Deflation Of The Largest Party In Africa, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

April 12, 2015

A while ago, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prided itself as the largest political party on the African continent. Of course, as the party that had been at the helm of affairs in the nation’s political power equation for about 16 years, the reality of being the largest, and even the most powerful, could never have been challenged.
After all, as it is now gradually becoming clear, the party that controls power, nation’s resources and every other thing that goes with power needs not blow any kind of trumpet about its size within whatever political geography.
The mass defection of PDP chieftains, shortly after the March 28 Presidential election in which General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) won, to APC, might have been taken by many as a surprise. But some political analysts would tell you that what is happening is quite typical of an average Nigerian politician. As a matter of fact, the twist to the whole art of defecting has been the calibre of those who defected. They included Senator Zwingina, Idi Hong and several others. Those were the strong leaders in the PDP whom anyone could bet would never cross carpet under whatever condition.
The defection was so swift, involving so many PDP bigwigs that the beneficiary Victorious party, the APC, had had to express some kind of reservation and fear. That was in a situation where APC ought to have drafted drums onto the celebration field to welcome them.
However, what one has been hearing from the chieftains of what remains of the PDP has been about stomach infrastructure which they say has been the basis for their erstwhile top shots’ defection to APC. This reasoning, real as it is in the Nigerian political context, is as well funny. This is because it is the same PDP that invented the concept of stomach infrastructure, when it was convenient for it: when the going was good as they say.
What is happening now is a reflection of the infantile nature of politicking in Nigeria: a situation where politicians, of all categories, would swing to wherever the bread is buttered.
And of course, the main attraction for most Nigerian politicians has been the platform to win elections. And winning elections has its own series of goodies, including the cash-flow, dignity, feeling belonged, especially in a political system where the winner takes all. If in future therefore, even the little known political party like All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) wins election at the centre, political bigwigs from APC and PDP will troop enmass into it without gusto.
The situation has taught whichever party is in government at any particular time a lesson; that it should stop bragging about its size, because, as it has been shown, the size is determined by where the leadership pendulum swings.
For now, would it be right to say that APC is now the largest party in Africa? They may even say in the whole universe!

[myad]

My Abductors Took Me To A Forest Where I Was Hungry, Kidnapped Traditional Ruler Narrates

Greenbarge Reporters

April 11, 2015

Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba

The District Head of Wamakko in Wamakko local government area of Sokoto state, Alhaji Salihu Barade, who was recently kidnapped and released on Friday night, has narrated how his abductors took him to a forest where he and them were hungry.

The 60-year old traditional ruler, who is the younger brother of Governor Aliyu Wamakko, was kidnapped April 8 by unknown gunmen in his farm in Wamakko local government area of the state and later released by his abductors on Friday, near the farm of the Emir of Gummi in Zamfara state.

Speaking to newsmen in Wamakko council after gaining his freedom, the District Head said:”I could not eat food for two days and I could not pray as there was no water in the place they kept me.

“I cannot however tell you whether a ransom was paid or not as they seized all my handsets. In fact, as you can see I am hale and hearty but we were starving with my abductors as they took me to a forest.”

The traditional ruler called on the government to improve the security system which he said should be part of the measures to stem the tide of kidnappings and other crimes in the country.

He expressed gratitude to God for securing his release even as he asked Nigerians to sustain fervent prayers for peace and unity in the country.

[myad]

Expert Predicts ‘Blood Rain’ On Britain Tonight

Greenbarge Reporters

April 11, 2015

A geographer from Nottingham Trent University, Dr Steven Godby, has forecast “Blood rain” to fall on Britain between today,Friday night and tomorrow.

Also the UK’s official weather predicting service, the Met Office, issued a warning that blood rain will fall on the country tonight and tomorrow morning.

“Blood rain” is the term used to describe a meteorological event when rain mixes with sand from the deserts of North Africa. Sand from the Sahara has been swept up by desert storms and carried 2,000 miles to the UK by exceptional north winds.

When the sand mixes with rain, the precipitation takes on a reddish color and blankets the country with a paste of fine dust and water, which sticks to everything as sand from the Sahara sweeps north from Africa to blanket parts of the island.

The expert explained what occurs, adding: “the dust is produced from source areas in North Africa, incorporated into a northerly airflow and can travel long distances before being deposited as far away as the UK.”

Dan Williams a Met Office representative predicted that “People could find yellow or brown dust from the Sahara on their carson Saturday morning.”

To make things worse, the UK is experiencing high temperatures into the 20C (70F+) and pollen levels are way above normal. On top of this, pollution is simultaneously floating in from industrial areas of northern France and Belgium, making the British air a toxic mix of sand, dirt and allergens. Visibility has been severely reduced by smog in London.

[myad]

APC Boycotts Akwa Ibom Governorship Election, Wants It Cancelled

Greenbarge Reporters

April 11, 2015

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has announced the boycott of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state.

The decision by the party to call for the boycott and cancellation of the elections followed a reported widespread hijack of electoral materials by thugs and armed fake policemen, suspected to be sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Our correspondents, who went round Uyo, Etinan, Onna, Eket, Nsit Ubium, the five local government areas of Oro, Uruan, Ibiono, Nsit Ibom, Oruknam, among others, report that ballot box diversion, thump printing of ballot papers, characterised today’s elections in Akwa Ibom State.

It was also learnt that many centres were denied electoral materials. And in the areas, where they were provided, the figures would not tally with the number of accredited voters.

The APC governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Umana Umana, said out of 1,571 registered voters, only 450 ballot papers were sent to his polling unit.

[myad]

Secret Service Arrest Ex Youth Corps Director, 10 Youth Corpers For Alleged Electoral Offences

Greenbarge Reporters

April 11, 2015

Former Director of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), retired General. Edet Akpan, 10 corps members and a soldier were reported to have been arrested at the home of a retired General in Akwa Ibom state by men of the Department of Security Service (DSS) for electoral offences.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Austin Okojie gave this report while taking a break from the election to brief the press in Uyo, the state capital.

Okojie who reacted to general complains about late arrival of result sheets and compromise by some INEC officials said INEC received sensitive materials on Tuesday, despatched to local government areas on Thursday for early dispatch to polling units.

He regretted that the issue of late arrival of result sheets is never the policy of INEC, as the commission has no reason to withhold any sensitive material.

“The issue of late arrival of result sheet should not even arise because we issue all the sensitive materials at once and have trained and warned our electoral officers against dispatching any electoral material to politicians.”

Okojie who reported cases of violence in Uyo, Ibesikpo, Nsit Ubium and Mkpat Enin, Nsit Ibom and Etinan local government areas said these are basically security issues and commended security agencies for being alive to their responsibilities.

He further reported prompt replacement of card readers in areas where a few were reported to have malfunctioned.

[myad]

Police Confirm That Army Killed 4 Voters In Kebbi

Greenbarge Reporters

April 11, 2015

Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed that the Nigerian army had killed four voters in Bayan Dutse Polling Unit, Ginga Ward in the Suru Local Government of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Nafiu Abubakar who confirmed the incident to newsmen today could not however give reason why the incident took place.

“Yes, we have received reports of the killings of four people allegedly killed by soldiers and I will give you details of the killings as soon we conclude our investigation,” he said.

Abdullahi Suru, the House of Representative-elect representing Suru federal constituency, also confirmed the deaths to journalists.

He said the incident happened around noon today as accreditation was going on in the APC-supporter area.

This was even as suspected thugs were reported to have hijacked ballot boxes and papers in Ilaje local government area of Ondo State.

According to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),, Olusegun Agbaje, the hoodlums also attacked members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission as ad hoc staff for the election.

Mr. Agbaje said the thugs, who were working for a particular political party, chased away voters who were already in line to vote before descending on the INEC staff.

“The thugs came to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election in the waterside area of the state. They unleashed terror on our ad hoc staff and stole election materials when voting was about to end,” Mr. Agbaje told SaharaReporters.

Some of the ad hoc staff were reportedly by the thugs, according to an eyewitness who resides in the area.

It was gathered that marine policemen posted to the area were overpowered by the hoodlums who ran off with the electoral materials.

The police spokesman in ‎the state, Oluwole Ogodo, confirmed the incident. He promised to give full details at the end of the voting exercise in the state.

[myad]

Guber Polls: Governor Uduaghan Commends INEC, Deltans For Peaceful Conduct

Greenbarge Reporters

April 11, 2015

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has commended the people of his state, Delta, for conducting themselves peacefully and being orderly during the conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly elections held today in the state.

Governor Uduaghan who gave the commendation in Abigborodo in Warri North local Government Area after casting his vote at the unit one Umuegbe Primary School polling unit said that information he received so far from security agencies indicated that voters behaved well adding that the development was a plus for Deltans as well as the security agenda of the state government.

He commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for improving on its conduct of the presidential election particularly in ensuring that its staff and election materials arrived polling stations early.

While thanking every Deltan for their peaceful conduct, the governor said the peaceful behaviour proved analysts who had listed Delta State as a flash point wrong.

Governor Uduaghan and his wife, Roli who voted at about 1.45 pm expressed satisfaction with the electronic card reader and voter turn out stating that “The INEC conduct of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the Umuegbe Primary School polling station, Abigborodo Ward Six was an improvement on its conduct of the Presidential Election, INEC officials and election materials arrived the polling station at 8.55 am while accreditation started at 9.52 am.”

Gov Uduaghan and his wife, Roli who arrived the polling station at 9.54 am was accredited in less than three minutes using the electronic card reader while that of his wife took less than one minute.

Meanwhile there were reports of low voter turnout heralded the governorship and state Assembly elections nationwide. This is even as former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria’s democratic process was fast maturing.

Obasanjo made the assertion shortly after his accreditation at Ward 11, Unit 22 at Olusomi Compound, Sokori area of Abeokuta South Local Government Area.

He said that although there was a drop in the turnout of voters compared with the presidential and National Assembly polls, the accreditation exercise could still be described as successful.

“Reports getting to me indicate a general low turnout across the nation; however, the exercise has been orderly and peaceful.

“The low turnout is not unusual and should be expected, because people normally show more interest in national elections than the state elections.

“I, however, commend INEC for improving on their last performance because many people who did not have PVCs in this area have now gotten their cards.

“There were apprehensions concerning the polls because of some people beating drums of war; but we thank God for taking control,” he said.

The former president, however, praised Nigerians, saying they should be proud of their electoral performance.

“We have done it for West Africa; we have done it for Africa and we have now done it for ourselves.

“Nigerians can now raise their heads in honour anywhere because there are evidences that our democracy is fast maturing,” he said.

In Ekiti, Gov. Ayodele Fayose got accredited at noon after several failed attempts to use the card reader.

The governor, who performed the exercise at the Afao Ward, Polling Unit 001 in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, later filled the incident form before being accredited.

In an interview with journalists, Fayose urged INEC to improve on the use of the card reader, just as he decried the low turn-out of voters.

The governor, who was accompanied to the accreditation centre by his cousin, Mr Adebayo Adeniyi, however, expressed the hope that more voters would turn out before the end of the exercise.

Also, a former Minister of Sports, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, has described the 2015 general elections as the best of its kind.

Abdullahi made the assertion at his residence at Anifowose area of Ilorin, the Kwara capital, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Saturday.

“The 2015 elections have been unprecedented. “ The Independent National Electoral Commission has put in the best performance ever in the conduct of election exercise in this country,” he said.

He lauded the initiative of electronic voting system introduced by INEC describing it as a step forward in Nigerian history.

Abdullahi commended the peaceful conduct of the electorate and the security personnel, saying it showed an improvement in the country’s democratic culture.

The former minister urged Nigerians to unite and support the President- elect, retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to move the country forward.

According to him, irrespective of party, religious and ethnic differences, citizens must work for unity and live exemplary lives.

Abdullahi said that the 2015 elections had taught Nigerians to have confidence in the power of their thumb and also for politicians to respect the electorate.

“I believe that Nigeria will be better and greater than ever,” he said.

[myad]

President Jonathan Predicts: PDP Will Do Better In Guber Poll

Greenbarge Reporters

April 11, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will record good results in the gubernatorial and State houses of assembly elections which took place across the country today.

Fielding questions from journalists after undergoing accreditation at Ward 13, Unit 39, Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, the President expressed hope that the party’s overall performance will be better than the March 28th Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“My conviction is that PDP will do well. It may probably do better in a number of states. In some states our performance will even improve. Even if you look at the last elections, our performance in some states improved. But in some states our performance was a bit low.I think that in the overall PDP will do well.”

The President arrived at his hometown of Otuoke at exactly 11am to participate in the state houses of assembly election and was accredited by the card reader within 10 seconds.

This is contrary to the experience he had two weeks ago when several card readers in that same polling unit could not read his finger print and he had to be accredited manually after standing for an hour.
Speaking on the development, the President said: “`it is technology. There must be some minor errors and they have rectified the faults. Although I am still hearing that we have some problems of rejection but I think INEC has a way of handling their assignment. The most important thing is that elections will be conducted.”

The President gave two reasons for the low voter turnout for the election in Otuoke compared to the March 28th polls, saying the stake is usually higher for Presidential election and again, there was no governorship election in Bayelsa state at this time.

“Naturally different levels of elections elicit different interests. Presidential elections are quite interesting. Governorship elections are quite interesting. If we were to have a governorship election in Bayelsa state, the mobilization would have been higher because you need to mobilise the voters to come out.
But for State Assembly elections, the interest is not as high as the presidential elections or governorship elections.
We expect low turnout for states that don’t have governorship elections. There is no governorship elections in Bayelsa that is why the turn out may be low.

[myad]

APC, PDP, Other Parties Kick As Police Declare Curfew In Adamawa

Greenbarge Reporters

April 10, 2015

Leading political parties in Adamawa state, including All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others have opposed the decision of the State Police Command to impose a dusk to dawn curfew on the state. The curfew from Sunday, April 12, 2015, according to the command is aimed at forestalling violence after the state governorship House of Assembly election.

The state Commissioner of Police, Gabriel Adaji, made the announcement while briefing newsmen in his office on Friday in Yola preparatory to Saturday’s election.

The police commissioner said the curfew would begin from Sunday to Tuesday, April 14 between 6pm and 6am.

He explained that the measure was to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state.

“After the last presidential and National Assembly elections, we had some nasty and ugly experiences in the state, hence the present measures,” the CP said.

Adajie added that the ban of tricycles, wheel barrows, truck pushers and any other hawking materials were still in force, warning that the law would take its course on any person or group that violates the order.

The police boss commended the people of the state, especially politicians for their peaceful conduct and orderliness during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

But, the Publicity Secretary of the APC, Ahmed Lawal, said that the party did not see any reason for the declaration of a curfew in the state if the election is peaceful even as the Director General of the Campaign Organisation of PDM, Sunday Wugira, said that the party had yet to understand the rationale behind the imposition of the curfew.

Also, Secretary of the PDP in the state, A.T. Shehu, said the curfew is unwarranted, insisting that the police should have banned celebrations after the announcement of elections results instead of imposing a curfew on the state. [myad]

Nigeria’s Super Falcons Mess Up Mali With 8 – 0 Win

Greenbarge Reporters

April 10, 2015

African champions, Super Falcons of Nigeria messed up their Malian counterparts with a 8-0 goals to advance to the women’s football event at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo. Assisat Oshoala of Liverpool Ladies star played a vital role in all the goals scored by the Nigeria sides and also scoring a double herself.

France-based Desire Oparanozie gave hosts Falcons the lead after three minutes even as Francisca Ordega made it 2-0 after 18 minutes, before Oshoala increased Nigeria lead on 36 minutes. Oparanozie then made it 4-0 just a minute to half time.

A minute after the interval, Oshoala netted her brace as Mali tried to play damage control.

Ordega became the third Nigeria star to grab a brace when she hit target in the 62nd minute.

Skipper Evelyn Nwabuoku fired home the seventh goal from 23 yards after 69 minutes, before substitute Esther Sunday completed the rout in the 71st minute off a rebound.

[myad]

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