Which States Jonathan Will Win, Which Ones Buhari Will Win

March 22, 2015

As Nigerians and the world wait for the March 28 presidential election and the 10 competing political parties putting finishing touches to their strategies, the actual contest, political watchers have submitted, is between the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

How would the scenario look like in the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, when the battle is fought, won and lost?

Abia

President Jonathan of the PDP is expected to win the presidential poll in Abia State as his party remains the dominant one there. The PDP’s strong base in the state coupled with the position of Governor Theodore Orji as the Coordinator of Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation in the South-East zone has further boosted Jonathan’s chances at the poll. Abia parades an army of people and accomplished Nigerians who are of the PDP family and they have been working assiduously to deliver their various localities to the President. Some of them include: Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe; former PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor; former Senate President Adulphus Wabara; Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Gen. Ike Nwachukwu ( retd); among a host of others.

Jonathan’s marital tie with Abia State is also expected to boost his chances. The mother of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, hailed from Abia and the state enjoys a very warm relationship with the First Family.

Abuja

Abuja, the seat of power, should ordinarily be the star on the crown of the eventual winner of the Presidential elections. However, the territory which some refer to as a city of civil servants is likely to be almost evenly split between Jonathan and Buhari.

Senator Philip Aduda (PDP) is expected to lead other public and political office holders to mobilise votes for the President because the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; would be required to go back to Bauchi where he hails from to join the governor and the party’s national chairman, Adamu Mua’azu to campaign for the President. Aduda, however, has to contend with a former political opponent, Adamu Sidi-Ali, who apart from contesting for a Senate seat is also mobilising support for Buhari and the APC. That Abuja is where the President has lived for six years counts for a lot but the large number of northerners in the city is also a plus for Buhari. Verdict: It’s too close to call.

Adamawa

It is a state of political gladiators and all of them will want to make a point. The state boasts of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the APC; Buhari’s wife; former Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur; ex-EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, among others.

It would have been an easy ride for the PDP, but for the Boko Haram menace that has claimed many lives.

The opinion of political analysts in the state is that despite the successes recorded in Mubi and many other towns, many indigenes are not impressed because they believe that the President launched the late war on the insurgents to score a political point.

Hence, it looks like a tight race between Buhari and Jonathan despite the fact that PDP won the state in 2011.

Akwa Ibom

Both the PDP and the APC are popular in Akwa Ibom State. Each of these two political parties exercises dominance in some sections of the state.

The people of Oro ethnic nationality (the largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District with five local government areas) are mainly against the PDP.

The people, who embrace APC hold that if Oro continues to remain in the PDP, the probability for them to produce a governor in the next 40 years will be slim.

Other areas with strong support APC base are Uruan; Ibeno; Ikot Abasi; Esit Eket; Abak Federal Constituency otherwise known as Abak Five; Itu; Ini; Ikono. The party has also encroached into areas like Ikot Ekpene; Essien Udim, where the PDP has strongholds.

However, Governor Godswill Akpabio who is an ardent loyalist of Jonathan is expected to deliver the state to PDP coupled with the South-East support for Jonathan.

Anambra

In 2011, President Jonathan of the PDP polled 1,145,169 million votes or 98.8 per cent of the total votes cast in Anambra State.

From the statistics, Anambra gave Jonathan the highest proportion of votes in the country. His closest rival was the Congress Progressives Congress candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who polled 4,223 votes.

The situation on the ground shows that Jonathan still has an edge over Buhari and will very likely win the presidential election in the state.

The sentiments that worked well for Jonathan in 2011 are still very much around. But the party has lost a lot of followers, who though may not move over to vote Buhari, may remain indifferent.

The factors playing in favour of Jonathan include the incumbency factor. The party in power in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has also adopted Jonathan as its presidential candidate.

This adds to the advantage of Jonathan being the official candidate of the biggest opposition party in the state.

Jonathan is likely to win but with a diminished margin as against the result in 2011 when he scored 98 per cent of the votes.

Bauchi

With the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed and Governor Isa Yuguda, President Jonathan should expect to garner a substantial number of votes or at least 25 per cent of the votes. However, this can only happen if the three resolve their differences and decide to work together. Buhari’s popularity among the ordinary folk in the state is unlikely to wane before the March 28 election. Buhari is most likely to carry the day.

Bayelsa

In Bayelsa, the home state of President Jonathan, it is almost a taboo to mention any other political party except the PDP.

The emergence of the rival opposition political party, the APC, has yet to change the people’s perception about the PDP. Also, the APC has yet to entrench itself as a formidable party in the state. Observers believe that in Bayelsa, the general election is fait accompli for the PDP as the party has formidable structures in the state compared to the APC and other political parties.

Benue

Here the two candidates’ chances stand at 55 per cent for Jonathan and 45 for Buhari. Though a PDP controlled state, the people of the state complain endlessly of non-payment of salaries which they say has been the bane of the government. The state is agrarian with a high dominance of civil servants in the elite class.

Having the civil servants objecting to any government spells near defeat for such administration. This is what has put the PDP on the path of declined popularity. However, Jonathan still stands slightly higher than Buhari in the reckoning of the people. Also, Senate President David Mark will want to make a good showing in his state.

Borno

In Borno, Buhari has been a political factor since the first day he declared his ambition to contest the presidency of Nigeria in 2007. He has always come first while his opponents, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and the current one, Jonathan, came a far second. He is idolised by the people of the state, it can even been said that he is more loved in the state than in his home state of Katsina because he lost there to Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007. He has never lost any election in Borno where he is seen as a role model and anyone that seeks political office has to come via him.

The love for Buhari was said to have started when he was the military governor in Maiduguri, which was the then capital of the North-East state and till date, he is still loved as if those days were moments away.

As it stands today, Buhari will get a landslide victory over Jonathan in Borno.

Cross River

In Cross River State, it is obvious where the pendulum will swing in the March 28 presidential election. This is so because it is one of the few states in the South-South region that is completely controlled by the PDP.

Candidates of the ruling party won the entire senatorial and House of Representatives seats in the 2011 election. The party also produced the governor and 24 out of 25 members of the state House of Assembly. It also has in its kitty, all the 18 Local Government Area chairmen and 196 councillors.

Apart from an almost overwhelming victory for the PDP presidential candidate, votes based on ethnic sentiment might also go in favour of President Jonathan because the electorate thinks that the two-term tenure of a candidate from the region must be upheld.

Delta

In Delta, President Jonathan stands head and shoulders above his closest rival, Buhari.

A number of factors are playing in favour of the President in the state and one of them is the fact that he is from the South-South geopolitical zone. The people of Delta, would rather vote their own than support someone else from another geopolitical zone.

According to Bunor Agbomedarho, a former banker and House of Assembly aspirant, the people of Delta State will not throw away their son for whatever reason. “He is from here and we will give it to him naturally,” he said.

In addition to that, the coastal areas of the state, where block votes usually emerge from to determine eventual winners of most of the presidential and governorship elections are peopled by Jonathan’s Ijaw ethnic group.

Apart from the ethnic factor, those who now control affairs in the coastal areas, fall among the ex-Niger Delta militants that have benefitted heavily from the Federal Government under Jonathan.

Another factor that plays in favour of Jonathan is the incumbent factor in Delta where his party, the PDP, is ruling.

Ebonyi

This is another South-East state where the PDP and its presidential candidate, Jonathan, have an edge over the opposition.

The attempt to impeach Governor Martins Elechi, who has a strong support at the grassroots, at some point threatened to undermine Jonathan’s re-election campaign in the state. There were indications that most of the governor’s supporters would have voted against the President in protest, had Elechi been impeached before the elections.

The dark cloud has, however, cleared after the Ebonyi State House of Assembly reportedly suspended the impeachment process.

Edo

Edo has a total of 1,779,738 registered voters. But the APC currently holds sway as the ruling party in Edo State, having defeated the PDP in the 2007 and 2012 governorship elections.

Like in other states in the South-South, ethnicity is considered a major factor, which would attract support for the PDP and Jonathan in the March 28 poll, as it did in 2011, when it secured the majority votes in the state, irrespective of the political parties.

Since the inception of the opposition party, Buhari has become seemingly popular across the state, compared to 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections, where his campaigns were more pronounced in Auchi, an area largely dominated by Muslims. Also, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has a large following and can swing votes Buhari’s way. The Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, who is from the state will want to prove that he is a chairman indeed despite the political sagacity of Chief Tony Anenih who is a force to reckon with.

Ekiti

Events in Ekiti recently suggest a tilt in the balance between the popularity of the ruling PDP and the opposition APC. Although Governor Ayodele Fayose has continued to enjoy the support of the grassroots, it is observed these days that his large following in the state is fast depleting in ranks. This may not be unconnected with the squabbles over the primaries of the party conducted in December last year. The division in the State House of Assembly is also a minus for the PDP as the legislators who are anti-Fayose are not keen on getting their supporters to vote for Jonathan.

The opposition seems to be gathering momentum especially with the return of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Opeyemi Bamidele, to the APC.

Bamidele who declared support for Buhari has deployed his political platform, the Ekiti Bibire Coalition, for the mission.

The talk in town is that this general election is different from the governorship election when people mobilised and voted Fayose. It is a common trend to see people shouting ‘sai Buhari’ on the streets of Ado Ekiti.

Enugu

In Enugu, President Jonathan is expected to get more votes than Buhari and other presidential candidates.

This expectation is based on the fact that, among the 36 states in the country, Enugu is arguably one of the states where the PDP has the strongest followership.

There is hardly any prominent politician that is campaigning against Jonathan in Enugu at the moment — even some ‘aggrieved’ former PDP members who joined other political parties in order to realise their political ambitions in the 2015 polls are including the President’s pictures in their campaign posters.

The politicians with the largest support bases in the state are all campaigning for Jonathan — these include Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, and a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, among several others.

Gombe

This is likely to be one of the most keenly contested states in the North because just as General Buhari, enjoys a large following, the state Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Idris Umar and the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling PDP, Abdullahi Jalo, who are ardent supporters of President Jonathan, have a point to prove. They will be up against a former governor of the state, Senator Danjuma Goje who is a stalwart of the APC.

Imo

Like other South-East states, President Jonathan waxes strong in Imo. The fact that he has been adopted by main Igbo socio-cultural groups has made him stronger in this state. In Imo, it is Jonathan, even though Gov. Rochas Okorocha of the APC, who is the only South-East governor in the party, will want to show his might and popularity.

Jigawa

Here, there is an impressive followership for Buhari. Many political analysts have submitted that it would not be difficult for Buhari to coast home with victory in the state. However, Gov. Sule Lamido of the PDP will not allow himself to be put to shame.

President Jonathan is looking up to him to deliver the state and he will do everything not to disappoint the President. As a founding member of the PDP, he has a point to prove. Whether he can convince the northern electorate to vote for Jonathan remains to be seen.

Kaduna

This is the state of Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who the President expects to deliver the state. The Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, said, “It is the quality of crowd that matters in a rally.”

It was a veiled reference to the scanty crowd of supporters that greeted the PDP Presidential Campaign Train to Kaduna State on January 31,2015.

In that rally, the main bowl of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, was half-filled, thereby sending signals that President Jonathan may find winning the 2015 presidential race, in the state difficult.

But Jibrin allayed the fears as according to him, the PDP as a party believed in a ‘quality crowd’ and not ‘quantity’ which, he argued, characterised the opposition APC presidential campaign.

However, the antagonistic disposition of the people of Northern Kaduna zone, who are pre-dominantly Muslims, will certainly work against the President and be an advantage to the APC candidate. But, Jonathan may get votes from the southern part of the state, a predominantly Christian dominated area. This area has consistently voted en bloc for the PDP since 1999. Buhari won the state with 1.3 million votes in 2011.

Kano

It is an open secret that the presidential candidate of the APC has his strongest support base in the North.

Even before the defection of Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the PDP to the APC, most of the eligible voters in Kano were ardent Buhari loyalists.

A lot of factors appear to be working in Buhari’s favour in the state. The PDP is yet to deal with its internal conflicts while the state governor, and a majority of members of the National Assembly members are members of the APC. The emergence of Lamido Sanusi Lamido as the Emir of Kano seemed to have sealed Jonathan’s fate. The Emir is not a fan of Jonathan and he doesn’t hide it.

It will be safe to say, Buhari will beat Goodluck Jonathan.

Katsina

There is no lenghty expalanation for this. Charity, they say, begins at home. The home state of Buhari is overwhelmingly for him. Though the state is ruled by the PDP, the residents are not leaving their own unsupported.

Kebbi

Carved out from the old Sokoto State, this state has produced governors and members of the National Assembly from both the ruling party and the opposition. It started off as an ANPP state in 1999 but has been under the control of the PDP since 2007. The turmoil within the state chapter of the PDP is likely to cost the party and its candidates dearly. Even without such a conflict, the Buhari phenomenon which has swept most parts of the North is unlikely to change there.

Kogi

In Kogi, the contest according to political observers will be a keen one.The state has been ruled by the PDP for the 16 years of the current democratic dispensation. Though there had been attempts to wrest power from the PDP in the state, such had so far proved futile making the party to record either substantial or landslide victories during elections.

But the scenario appears to be changing with the reported defection of some political juggernauts from the ruling PDP to the APC.

Also with the reported inroad of Buhari into the minds of many people in the northern states, and Kogi being a state near Abuja appears to be catching the bug.

It may not be quite easy for one to accurately predict whether Jonathan or Buhari will convincingly win in Kogi in the March 28 presidential election given the political dynamism of voting, but that Jonathan won there in 2011 is a plus.

Kwara

The PDP had lost the Kwara State to the APC following the defection of former Governor Bukola Saraki and his followers. Those who defected with him to the APC included another former governor and who is also now a senator, Mr. Shaaba Lafiagi; all the members of the House of Representatives, the current state governor, Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and his political appointees; the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly and 19 other legislators.

While Saraki and his followers give the impression that the APC will trounce the PDP, it may not be that easy because of alleged federal might and the perception that Kwara residents are yearning for a change from an alleged Saraki oligarchy.

Buhari is, however, expected to coast home with about 70 per cent of the total votes cast.

Lagos

The APC candidate is tipped to win the election in the state based on the fact that it is the stronghold of the major opposition party since 1999. According to political watchers, even though the ruling party, the PDP, won the presidential poll in the state in 2003 (the main opposition party did not field any presidential candidate that year), 2007 and 2011, the political dynamics had since changed.

Although Buhari is from the North, he is expected to win the state under the platform of APC also because his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is Yoruba. The choice of Osinbajo has been a hit in the South-West states. Lagos is also home to Senator Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the APC and of course Governor Babatunde Fashola one of the highest rated governors in the country.

Recently, the PDP Governors Forum at its meeting in Lagos said the party would win elections in all the states in the South including Lagos.

Overall, Buhari is expected to win Lagos on Saturday.

Nasarawa

While many may have concluded that Nasarawa State is for Buhari, a political analyst who pleaded anonymity in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH in Lafia, said: “The only thing that might affect the chances of the presidential candidate of Buhari, in the state is the inability of his party to handle the recent crisis that engulfed it in some part of the state in recent times.”

Though controlled by the APC, Jonathan won by 408,997 votes in 2011. The PDP has also suffered major cracks in the state that might affect its chances on March 28.

Niger

The presence of two former Heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar who are reportedly opposed to a Buhari government will make the state a tough one for APC to conquer. It is controlled by the PDP even though it is on record that President Jonathan has never won outrightly there. Also, Governor Babangida Aliyu who wants to run for President in 2019 sees this election as a litmus test. However, Buhari won Niger in 2011 and this is significant.

Ogun

In Ogun, the ruling APC has engaged in robust campaigns across the 20 local government areas and the 236 wards. And the campaign has always been led by the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

The APC presidential candidate, Buhari, has more following than the governor, though. The emergence of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as APC vice-presidential candidate, who is from the state has been termed a ‘technical knockout.’

The three-day warning strike by the civil servants under the Joint National Negotiating Council, has affected the rating of the governor.

However, Buhari’s touted aura, integrity and upright lifestyle are working for him in the state. The artisans, taxi drivers, and many market women are rooting for him.

With this going on, the PDP is struggling to patch up the cleavages created by the power blocs in the party. There is the Buruji Kashamu camp working in tandem with the Adebayo Dayo-led state executive of the PDP; the former Speaker Dimeji Bankole’s camp and another power bloc, Jubri Martins-Kuye.

These political cleavages had really polarised the party, and slowed down its wheel of progress.

Ondo

Before the rescheduling of the election, there were obvious signs that Jonathan might lose the polls.

Jonathan, at his campaign rally, faced with the obvious facts of PDP’s house in disarray, raised the alarm, warning that the raging conflict could cost the party the much needed victory at the polls.

When he visited the state, Buhari’s change message was brief to Ondo citizens who thronged the Democracy Park and waited patiently for his arrival. Buhari’s following remains unprecedented in the history of the state since he started his quest for Aso Rock in 2003. The whirl of supporters sent jitters down the spine of the PDP, an ally of the Labour Party. But, time, seems to be turning things around for the PDP, with an additional six weeks, the party has taken the campaign to a new level, going great lengths to weigh down the opposition. Hence, Buhari and Jonathan may be in a neck-and-neck race.

Osun

The presidential election in Osun State is a straight fight between President Jonathan and Buhari but Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s stake in the poll is probably higher than that of other state governors especially in the South-West.

However, the PDP is coming up stronger with the earlier postponement of the polls and declining popularity of the APC among the civil servants and lecturers of the state due to the non-payment of their five months salaries and issues with non-remittance of their pension deductions.

The visit of Jonathan to some monarchs in the state has been described as a good strategy to sway more people’s support to his side during the presidential poll.

But, most of the notable politicians in the state are in the APC and this makes Buhari’s job very easy among voters.

Oyo

With two weeks to the former date of the presidential election, the Buhari presidential campaign train hit Ibadan on January 29 with unarguably more than a million people trooping to the venue of the campaign on Mapo Hill.

But with the six weeks extension, Jonathan has succeeded in bringing all the former PDP politicians together under his fold with the help of Governor Olusegun Mimiko. The list includes another former governor in the state, Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party, Adebayo Alao-Akala of the labour Party and Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party. They do not have to leave their new parties; all they were asked to do is to support the presidential ambition of President Jonathan while they can afterwards pursue their individual political ambitions.

It is important to note that Buhari may not poll the huge votes that he would have recorded if the election had been held on February 14, 2015.

Plateau

In Plateau, though the majority of the people may want to loathe the PDP candidate, President Jonathan, they are not for his APC counterpart, Buhari, either.

The reasons may not be farfetched. Plateau has been a traditional PDP state and the people have voted overwhelmingly for the party in the 2011 presidential elections. Indeed, the PDP garnered over one million votes from Plateau then. But the reality is not so today as the party could well be struggling to get the required 25 per cent. Governor Jonah Jang, who is the leader of a faction of the PDP Govenors’ Forum, has the task of delivering the state to Jonathan. Hence, it is not clear if Buhari can pull off any magic.

Rivers

It is a tough call between Jonathan and Buhari in Rivers State as both are popular and they will likely share the votes. Any of them who wins in the state will not do so with a wide margin. Analysts have, however, given it to President Jonathan though it will not be in a landslide like in 2011 when he got about two million votes. This is because the APC has gained a lot of ground in the state.

President Jonathan may win in Rivers as a result of the sentiment that the PDP presidential candidate is from the Niger Delta. Voting along ethnic and religious lines will be pronounced in the state during the presidential poll. The Patience Jonathan factor cannot be ignored. She and Governor Amaechi, who also has a large following, have drawn the battle line and many cannot wait to see the result. The popularity of the PDP governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, will also be tested.

Sokoto

The seat of the caliphate as it chooses to be called is unmistakably one of the strongholds of the APC in the forthcoming presidential elections. The state started off under the control of the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party. So strong was its influence that the PDP had to ask its then flag bearer, Murktari Shagari, to hand his ticket over to Aliyu Wammako who was then candidate of the ANPP to stand for the 2007 elections.

During the PDP primaries of 2011, party delegates from the state voted massively for Atiku Abubakar, when he failed to get the ticket, they cast their votes for Buhari who stood on the platform of little known Congress for Progressives Change. The fact that the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) hails from the state is unlikely to change anything.

The APC governorship candidate, Aminu Tambuwal, who is also the Speaker of the House of Representatives has a huge following in the state.

It’s Buhari.

Taraba

Predominantly Christian, this is another state where it’s tough to predict who will win. The christian factor will be working for Jonathan. However, the northern factor is working for Buhari as northerners feel that they must not fail to seize this opportunity to elect their own. Jonathan won here in 2011. However, PDP is not as strong as it used to be in the state.

Yobe

This is one of the few states that have never fallen into the hands of the ruling party at the centre since 1999. Just like Borno, Yobe has remained the stronghold of opposition politics at all levels.

During his tenure as the military governor of the state state before he was moved to the Ministry of Petroleum in 1976, Buhari built bridges beyond his native Katsina State and perhaps that is his greatest strength today. The people of Yobe State have continuously queued behind him and no matter the strength of his opponent, they have never shifted ground. Even when the governor of the state then, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, tagged Buhari a political liability without shelf value, the people of Yobe were proud to be associated with him.

Hence, in Yobe, it is Buhari.

Zamfara

Zamfara, like Yobe and Borno states, has remained one of the few states in northern Nigeria which is the traditional playground of the opposition. This has remained so even when a one-time governor of the state, Mamuda Shinkafi defected from the then ANPP to join the PDP. His decision to dump the ANPP to join the PDP at the centre did not save him from electoral defeat. When it comes to the question of the presidential election, irrespective of party affiliation, the people appear united in their support for Buhari.

Culled From PUNCH

[myad]

Nigeria Premier League: Heartland Beat Nasarawa United Silly, Smile Home With 5-2

Greenbarge Reporters

March 22, 2015

Heartland defeated Nasarawa United 5-2 in a Week 3 game of the Nigeria Premier League on Sunday to remain unbeaten this season. Heartland now have six points from two games.

Ebere Odiche opened the scoring for ‘The Naze Millionaires’ in the 22nd minute when he curled in a free kick from 20 yards to take his tally to two this season.

Fred Okwara doubled the lead for the hosts with a 39th minute strike.

But Nasarawa forward Manir Ubale reduced the deficit when he struck in the 45th minute to take the game to 2-1.

Bright Ejike extended his team’s lead when he converted a penalty in the 49th minute after Mustapha Musa handled the ball in the vital area.

The goals continued to pour as Mustapha Musa redeemed himself to score a header by connecting Bature Yaro’s free kick in the 60th minute to take the game to 3-2.

Bright Ejike completed his brace in the 74th minute to extend ‘The Naze Millionaires’ lead again.

Substitute Joseph Iniobong sealed the victory for the hosts with a fifth goal in the 90th minute. [myad]

Over 56.4 Million Nigerians Collect PVCs, Set To Elect President, Others

Greenbarge Reporters

March 22, 2015

Nigeria’s Independent Election Commission (INEC) concluded the distribution of voter cards ahead of the March 28 general elections with a total of 56,431,255 Nigerians, representing 82 percent of the registered voters, successfully in possession of the PVCs.

The remaining 18 percent who have not collected their cards would not be eligible to cast their ballots on March 28 when Nigerians elect a new president and parliamentarians.

Although 14 candidates will vie for presidency, the poll is largely seen as a race between President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler running on the ticket of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) .

The APC is an amalgam of political interests that have come together in a bid to wrest power from the PDP, which has ruled the country since its return to democracy in 1999.

The INEC had extended voter card distribution twice to enable as many voters as possible to collect the cards. It is not immediately clear if the electoral body would grant further extension for card distribution.

“I do not have any information on extension,” INEC spokesman Kayode Idowu said. [myad]

Man Allegedly Kills Daughter’s Lover, Connives With DPO To Bury Corpse At Night

Greenbarge Reporters

March 22, 2015

Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba

A man whose name was given as Elewana Godwin of River Basin Authority, 8 Miles Calabar, was alleged to have shot to death an unarmed 22 year young man, Douglas Ojugbo, for allegedly visiting his daughter.
According to eyewitness account, the deceased is known to neighbors as a friend of the man’s daughter. A neighbour who spoke under the condition of anonymity said Mr. Elewana is a very dangerous man who in recent years have shot two other people to death.
The source said: “the girl’s father had warned the young man not to come near the daughter again. That is what we were made to understand but the two of them could not leave themselves and we hear that it is because of that that the man decided to kill the man.”
The source narrated that on that fateful evening last week, “we saw the man running after the young man who was panting and running but the man caught up with him around the basin authority gate in front of security personnel attached to the estate, and shot him in the process. After shooting him, he dragged him into his car and drove off. All of us were running for our dear lives because, like I said, that man is dangerous and everyone around know him for that.”
Investigation showed that Elewana shot Douglas in the arm and later gave him another shot in the leg and allowed the young man to bleed to death after bundling him into the car and drove the corpse to the Federal Housing Police station in Calabar.
Authorities in the Federal Housing Police Station in Calabar were reluctant to speak on the issue, claiming that it has shaken the police personnel in the station terribly.
A police officer in the station said that he could say exactly what happened between the DPO and Elewana when the DPO ordered that the corpse of 22 year old Douglas which was driven into the station by Elewana around to 5pm, be buried in a hurry by 8pm at Goldie Cemetry without any autopsy or investigation and without verifying the parents of the deceased.
According to a close family member, It was on March 12, 2015, after frantic search by parents and family members that Douglas parents got wind that their son had been shot and driven to the Federal Housing Police Station. On getting to the police station, the bereaved parents were not only shocked to hear that their son’s corpse has been buried without their consent, the DPO also coerced the father into signing an undertaking not to let anybody hear what happened nor make any complaint to any authority whatsoever.
But the bereaved father, Mr. Oga Augustine Ojugbo, a lawyer with Kanu G. Agabi & Associates, said he later found that absurd and has now petitioned the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 6, Calabar and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the cause of his son’s death and bring those who killed the son to justice.
In his petition, Barrister Ojugbo refuted claims that the son was having an affair with Elewana’s daughter.
He explained that the son had sold his mini laptop to Elewana’s daughter who made part payment and it was the balance the son went to collect when he met his untimely death.
“The late Mr. Douglas Oga Augustine Ojugbo is my son, he is 22 years old. Sometimes this year, my son sold his used mini laptop to the daughter of Mr. Elewana Godwin who leaves with him at his River Basin Authority home. Mr. Elewana’s daughter (name is unknown to me at the moment), made a part payment of the agreed sum leaving balance.
“My son in a bid to collect or recover the balance of his money has been visiting the home of Mr. Elewana until he ran into Mr. Elewana on his previous visits. Mr. Elewana not pleased with the boy’s presence inquired or demanded to know what he was doing in his house. My son tried to explain to Mr. Elewana of his transaction with his daughter. Mr. Elewana without any effort to verify the boy’s story asked him to leave his house and warned him never to visit his house again.
“My son was about leaving when Mr. Elewana’s daughter cornered him and asked him to come on the 10th of March and collect the balance of his money. On that faithful day, 10th of March, 2015 my son went to Mr. Elewana’s house hoping to see his daughter as they agreed but unfortunately he saw Mr. Elewana.
“Mr. Elewana upon sighting Douglas, my son ran into his room and fetched his gun, late Douglas my son upon sighting Mr. Elewana with a gun took to his heels to save his life. However, Mr. Elewana having made up his mind to kill my son, pursued him until he caught up with late Douglas at the gate of Basin Authority, a distance of a kilometer from his house where he shot my son first on the leg as a result of which the late Douglas fell down and to accomplish his goal, Mr. Elewana shot him the second time on the arm to make sure that my son is dead.
“Furthermore, Mr. Elewana haven accomplished his goal bundled the body of the late Douglas into his car and took same to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO Federal Housing Police station. Mr. Elewana Godwin conspired with the DPO Federal Housing Police station, Calabar Supol Mike Ezenwenrem to get rid of the body of Mr. Douglas in order to conceal his death. In furtherance of this agreement the Divisional Police Officer Federal Housing police station and Mr. Elewana hurriedly went and buried the body of the late Douglas in the night of 10th March at the Goldie cemetery, Calabar. “
Barrister Ojugbo added that the action of the DPO has cast aspersions on the integrity of the police officer and left one in utter astonishment as to what must have motivated the DPO to lean towards abating such heinous crime.
“It is my opinion that this callous act of murder and hurried burial cannot be swept under the carpet in other not to allow or encourage other blood thirsty vampires’ feast on innocent souls.
“I strongly believe that the Commission is the proper body I should complain to. I therefore call on the Commission to take whatever action within the confines of the law with the view of ensuring that justice is not only done but seen to be done to my family.”
The DPO of the federal housing police station has continued to shield Elewana, from arrest and the alleged murderer still walks free in Cross River State.

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Let’s Join Forces To Stop Drift Of Nigeria, Buhari Tells Private Sector Forum

Greenbarge Reporters

March 22, 2015

Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has asked members of the Private Sector Forum to join hand with him to halt the drift of Nigeria into economic and political disaster.
General Buhari, who spoke to them at a dinner which the Private Sector Forum organised in his honour last night shared the concern of the business people in Nigeria on the general deterioration in all sectors of the Nigerian society, “in particular the business environment which has been negatively affected by mismanagement, profligacy, bad governance, corruption and above all, pervasive insecurity in our land and therefore has not been able to advance the course of doing business in our country.”
According to the APC Presidential hopeful, the desire for change in Nigeria today is not just an APC affair but has turned into a national movement which he said, has been underpinned by a National Agenda of arresting the drift and promoting the unity and development of the country.
“This desire for change has been embraced by all and sundry from all over the country.
General Buhari assured that if by the grace of God he is elected President in the next Saturday’s election, the security and stability of the nation, which have been threatened in recent times, more than at any time since the Civil War, shall be properly addressed as a number one priority by enhancing the capacity of security agencies to safeguard lives and property.
“We shall decisively bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end and promote lasting peace and stability in all the nooks and crannies of our nation. We would ensure that the victims of the insurgency are adequately rehabilitated and supported to restore their means of livelihood. All Nigerians shall be free to live and work in every part of the country. We shall make accountability and transparency the hallmarks of our administration by ensuring that resources are well utilized through plugging all loopholes and eliminating wastages and corruption in governance. Anti corruption agencies shall be strengthened and given free hand to operate in discharging their statutory mandate.
“We would strengthen and make government institutions more independent to provide the necessary regulatory framework for conducive business environment. We would provide level playing field and will not allow politics to creep into and constrain the business climate. We would embark on multiple tracks reform in the oil & gas sector especially the government institutions like the NNPC to block revenue transmission leakages and make them more efficient and accountable.”
Buhari said that the manifesto of APC, which took six months of surveys and painstaking analyses of the Nigerian condition to develop, has come out with a comprehensive Economic Development Plan geared towards promoting agriculture, power supply, infrastructural development, industrialization and job creation, amongst others.
“We shall promote sound macro-economic policy environment, run an efficient and transparent Government, restore and strengthen financial confidence by putting in place a more robust monitoring, supervision and regulation of all financial institutions.
“We shall embark on a National Infrastructural Development Programme that will promote road, air and water transportation in the country to make Nigeria a hub of the West African Sub Region. Roads and rail construction will unlock a value chain of opportunities for construction companies, builders, engineers, architects, quarry operators, cement and iron rod production and supply. We shall undertake a review of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework with a view to strengthening its legal, regulatory and operational systems.
“We shall provide incentives to accelerate public and private sector investments in the green field ports development and inland waterways. Our maritime environment shall be secured and protected from piracy and armed robbery at sea.
“We would undertake a more comprehensive power reform that would address the gaps in power industry. Also, we would explore and develop alternative sources of energy that are efficient, affordable and environmentally sustainable. These would boost power supply, create jobs and reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria.”
He noted that the current dwindling oil prices have brought our economic and social predicament into sharp focus, adding that we must stop paying lip service to agriculture by taking practical and concrete steps to restore it to its glorious position as the mainstay of our economy providing employment, food for our teeming population as well as leading foreign exchange earner.
“Our Agricultural policy shall provide farmers a dignified living through improved inputs, extension services, access to credits and price support mechanisms. We would re-vitalize the agricultural sector and make it the engine of growth, and source of job and wealth creation. Some of our policy thrust would include Agricultural Enterprises Value Chain and Cluster Development for commodities, and institutional framework and support for agribusiness investment. In this regard, the Abuja Commodity Exchange shall be reinvigorated and supported.
“We will rehabilitate and invest in agric. Infrastructure such as access roads and dams & irrigation. We will also invest in Research & development and promote farmers capacity for more efficient agric. production. We will restore and institutionalize extension services system.”
General Buhari stressed that his government would adopt a robust industrialization policy and provide conducive environment for a private sector led industrial base for the economy.
He also promised to create industrial Hubs and Clusters with appropriate infrastructure and tax incentives to support industries and businesses, adding: “we will promote relevant education in technical and vocational training to create the necessary skills required for industrial development. “Property rights will be guaranteed, while sanctity of contracts would be protected.
“We shall take a look at the Land Use Act of 1978 with a view to making land more accessible for residential, commercial and developmental purposes. We shall provide incentives in the housing sector to bridge the housing deficit in the country in order to make houses cheaper and affordable to our average income earners, especially in our major urban centres such as Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna, Ibadan and Kano.”
Buhari had made it known when he addressed the Lagos private sector on February 2 2015 that if elected, he would maintain periodic and regular meetings with stakeholders to obtain well informed advice for Government to formulate policies and strategies that would uplift this country from the economic doldrums and advance their interest for the overall progress and development of our country.
He advised the private sector and other economic stakeholders will be one of the stakeholders as well as other Nigerians to intensify efforts to vote as well as mobilise voters to ensure his successful election, reiterating that he will lead with integrity, honour and sincere commitment to the good cause of Nigerians.
He expressed his appreciation to the organizers of the event for their altruistic support and prayers.

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PDP, Testimony Of Everything Wrong With Nigeria –Fani-Kayode

Greenbarge Reporters

March 22, 2015

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has described National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, as representative of a “sinking ship.”
Fani-Kayode, who stated on Sunday night on a Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today’, was responding to comments credited to Metuh about the recently launched manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fani-Kayode, one time Minister of Aviation and a chieftain of the APC, said in any case he did not expect the PDP spokesman to say anything different from what he had said as “he represents a sinking ship”.
He described the PDP as a sad testimony of everything that is wrong with the country, just as he did not spare himself of blame as a former member of the party.
Fani-Kayode admitted to being partly responsible for the failure of the PDP leaders having contributed to putting them in office.
According to him, the PDP that existed during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the good old PDP, adding that Nigeria was debt free for the first time in many years at the end of the Obasanjo administration “but the country had since the Goodluck Jonathan era gone back to debts”.
Fani-Kayode, who insisted on clarifying the reasons behind his decision to leave the PDP, criticised the power sector reforms of the Jonathan administration, claiming that the country generated 4,300 megawatts at the end of the Obasanjo administration but that it is now down to generating as low as around 3,000 megawatts.
While reacting to his position as a former minister in the aviation sector, which has been said to have experienced more development since the administration of Jonathan than in his time, Fani-Kayode refused to criticise the sacked Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, but noted that the resources available to them were not the same as the latter had access to more funds.
He added that his place in the history of the ministry was a special one, as he maintained the safest aviation industry that did not experience any crash, a feat, he said, was more important than beautifying airports.

Written last year by Akinwunmi King

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Why Won’t I Vote For Change? By Abu Bilaal Abdulrazaq bn Bello bn Oare

Greenbarge Reporters

March 21, 2015

I graduated from the prestigious Ambrose Alli University in 2005 (approximately 10 years ago), and most of my school mates that graduated in the same year are yet to find gainful employment. I was moved with awe and pity when one of them who studied Business Administration and graduated with honours begged me to help him get even a security job in my place of work, just to make ends meet. The guy had tried out every other thing, other than stealing.
It’s true that most of the problems on ground were not created by Goodluck Jonathan, rather he inherited them from past inept governments like his. But the fact is that he knew these problems beforehand as well as the overwhelming majority of Nigerians do, and he was elected to solve the problems, having presented himself as a capable hand.
However, since it has become manifest that he cannot deliver on that mandate, it’s a moral obligation upon him to honourably step aside for someone else to help out. The Presidency is a job, not a chieftaincy title. Sentiments apart, Goodluck Jonathan simply cannot do the job.
As it is today, there’s no better opportunity to opt for a better leadership than the coming election. The contest is clearly between GEJ and GMB. The good news is that they both have track records by which they can be assessed. While GEJ should actually be crucified for the little he has done and the much he has not done within the space of 6 years he’s been in charge, GMB’s record for barely 2 years and 8 months as the Head of State witnessed drastic changes in the moral, economic and social lives of Nigerians. In fact, GEJ cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with GMB in terms of record of performance. Those who are saddled with the responsibility of selling GEJ to the public have been having a pretty herculean task carrying out the ignominious assignment, as it is a lot easier to sell shit than to sell Jonathan on the record of his achievements.
Therefore, brothers and sisters in humanity, fellow countrymen, for the sake of accountable leadership, for the sake of ours and our children’s future, and for the sake of good conscience, let’s keep sentiments aside and vote for change. It’s a moral duty/responsibility for which posterity will hold us accountable. Integrity has been so scarce amongst humanity, and more so amongst politicians. How lucky we are to have found this scarce commodity free of charge in General Muhammadu Buhari, who’s had it as his hallmark throughout his public service. This chance must not be frittered away. This is a contest between integrity and moral bankruptcy… between superlative performance and mediocrity…. between truth and falsehood… and between light and darkness. The true definition of foolishness is to do the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result. We need a total overhaul. We need change. We need to change the way of governance, we need to change the attitude of the entire citizenry of our country, and we need to change the standard of living and quality of life of Nigerians. We can’t always settle for the next best. We too deserve the very best and it’s time to go for it.
In the words of Prophet Muhammad, as rendered in simple English, “a day under a just leader is better than sixty years of worship…” (Bayhaqi/Tabarani).
It’s 7 days to the presidential election, and 70 days to the May 29 handover date. With Allah on our side, victory is certain.
I like to end by borrowing a slightly modified tweet from my dear brother, Dr. Perigrino Brimah:
#BabaWhenYouGetThere Pls launch the Nigerian manned mission to the moon. Before you send humans, experiment first with Femi Fani-Kayode, Doyin Okupe and Ayodele Fayose.

Abu Bilaal Abdulrazaq bn Bello bn Oare wrote from Kaduna, Nigeria
sahaabah@aol.com

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Buhari To Nigerians With Disabilities: If Roosevelt, Prof. Hawking Could Do It, You Too Can

Greenbarge Reporters

March 21, 2015

Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has given a word of encouragement to Nigerians with physical challenge, recalling similar leaders with similar conditions that made it big in life.
Addressing Physically Challenged Groups in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital today General Buhari said that late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the United States and Professor Steven Hawking, astrophysicist of Cambridge University, England were two examples of very outstanding people who fought incredible physical disability but because of their determination, will power, incredible resolution, overcame their disability and became known throughout the world.
He said that Roosevelt was crippled in both legs with polio and that throughout most of his adult life, Roosevelt was consigned to a wheelchair and had to be helped to bathe, to get into bed, to get out of bed, to dress and to be wheeled into his office or to address a political meeting.
“Roosevelt won four consecutive presidential elections, led the Allied Powers in the Second World War to defeat Hitler’s Germany and imperial Japan.
“His most significant achievement on the domestic front was to start massive public construction works to build roads, bridges, dams which employed millions of Americans and helped to alleviate the economic depression following the Great Crash of 1929. Roosevelt is regarded as the greatest American president of the 20th century. He overcame disability and proved to his countrymen and the world that physical challenges could be circumvented with the right spirit.
Turning to Steven Hawking, the APC Presidential hope recalled that he was healthy young man as an undergraduate who collapsed as he was walking around in his university compound and had to be helped to his rooms.
“Eventually, he was diagnosed as suffering from a motor neurone condition. In spite of this disability, can’t walk, can’t talk, can’t eat on his own, he wrote a masterpiece doctoral thesis and is now a professor in Page 1 strophysics and is even improving on Einstein’s theories. He can only nowadays communicate by using a speechgenerating device operated by a small sensor in his cheek. He is completely physically incapacitated but because of his indomitable spirit, he keeps on living, teaching and engaging in research.”
General Buhari told Nigerians with the will power, disabilities which do occur to men and women at random through illness or accident, should not be the end of the usefulness.
He noted that all too often, Nigerians afflicted by such calamity resign themselves to a life of begging, despair and poverty, adding that this need not be so.
General Buhari said that a study by Dr. Raymond Langland of University College London and Miss Lucy Upah, social welfare officer Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities Abuja highlighted many of the challenges and opportunities for disabled people in Nigeria.
“For example, they pointed out that a meeting with INEC, it was proposed that in future, disabled people are able to actively participate in elections thereby exercising their democratic rights. In addition, currently the 1999 constitution is being reviewed and there is a strong possibility disabled people’s rights will be protected in the constitution.”
The APC Presidential candidate agreed with the report that enormous changes are needed towards accepting physically challenged people have rights and also have contributions to the national effort, adding that If, by the grave of God, APC wins the elections next week, its government will fulfil the party’s election promise to appoint a Federal Ombudsman for people with disabilities to combat discrimination against the disabled.
“The Ombudsman will take care of: Rehabilitation, Employment of disabled persons, Participating (of disable persons) in public life among other assignments.”

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I Will Revive Groundnut Pyramid In Kano In My Second Coming, Says Jonathan

Greenbarge Reporters

March 21, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to revive Kano groudnut pyramid if he is re-elected in the March 28 election.
Groundnut pyramid made Kano famous in agricultural production upto the early 70’s.
Speaking while while commissioning the newly constructed N2.5 billion naira Kundila fly-over bridge on Zaria road, Kano today, President Jonathan said that Kano city is a significant part of Nigeria which cannot be ignored.
The President said that being the centre of commerce and trade, his administration is committed to uplifting the living standards of people in the state.
He made it clear that in his second tenure, he will put in place the necessary infrastructure to boost it’s processing and packaging, as part of measures to empower Kano people and boost trade and industry.
“Kano state is one of the important states in Nigeria. This is one of the most important roads that traverses this country. This is a critical infrastructure that will help to promote commerce and industry. Kano state is known for commercial activities, known for agriculture, known for trade beyond Nigeria, beyond west Africa. It is a state that needs to work with the federal government so that the federal government working with the state would improve the quality of the life of the people, to improve the productive capacity of the people and generate wealth for the people. We love Kano people and we will work with you so that we don’t just get the pyramid back but we are taking about processing.
“What you produce in your farms, what we produce in our forests, what we get from our soil have to be processed so that we add value to it so that we can create jobs and wealth for our people. That is why we are very happy that Kano people believe in the leading party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“Though there were some movements recently, but the coming elections we will use it to correct those movements. We want to work with you. We are not going to exploit the people of Kano state but to work and add value to the people, the people that we love so much and want to work with.”
President Jonathan named the new bridge after late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, describing him as “one of our prominent traditional rulers who was not known for controversy. He never played with his stool. He applied his rule with extreme dignity, he added true colour, brought dignity and respect to that office. He has left us but we need to continue to remember and respect him.
“This bridge we are commissioning we are naming it after Ado Bayero, that is the little thing that the Federal Government can do to immortalise him and continue to promote his leadership style and encourage the people of this great state.”
Jonathan thanked the people of Kano for supporting the ruling PDP, adding that the recent loss of the state to the opposition will be corrected in the next round of elections.
Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen said the bridge is strategic and critical to the socio-economic life of the people even as he thanked the President for providing funds for the quick construction of the bridge.
It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the construction of the bridge in December, 2012 in the sum of N2,499,924,850.50 to Messrs Road Construction Limited.
The Kundila roundabout is at the crossing of Zaria road with Hospital and Maiduguri roads. The bridge is strategically located at the intersection of two Trans- Saharan Highways, namely; Ndjamena- Dakar and Lagos- Algiers.
The scope of work comprises the construction of 120m long reinforced concrete (8 No spans of 15m each) dual carriage flyover bridge over Zaria road at Kundila roundabout. It also involves construction of 200m and 165m lenght of ramps with reinforced concrete cantilever walls on both Zaria and Kano approaches respectively.

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Atiku Insists He Should Be Invited To APC Presidential Campaign Rallies

Greenbarge Reporters

March 20, 2015

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has insisted that as a prominent member and leader pf All Progressives Congress (APC), he should be invited or consulted by the Director General of the Campaign Organisation to rallies being held around the country.

Atiku, who has not been seen in any of the Presidential campaign rallies held so far by the party’s Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari said that the campaign secretariat has not been inviting or consulting with him in its programmes.

“They need to check the strategy they are adopting and I made that clear to the campaign DG, Rotimi Amaechi and I told him that if you don’t consult or invite me, you will not see me.”

In an interview with the Hausa service of the BBC today, the former VP said: “I am not a light weight politician, whoever needs my presence should contact and extend invitation to me.”
he said that he has paid his dues as far as politics is concerned in the country because he has participated in many presidential campaigns in the past.

“I campaigned for late Shehu Yar’Adua twice successfully,” he said. “We did that of Abiola, Obasanjo and for myself.

Atiku said however that the situation has not degenerated into any sort of crisis in APC, adding that though he had issues and reservations with the way the campaign is being run, it is not too late to make amends.

The former vice president said that he is confident APC will win the elections, stressing: “APC will win because everyone is tired with the current administration,” he said. “So, despite the challenges in APC, change will surely come.”

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