President Muhammadu Buhari was the least financially endowed among the contestants for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primaries in December 2014. He was also the least amenable in terms of personal propensity to spend money to woo or buy delegates. However, Buhari won the primaries because there was a consensus on the part of men of goodwill in the party to field a clean candidate with a good leadership acumen not given to corrupt enrichment and one who did not soil his hand as a former military ruler.
It is also noteworthy that the APC rode to power at the general elections on the strength of bringing change to the polity: specifically, to rid Nigeria of corruption and impunity. President Buhari no doubt has been making efforts in this regard, but he is yet to adopt an all-inclusive approach in a manner that party members across other tiers of government will key into his philosophy. An enduring change can only be achieved through collective responsibility and it must be deliberate. In essence, the governors and local government chairmen must key into the APC Change to achieve intended goals.
The emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu, as the candidate of APC for the November 21, 2015 governorship election, is still generating mixed feelings within and outside Kogi State. The reason is not far-fetched; Audu is still under the trial of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of corruption. Although he is qualified to contest the election since there is no court conviction hanging on his neck, however, the moral side of Buhari’s anti-corruption posture indeed raises posers: Is Abubakar Audu the best APC can offer in Kogi? Can APC come to equity on anti-corruption by fielding candidates under corruption trial?
Fast forward to Bayelsa State where there is every possibility that a similar situation is more likely to present itself, except men of goodwill intervene as in the case of Buhari. Political pundits will have no problem staking it that there was no way Buhari could have defeated Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso or Atiku Abubakar if the the Kogi scenario had applied to the APC Presidential Primaries. It was a deliberate intervention for Buhari to pick the ticket. Consequently, any attempt to make Bayelsa to go the way of Kogi is likely going to finally alter the anti-corruption image of the President and the APC.
If APC truly wants positive change in Nigeria, it must be deliberate and this surely goes beyond free and fair Primaries. As it is, no remedy with Kogi, as the contest is now between APC candidate and the incumbent governor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The election has been largely dubbed by political commentators as a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea-not encouraging by all standards. In Bayelsa too, the countryman governor is already classified by some political analysts in similar negative rating. It remains to be seen if APC will get it right with its own candidate.
We have to get serious with the fight against corruption. Of a fact, we must understand that APC cannot make any impactful change and fight corruption without having governors that will inspire transparency and accountability. Buhari cannot make any meaningful change without his party supporting his crusade at the state level. We must also realize that Nigeria has not been able to overcome some of it challenges because States and Local governments are doing little or nothing to strengthen good governance.
As for Bayelsa, I will like to urge all APC stakeholders across the country to make the change a deliberate and positive one. As a matter of sincerity, I have found just one man who will not even pay anyone to write for him. Yes, I want APC to pitch it tent with the submission made by a writer, Sufuyan Ojeifo, on the choice of Emmanuel Otiotio, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Japan (1999-2003). After reading Ojeifo’s treatise on Otiotio’s aspiration, I went to enquire more about him from some Bayelsans. The verdict was remarkable- if the APC can truly support Otiotio, he will not only send the countryman to the countryside, he will indeed bring good governance to the state.
Let me reproduce a few lines from Ojeifo: “But the aspirant who distinguished himself the most in the manner he came to submit his form was former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Japan, Emmanuel Oseimiegha Otiotio. No hired or rented crowd. He was driven into the party secretariat in two vehicles: a Peugeot 406 in which he and his wife rode and a Toyota Sienna Sedan that conveyed his children driven by his eldest daughter.
“For, in Otiotio, a gentleman that I know very well, an uncompromising man of faith, Bayelsa people will find a compass to God. Under his watch, Bayelsa will be ruled with a palpable and tangible fear of God. His words will be his bonds because he believes in the power of the spoken words. He is therefore not a frivolous talker.”
I think President Buhari has in Otiotio, an incorruptible man and someone of his Spartan nature, one who can support his vision and lead APC anti-corruption and good governance revolution in the South-South, as an alternative to the PDP. This is a serious intervention that is needed on September 22, 2015 as the APC selects its governorship candidate in Bayelsa.
Mr Ainofenokhai, a political analyst, sent this piece from Benin City. [myad]
United States of America based Nurse cum singer, Chidiebere Nwosu aka Mandedes has revealed that come rain or shine, he would never cease to identify with his home country Nigeria when it comes to music.
Mandedes who spoke to newsmen ahead of the release of his new single, said home is always the best place and the fact that Nigerians and Africans in the Diaspora are enjoying Afro Pop means he can still make something out of it, irrespective of his location.
“This is music and it’s a global language. It doesn’t matter where it is done and how it is done, people will always be moved by it. I want to sing in Igbo language especially because I feel comfortable with it. For God’s sake I’m known around here as Nwa Mazi and I have to live up to that.
“People believe in me and I owe them what they deserve, which is good music. These are just part of the reasons I can just switch genre.” He said.
The new single titled ‘Shake Ogodo’ according the Arondizuogu, Imo State born singer will be going online on Friday, September 18, 2015 and he described the single as another side of what he can do very well.
“It’s a dance-hall track with swinging Igbo language rhythm and I’m so sure my fans around the world willenjoy it. It will surely get you dancing from beginning to end and it represents every single thing I can do in music” He added.
Mandedes urged his fans to mark the date which is just few days ahead and do everything possible t make the release a worthy one. [myad]
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has announced the plan to commit the sum of $98 million ( about N19.5 billiob) to Bilingual Education Project in nine Nigerian states.
The President of the group, Ahmad Ali, made the disclosure yeterday, when he led other executives of the bank to host the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Kano emir is in Saudi Arabia as Nigeria’s Amirul hajj where he and his committee are paying for their expenses.
The IDB boss listed the states that would benefit from the investment to include Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Osun states.
“This project was successful in Niger and Chad republics where the Madrasa and Quranic schools were worked upon in such a way that it facilitated the graduates of the schools to enrol in public schools.
“The establishment of this program will help Nigeria overcome some of its education challenges like illiteracy and also to enable those that learned in the Madrasa to be integrated into public schools,” he said.
He said that the board of the bank has approved the investment and is awaiting the final approval from Nigerian authorities.,
The acting country manager, Sierra Leone IDB Mamoud Kamara, said the BEP has been approved in nine countries – Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Djibouti and Somalia – while seven others – Guinea, Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Cameroun and Comoros – have formalized the requests.
He lamented that one in six out-of-school children worldwide are in Nigeria.
Mr. Kamara, who is also the Manager, West Africa Region Country Programs of the IDB, said the project would lead to the building of 30 modern schools with 720 classrooms, 30 ICT labs, training of 1800 teachers and provision of 1.7 million textbooks among others.
Responding, Mr. Sanusi said he would take the project as a personal responsibility and work towards getting the necessary approvals and actualization in the interest of Nigeria.
He also urged the IDB to consider investing in solar energy in Nigeria, saying the abundance of sunlight in the country makes it a veritable alternative source of power. [myad]
Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has released a new video saying the government’s claim that the sect would be defeated in three months is not possible and that his members were not in disarray as the Nigeria military have been saying.
In a 25-minute recording in Hausa and Arabic, Shekau said:“They lied that they have confiscated our arms, that we have been chased out of our territories, that we are in disarray’.
‘’We are alive, I am alive, this is my voice, more audible than it was before. This is Shekau. Buhari is a liar and has deceived you. The army spokesman is also lying. He and his footsoldiers always run helter-skelter whenever we come face to face with them…’’
“Buhari, you once claimed that you will crush us in three months. How can you crush us?” he asked.
While affirming his loyalty to the Islamic State, Shekau stated that he was ‘’loyal and subservient’ to the group’s leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. [myad]
The Matriarch of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu, popularly called H. I. D, is dead. She died today just a few weeks to her 100th birthday. This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari condoled with the children, grand children and great grand children of the woman whose husband, Chief Awo, described as “Jewel of Inestimable Value.” Reports had it that she died shortly after a meeting with her family members today and that she has been part of the meeting for the planning of her 100th birthday. Mrs. HID Awolowo was born in Ikenne, Ogun State on November 25, 1915, and was the grand mother to Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. She celebrated her 99th birthday on November 25, 2014 amidst pomp and glee with ex-president Goodluck Jonathan in attendance. A successful businesswoman and astute politician, she was the First Lady of the old Western Region. She played an active role in the politics of Western Nigeria. She stood in for her husband in the alliance formed between the NCNC and the AG, called the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), while he was tried and jailed. The plans were that she would contest the elections, and if she won, would step down for her husband in a by-election. To fulfil his dream of becoming president in the Second Republic, she toured the length and breadth of the country with her husband campaigning. She also coordinated the women’s wing of the party and was always present at all party caucuses. A successful businesswoman, she became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) in 1957. She was the first to import lace materials and other textiles into Nigeria.
In a condolence message, President Buhari said that Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo will be long remembered and celebrated as the famous spouse and pillar of strength of the late nationalist, political leader and sage. President Buhari believes that Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo will always be honoured too for the indelible legacy of very significant, behind-the-scene contributions to communal, state, regional and national development which she has left behind. The President prayed to God to comfort Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo’s family, relatives, friends, associates and admirers, and grant them the fortitude to bear her irreparable loss. He also prayed that God will receive the late matriarch’s worthy soul and grant her eternal rest from her long, earthly service to her renowned spouse, family, community and country. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for what he called the laudable role he played in the resolution of the recent political crisis that left Guinea-Bissau without a government for 37 days. He also commended President Jose Mario Vaz and the people of Guinea-Bissau for the peaceful resolution of the crisis. Obasanjo was President Buhari’s Special Envoy and was also adopted by ECOWAS as the regional body’s Special Envoy on the political dispute in Guinea-Bissau. A statement by special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina quoted Buhari as thanking Obasanjo for a job well done and commended the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for its steadfast commitment to peace, security and progress in Guinea-Bissau and the entire West African region. President Buhari praised President Jose Mario Vaz for accepting the solution to the recent political crisis, proffered by Chief Obasanjo and congratulated Mr. Carlos Correia on his emergence as the new Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau. He urged President Vaz and Prime Minister Correia to work together harmoniously to move the country forward as envisaged by authors of the Guinea-Bissau constitution that split the executive arm of government into the Presidency and the Premiership. President Buhari implored all stakeholders in the development and progress of Guinea-Bissau to desist from any further actions that can jeopardize the stability of the country and its democratic future. [myad]
The Nigeria Police has given assurance that its officers would arrest the Senate President as directed by the law before Monday to face charges of corruption and false declaration of assets.
The Public Relation Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Mrs. Olabisi Kolawole, said in an interview that the Police will arrest and produce the Senate President in court on Monday.
“We are going to promptly arrest the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and produce him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday. Since it is a bench warrant issued by a competent court, the order will be carried out without delay. We don’t want to pre-empt anything.”
The Code of Conduct Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Friday, issued a bench warrant for Bukola Saraki’s arrest, for failing to appear in court over his ongoing trial for alleged false declaration of his assets.
Prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant by the CCT, Saraki had approached a High Court which gave ruling faulting the process of his planned arraignment at the of Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). [myad]
Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Abubakar Audu has described the Senator representing Kogi Central, Alhaji Mohammed Salami Ohiare as having outlived his political usefulness.
According to Prince Audu, Senator Ohiare has no reason to complain, along with other politicians, about the choice of Honourable James Abiodun Faleke as his running mates in the November governorship election under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting to Ohiare’s earlier statement condemning him, Prince Audu’s media aide, Suleiman Abdulmalik said the accusations by Senator Ohiare and his group are baseless and lacked substance.
He said that politician like Senator Ohiare has outlived his usefulness in the state politics, adding that majority of the defeated aspirants are working tireless for the success of the party whereas some of them were blinded by their naked ambition.
“So they should leave Audu out of their political predicament.”
The statement said that politics is all about dialogue and consultation and that, Prince Audu’s door is wide open to all stakeholders in the state in the interest of the party.
On the defection of Alhaji Yahaya Bello to Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Audu said that such move would not affect the chances of APC.
“Politics is all about grass root and that is where Prince Audu’s strength lies, Bello is just a rabble rouser seeking for attention, Audu defeated him in primary and he will still defeat him again at the general election” he said. [myad]
Dubai has announced the death of a 33-year old Prince, Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Rashid is the son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
He died in morning of today, Saturday, of heart attack.
Meanwhile, the Court of the Ruler of Dubai has declared three days of mourning in Dubai from today during which flags will be at half-mast at government departments and institutions.
State news agency, Wam, reports that President Sheikh Khalifa expressed his heartfelt condolences and solace to Sheikh Mohammed.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, also mourned the death of Sheikh Rashid and expressed condolences to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Al Maktoum family.
Prayers were scheduled for the evening of today after which the remains of the deceased will be buried in Umm Harir cemetery in Bur Dubai. [myad]
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has asked people living in structures constructed on waterways and river banks to vacate them immediately to prevent loss of lives and properties that may arise from flooding.
The Governor, who gave the directive when he visited some flooded areas in Ikere-Ekiti warned that his government would not hesitate to resort to pulling down any structure that is obstructing the free flow of water.
The governor, who was accompanied on the assessment visit by state officials including the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Bisi Kolawole, expressed displeasure with the attitude of some residents to environmental issues.
He said that despite the proactive steps taken by the government by dredging rivers, streams and water ways across major towns early this year, some people still deliberately blocked drains with refuse.
“We have spent so much money this year on the dredging of rivers and streams in major towns in the state. In fact, we covered about 50 kilometres before the heavy rains set in.
“But unfortunately, some people are still recalcitrant and would not stop dumping refuse in unauthorised places. That must stop. We are playing our own role as a government and the people must also play their roles.
“We are concerned about the development of our state and the welfare of our people. Those living close to river banks should evacuate immediately. We cannot continue to sustain disobedience in the land.
“All houses and structures on water ways will be removed. You have to save your own lives and we won’t fold our arms and allow lives and properties be lost needlessly.”
The governor appealed to the people to cooperate with the government for it to help them. [myad]
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In Bayelsa And Kogi, APC’s Positive Change Must Be Deliberate, By John Ainofenokhai
President Muhammadu Buhari was the least financially endowed among the contestants for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primaries in December 2014. He was also the least amenable in terms of personal propensity to spend money to woo or buy delegates. However, Buhari won the primaries because there was a consensus on the part of men of goodwill in the party to field a clean candidate with a good leadership acumen not given to corrupt enrichment and one who did not soil his hand as a former military ruler.
It is also noteworthy that the APC rode to power at the general elections on the strength of bringing change to the polity: specifically, to rid Nigeria of corruption and impunity. President Buhari no doubt has been making efforts in this regard, but he is yet to adopt an all-inclusive approach in a manner that party members across other tiers of government will key into his philosophy. An enduring change can only be achieved through collective responsibility and it must be deliberate. In essence, the governors and local government chairmen must key into the APC Change to achieve intended goals.
The emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu, as the candidate of APC for the November 21, 2015 governorship election, is still generating mixed feelings within and outside Kogi State. The reason is not far-fetched; Audu is still under the trial of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of corruption. Although he is qualified to contest the election since there is no court conviction hanging on his neck, however, the moral side of Buhari’s anti-corruption posture indeed raises posers: Is Abubakar Audu the best APC can offer in Kogi? Can APC come to equity on anti-corruption by fielding candidates under corruption trial?
Fast forward to Bayelsa State where there is every possibility that a similar situation is more likely to present itself, except men of goodwill intervene as in the case of Buhari. Political pundits will have no problem staking it that there was no way Buhari could have defeated Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso or Atiku Abubakar if the the Kogi scenario had applied to the APC Presidential Primaries. It was a deliberate intervention for Buhari to pick the ticket. Consequently, any attempt to make Bayelsa to go the way of Kogi is likely going to finally alter the anti-corruption image of the President and the APC.
If APC truly wants positive change in Nigeria, it must be deliberate and this surely goes beyond free and fair Primaries. As it is, no remedy with Kogi, as the contest is now between APC candidate and the incumbent governor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The election has been largely dubbed by political commentators as a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea-not encouraging by all standards. In Bayelsa too, the countryman governor is already classified by some political analysts in similar negative rating. It remains to be seen if APC will get it right with its own candidate.
We have to get serious with the fight against corruption. Of a fact, we must understand that APC cannot make any impactful change and fight corruption without having governors that will inspire transparency and accountability. Buhari cannot make any meaningful change without his party supporting his crusade at the state level. We must also realize that Nigeria has not been able to overcome some of it challenges because States and Local governments are doing little or nothing to strengthen good governance.
As for Bayelsa, I will like to urge all APC stakeholders across the country to make the change a deliberate and positive one. As a matter of sincerity, I have found just one man who will not even pay anyone to write for him. Yes, I want APC to pitch it tent with the submission made by a writer, Sufuyan Ojeifo, on the choice of Emmanuel Otiotio, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Japan (1999-2003). After reading Ojeifo’s treatise on Otiotio’s aspiration, I went to enquire more about him from some Bayelsans. The verdict was remarkable- if the APC can truly support Otiotio, he will not only send the countryman to the countryside, he will indeed bring good governance to the state.
Let me reproduce a few lines from Ojeifo: “But the aspirant who distinguished himself the most in the manner he came to submit his form was former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Japan, Emmanuel Oseimiegha Otiotio. No hired or rented crowd. He was driven into the party secretariat in two vehicles: a Peugeot 406 in which he and his wife rode and a Toyota Sienna Sedan that conveyed his children driven by his eldest daughter.
“For, in Otiotio, a gentleman that I know very well, an uncompromising man of faith, Bayelsa people will find a compass to God. Under his watch, Bayelsa will be ruled with a palpable and tangible fear of God. His words will be his bonds because he believes in the power of the spoken words. He is therefore not a frivolous talker.”
I think President Buhari has in Otiotio, an incorruptible man and someone of his Spartan nature, one who can support his vision and lead APC anti-corruption and good governance revolution in the South-South, as an alternative to the PDP. This is a serious intervention that is needed on September 22, 2015 as the APC selects its governorship candidate in Bayelsa.