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It has emerged that the position of the security services advising against the conduct of the 2015 elections in February was actually a lifeline handed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was ill-prepared to conduct the elections this month. A Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) assigned to one of the northern states, who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, said the advice by the security chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to defer the elections because of the security situation in the North-east gave INEC the much needed breather to prepare adequately for the polls.
He said contrary to reports that 21 of the RECs had opposed the postponement of the polls during their meeting at the weekend with the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that was not the case, as all they did was to give him situational reports on each of the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.
The INEC REC further revealed that the training and simulation exercises for INEC officials and thousands of ad hoc staff on how to use the card readers for the permanent voters’ cards during the polls had not been conducted. “The training manual is not ready while simulations for the card readers have not been conducted. Our personnel and ad hoc staff do not know how to use the card readers, and some that have been tested were not working. “Apart from this, over 23 million registered voters had not picked up their cards; that is about 34 per cent of registered voters. So were we going to disenfranchise them under the pretext that not all of them would vote? “It is not INEC’s responsibility to dwell on voter apathy. Ours is to ensure that all cards get to the voters. Whether they turn out to vote or not is their prerogative, not that of INEC,” he said.
The REC said Jega had not been entirely honest when he made his presentation to the Council of State last week on the preparedness of the electoral commission for the polls. “We were far from being ready and had we proceeded with our state of unpreparedness in February, we would have faced greater challenges than what we encountered during the 2011 general election when we were forced to postpone the elections by two weeks. “So the insecurity in the North-east has offered INEC a lifeline to get its act together and sort out most, if not all, pending issues before the polls start on March 28,” he said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, has expressed concern over the ability of state governments to honour their bond obligations to investors on the back of tumbling oil prices, which have impacted on the revenue accruable to the states.
He said: “It is an issue we need to look at closely especially with a view to protecting investors which is ultimately our major responsibility.”
Speaking in Abuja at the weekend while receiving executive members of the Association of Corporate Trustees, who paid him a courtesy visit, the SEC boss however reassured bond investors of its commitment to act in their best interest at all times.
He was speaking amid concerns in some quarters that the plunge in crude oil prices could affect the ability of state governments to meet the repayment terms under the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) required for state bond approvals.
The ISPO is an important instrument that gives bond investors comfort, as funds are deducted at source from states’ Federation Account allocation and transferred to a sinking fund from which investors are paid their coupons. Gwarzo further assured the trustees that SEC, with the support of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, would insist on the sanctity of the ISPO, considering the impact the arrangement has so far had on the domestic bond market.
He also underscored the urgency for state governments to diversify their revenue base to end their over-reliance on crude oil and earnings and in order to meet obligations while achieving the developmental objectives for their people.
On her part, president of the Association, Funmi Ekundayo congratulated the DG of SEC on his recent appointment and commended the commission’s leadership for its various initiatives aimed at developing the capital market.
She also assured the SEC management of the association’s continuing support and cooperation as a trade group in the quest to move the market to the next level.
She said: “Our role as protectors of the investor cannot be overemphasised. In compliance with our responsibilities within the trust deed we ensure that investors are always protected and repaid as and when due. We are happy with the support you give us which has continued to strengthen investors' confidence in the market.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Boko Haram fighters on Sunday waged attacks on a barracks in Yobe State and a southeastern border town in Niger Republic, where a blast killed at least one person and left 10 injured, witnesses and hospital sources said.
The Islamist militants launched their assault around the town of Diffa in Niger before dawn, two days after launching its first major attack on Friday in the area bordering Nigeria, witnesses quoted by AFP said.
The cause of the deadly blast in Diffa was not immediately known, with some sources describing it as a suicide attack while others referred to it as a bomb or a mortar shell.
Similarly members of the terror group were reported to have launched an attack on a military barracks in Gaida, Yobe State.
Although details on the barracks onslaught were sketchy at press time yesterday, sources said they could hear the heavy exchange of gunfire between the terrorists and Nigerian soldiers attempting to defend the military facility.
However, in a bid to stem the attacks in North-eastern Nigeria and neighbouring countries, Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroun and Benin Republic at the weekend pledged to deploy 8,700 troops, police and civilians as part of a regional effort to fight Boko Haram terrorists.
“The representatives of Benin, Cameroun, Niger, Nigeria and Chad have announced contributions totalling 8,700 military personnel, police and civilians,” the countries said in a statement after a meeting in Cameroun's capital, Yaounde.
The announcement came out of a three-day summit focused on organising the force that will battle the Islamist militants, who are engaged in a worsening six-year insurgency centred in Northeastern Nigeria.
However, it may be some time before the multinational effort goes into action, as nations will continue in coming days to thrash out the details of each government's contribution as well as the budget.
Country representatives at the summit agreed to launch a mission to “foster a safe and secure environment in the impacted regions" and tackle an insurgency that has killed at least 13,000 people and pushed more than a million from their homes since 2009, reported the AFP.
African Union leaders will submit the plan for the force crafted by Western and African experts to the UN Security Council for approval.
Boko Haram attacks have increasingly spilled over from Nigeria into neighbouring nations.
Their first major assault in Niger on Friday triggered a forcible response from Chadian and Nigerien troops.
Niger's defence minister reported that 109 of the Islamists were killed in the fighting, along with four soldiers and a civilian. Seventeen other troops were wounded.
The United States said it condemned the attack in the “strongest possible terms” and pledged support for regional forces.
“This unchecked killing must stop,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said. “We continue to provide support to governments in the region, including through intelligence sharing, and are increasing our support for these efforts.”
US intelligence officials said Friday that while Boko Haram is flush with cash and weapons after a string of battlefield advances, the terrorists could face a tougher fight with Nigeria’s neighbours.
The military intervention of neighbouring powers could potentially be a “game changer in a positive way,” one intelligence official said.
Meanwhile, Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai at the weekend called for global support to help release more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, as they marked 300 days as hostages.
“As we mark this tragic 300th day of captivity for hundreds of kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls, I call on people everywhere to join me in demanding urgent action to free these heroic girls,” she said. Boko Haram terrorists seized 276 teenagers from the Government Secondary School in the remote town of Chibok, Borno State on the evening of April 14 last year.
Fifty-seven managed to escape but 219 are still being held, despite military claims that they had been located but that a rescue operation was too fraught with danger to be conducted.
The girls' abduction and subsequent claims from Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau that they have been forcibly converted to Islam or married off sparked global outrage.
The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls trended on social media and saw prominent figures, including US First Lady Michelle Obama, tweet their support, as well as global street protests.
Malala, 17, who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban for defying threats about her attending school, visited Nigeria in July last year to urge President Goodluck Jonathan to take action.
Jonathan has been widely criticised for what has been seen as a lacklustre response to the crisis and for failing to end the deadly, six-year insurgency. Malala at the weekend said the government in Abuja and the international community “can and must do much more to resolve this crisis and change their weak response to date”.
“If these girls were the children of politically or financially powerful parents, much more would be done to free them,” the children's rights campaigner added in a statement.
“But they come from an impoverished area of North-east Nigeria and sadly, little has changed since they were kidnapped,” she said.
Malala said politicians who secure a win at the polls should commit to making the Chibok girls’ release and the education of all Nigerian children, a priority in their first 100 days in office.
“Let's end this horrible saga now. Leaders must make sure the #BringBackOurGirls effort results in a real outcome: the return of the Chibok girls,” she added.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Dubai has banned single and unmarried Nigerians who are less than 40 years old from visiting the country except the person is accompanied by someone who is above 40 and bears the same surname with them.
According to an online news blog, the visa rules for Nigerians wishing to enter Dubai are as follows: • Single ladies/men travelling alone should be 40 years old and above. • Married women travelling with children should be above 40 years old. • Ladies/men who are less than 40 years old will be allowed to travel if accompanied by someone who is above 40 and bears the same surname with them
• All visa applications are subject to approval. Once applied, full charges are applicable.
• In order to clear a file from the system, a cancellation charge of AED 110 will be applicable should a request be rejected by the immigration department.
• For Moroccans, Algerians, Libyans, Mauritanians and Tunisians nationality, minimum age requirement is 40 to apply for a visa. • For other nationalities, the minimum age requirement to apply for a visa is 21 for men and 23 for women.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the general election from February 14 and 28, to March 28 and April 11 has indeed triggered chains of reaction from the polity. While a larger chunk of the reactions condemn, in very hard and unkind terms, the postponement, some others believe it is done to save the nation and the electoral body from greater danger and chaos. Many of the reactions from the opposition parties berated the service chiefs and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the postponement, whereas pro-establishment stakeholders have striven to justify the shift.
Our correspondents provide some of the reactions from across board.
Mark, APC Senators Disagree on Postponement of 2015 Polls Senate President David Mark and his colleagues in All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday disagreed sharply on the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2015 polls.
While Mark in a statement in Abuja described the postponement as a necessary step to avoid anarchy as a result of security lapses, APC senators described it as a teleguided move towards derailing democracy. The Senate President urged all Nigerians to embrace caution with a view to avoiding failure of the exercise.
"We all must take the path of caution in order not to jeopardise the process towards a successful exercise in the Nigerian project. It is a necessary step to avoid anarchy and chaos because of some shortcomings and insecurity fuelling the already charged atmosphere," he said.
He added that if Nigeria must conduct peaceful, free, fair and credible election that will conform with international best practices, all stakeholders and participants must hold a common position, adding that any "step not taken or subverted could produce a questionable result."
He added: "That is why we must all be careful in what we do or say. I believe all Nigerians, both partisan and non partisan are passionate and indeed desirous of a successful election for the good of our nation.
"We need not do anything that would aggravate or overheat the polity. We must do our utmost best and contribute positively towards successful elections.
"Let us give peace a chance. Let us exercise restraint. Let us dutifully follow the laws and rules and make a success of the situation."
Mark warned foreign concerns against joining the fray of the opposition to cause confusion, saying all that is required of them is understanding as well as genuine support "to help us reach our destination and not attempt to join the fray of the confusion."
However, the APC caucus in a statement said the ruling PDP midwifed the postponement because of fear of imminent defeat, adding that the move showed the helplessness of INEC in the hands of persons who want to truncate the present civil rule.
"What we are seeing is a desperate and jittery response to the imminent defeat of the PDP. The postponement has shown the helplessness of INEC in the face of a malicious cabal bent on destroying the fabric of democracy.
"This decision is borne out of fear of defeat and malice against the people of Nigeria in the face of the overwhelming support the APC commands across the country," the caucus said.
The senators further alleged that the postponement, which they described as the fallout of connivance by PDP leadership along with INEC, is a diversionary tactic with the intention to undermine democracy and truncate people's desire for change.
They also argued that the move would have adverse effects on the nation's economy and further soil Nigeria's image in the comity of nations. "It is a diversionary tactic which undermines the aspirations of Nigerians and dims the hope for change in a country that in the past has seen bitter upheavals due to similar partisan posture of the election umpire," they said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has said that the electoral body should have called the bluff of security chiefs and proceded with the February 14 presidential election.
In a statement, Falana also said that by saying that they would not provide security in aid of civil authorities pursuant to section 217 of the Constitution, “the security chiefs have committed the offence of mutiny contrary to section 52 of the Armed Forces Act.”
He further stated that by causing the election to be postponed, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Dasuki Sambo, and the security chiefs had staged a coup against the constitution.
"They are liable to be prosecuted for the grave offence of treason at the appropriate time," he added.
He also said that INEC misconstrued the provisions of section 25 of the Electoral Act, when it relied on that provision to postpone the election. He said: "The reliance on section 25 of the Electoral Act by the INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega, is totally misleading."
According to him, the provision does not support the postponement of a general election in the entire country but “in the area or areas” where there is violence or actual threat of a breakdown of law and order.
He said: "Since the reason for the postponement of any election must be 'cogent and verifiable' it is crystal clear from the press conference addressed by Jega last night that INEC did not verify the bogus claim of the NSA and the security chiefs as required by the law."
He also said that contrary to the mistaken belief of the INEC leadership, the armed forces had no role to play in the electoral process.
He cited a judgment delivered last week by a Federal High Court sitting Sokoto where the court declared illegal and unconstitutional the involvement of soldiers in election duties.
The judgment, he said, was binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria.
He described as blackmail, the letter written to INEC by the NSA to the President, to the effect that the armed forces could not provide security for the election because of the operations in the North-east region.
He said: "By writing directly to the INEC on the security situation in the North-east region the NSA usurped the functions of the National Security Council.
"Therefore, they (security chiefs) lack the constitutional power to make any authoritative pronouncement on the security of the nation. Even though the NSA is a member of the National Security Council, he cannot usurp the constitutional responsibilities of the body with the connivance of the service chiefs."
Lagos APC: Postponement, a Threat to Democracy The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the decision of INEC to postpone the 2015 general election on the prompting of the PDP and Jonathan presidency as an affront to Nigerians and a serious threat to democracy, which Nigerians must rise up to protest. The party said the laughable excuse that a four-yearly general election is being postponed a week to the exercise on the pretext that the army is embarking on a six-week exercise against insurgents, is a cheap insult, an annoying blackmail on the sensibilities of Nigerians by a party and government that is desperate to remain in power when it is obvious that Nigerians don't want it any longer.
In a release in Lagos, signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, the party said that it has become obvious to Nigerians that the PDP and the Goodluck Jonathan government are desperate to manipulate every institution so as to remain in power, adding that Nigerians must be more resolute in ensuring the party is banished "from our politics, if only to preserve our hallowed institutions from such abuse as the PDP is presently visiting on them."
The statement further urged Nigerians to remain strong and steadfast in ensuring that the country is saved from the illegalities and outright impunity the PDP has made part of the country's governance.
"We remember that what is turning out as a dangerous, cold blooded attack on democracy started as a hatchet call by President Jonathan's National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) in far away London for the postponement of an election fixed over two years ago and which time table had been religiously followed by all parties. We remember that Dasuki hinged his call on the position that most Nigerians had not gotten their permanent voters card.
"We recall that INEC not only showed its preparedness to conduct the election but went extra miles to demonstrate that contrary to Dasuki's allegation on PVCs, it had not only distributed the voters' cards but made provisions for all registered Nigerian voters' to collect their voters card before Election Day
"We note that having failed to convince Nigerians on the reason why it wants the elections postponed, the PDP and Jonathan government with active connivance with the security forces embarked on a dangerous blackmail of INEC with the threat of withdrawing security from the conduct of the election, as a fictitious six week onslaught against the same militants the Jonathan government has conspiratorially tolerated as it makes mincemeat of innocent Nigerians for six years now, was fangled to start on the day of the presidential election!
"As childish as this reasoning was, it was a very dangerous coup against democracy hatched by the top echelon of the PDP and Jonathan government and what better way to expose the intrigues behind this plot than that presidential spokesmen and errand boys were authoritatively sending out releases that the election slated for February had been postponed for six weeks, two days before the so-called consultative engagements INEC purportedly claimed led to this postponement?
"Lagos APC agrees with a majority of Nigerians that the postponement of the election is an illegal ambush on democracy and follows an extensive plot by Jonathan and PDP to cling to power by all means when they have lost favour with Nigerians.
"Lagos APC urges its members, supporters to be vigilant as the PDP tries further tricks to ensure that the will of the Nigerian people are sacrificed and suppressed for the interests of a corrupt and failed Jonathan government and the PDP. We urge Nigerians to remain firm and more resolute to end this Jonathan/PDP regime and its relentless assault on not only the country's treasury but also all the sacred institutions of democracy.
UPP Chiefs Condemn Polls Postponement The presidential candidate of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie has described as unfortunate and regrettable the decision of INEC to postpone the general election.
"This decision is regrettable in the light of the fact that it was reached as a result of tremendous pressure the government and its officials and agents mounted on INEC, including organised and apparently sponsored calls for the resignation of Professor Jega.
"As a responsible party with patriotic leadership, the UPP calls on its supporters to accept this development in good faith and stay calm and peaceful.
"We also call on our supporters to remain vigilant, however. The recent developments have demonstrated that the notion of an independent electoral agency is a mirage. The credibility of INEC and its chairman has suffered and the UPP suspects that this postponement is only the first in a series of intrigues to come," he said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The time to end the choke hold on Lagos is now, reckons Folake Aderibigbe
There is a saying that those who live in glass house should not throw stones. The rationale for this is the dark prospect of retaliation which could be more heinous and destructive given the structure of the habitat of either the initial assailant or the avenger. This message is thus a very wise saying. One wonders then why someone like Bola Tinubu, an accomplished and successful politician but highly suspected godfather, should go out of his way to acknowledge that he is not only a godfather but a positive one.
That clearly beats the imagination that the idea of a godfather in Nigerian politics can ever be linked to anything positive or in any democracy for that matter. This is because in plain terms, godfathers cut corners and promote their selfish goals and objectives at the expense of merit, justice and community life in any society and democracy. Godfathers are simply anti-democrats.
According to reports, Tinubu told a campaign rally that Governor Mimiko of Ondo State took money from him but did not play ball. He said Mimiko has labelled him a godfather and he accepts that because “godfatherism is biblical and that is why Christians refer to God as their father.” According to him, “I play godfatherism in the South-west for the good of our people. My godfatherism is for progress and monitoring. I have brought development to Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo and Ogun States and the people are better for it.”
This is a very clear and provocative example of hubris and a classical case of the Icarus Complex in Greek mythology. The Icarus complex is the fascinating story of a brilliant man blessed with intellect by the gods to make a bird-like object glued together with wax and able to fly. Icarus grew heady with the applause of onlookers and flew too close to the sun which melted the the wax and he plummeted to death on his strange contraption.
It is unbelievable that someone like Tinubu can liken his attested godfatherism to how Christians see God whom they worship as the type of godfatherism he practices and acknowledges. I leave it to the people and governors of the other South-west states to which he said he has brought progress to react as they deem fit to his boastings. We are however interested in how he has been able to ask for change at the centre of government in Abuja while promoting continuity in his backyard here in Lagos.
One thing is clear and that is that this self proclaimed godfather is a Godless and hypocritical man without any religion. This can be seen from the way he mistook godfatherism at Christian baptism for the way Christians regard God. Secondly the fact that he allowed a Christian-Christian ticket in Lagos and created the Ambode ticket and went one to attempt to foist himself on Buhari for a Muslim-Muslim APC ticket before sanity prevailed in the party for him to anoint Osinbajo and make a U-turn, showed clearly that he was only interested in retention of power in Lagos State at all costs and not in placating Christians in the state for their long, political neglect and discrimination.
So it becomes apparent that both the change and continuity that Tinubu and APC are asking for at the centre and in Lagos are shallow, hollow and false in all respects and Nigerians and Lagosians should deny them both at the polls during the presidential and the governor elections in Lagos.
In fact, the inconsistency and dishonesty in their intention in Lagos is clearly highlighted at rallies where Ambode is present and they shout “APC for Change” when all they are seeking in Lagos is dismal and suffocating continuity of the state governance in Tinubu’s dirty and deep pocket of 16 years of thievery, nepotism and cronyism.
Definitely, again, the governorship election in the state will put an end to that with the emergence of J.K Agbaje as the new governor of Lagos. That is the main duty of Lagos voters for now.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Onyenwe Princely is of the view that for democracy to take root in the country, the presidential institution must internalise equity as a critical ingredient
The issue of sanitizing our democratic space is expected to be the most supreme in the minds of nationalistic Nigerians. I will be obliged to see the emerging president of our great country, Nigeria by February 14th, 2015, synchronise this modus operandi as a guiding principle of governance. Hence it is too great and crucial to be obscured by the eloquence of other tribes or the argumentative rationalisation of our people.
I opine that sanitizer must not only be applicable or be used to curb the upsurge of Ebola virus, rather our legislature must understand the need to remove the part of polices in governance that may seem unpleasant, abnormal and unacceptable to Nigerian populace. It is clearly evident that our leaders shall be held responsible if Nigeria fails to deliver as a country.
It is in my princely view that I could see the sanctity of democracy as the sanity of polity and therefore if it is proven beyond doubts that in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies but permanent interests, why can't Nigerians abandon this unnecessary internal political resentment and rancor to enable us as a people foster greater heights.
Besides, insecurity could have tempered the political growth of Nigeria’s independence and therefore security should be everybody's business, so also development, peace, progress, conducive environment, socio-economic amenities, food on the tables of the needy and acceptable welfare are indeed every body's business.
It is assumed that our leaders must respect the citizens in as much as the citizens respect them. The idea of quality of the federating units was rekindled after the 1959 constitution. Federalism was introduced and adopted to ensure that the federating units have a high level of autonomy, while the central authority will be less powerful. Hence, in the federal system, there is evidence of power sharing between the national and the regional or the state governments.
For a federal system to exist, each unit must have a degree of sovereignty over persons and property within its territory. Such entity must have exclusive authority over all matters in the unit. It must at least have a "will" of its own and the necessary apparatus to conduct its own affairs just as the February election has posed challenges to INEC and Nigerians.
Federalism had loosely been described as experimentation in socio-political economic organization of a state, based on compromise among contending centripetal and centrifugal forces which reflect the similarities and dissimilarities inherent within a given geopolitical entity. There is no doubt that misuse of such phrases like "federal government" or “federal system" when it merely represents a monolithic structure that had contributed to the unpleasant application of true governance in Nigeria. There is superior federal government and a subordinate state Government.
There must be a true and mental sanity of polity in the concept of federalism in Nigeria, for its dividends to be equitable. To achieve this, federalism must respect the values, fears, objectives, and economic susceptibilities of the various groups, otherwise it will be meaningless to submit or entrust one’s destiny in the hands of the federal government which is not capable of protecting her interest. Hence Thomas Hobbes was right when in recognition of the right to self preservation he opined that a person has no duty to a sovereign who cannot provide him with the foregoing, when he restated that the great and chief end of man, in uniting into the common wealth and putting himself under a government is the preservation of property.
If I may ask, are we getting the requisite level of protection, the sanity we need from operating federal system? Has there been equality in the state creation? Has there been any work done on the second Niger Bridge? How many ministerial and ambassadorial positions have we? Can't our seaports and airports be upgraded to a national status? What has been the position of Nigerian youths? What has been the benefit of SURE-P, U-win and fuel subsidy to the Nigerian populace?
Recently, coalition of Nigerian youths through a Radio Broadcast was demanding 50 per cent affirmative status, i.e. 25 per cent appointive and 25 per cent elective position in Nigerian government to express their views in matters concerning them. The bill will soon be passed to deliberate on. You see, the facts are clear that some tribes and groups are marginalised in Nigerian polity and sharing status.
The problem of sharing in Nigeria and the difficulty of everybody or any part getting what is due them is a sure source of fear and frustration that could result in automatic division, tribal disintegration and national suicide. But a house divided against itself can never stand. Our invested efforts, selfless services and philanthropy should affect us positively. Our wealth must touch the well being of others. The concept of sanity in our polity shall begin to attract the symbiotic relationship needed, garnished with justice, equity and good governance. However, equity has assumed a statue which presents it as a rectification of the rigidity of legal justice. The reason is that while law provides a general statement, there are cases which the general statements cannot cover.
My prayer is that this election will be held free and fair as expected on the scheduled dates and time, published by INEC to enable the Nigerian electorate determine their leaders. We must utilise our vote wisely and in as much as possible, internalise sanity from the point of equity and justice, exemplary leadership and sustained governance.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Elder statesman and founder, National Advance Party (NAP), Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, has expressed disdain over what he tagged as the interference of the international community in the decision to change the dates of election in Nigeria.
In a reaction to a statement by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry who expressed disappointment over the postponement, Braithwaite who spoke on phone from the United Arab Emirate, said the decision to shift the poll “is purely our affairs and in our national interest to get our priorities right."
He added that: "It is unacceptable for any foreign nation to dictate or meddle into our internal affairs." According to him, the postponement would allow Nigeria address foundational issues that are affecting the country. “The U.S and other world powers know this fact and it is imperative of them to allow us resolve our issues in a manner that would not jeopardise the unity of the nation," Braithwaite said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Minister of State for Power, Hon. Mohammed Wakil has said that with the shift in the election dates, INEC has shown that it is responsive and a worthy umpire.
The minister also said that the commission with it's latest action has averted what would had been a ruse and unworthy election.
Wakil, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Olawale Rasheed, said well-meaning Nigerians should commend INEC over this present decision for it was glaring that the commission was truly not fully prepared.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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