angry and they are poised to punish him by voting for their own son to become governor who will then redesign this state and make this state a good place to live in.

     

  • Ojudu: Delegates should vote wisely

    Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Senator Babafemi Ojudu is a governorship aspirants in Ekiti State. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain spoke with ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on the primary holding on Saturday and the party’s preparations for the July 14 poll.

    You recently concluded a tour of the 177 wards and 16 council areas to meet the delegate. How was it like?

    It was quite interesting; that was the second one that I did since I embarked on this project. I went round and we were well received, the evidence of that can be seen in the videos we have posted in the social media. People were ecstatic, I delivered a message of hope to them, I let them know who I am, who I was and where I want to be. I also preached the message of unity, that we can only win this coming election if our party is united. I told them the story of what happened in 2007 when we had thirteen aspirants and one of them won and eleven others quit the party and joined up with the PDP and since then, we have not been able to win election clearly in Ekiti State. I told them that if we fail to unite this time around, it will be very bad for us; I asked them to eschew bitterness, rancor, not to damage anybody’s image. That we all still have to come back united at the end of this primary to win election in Ekiti State. The people warmed up to it and I also let them know that they need a man of courage, somebody who has a history of struggle, somebody who can give a bloody nose to Fayose and his baby. They were happy, they received us warmly and quite a good number of them has been calling ever since, that ‘I may not have campaigned for you in the past but hearing you talk, I am rest assured that you are the right person to fly the flag of our party.

    What message do you have for delegates as the primary election beckons?

    They should elect someone who can win, they should elect someone with good record, they should elect someone who majority of voters in Ekiti State will vote for. Less than five per cent of the population of this state, are members of our party, Therefore, for them to know who they should vote for, they should go round the state, talk to civil servants, talk to teachers, talk to pensioners, talk to local government workers, talk to market women, talk to farmers, talk to the youths. Ask them, they are all tired of Fayose but who will you put forward for us to win this election? They know, people know that if you ride okada here and strike a discussion with okada riders, they will tell you, if you go to the market, they will tell you, if you call on a pensioner or a teacher, they will tell you that we don’t want this person, we don’t want that person. I have asked them and they said they love our party if we pick the right candidate. Our delegates should ask these questions even if somebody gives them millions of Naira, they should take the money but they should ensure that they vote somebody who can win. In the primary in 2014, at the national level, people collected money from some aspirants and Buhari didn’t give anybody a dime and people still voted for him because they knew Buhari could win election for them. These are the kinds of things I want to tell them, that there are some of us who have been struggling and fighting for Ekiti State and taking a lot of risks on behalf of the people of Ekiti State. They know that I am that one, they should vote for me and I won’t disappoint them, I won’t steal their money, no enquiry set up to probe me in my entire life in public office, I have not stolen any money and I have not been indicted in any way. So, they can trust me.

    What makes the Ojudu candidacy different from those of other aspirants, what makes you different from other aspirants?

    Again, it has to do with my record in public service, my engagement with the military even when I was not yet an active politician, when I was a journalist. What makes me different is my person, my character; people know that I am a courageous person, I don’t run away from battles. I take up struggles on behalf of the people and secondly, my public record is very clean, sparkling. Nobody can say Ojudu has stolen his money, nobody can say Ojudu has done any deal with anybody in the past and in the present. Another factor is where I come from; Ado-Ekiti has registered voters of 180,000 plus, the next local government to it is Ikere with 65,000. In our party primary, we have thirty three persons contesting across the state. From that population of 180,000, I am the only one contesting from that local government, there is a reason for that. Ado people want their son to be governor this time around and they are backing him with their votes. Oye local government area where Dr. Kayode Fayemi comes from, there are five aspirants there and they are not just pushovers. A former senator is there, a former member of House of Reps is there, former chieftain of PDP who actually won the primary of PDP in 2007 and it was taken from him and given to Segun Oni, is also from there. In Segun Oni’s local government, there is (Muyiwa) Coker, in Emure with less than 40,000 voters, there are two aspirants from there. In Gbonyin, with not to large population of voters, there are two aspirants from there. Same goes for Efon, there are two aspirants from there. I am the only one where we have over 180,000 voters; if Ado supports you in any election, you have won, if Ado is against you in any election, you have lost. I don’t want us to lose this forthcoming election.

    Therefore, there is a strong reason for our party members to look at the candidate from Ado, particularly a candidate who is very strong, who is not a pushover, who is brilliant, who is bold and balanced. If they do that, if I am elected and presented as their candidate from the 6th of May, it’s a walkover, it’s a forgone conclusion. Ikere, where Fayose went to pick the candidate for PDP, has 65,000 votes, Ado has 180,000 votes. From that Ikere, there are five aspirants from our party, so all of these are going to come into play. I am having a head start already from these factors I have just told you.  I, also can be trusted; I am not arrogant, I am not haughty, I relate freely with people, I move around with them, I eat with them and I am very sincere. Those are the qualities.

    What is your message to voters as the July 14 governorship election draws nearer?

    My message is that, let us vote to win; don’t let us vote because of money. Yes, people will bring money, take that money, in some cases, it is their money. So, take that money, it is the money they supposed to have used in the past to take care of them; take that money and vote according to your conscience. If you love our party, don’t vote for anybody because he is boasting that he will give delegates N1 million or N2 million because we will later ask them where they got that money from. That is for a later day but take the money first and then do what is going to give glory to our party, APC, what is going to make us win. Do what is going to give you hope; we don’t want to stay outside government again for another four years, we don’t want any remnant of Fayose again in this state after this election. Then, let them know that I have stood by this state over a long period of time, I have taken risks, I have used my resources, I have had some kind of engagement with everyone who is on the field in this state. This man (Fayose) is ruining Ado-Ekiti, he has demolished several homes and rendered thousands of people homeless. He has abused our traditional ruler, so, they are angry and they are poised to punish him by voting for their own son to become governor who will then redesign this state and make this state a good place to live in.

  • Vote wisely and, Choose well!

    IN our dealings in life, we are always faced with choices of who to serve and obey (human beings or God; physical or spiritual; temporal pleasures or eternal blessings), who to follow, where to go and how to go, what to do or what to leave undone among two or more options. The challenge of choice is more manageable within the clime of the economically challenged than people with wealth. Problems of choice among the rich begin with the choice of what to eat among the lashings of foods and drinks in the store, kitchen and refrigerator to what to wear and shoe to put on from their walk-in wardrobes and shoe-racks to the automobile to take out from the fleet of vehicles etc.

    Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus had this problem of choice when Jesus Christ visited them at their house at Bethany and both of them were torn between taking care of Jesus Christ and sitting at His feet to listen to His word. They were caught in the web of choice between temporality and eternity. Martha chose the former. She went to the kitchen and was preparing Jesus’ meal while Mary chose the latter, she sat under Jesus’ feet to listen to the word of God. This drew the ire of Martha who apparently was so distressed and “distracted with much serving” and frustrated that her sister wasn’t helping but sat at His feet while she did all the work. Jesus then replied her that the choice that Mary made was the only needful thing while her own part was needless. He added that the choice of Mary was not only needful but it’s a part that no one can ever take from her.

    Mary of Bethany was a lady that knew the right way and pursued it without counting the cost or minding whose ox was gored (Luke 9:62). One day, Jesus Christ visited her family with the disciples at Bethany and while all were seated to eat, Mary had the option of using her costly perfume on herself and ‘wasting it’ as Judas Iscariot assumed when he said in John 12:5-6 that “why  was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein”. Mary broke the costly ornament on Jesus Christ and also used her hair to rub it on His leg. By implication, she used all that money could buy (costly ointment) and what money couldn’t buy (the hair on her head) to give honor to Jesus Christ.

    Mary voted for the better of the options and was acknowledged by Jesus Christ that she chose wisely. She voted for the manna from above, she chose Jesus Christ who is “….. the bread of life….” (John 6:35) and had the guarantee of never to hunger or thirst. Mary chose to meditate on the word of God and strained herself to do all that was written therein hence she had good success (Joshua 1:8 cf 2 Timothy 2:15). She didn’t lose her reward as Jesus Christ promised that “….Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her” (Matthew 26:13).

    By “choosing the better,” Jesus meant that those whose priority in life is Christ, the knowledge of Him, and nearness to Him have chosen what will last through eternity, such as the “gold, silver and costly stones” referred to in 1 Corinthians 3:11-12. From this incident, we learn that those who are distracted with mundane and earthly cares are building upon the foundation with “wood, hay and straw,” materials which will not stand the fire that come to us in times of testing, nor will they be remembered in eternity.

    It is quite clear that many choose things that are needless, like Martha, as against the things that are needful; a lot of people opt for things that have temporal value to ways of eternal life while others choose to be selfish as against being selfless. It is important to remind you that things of this world shall pass “… away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). Solomon in Proverbs 27:24 said that “… riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation”. Jesus Christ encourages us to “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed”. (John 6:27)

    Beloved, kindly note that what you vote for today and the choices you make will determine your joy and peace tomorrow. In all your choices, you must choose the things that are needful as against the ones that are needless; you must opt for the things that no one can take away from you and not the things that wouldn’t last. The food you are eating today has a limited time to function as against the meal of love you share with the less-privileged. Are you aware that the expensive clothes you are purchasing now will become rags in due course but the clothing provided for the naked will remain indelible in their hearts and there will be a record in heaven. Maybe, you need to be reminded that your love for latest electronics expires the moment that purchase has been made as newer ones will be introduced to the market almost immediately. Solomon said that “When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?” (Ecclesiastics 5:11).

    Are you serving at the tables or learning at His feet? Are you concerned and troubled about pecuniary gains and benefits for yourself and your family as against the kingdom of God and it’s righteousness? Are you living for yourself alone or using what God has blessed you with for the benefit of other people? It needs be said that the choices you make today determines how you will be rewarded here on earth and of course when this world shall be no more – choose wisely as nothing lasts forever!

    Prayer: Lord, give me grace to be like Mary of Bethany and not her sister Martha. When my life ends here, make me worthy of your heavenly crown, in Jesus’ name.

     

     

     

  • Why Edo should vote wisely, by Obaseki

    Why Edo should vote wisely, by Obaseki

    The people of Edo State will decide on the future of the state on Saturday. They have two options; either to vote for Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the continuity of progress or endorse the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Group Polical Editor EMMANUEL OLADESUwrites on the succession battle in the Southsouth state.

    Who should succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole among the 14 candidates eyeing the Edo State Government House? This is the question on the lips of observers as the people prepare for the Saturday poll. The answer to the puzzle is not elusive. To resolve the puzzle, three factors are important; what has happened in the past, what is happening now and what the people expect in the future.

    Eyes are on two parties; the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC wants to retain power in the post-Oshiomhole era. Its candidate, Godwin Obaseki, is perceived as a technocrat without any baggage. The PDP is itching to bounce back, following its failed attempts on three occasions. Although the governorship poll was rigged in its favour in 2007, the stolen mandate was retrieved at the Court of Appeal. In 2012, the PDP’s bid also collapsed like a pack of cards. Now, its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is being reminded of his link with the previous futile attempt at enthroning good governance in the state.

    In 1999, Governor Lucky Igbinedion, who rode on the back of the godfathers to power, had the opportunity to write his name in gold. Many believed that he carelessly allowed the chance to slip away. The state was unlucky under him. Yet, he secured a second term mandate in 2003, based on the crude joke that he deserved to repeat the class, following his failure in a decisive examination.

    In 2007, the PDP deployed its federal might and succeeded in installing Prof. Oseheimen Osunbor, as governor. But, the euphoria of victory withered immediately Oshiomhole assumed the reins. Literarily, Edo was in ruins. There were high expectations. The governor had no alternative than to act fast. The veteran labour leader hit the ground running. His immediate task was to liberate the distressed state from the clutch of the privileged few who presided over a colony of marauders.

    Relief came to Edo, barely six months after. The governor was conscious of his historic responsibility. He knew he was on a rescue mission. Oshiomhole restored public confidence in government through his giant strides. In his bid to fight the infrastructure battle, the state became a huge construction site. Reflecting on this at a rally in Auchi Kingdom, he said: “The PDP said roads cannot be constructed in some local governments because of mountains and rivers. Our government has changed that orientation and belief by connecting the neglected areas with good and durable roads.”

    Other sectors were also given a face-lift. The government pumped money into the education sector for school rehabilitation. Hospitals were adequately equipped with personnel and facilities. The festival of looting ceased, following the enthronement of a government of transparency and accountability. It was evident that Oshiomhole was driven by the progressive mission, a reformist agenda and the increasing demand for dividends of democracy by the far-flung people. His score card during his first term motivated the electorate to give him a second term.

    However, the challenges of the first term have paled into insignificance in the face of dwindling resources in the second term. Despite the shrinking financial base, development projects have not been suspended in Edo State. The state has been rated by development experts as a promising entity on a steady progress. While states, including oil rich-Delta and Bayelsa, and Oyo are owing salaries, Edo has been paying workers promptly. The meager resources are being utilised by the comrade-governor, thereby insulating the state from the adverse effects of economic recession.

    The credit for the sound economic judgment and prudent management goes to Obaseki, financial expert and Leader of the Edo Economic Team, who has been instrumental to critical policy decisions and implementation under the Oshiomhole administration in the last seven years.

    As the decision time beckons, there are some contending issues to be resolved. Two forces are battling for the soul of Edo. At loggerheads are those perceived as agents of progress and agents of retrogression fighting hard to reject the label of treasury looters. APC National Chairman Chie John Odigie-Oyegun, who said the party represented progress, stressed that it is risky to allow the PDP to take the state back to the dark period.

    It is an understatement. According to observers, the PDP has failed to manage prosperity while in power. The state regressed during the eight years, in spite of the huge resources at the disposal of government and bundle of opportunities. The vision of the founding fathers of Edo was eroded by the personalisation of power, monopolisation of resources and reduction of governance to money sharing. Many indigenes are still enraged by the poor asset management, which manifested in the unpopular policy of selling government property in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) to prominent families. They are angry that thoughts on future investment took the back seat because the former administration lacked oresight.

    In anguish, the people ask questions about the mishandling of the commonwealth: where are the Edo assets? Bendel Insurance assets were said to be held in trust for the state. But, where are the following: a six-storey building at Tinubu Square, a four-storey building and warehouse at Ijora, Lagos, landed property along Upper Mission Road, a large parcel of land on Benin-Auchi Road and the property on Sapele Road? What has happened to its shares in the defunct NNB, the blocks of four flats on Denis Osadebey Road, Benin, the old Driving Testing Ground, the hotel at the GRA, Benin, and plots of land on Mission Road, James Watts Road, and Aideyan Avenue, Benin?

    On the other hand, Oshiomhole has received accolades for a job well done. Two-time governor of the state Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia, who had rendered a meritorious service in the past, said the governor has laid a good foundation for the future. Recently, Prince Akenzua also observed that Oshiomhole will leave the State House better than he met it. Urging the people to vote wisely, he said the pedigree of the candidates should be taken into consideration.

    There are other questions staring voters in the face: can the PDP, which could not manage prosperity and usher in an era of development, manage adversity now that the state, and indeed, the nation are being confronted with stark economic realities? Should bad managers and those described by observers as treasury looters be allowed to regain power? If people who diverted arms money at the centre, thereby undermining the anti-terror war, are allowed to come back, what will they do if they have access to Edo treasury?

    According to observers, the choice of Edo people will determine their future. The two leading candidates have submitted themselves for scrutiny. Ize-Iyamu, a lawyer, cleric and an experienced politician, was the Chief of Staff and Secretary to Government under Igbinedion. Odigie-Oyegun said that administration brought disaster to Edo.  “Now that times are hard, is that kind of person anybody would want to bring back to manage the affairs of the state? The answer is clearly no,” he added.

    Obaseki, a financial surgeon, is perceived as the brain box of the Oshiomhole administration. His knowledge of the economy and managerial acumen are not in doubt. Odigie-Oyegun, who also put this into perspective, said: “You have a Godwin Obaseki, who has been at the heart of the management of the economy of this state throughout this hard time.  What kind of person do we need to lead the state through this hard time? The person is Obaseki,  who has been very successful in the private sector before coming to Edo State to help the government.”

    The APC flag bearer has urged voters to beam a searchlight on Ize-Iyamu’s  record. He said, saying that he is unfit to rule the state. He said: “He doesn’t have a fraction of the experience that I have. In terms of his personal development, I don’t think he is at par with the type of experience I have. But, even in governance, if you compare both of us, he had the opportunity of spending much time and wielding much influence in the government of Lucky Igbinedion.

    “We are all living witnesses to the disaster they brought to the people of Edo State. He was the engine that drove the Igbinedion administration and they drove us into a ditch. I, on the other hand, am the engine that has driven this current administration. And see where we are. So, in terms of comparism, we are poles apart. We will test it out on September 10. From what I know, I don’t think they have anything to offer us. We have tested them before and we regretted ever doing that and we will not repeat the mistake.”

    But, Ize-Iyamu has replied the missiles. He absolved himself of the mistake of the PDP government, saying that he was not in charge. He alleged that Oshiomhole has misruled Edo by cutting corners through contract inflation. He promised to run the state according to the wishes of the people, if elected.

  • Vote wisely, activist urges Ondo people

    Vote wisely, activist urges Ondo people

    Lagos lawyer Yemi Omodele has advised the people of Ondo State to resist any attempt by the out-going governor , Dr. Segun Mimiko, to impose a candidate on them during the November governorship election.

    Omodele advised the people to vote for a candidate who will  serve  them and make good use of the resources to correct what he described as the “anormalies that have bedeviled the state in the last eight years”.

    He  told reporters in Lagos that those who have been imposing candidates on the people do so for selfish reasons.

    The lawyer, who is also an indigene of the state, said: “the people of the state are hereby advised to and persuaded to vote wisely and vote for a credible candidate. They should avoid voting based on successor  or incumbency but vote on who has plans and focus for the state now and in the nearest future. They should shun politicians with sugar coated mouths and those who make  promises that cannot be fulfilled. Those who share rice, salt, money and the likes primarily to get their votes should be jettisoned.

    “A candidate who is willingly and ready to render selfless services for the state should be the one to be elected.”

    The activist accused the present administration of the state of having failed the people pointing out that the government has not done enough to improve their lot in terms of performances.

    “Poverty keeps on growing in the state just as the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. Workers salaries are not paid as at when due while the debt profile continue to grow in spite that the state has resources to make it shine above others.”

    Omodele accused Mimiko of not doing enough in the area of education and implementing segregation education policy to the neglect of some communities.

     

  • We must vote wisely

    These are changing times. Different challenges are throwing societies about and people are exploring ways they could bring about change in all facets of human endeavour. While some countries have domineering worldview, such as United States (U.S.), there are others that are focus on how they could take advantage of technological development to improve economy and social life of their people. Some Asian tigers, such as Japan and South Korea are in this category.

    There are nations whose aim is seeking ways to improve people’s standard because growth indices suggest that their people are grossly impoverished. A developing country like Nigeria falls in this category.

    The Nigerian example is particularly worrisome; we wake up daily to one sad development about our national life. If it is not the case of suicide bombing killing scores of people, then it is most probably the case of pipeline vandalism and armed robbery. Recently, we have had to battle with falling oil prices, just as our currency is on a free fall. Energy independence remains a challenge facing us daily. And frequently, scarcity of fuel.

    Gradually, we are adding another woe to the list of problem we face. It is politics. All of a sudden, politicians have just realized thousands of able youths willing to work cannot find paid employment. Politicians are promising they would perform magic when they are elected. They said they would create employment for the teeming children of the poor they have neglected so far. They are now willing to offer palliative measures like buying the things they need for them pending when they finally assume office to “do more”.

    Yes politicians have suddenly woken up to their responsibilities and realised that things could indeed be better than the way they are now.

    Question is, beyond the quest for power, what else could have been the new-found interest the elite have for the poor? This question is necessitated by the fact that, quite a large number of those seeking political offices had tasted power at various levels and one wonders if these challenges were absent during those periods.

    There is no gainsaying the fact that one of the problems we face has been leadership. People seek elective positions without having blueprint on how they would tackle challenges the country is engulfed in. At the end of the day, the general growth and development of the society they serve become worse than it was before they were sworn into office.

    Thus, the general elections, which begin on Saturday, offer people another opportunity to ask the would-be leaders their workable blueprint to take us out of the current quagmire. Quite fair a number of electorate is ready to support candidates with good programmes.

    Sadly, the present thinking in Nigeria has placed sentiment above credibility, because some tend to go with candidates from their own geopolitical flank, thus making mess of national interest.

    Quite a large number of Nigerians are interested in one candidate or the other not because of his/her plans when he/she assumes office but because they are either culturally, religiously or geographically related to the person and most people see that as a yardstick for choosing candidates.

    The effect of this is that, people without clear-cut plans assume positions of authority. And the consequences of this are severe. The time is ripe for us to put sentiments aside and vet policies and programmes of candidates vying for public positions.

    A large number of Nigerians are educated enough to know what they want and look for such qualities in candidates

    Beyond political propaganda, Nigerians, especially the youth, who constitute a large percentage of the voting population, must dig deep into the profiles of candidates and see who have the best plans to change our nation’s fortunes for good.

    As a result of the poor policies of successive administrations and a high rate of corruption and a lack of maintenance culture, the future of the nation has been compromised. Hence, it is high time the youth made and supported a good cause in ensuring good people govern the nation.

    Things have changed and so have youths. Youths have become wiser to know what is good for them just as politicians have become better at politicking. Youths must not be swayed by politicians’ tricks but must differentiate between those with genuine interest and passion for the Nigeria from those who just have lust for power.

    The hope of the next generation lies in our hands and our lives should be a barometer through which our children can gauge the possibility of better life in the future. We must show good judgment in selecting today’s leaders so that a rewarding future can be guaranteed for the generation coming after us.

    Let us vote according to our conscience and work towards a better country. A better Nigeria is our right to have and that we must ensure that by voting wisely.

     

    Philip recently graduated from DELSU

  • Vote wisely, APC candidate urged

    Vote wisely, APC candidate urged

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in Mushin Local Government, Lagos State, Hon Semiu Ishola Karaole (aka KAMS), has urged Nigerians to vote wisely during Saturday’s general elections.

    He said APC and its candidates must be voted for based on their achievements.

    Karaole, who spoke at his Mushin campaign office, said that Nigerians should be careful, urging them to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claiming that its members had been lying and fooling the people since 1999. He accused the PDP of failing Nigerians in the provision of security, education, infrastructure, health and agriculture, among others.

    He said APC had fulfilled its promises in several ways and was ready to take democracy to the citizens’ door steps.

    He said the choices in the coming general elections must be based on whether the promises made by the opposition party members since their election were fulfilled.

    Karaole said democracy is a change of promises and a social contract which must be based on trust. Noting that a candidate that fulfils his promises in the first tenure will not stress much before being re-elected, he said a new candidate that run his campaign on promises, while an incumbent should run on his records.

     

  • Obasanjo: nothing against Jonathan but vote wisely

    Obasanjo: nothing against Jonathan but vote wisely

    Ex-President accuses govt of wasting oil money

    Nigeria does not deserve the position it has found itself today,” former President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday.

    He urged Nigerians to allow sound judgement of candidates’ “track records” determine how they cast their votes in the February 14 and 28 general elections.

    The presidential election is slated for February 14. President Goodluck Jonathan is facing a huge challenge from Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Obasanjo is unhappy that Nigeria is buffeted by crippling “poverty,  sheer impunity, economic downturn and insecurity”.

    Leaders elected to make things better for the people but chose to do otherwise would “give account to God”, he said in an emotional voice.

    To him, the solution to Nigeria’s problems is leadership. That the country can only change for better or experience a worse fate based on the calibre of the person at the top, he said.

    The former President, who spoke in Yoruba, occasionally alternating it with English, was hosting at his mansion on the Presidential HillTop Estate, Abeokuta Southwest women leaders, including the Iyaloja – General of Nigeria, Chief Folashade Tinubu – Ojo.

    The election is an avenue for Nigerians to bring about the “change” the country deserves, Obasanjo said.

    The women leaders, including the National President (Women Wing), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr Oyin Sowoolu, were led to Obasanjo’s home by the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson.

    They had, through their leader, Mrs. Lawson, expressed grave concern over the growing insecurity in the land, poverty, the need for credible polls, agriculture as panacea to unemployment as well as the empowerment of women.

    The former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he was still in the party, but elected to remain less active following events in PDP which he can neither defend before man nor God. He did not give details of such events.

    Drawing an analogy from the account of King Saul of the biblical Israel as recorded in the Bible, Obasanjo said God, who sent Prophet Samuel to anoint him (Saul) King over Israel, also sent Samuel later to anoint David King in place of Saul, following his rejection by God.

    He said he harboured no grudges against President Goodluck Jonathan and believed same applies to the President but he (Obasanjo) would remain resolute in his fight against anybody who does not want to do what is right and beneficial to the country and the citizenry.

    Obsanjo said: “ I’m still in PDP but not active because of what I saw that I can’t defend before man and God. That is why I refrained from PDP a bit; the attitude and characters that I have seen, I don’t think I can defend it before man and God, but that’ll be for a few period.

    “I explain most of these things in my new book, but we must all pray that God should change our condition for better because Nigeria doesn’t deserve the position it found itself today. That is what you are saying.

    “Our nation is plagued with insecurity, economic downturn, increase in poverty, corruption and impunity in doing things. People do things because no man can do anything to them, but God’ll catch them.

    “I emphasise that whatever is good for Nigeria is what I’m ready to defend with my life. Whoever, I emphasise, whoever says he would not do anything good to Nigeria, even if he says he’s ready to go ‘koko below’, I’m ready to square it up with such a person.

    “I say again, whoever that person may be, I want you to get that correctly. If this country is going to change for the better, it would start from the top and if it’s going to be otherwise, it would start from the top, too,” Obasanjo said.

    He went on: “I have served this country as a soldier and as a civilian leader. I cannot just keep quiet when things are not well in the nation.

    “Good governance comes from voting, from selection of leaders. It is now left to you to decide who you cast your vote for because if you throw away your votes and tomorrow you are saying good governance, once you throw away your votes you have lost out.”

    The former president event philosophical. He said: “I know that God did not create Nigeria not to be rich or great. Is it that the people he created in Nigeria are not intelligent enough? Or is it that they don’t know their rights? Our problems in Nigeria, let’s look at the foundation of our leadership.

    “In the military profession I know very well, the military, what we normally say is that there are no bad soldiers but bad officers. If you see a situation where the soldiers are not doing well, we need to examine the officers in charge. So it is in the family, the community, the town and the country.”

    He spoke about reactions to the news that he called the meeting.

    “This year is an election year and I have no fears over the forthcoming elections. I was reading it in one paper today where they said they became jittery when they heard you were coming to visit me; is it that Jonathan and I are not in good terms? There is nothing of such,” Obasanjo said, adding: “I have no grudges against Jonathan and I think Jonathan equally has no grudges against me. I’m not quarelling with Jonathan but all I know is that whatever is good for Nigeria, that I’m ready to die for.

    “I have had some little experience about this country. I was a military head of state and I was also a civilian president; so what is left? So, if I talk, I know what I’m saying. Whoever wants should listen to me and whoever feels otherwise, may turn a deaf ear.

    “But when I’m talking, I’m talking with my understanding and intellect. I’m drawing from my experience and from what I’ve learnt with others and from other countries and fellow eminent citizens of the world that I relate with.

    “Good governance comes from voting, from selection of leaders. It is now left to you to decide who you cast your vote for because if you throw away your votes and tomorrow you are saying good governance, once you throw away your votes you have lost out.

    “That is one. The second leg is that you find out the track records of achievements of those you want to vote for. What have they achieved in the past and not what they have said.

    “If our economy is not good, it would affect those of you in the market everywhere. It takes us back to what we said earlier that if the head is rotten, it will affect the entire body because if there is no good governance, it would affect the economy.

    “Our economy should not have been this bad. When I was leaving office about eight years ago, I left a very huge reserve after we had paid all our debts. Almost 25billion dollars we kept in what they called excess crude. The excess from the budget we were saving as reserve for the rainy days.

    “When we left in May 2007, the reserve was said to have been raised to 35billion dollars. But today, that reserve has been depleted. The reserve we left when we finished paying all our debts, our debt that was about 40billion dollars, that is including debt forgiveness, the remaining debt was not more than 3billion dollars.

    “Our reserve after we had paid off this debt was about 45billion dollars. As I said, they continued till the end of 2007. I heard that the reserve increased to almost 67billion dollars before the end of that year. Our reserve now, I learnt, is left with around only 30billion dollars.

    “That is why the Naira has been falling against the dollar.

    What would now happen? I learnt if you want to buy a dollar now, it’s about N192 or N195. What it means is this, what you have been buying at N150 to a dollar, now you need N192 or N195 to buy it. That is the real situation. Is there any remedy? There is but it does not come overnight because it means we have to give up all the bad things we have been doing.”

    Obasanjo agreed that falling prices have hit the economy badly, but he did not believe the situation could not have been tackled. He said: “Truly, the price of crude has fallen, but anyone who is wise enough should know that since we depend on just one resource and since we have no control over its pricing, we should be planning for this type of situation and the way out of it. Our inability to have reserve has brought us into this economic quagmire.”