DobukoAlhaji Asari Dokubo of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force (NDPVF) vowed to retaliate the alleged stoning of President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy when he visited Kastina state.
Dokubo also bitterly condemned the signing of the non-violence peace accord by Jonathan, saying, “For every action, there would be an opposite and equal reaction.”
“To be very frank, on that day they were signing the accord I was very angry, signing with who?” The president has sworn to protect the lives of every Nigerian, so why would he take another oath after taking the constitutional oath?
“Buhari’s statements concerning peace accord was meant to deceive Nigerians”, saying Nigerians should not believe him.
Speaking on bringing about peace, Dokubo said, “nothing will happen if the Northerners do not engineer violence, adding that anything contrary, he and his people will not fold their arms”.
“The question is not for me, it’s for Buhari, Shakau and others who can not stop their people from stoning Jonathan when he visited Kastina”
“We know there are going to do what they know how to do best after election, but my message to all the Igbo in the North is that they should all leave now, including all the corporals serving there, let them come back home because they will do it again after Jonathan must have been declared winner.”
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 Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has initiated moves to report the leadership of the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the United Nations, Amnesty International, ECOWAS and other International Bodies over the violence being unleashed on APC ahead of the February 2015 general elections.
Along this line, the Rivers State APC leadership has set up a ten-man committee to compile evidence of attacks against APC members, offices and properties to be sent to the United Nations and other international bodies with a view to getting them to intervene before the situation gets out of hand and enemies of our democracy use Rivers State as a battle ground and scuttled our nascent democracy. The committee has Prince Peter Odike, the Rivers State APC Deputy Chairman, as Chairman and Barr. Sogbeye C. Eli, the Rivers State APC Youth Leader, as Secretary. Other members of the committee are Chief Emeka Bekee, Secretary of Rivers State APC; Evangelist (Mrs.) Carol Nagbo, Women Leader; Chief Eze C. Eze; Hon. Israel Asiamaka, Okirika Chairman of APC; Chief Victor Ere, Andoni APC Chairman; Hon. Ojukaya Flag-Amachree, former Asaro-Toru Local Government Chairman; Hon. Awongo Ikalama, Chief of Staff to the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly; and Chief (Barr.) Obinna JK Chukwu. The committee, which was inaugurated on Monday in Port Harcourt by Rivers State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, was given seven days to submit its report and recommendations
Inaugurating the committee, Dr. Ikanya urged it to specifically get details of how the party’s two secretariats in Okirika and Adoni were bombed within a space of less than a week, how many APC members have been killed or maimed, and the circumstances under which these evils were perpetrated.
Justifying the need for setting up of the committee, Ikanya said: “It has become the trend to attack our members and destroy APC’s campaign billboards, posters and banners, particularly those of our party’s standard bearer, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, whenever the party is to go out for campaign in any particular locality. In any local government area where Chief Nyesome Wike, the PDP Leader and gubernatorial candidate, is going to campaign, PDP thugs move round overnight and remove APC’s billboards, posters and banners to create the impression that Wike is fully on the ground in the area while he knows that he is not on ground in any part of Rivers State.
“We can no longer fold our arms and watch while we are being viciously attacked and slaughtered by people, whose mission and vision in politics is to spread violence as their own way of grabbing power, having seen that they have been overwhelmingly rejected by the electorates. What makes the situation more pathetic is that security agencies in Rivers State, including the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS), have failed to make any arrest or call the PDP leadership to order simply because they are controlled by the PDP-led Federal Government, which is desperate to take over Rivers State at all cost.
“We are disappointed that Chief Nyesome Wike has not been invited for questioning or cautioned despite his excesses and those of his supporters. Last Thursday while campaign at Abua Central, headquarters of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Wike gleefully made violent utterances and threats, even publicly boasting that he could order the Police Commissioner to arrest those that he wants to be arrested and such an order would be carried out. If Wike can go free despite making such reckless statements, we need no further tutorial as to why these attacks on our members and our properties are not considered worthy of investigation by the Police authorities.
“We in Rivers State APC believe in a violence-free election and campaign based on issues. That was why we took our case to the State Police Command and DSS last Monday. Sadly, however, our peaceful protest has not yielded any positive fruit. To the contrary, it seems that the protest march further angered the PDP leadership, as our Andoni Local Government Secretariat was viciously bombed the next day. We are no longer safe in our own State because of politics and we must put a stop to these acts of hooliganism and madness. We hereby appeal to the international community to come to our rescue as unchecked violence in Rivers State has the potential to instigate a chain of events that may truncate Nigeria’s nascent democracy.
“We need to commend and congratulate respected elder statesman Bolaji Akinyemi, who may have had Rivers State in mind when he advocated the need for a peace treaty between principal political parties, which led to the signing of the Abuja Peace Accord between President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari last week. We will also remain grateful to Mr. Kofi Annan former Secretary General of the United Nations and our own Chief Emeka Anyaoku the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, both of whom saw to this Peace Accord. We, however, wish to state that we should not stop at the Abuja Peace Accord. We, therefore, wish to draw the attention of Mr. Annan and Chief Anyaoku to the observation of the USA Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, that if care is not taken, Rivers State may be a battle ground during the forthcoming elections. We appeal to Annan and Anyaoku to consider paying a visit to Chief Nyesome Wike to impress on him the need to call his men to order and avoid further acts of violence.”
Responding on behalf of the committee, the Chairman, Prince Peter Odika, assured the State APC Leadership that the members would do a thorough job as the lives of Rivers people and the future of both Rivers State and Nigeria are at stake.
Long Live APC!
Long Live Rivers State!!
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
SSA Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, APC Rivers State.
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.
Contrary to a widely circulated hospital report on the internet, purportedly from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, claiming that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, is suffering from prostate cancer, the management of the hospital has flatly debunked any knowledge of the medical report.
A statement by the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC campaign in Abuja yesterday described as disdainful, distractive, mischievous, fake and fallacious, the trending news report of the alleged prostate cancer condition of its presidential flag-bearer, being credited to a source from the renowned teaching hospital.
The medical report which was supposedly gotten by some reporters of NewsDay alleged that the presidential candidate’s medical situation was arrived at through a method known as digital rectal examination (DRE) in detecting the prostate cancer clinically.
The newspaper stated that, “As learnt by our team of investigative reporters, the DRE finding was indicative of prostate cancer, arc; Asymmetry of prostate gland. A nodule, induration of part or whole prostate, hard or woody consistency of part or all of the prostate, obliteration of the median sulcus in advanced cases, palpable seminal vesicles.“The case of Pa Muhammadu Buhari is a serious medical condition, as it has gotten to the levels of that of an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA),” the newspaper alleged, quoting a doctor who would not want his name on print.
However, debunking the story in its entirety, Garba Shehu, APC’s director of media and publicity, said the report of cancer is untrue and condescending of its exponents. “I have it on good authority that GMB (General Muhammadu Buhari) has not visited the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in the last five years.
So, how can anyone say that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last October, barely three months ago?“This is the highest point of political distraction, malice and mischief.
The report was not only fake, but unfounded. I have spoken to impeccable sources at ABUTH, all of whom denied the report and also claimed that the letterhead used was not their regular one, and that Dr Bala Mohammed that purportedly approved the false medical report is not on the personnel list of that department,” he said.Also, Shehu said sources at ABUTH disclosed that “medical report analysis only come from laboratory technologists and not medical doctors as handwritten in this particular case, stressing that General Buhari did not attend the hospital for cancer or any other ailment.
”Shehu also dismissed as figment of the imagination of “wicked and evil persons”, rumour that General Buhari may travel to the United States towards the end of this month for medical check-up, restating its earlier statement on Friday that Buhari was as fit as a fiddle.Shehu, while dismissing the report as fabrications, however, said that “as a prominent leader of the opposition, many interests across the globe want him (GMB) over for political and diplomatic consultations,” adding that the “invitation to the US may not be unconnected to this.”According to him, “Pathology tissue biopsy was involved in the diagnosis that produced the results.”
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.
Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria
Uwa Erhabor was Fela Kuti’s personal aide, friend and confidante. He wrote the book Kalakuta Diaries, giving the public a detailed insider’s view of Fela’s Kalakuta Republic.
Mr. Erhabor was in Abuja a couple of weeks ago for the Nigerian launch of Kalakuta Diaries. While there, he let it be known that he plans to get the ball rolling on charging former President Olusegun Obasanjo with crimes against humanity.
I had an in-depth conversation with Mr. Erhabor on a range of topics from Obasanjo to Fela to the political landscape in Nigeria.
AO: Congratulations on the book launch in Nigeria.
UE: Thanks. I don’t have a publisher in Nigeria at the moment; my publisher is in the US. I’m working on getting a Nigerian publisher.
How is Fela being received these days by the powers that be?
(laughs) Every Tom, Dick and Harry loves Fela now. Even the people who stood against Fela love him now. Of course it’s only after he’s dead. It’s a shame that Fela is not alive to witness all this. The Nigerian government shamelessly tried to put Fela’s mother’s face on money. Can you believe that?
I heard. I wasn’t surprised.
Crooks are using Fela’s name to steal money. Fela was a staunch Pan-Africanist and socialist. He wouldn’t stand for any of this bullshit going on in his name. The corruption and hypocrisy in this contraption called Nigeria is too much.
The corruption seems so brazen these days.
Look at Obasanjo; he’s gallivanting around, painting a moral picture of himself. He’s now crusading against Goodluck Jonathan, a man he personally selected and put on the PDP ticket with Umaru Yar’Adua. Obasanjo is now supposed to be the voice of morality. He’s pointing and wagging his finger at everyone but himself. How can you have a holier than thou attitude towards those you are worse than? Obasanjo is the father of corruption in Nigeria. He has no moral ground with which to criticize anyone whatsoever. There is so much hypocrisy from that man. People have short memories in Nigeria. Obasanjo should be rotting in prison. Remember the Haliburton bribery and corruption scandal?
I certainly do, but refresh the memory of TIA readers.
Obasanjo was bribed with millions by Haliburton. Someone else took the fall. Obasanjo is now going around condemning corruption. What kind of rubbish is this? It’s madness that a man with this kind of baggage and unresolved crimes is given press and free reign to move about. Nigeria has had a lot of corrupt leaders, but Obasanjo takes the cake. His corruption is unparalleled.
You’re looking to bring Obasanjo up on criminal charges. Tell us more about this.
Obasanjo should be in prison. He’s been getting away with atrocities and crimes against humanity for far too long. Under Obasanjo’s civilian rule, the massacres at Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State occurred. Odi was razed. Women, men, old people, they were all killed by the Nigerian military on Obasanjo’s command. There has been no accountability. No one has been charged for this mass murder of innocent people. These were unarmed civilians, not militants.
I’m working on gathering signatures from Nigerians and the international community so that we can put forward a case to the ICC (International Criminal Court) at The Hague. An investigation needs to be opened for the massacres at Odi and Zaki Biam. Obasanjo needs to be brought to justice. When we get a million signatures, we will present the case to the ICC for the innocents Obasanjo has killed.
It’s alarming that these massacres occurred under Obasanjo’s civilian rule.
Under Obsananjo’s civilian rule and so-called democracy, we witnessed demonstration of craze.
I have ties to the Niger Delta, so I know about Odi. However, most Nigerians outside the region don’t seem to know about these harrowing events. I’m always met with blank stares when I bring it up.
They don’t know because Nigeria is a colonial contraption. No one knows what really happens in other parts of the country. Many parts of Nigeria have zero visibility. Something Awolowo did right was raise visibility for the western region and Yorubaland. He created infrastructure.
Awolowo pushed for education. I believe he started the Nigerian Tribune, which is Nigeria’s oldest newspaper.
Unfortunately, leadership in the northern part of the country didn’t do the same for their people. Illiteracy is highest in the north. With the exception of Murtala Muhammed, they haven’t had real leadership. The level of backwardness in some parts of the north is so shocking that it has to be by design.
I do wonder how space can be allotted to politicians like Ahmed Sani Yerima who marries underage girls and tries to introduce bills to marry children under the guise of Islamic jurisprudence. One could argue that someone like Yerima is an anomaly, but the reality is that he has viable support. He’s not a village elder on the fringes. He was a two term governor of Zamfara and he is now a senator. In a sane world, the people of Zamfara should have run him out of town.
Northern leadership doesn’t answer these questions. How do you explain it? How do you explain the lack of infrastructure and development? In the 54 years of Nigerian independence, leadership has been firmly in northern hands most of this time. Outside of Obasanjo and Jonathan currently, it’s been mostly the north ruling. Why then is the north in the shape that it’s in? The way things are, northern leadership either made a conscious decision to not do for their people or they simply don’t care. Some parts of northern Nigeria looks like you’re stepping back in time.
Poor infrastructure and development is a major problem in the north.
What has northern leadership been doing for the past half century? How can you be in leadership for decades, yet the masses of your people remained in squalor the entire time? Who else had the power to fix it? Something is wrong. I conclude that northern leadership and elites want it this way. Infrastructure is poor, education is poor, illiteracy rates are the highest and there are no jobs. Development of citizens has clearly not been the main agenda for northern leadership through the years. I think they want a subjugated and foolish population because they are easier to control and so they can continue to steal money. Northern elites and their families aren’t the ones suffering. It’s the northern masses who are. The northern masses get angry at the wrong people, usually people not from the north. When the masses get upset at someone or something, they riot with displaced anger.
Speaking of riots, there were deadly riots in 2011 in the north when Buhari lost. Hundreds of people were killed. People I know living in the north who witnessed the post-election riots in 2011 and the Miss World riots years earlier have expressed to me their fears of violence erupting after the 2015 elections. Those not from the north are making contingency plans to go back to their hometowns just in case. Those who can afford it have standby plane tickets to the US or England just in case. Politics seem secondary to them at this point; they are mostly worried about violence erupting after the elections.
I understand their concerns.
What’s the future for Nigeria?
Everything comes full circle. Personally, I’m not sentimental about this contraption called Nigeria. It’s a farce constructed by British colonialists. I’m from the Kingdom of Benin. Nigeria could split and it wouldn’t bother me. The idea of “one Nigeria” is a myth. Anyone with eyes and common sense can see that we are not one.
I wish this wasn’t the case, but political views seem to move along regional, ethnic and/or religious lines. There are exceptions to this rule, but I can’t deny my observations.
Nigeria is not one, but has it ever been? No one who studies the history of Nigeria to the present can reach a conclusion of a united Nigeria. In the past, ethnic minorities in southern Nigeria endured leader after leader that took them for granted. Decades of marginalization and exploitation has forced them to be politically vested in Nigeria. It opened their eyes and made them realize that they too have a stake in the country, considering that their oil wealth is what keeps the contraption going. The people are frustrated. Niger Delta militants exist because of that frustration. Nigeria would be nothing without the oil in the Niger Delta, but the people living where the wealth is have nothing to show for it. After years of exploitation of their land, ethnic minorities in the south aren’t quiet anymore. They are more vocal because they are fed up with all their wealth going into the hands of westerners, northern oligarchs and corrupt politicians who control their oil resources.
There is also a lot of talk about APC [All Progressives Congress] and PDP [People’s Democratic Party], but I personally don’t ascribe to either political party. PDP or APC, it makes no difference. Most of the people in APC are defectors from PDP and other parties. They moved over to APC for political viability and better chances as an opposition to PDP. That’s it. It’s not because they are moral. Some of the same crooks from PDP are now in APC. How exactly are they different? If PDP is a den of corruption and APC is comprised of PDP people who just moved over, then what makes APC clean? They talk about change, but it’s the same suspects shuffling around.
Why do some Nigerians not see it this way?
As I said earlier, Nigerians have short memories. Look at Obasanjo again. All the shit Obasanjo has done is too long to list. Obasanjo is a killer. He’s a mass murderer. He breaks the law with impunity, just rampant lawlessness and he has yet to pay for anything he has done. Only in a country like Nigeria can someone like this be considered an elder statesman and be allowed to parade himself around as a moral crusader. It’s madness. The corrupt are championing anti-corruption. This bastard Obasanjo tried to kill Fela. His soldiers threw Fela’s elderly mother out of a window. When she died of her injuries, Fela took her coffin directly to Obasanjo at Dodan barracks. Obasanjo ordered his men to kill Fela, but Mamman Vatsa intervened. Vatsa saved Fela from certain death.
The song “Coffin for Head of State” details Fela delivering his mother’s coffin to Obasanjo at Dodan Barracks
Mamman Vatsa was killed some years later, right?
That’s right. Babangida executed him. He was allegedly plotting a coup to overthrow Babangida’s government.
What’s next for you Uwa?
Apart from working towards bringing Obasanjo to the ICC, I’ll be in the US promoting the book early this year.
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 only female contestant and standard-bearer of the Kowa Party in next month’s presidential election, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, talks about her ambition, women participation in politics and plans for Nigeria in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI
What are you looking for in politics, having proven your worth in the academia?
I am looking for a good life for Nigerians — plain and simple. With all the resources that the country has, this is not how we ought to live.
Some people are of the opinion that there are two major candidates for the forthcoming presidential election and that others are mere pretenders. Are you one of the pretenders?
The people who think so are missing the point. In fact, they are not missing it; they are just wrong. I do not know why the Independent National Electoral Commission will publish a list of 11 candidates for the election and some people will take it upon themselves to reduce that number to two. That was what was written in an opinion on the back page of The PUNCH sometime last week, to which I quickly responded. Nobody has the right to help us think or do a pre-election. It’s like when you are going to have an interview, and then you decide that there are candidates you are going to interview. That is not the case in these elections. INEC has judged 11 candidates qualified, I don’t know where people are getting only two candidates from.
Considering the fact that the Nigerian political landscape is male-dominated, don’t you think all you are seeking is political relevance?
Seeking for political relevance, in itself, is not a wrong thing. Seeking for political relevance, so that you can do well for the majority of the people, is what politics is and that is what has been driving me. Politics offers one the platform to do the utmost good for the greatest number of people. Of course, I am seeking to be politically relevant so that I can have that opportunity.
On the issue of being a woman, this is a Nigerian, maybe African thing. We still think that ‘Oh you’re a woman, you’re a woman.’ And yet, all around us in the world, even in Liberia, we have seen a woman who is the President. What is wrong if a woman becomes the president of Nigeria, when a woman is already president in Liberia? What is peculiar about us? Why can women head other countries and it cannot happen in our own land? I would like to understand what the thinking behind that is. Is it that we are completely different from other human beings?
If you are really keen on service to the country, why are you not contesting under a well-known political party?
I am contesting for presidency on the platform of the Kowa Party because values matter to me a lot. Principles matter to me a lot. And I do not think that I want to trade my conscience, values or principles for, maybe, more certain results politically. We all know what we have been experiencing with the major political parties. You, the journalists, have been telling us — the lack of internal democracy, all this shifting back and forth, the apparent lack of ideologies and principles, and things like that. Why should I go and join forces with a political party where I will be constantly hitting my head against the wall? I have chosen to join a party whose principles and values are clear to me and where I think I will be able to have a moderate impact. When you consider the larger ones, my party may seem to be relatively not well-known, but principles are just fundamental for me.
Don’t you think that there were no strong candidates in your party, and that was why you emerged?
I don’t know why you feel that I am not strong enough as a presidential candidate. People were free to contest and we had primaries; there were four aspirants for the position.
How did you emerge?
We were interviewed. We had the primaries.
How many females contested?
I was the only female that contested.
What is your political worth?
I am bringing hope and the certainty that things can be better. I am bringing freshness; no baggage with me; all the political baggage that holds us down. It is all fine when it is campaign period and a lot of promises are flying about in the air. When push comes to shove, after somebody wins the election, everybody begins to jostle for positions.
What level of support have you received from fellow women, who make up your constituency?
Who says that my major constituency is women? I really hope that we will break from the molds we have locked ourselves into. Why can’t I represent the mechanics? Why is gender that important? Yes, I am the only female candidate in the forthcoming presidential election and I certainly hope that many women will be able to look at me and be able to identify with me. That is good. I have not been monitoring all the people who have been supporting me. I have not decided to categorise them; to me, that is not important.
You don’t have a clear picture of the level of support you have received from all categories of groups…
No, I am not interested in such perceptions. You are trying to impose your kind of perception of the reality on me, which I will not subscribe to. I am interested in the generality of Nigerians. If I am interested in the level of support from women, I will be interested in the level of support I get from the handicapped, the students and all other categories.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo promised 30 per cent of women participation in politics while he was in office. Do you think this move has encouraged more women to join politics?
To be honest with you, I do not think that we have got the best women into politics in Nigeria. Several women who have gone there did so because they were the wives, daughters or sisters of some people. I would prefer women to compete on their skills. There are competent women in our land — many; but many will not get there because of the system that we have been operating. Because of this tokenism, we just put this person there. I would not agree to be put there; I want to get there by my own scheme. I want to really compete.
What do you think are the chances you have?
I think my chances are great because I think that deep down within them, Nigerians will recognise that they have been suffering in the hands of those who have been there all these years. It does not take any special abilities to recognise that.
How will you assess the incumbent President?
I am not interested in scoring anybody. I have said that what has been happening to us is unacceptable. We had broken promises. Do you know how long the government has been promising us to fix the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway? Do you know how long we have been on that issue? How long will it take to repair how many kilometres of road? People still spend up to three, five hours on the expressway. Is that the way to live? I’m just asking. I am asking the people out there; are they satisfied with that kind of life? I have retired from the university and I have my pension. I could jolly well, go and rest my head somewhere and be enjoying myself.
Why are you not doing that?
I am not doing that because this is my country and I have a stake in it. I have stake in it for you and everybody else. Somebody has got to do what I am doing.
But you could also join hands and work with the eventual winner of the presidential election to move the country forward?
Support people who do not share your values? What kind of support are you going to get in terms of these fundamental principles that I am talking about? — Principles of fairness and justice for all, and not just for a few people; principles that build a system that allows the resources of a nation to be equitably shared. We remember that a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria ignited a wildfire when he revealed that 20 per cent of the overhead of the budget was going to the National Assembly. Is that fair? Is that equity? These are the issues that I’m concerned about. Have the people who are there demonstrated that they are really concerned about such? It seems all there is to it is to give some handouts or token.
I don’t believe in government by handouts or benevolence. They distribute 10,000 motorcycles for people to do commercial transportation; pepper-grinding machines, sewing machines, Keke Marwa (tricycle), etc. How many of us will they distribute that to? Is it not better to build a system that functions, so that all of us can actualise our dreams and all of us can work? If there is an enabling environment, people will be ready to work. People will be able to pursue their ambitions, their areas of talent and so on.
Why are you not contesting for governorship or a seat in the National Assembly, at least for a start?
Not that I see anything wrong with that; I have given much thought to what I am doing. I have written three books on the Nigerian conscience. I really think I should contest at the level I am contesting now. I am convinced about what I am doing. I come from Oyo State. I am from Ibadan. I have lived in Osun State practically since 1972, when I became a student at the Obafemi Awolowo University. I have never really gone back to live in Ibadan. I have gone for studies somewhere and come back to Ile-Ife. Now, do you think Osun people will allow me to contest under Osun State? Won’t they ask where my father’s house is? Isn’t the National Assembly also a representation from the state? That’s what I’m telling you.
What is in your manifesto?
My manifesto is about ensuring that there will be no exclusion. I have a vision of a Nigeria where nobody is excluded; where no individual suffers avoidable exclusion. That is what my manifesto is about. Of course, that has to be broken down into different issues of security, job provision or employment, education and ensuring that there is rule of law. But the overreaching idea is to ensure that nobody suffers exclusion — the handicapped person that needs to get on a ramp to access a bank or something like that; providing safety and ensuring that we have a functioning policing system so that young girls are not held in baby factories; no child trafficking; protection for the citizens so that there will be no brutality from people in the armed forces. There are also security issues — how do we solve the Boko Haram insurgency? All of us must be protected and all of us must work together.
Political campaigns involve a lot of money. How are you funding yours?
People like you are supporting me. I do not have one single moneybag, for which I am truly grateful because, as I have told you before, I do not want to carry any baggage. Part of the phrases that you will be seeing on my posters and online is ‘Clean hands.’ All the people throwing billions at campaigns are making investments and they will be waiting to collect the yields on their investments.
All over the world, political campaigns gulp money, so what are you trying to say?
I’m not saying campaigns don’t gulp money. I am saying that people like you are contributing their N5,000.
How much have you realised?
I am not going to tell you that. I am not about to declare how much I have realised right now. It’s still coming in. As money comes in, I can do this or that. I don’t have a huge sum of money streaming in. As money comes in, it gives me the opportunity to do something else that I had not done before.
How far have you gone to convince the electorate that you are the best candidate among the rest?
I cannot measure in that sense, but what I know is that I am exploring all the avenues that are available to me. I have been on television and radio. I have been interviewed by newspapers, both foreign and local. I am getting my message out as powerful and as clear a manner as I can. I am getting good feedback. Of course, there have been a few skeptics who say, ‘A woman’s place is in the kitchen.’ They are living in the past; it’s their choice. They are free to do so. But I am very happy with the encouragement and the kind of feedback that I am getting. It is really energising me.
Are you confident that INEC will ensure free, fair and credible elections?
I really hope so. I often think and I believe I actually wrote an article on this before that when they are given an opportunity at historical moments, they have an assignment to do for Nigeria. All eyes are on Nigeria. Everybody has been saying that the 2015 elections will be like a watershed for Nigeria. You know how much expectation there is concerning the coming elections. When one is given an assignment at such a historical moment in history, one dares not fail. It will be a big slap if one fails at such a moment. I really hope they don’t let us down. I will pray for them. I really hope they will be able to get their acts together. The consequences of failure at these elections are just too great. I’m sure they don’t want that to happen to us as a nation.
If you don’t win the election, what will be your next political step?
I am sure I will win the election. However, when I get to February 15, I will think about what to do next. I’ll see what God would have me do next.
Did you consult God before taking the decision?
I did. In all my ways, every single day, I ask him: ‘Direct me God. What is your will is for me; let me not go astray.’
What did God tell you?
Let’s keep that between me and Him. That’s a personal thing between me and God.
Some Nigerians have advocated for a two-party system, arguing that such would ensure a virile, stronger democracy. What is your take on this?
If I were to agree with that, we must also make room for independent candidacy. There may be somebody who does not like Party A or Party B, and that person should also be given a chance to vie for positions. If the country wants to go totally bi-partisan, that’s fine; but they must have independent candidates. That is the way I look at it.
Have you ever held any political office?
No, that is why people are saying ‘You are starting from the top.’
Who is your political godfather?
No, I do not have a political godfather. I have God as my father and that is sufficient.
What are the challenges you have encountered so far?
I don’t think there is any particular challenge I am battling because I am female. What I have noticed is this reluctance of the Nigerian media to latch on to the reality that there are nine other contestants and they too need to be made known to the people. They seem to be struggling over themselves, popularising those who are extremely popular already. I don’t know how much percentage of the articles I have read are about the Peoples Democratic Party or the All Progressives Congress candidate. I don’t think they are doing a good service to Nigerians by not giving full coverage to the other candidates who are there because they are not letting Nigerians know what other choices that they have. They all seem to have reduced their choices to two. We keep doing the same things; we keep voting for the same people who have kept us in the mess that we are in.
How supportive have your colleagues been towards the realisation of your ambition?
I think you mean how supportive my husband has been. My husband is my number one supporter. I really want to publicly appreciate him and his sense of support. He is not your usual Nigerian man in terms of his ideas and perceptions. And he’s always been like that. Throughout my academic career, he was the one that woke up some day and said, ‘If you really want to be a serious academic, you really have to get yourself a PhD. And I went off to the United States for three and a half years and he was content to be at home. I don’t know how many men would do that. Even my being in Lagos right now came from him. He said, ‘Look, you cannot conduct a campaign from Ile-Ife. It won’t work. Get up, pack your luggage and relocate to Lagos, so you’ll be closer to the journalists and the airport if you have to travel. I really appreciate the spirit of sacrifice and support I have enjoyed from him all these years. My colleagues have also been very supportive. I am not sure that the Academic Staff Union of Universities likes to take a public position, so I will leave them to decide what they want.
What is your message to the electorate?
My message to the electorate is that they should dare to believe in change. They should not agree that we do not have a choice. We cannot continue doing things the same way and expect things to change. They should let us work together. Let’s take that bold step towards the change that we have all been yearning for, so that we can have a good life for ourselves in Nigeria.
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.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state has refused letting PDP use the state owned Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwurita-Ali for its presidential campaign slated for January 28th.
According to Thisday, PDP had written to the state government seeking permission to use the stadium for its presidential campaign but in its response, the government said the party could not use it as it was under construction, a position faulted by the PDP.
According to PDP, the APC had used that same stadium twice recently. Speaking on the matter, the state Chairman of PDP, Felix Obuah, said the stadium was built with Tax payers money and so should be available for use to everyone.
"The facilities of Rivers State are owned by all of us; all tax-paying people. The Adokiye Amiesiemaka Stadium belongs to Rivers people; Rivers State money was used to build it. It was not meant for the Buhari campaign manager; it is not his personal property. They used it for their own rally and their own celebrations. We have applied to use the place for our rally, come 28th of this month. But the governor, in his act of impunity, has refused us the use of that place.".
The Chairman warned that if the decision of Governor Amaechi is not rescinded, they would use the stadium with or without any approval.
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 All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, on Saturday declared the game over for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with regard to the February 2015 general elections.
This followed the endorsement, earlier in the day, of APC Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), and the Rivers State APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, by non-indigenes in the State. The 950,000 non-indigenes in Rivers State spoke through their various representatives during an epochal rally organised by the Non-Indigenes Forum (NIPF) and attended by over 15,000 non-indigenes at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the rally, Barr. Chuma Chinye, NIPF Leader and Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, declared: “No non-indigene in Rivers State will vote for PDP or any other political party as we are not ingrates considering all that Governor Chibuike Amaechi has done to improve our lot. Today, one of us –my humble self – is a member of the highest ranking governing body in Rivers State, the State Executive Council, while others such as Chief Ade Adeogun is the Chairman of the Sanitation and Environmental Company of the State, Mr. David Iyofor is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor amongst other strategic positions of our people in government. Our kids are paying the same fees with indigenes at the various strata of education. We must appreciate all these by ensuring that we vote APC in all the elections to avoid those who have vowed to deal with us once they come to power.”
Chief Dr. Williams Ubeka spoke for the South-East, Chief Joseph Ijede for the South-South, Alhaji Ahmed Adisa for the South-West, Alhaji Sulaiman Hussaini for the North-Central and Alhaji Tanko Yusuf for the North, while Mrs. Chief Ijede spoke for the women. The speakers highlighted all the good things non-indigenes have enjoyed under the administration of Governor Amaechi and contrasted it with the evil they suffered when Chief Nyesome Wike, the PDP Governorship Candidate, was Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government, when he introduced various taxes to scare away non-indigenes from Rivers State. They maintained that if the non-indigenes have any enemy in Rivers State, Chief Wike is the Chief Tormentor of non-indigenes. They promised to ensure that he does not smell the Brick House for the sake of Rivers people, whether indigenes or non-indigenes.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Dakuku Peterside reassured the non-indigenes of the commitment of his administration once elected to continue the legacies of Governor Amaechi, “including empowering all Rivers State people through my Four-Point Agenda titled ‘Road Map to Prosperity’ for the people of Rivers State.” He explained that the Four-Point Agenda aimed at taking Rivers State to the next level include Public Sector Accountability and Security of Lives and Properties; Employment Generation and Wealth Creation; Social and Human Capital Development and Empowerment; as well as Institutional and Physical infrastructure Development and Food Security. I will sustain the policy initiated by my mentor and leader, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, to make the non-indigenes group the 24th Local Government Area of Rivers State. This unit is to cater for the welfare and interests of all non-indigenes in the State,” he said.
Dr. Ibiamu Davies Ikanya, the Rivers APC Chairman, described the event as unprecedented in the annals of electioneering in the State. “This large number of non-indigenes has never gathered to endorse a particular political party and candidates. With what I am seeing the 2015 general election is already lost by PDP and I expect Dr. Peterside to set in motion the shape of his government and prepare for his swearing in ceremony come May 29, 2015 as with the support of these great Nigerians APC in Rivers State is unstoppable on its way to Brick House,” Ikanya said. Dr Ikanya described PDP as ‘Politically Dead Party (PDP)
Senator Magnus Abe, who spoke on behalf of other APC candidates, described Dr. Dakuku Peterside as a symbol of unity, equity, continuity, progress and hope for not only Rivers State but for the future of the Nigerian nation. He urged the people of Rivers State to vote massively for General Buhari, Dr. Peterside and all the candidates of APC “and avoid those that promote violence as a way of life if we intend to have an egalitarian and progressive Rivers State.”
Other political heavyweights that graced the event include the Rivers State APC Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate, Hon. Asita O Asita; Dr. Sam Jaja, a member of the Board of Trustees of APC; Chief Victor Giadom, Director General of Rivers APC Campaign Organisation; APC Senatorial Flag-bearer for Rivers East Senatorial District, Hon. Andrew Uchendu; House of Representatives and State House of Assembly candidates.
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.
Prince Tonye Princewill is finally set to kick off his 2015 gubernatorial campaign. The buildup, which may seem unusual to many, was necessary and very strategic. From a very vigorous and successful recruitment/ training of campaign volunteers to a very warm Diaspora engagement; his campaign team has gradually gathered all its ammunition for a well-coordinated campaign.
The recruitment of campaign volunteers was a huge success. With the largest response coming from the Ogoni, Etche, Kalabari and Ahoada areas of the state, over 3000 volunteers have been registered and are currently being trained for a vigorous, issue based, non-violent, door to door campaign. All this will immediately usher in a never seen before community tour of Rivers State. It will interest you to remember that years ago, when elections didn't matter, Prince Tonye Princewill commissioned a World Bank recognized consultancy firm, to tour all the communities of Rivers State to identify the unique issues of communities. This report is the bedrock of his Campaign. Princewill is not coming to make promises, but to make public his well thought and well researched solution to problems that have already been identified.
The Diaspora engagement was a very successful one and included a Town Hall Meeting with Nigerians in Diaspora, Interviews with Ben TV, Arise TV, and Nollywood Movies UK; and also a special session with Hollywood weekly due to his involvement in the Nigerian Entertainment industry. His One point agenda, which is Job Creation, needs a push from forces outside Nigeria to actually work. That is His top priority. Also His politics and campaign activities over the years have evidently been funded largely by his friends and allies in Diaspora. The better days of his life started outside the shores of Nigeria, so his Closest Friends, Allies and Family, obviously are out there and have to be informed and consulted.
In the days to come a lot of activities will kick off and regular updates will be given to all those registered on Prince Tonye's website, www.tonyeprincewill.com. Regular updates, Campaign schedules and Breaking News will be sent daily to all those registered on his website. It may interest you to know that in the coming hours the running mate and campaign team of Prince Tonye Princewill will be announced. Be the first to know; Register 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.
Lagos Island stood still as President Goodluck Jonathan flagged off his re-election campaign in the nation's former federal capital.
Supporters of the party's governorship candidates in the South-West, who were bussed in for the function, also seized the opportunity to show off their principals on poster boards.
The only exception was Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ms Jumoke Akinjide, whose posters, with the inscription, "Jumoke for Jonathan", were conspicuously carried by many women in the arena.
On ground to add colour to the flag-off were Nollywood actors and actresses led by the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fibersima.
Other celebrities, who made brief solidarity speeches, include Mr Segun Arinze, Joseph Benjamin, Kate Henshaw, Monalisa Chinda and Onyeka Onwenu.
Gospel artiste Sammy Okposo, Double Wahala crooner Oritsefemi and popular Fuji musician, Obesere, thrilled the crowd at the flag-off ground.
Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, also canvassed votes for the president.
One of the highlights of the flag-off ceremony was the presentation of the PDP governorship flag bearers in the South-West with the party's flag, which was carried out by the party National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu.
Jonathan a true democrat–Mimiko
Ondo State governor and South-West Chairman of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, was first to fire the salvo.
He hit at the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), on his academic qualification, which has stirred controversy in the polity.
Mimiko recently rejoined the PDP after leaving the Labour Party.
He said: "I stand on firm ground to state categorically that hardly is there any home in Lagos and indeed the Southwest that cannot boast of tenth generation school certificate holders. This is why, among others, we will not settle for a President with less than a university degree."
Reeling out the achievements of the Jonathan administration, Mimiko said: "You have allowed the private sector to thrive, yet you have not abandoned the under-privileged of the society. While the private sector is encouraged to invest massively in agriculture, power, aviation and other strategic sectors of the economy, you are also building Almajiri schools and unprecedentedly expanding access to tertiary education. You are proactively investing in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and providing productive engagement for our young ones in Agriculture, ICT and the creative industry.
Continuing, he said, "Benin-Ore-Shagamu expressway is witnessing massive rehabilitation, the Lagos-Kano rail lines, moribund for over 15years have been re-activated, agriculture has regained its pride of place and you have strengthened our democratic institutions through free, fair and credible elections. I am convinced that the hands of Goodluck Jonathan that started these good works will surely complete them."
Solidarity speeches were delivered by the Director General of the Jonathan/Sambo PCO, Senator Ahmadu Ali, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Chief Olabode George, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and Senate President, Senator David Mark.
They were unanimous in their remarks on why Jonathan should be re-elected.
Following speeches by PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Governor Godswill Akpabio, and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the President delivered his speech which, he said, would be mainly directed at the youths on the claim that his generation was a failure.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo, in his remarks, urged the people to reject the message of the opposition in Lagos.
Jonathan hits at the opposition
In his speech, Jonathan did not hide his feelings as he hit back at his opponents, who have consistently thrown mud at his administration.
While addressing youths at the campaign ground, the President told them to work for the future of Nigeria, through hard work and dedication, adding that the youths are the ones to take the country to the moon.
He also said that voting for the opposition APC was like returning Nigerians to prison.
The President, who had all serving governors of the PDP and some principal officials of the National Assembly in attendance, repeatedly flayed the campaign agenda and endorsements received by his main challenger, General Buhari.
He, however, did not mention Buhari by name in his nearly 30 minutes speech.
Jonathan, for the first time, also disclosed that the October 1, 2010 attack by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, on the Eagle Square, Abuja was an assassination attempt directed at him.
'Our generation has failed'
Saying his generation has failed, he stated, "I believe that the young Nigerians are the future, we are finished. We believe that the youths will be the ones that will take us to the moon, my generation has failed because we could not take Nigeria to the moon."
He continued: "I don't want to address old people like me because we (his generation) are spent already. I am going to dwell on three things because those who said they are going to take over from the PDP have been telling a lot of lies. They have hired people all over the world and are feeding people with lies on the social media. They are painting all sorts of colours and giving you all sorts of claims that they cannot defend."
He listed the three points as his administration's attitude towards corruption; alleged weakness of his government and the perception of lack of planning.
Noting the challenge from Buhari on the administration's alleged failure to address the insecurity in the land, the President said: "They talked about insecurity. They said they will fight insecurity. And I ask, are our armed forces weak? If we have problems, what is the cause? Equipment. Somebody who told young people that he is going to fight insecurity, ask him if he bought one rifle for Nigerian soldiers when he was the Head of State. These people did not buy anything for the Nigerian soldiers. They refused to equip them. Ask them what they did with their defense budget.
"They said my government is corrupt and that we are not fighting corruption. Only yesterday, I addressed anti-corruption agencies and told them that people are deceiving young Nigerians. I said that they must tell Nigerians what they are doing.
"We have arrested more people and done more convictions. Let me apologise to some Nigerian federal civil servants who did not receive their December salaries early enough and I will tell you what happened. I apologise to those families that suffered because we believe and I believe that for you to fight corruption, we must take measures. If they had succeeded in fighting corruption, corruption would not have been with us today. If they had set up structures especially with the days of modern science and technology using ICT, to manage resources, we would not have been talking about corruption today.
Fight against corruption
"What happened in December was because of a software that is used for processing salary packages. Sometimes, people steal through salaries and some Federal Government agencies, including some ministries, try to divert funds to try and pay for some allowances and the system is scientific. It is not a human being. Once money meant to pay salaries is diverted, it shuts you down and those departments of government were shut down. This is the only way you can prevent corruption."
Jonathan also noted the administration's success in combating corruption in the agriculture sector especially through fertiliser distribution.
The President explained his administration's success in effective distribution of petroleum products affirming that Nigerians do not have to sleep in petrol stations to buy fuel.
Arms procurement
Alluding to issues that haunted the administration arising from the procurement of arms, he said: "We talked about corruption and they say that the military is corrupt. When this crisis of insecurity came up, we had nothing; so to get military hardware quickly, we had to use vendors to procure them; but now, what we are doing is government to government transaction. Any new procurement we are doing, whether for the Air Force, Navy or Army, is government to government. There is nothing like corruption any more even if we had some issues. Is that not the way to fight corruption?
"You must prevent people from touching your money and this is what government is doing and succeeding in a number of areas especially in the procurement area. If you look at it, we are reducing corruption."
Umaru Dikko's abduction
Referring to the aborted kidnap of Alhaji Umaru Dikko from Britain by the Buhari administration in 1984, Jonathan said: "They say we are weak but we know that there were some people who, while they were abroad, some people drugged them and put them in crates and attempted to fly them to Nigeria but they were intercepted by superior powers. That blocked Nigerians from even going to Britain; the whole world isolated Nigeria. They say that is the best way to fight corruption. Is that the way to stop corruption? Not to follow due process? So, immediately I suspect your uncle, I just go and crate him and put him in Kirikiri (Kirikiri Prison). Is that the way to stop corruption?"
Noting that Buhari's anti-corruption stance was a posture to deal with enemies, he said: "They want power at all costs, all they want to use power for is to lock up and imprison their enemies. I have no enemies to fight. I won't stop corruption by arresting people and putting them in jail. You cannot stop corruption that way."
In a throw back to the military era, he referred to the Buhari regime which he said had no single woman in his cabinet. In a shocker before he concluded, the President, who had earlier in 2010 defended MEND of allegations of orchestrating the 2010 Independence Day bomb attack at the Eagle Square, Abuja, reversed himself, saying the attack was an assassination attempt on him.
He said: "Let me say one thing and conclude. I read in a paper recently where it said 'MEND dumps Jonathan'. I am from the Niger Delta, the leader of MEND is one Okar. Okar is in a South African prison because on October 1, 2010, when we were to celebrate our 50th Independence anniversary, Okar was hired by some Nigerians to assassinate me.
"Okar bombed Abuja and the attempt was to assassinate me but intelligence report from South Africa hinted me on the plan to assassinate me. He is now in jail in South Africa and they said MEND dumped Jonathan. Okar that wanted to assassinate Jonathan, will he support Jonathan?"
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.
Hon West Ehioge-Idahosa is the only Edo politician who has served a third term in the House of Representatives. He served between 1999-2011 for Ovia Federal Constituency of the state. The lawyer joined his bosom friend, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP last year. But events that occurred during the just concluded senatorial primaries of the PDP in the state, where he contested for the Edo South ticket of the PDP, have enveloped him in grief.
His 31-year-old nephew, Pere, was murdered by suspected assassins 48 hours before the senatorial primaries. Pere was returning from the bank where he went to withdraw money to enable his uncle prepare for the primary election when agents of death not only shot him but also butchered his body with axe. The attackers also killed the police orderly with him carting away the money with him.
In this interview, West-Idahosa laments his ordeal and also hints that his days in the PDP may be numbered. He accuses critics of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of being economical with the truth, just as he declares that the governor has done well for Edo people.
He predicts a tight race in the forthcoming presidential election, noting however that the alleged high level of corruption in government and Boko Haram insurgency will militate against President Jonathan’s second term ambition, while Gen.Muhammadu Buhari’s uprightness and boldness may give him victory.
Excerpts:
What happened in the senatorial primary which you lost and also lost your nephew?
You know that I am a natural progressive whether in the PDP or wherever I operate. So in coming to run for the Senate in the PDP, I was convinced that, at that time, I had a good opportunity to win that ticket. And the leadership of that party gave me the impression that there will be a level-playing field. So we set up our famous organization, The New Deal, and began to work. And it did appear that the leadership was no longer comfortable with the ascendancy that we were gaining. But the surprising thing is that no one called me to say they had predetermined candidates.
So we were amazed that a few days before the end of November, they began to send words round that they had an anointed candidate and that no one should vote for me. I was surprised because at this time I had spent enough money obtaining the nomination form, I had been spending money moving around, appointing coordinators and mobilizing people all over the place. By the beginning of December 2014, it was obvious to every one that I was the candidate to beat. On December 3, 2014, my nephew who was also my Director of Finance and Chief Strategist, was asked to provide some funds for the campaign as part of our final preparation for the primary.
He never returned from the bank as we all now know; about a hundred meters from my house, he was attacked by, in quote, armed robbers. He was killed in a very cruel manner together with the police escort that was with him. Many stories have been told in the public but I believe the police are working on it. As you do know, that robbery or probably assassination as many people believe coming three four days to the primary indeed damaged our psyche and seriously affected our mental preparedness to finish this race.
Our camp, particularly my family, was in sorrow and tears. So we were surprised that at the primary on December 7, we still managed to secure about 103 votes. In order words, our camp lost the primary with about 24 votes despite the predicament we suffered and the gang up in the party. What it means is that we strongly believe that were it not for the predicament we suffered, the gang up may not have been able to stop us.
When you gang up against veterans like us we, will smash the gang up. It is that we were hit below the belt by the possible assassination of my boy and the race lost momentum and the vigour to finish. We are down but we are not out, we leave the rest to God and we hope that as long as we are alive, we will continue to serve our country in whatever capacity we are called up on to do so.
Killing my nephew
When the post-mortem result came out, we found that he did not even die from bullet shot, he died from battle axes, jack knife and the rest of them: A very unusual way for armed robbers to operate. To that extent, we began to suspect if this was just robbery or assassination. Don’t also forget that after his death on December 6, my convoy was attacked along Plymouth Road, Benin City. But for the alertness of the armed men in my company, who knows what would have happened.
Then on December 7, at about 2am, they went to my Abuja office and damaged the entrance to my office smashing the glass windows and the glass door. We don’t know what is going on but we are confident that the police will take this as a challenge and help us resolve these issues. And we ask the Nigerian people to support our call for justice. We are worried that 2015, we should not really be where we are in terms of the security situation in the country, when somebody can leave his house at 10am and may never return for ever.
Regrets
When I was in the APC briefly as a progressive, one of the reasons I left the PDP at the time was that I complained that there was always this interference in the electoral process. I got tired of the domination of a clique, of a group of people. But the approached me reassuring me that they had been reformed, that there was a new PDP. For instance they said the Edo South had gotten autonomy.
After much persuasion, I said, I was going to give it a thought. I was thinking that the joker that made me to leave the place was when my good friend Pastor Ize-Iyamu was short changed, as he claimed, in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, he probably did not get the structures he needed. Even though now I know better.
For me in Ovia South West where I come from, everything went well, I really had no grievances at that time. But you know in politics , there will always be alliances and being a child hood friend of Ize-Iyamu at that time I solidarized with him since PDP was also giving assurances that I was going to move with him to the PDP. Then we went to PDP but not only did I lose my most precious nephew, my dependable ally, we lost a primary that the process was flawed and, of course, we won sorry and tears.
It is a bitter experience for us, it is part of life but we can only hope that the 2015 elections will be a sign post for the real change in this country so that people can be sure that their lives are worth God’s creation. You want to leave your house at 10am as my brother my nephew left, and never returned forever just because government failed to do its job. Since this incident we have still not really been able to make head way. But I am committed to justice to my nephew who was brutally murdered, we hope that justice will be done.
Any plans to dump the PDP
Politics is dynamic. I am never afraid to state that in Nigeria’s pseudo, democracy, nothing is static, but there is no question that a man who lost his nephew and who suspects that his nephew was killed in the process of a primary election will be quite difficult to persuade to remain in the same platform, quite difficult. I am aware that a number of PDP stalwarts have come to make a case here, but thankfully they have not been able to answer some of the questions I normally ask them.
I am also aware that a number of APC stalwarts are talking to me, I am only waiting for my Campaign Organization, The New Deal, to make the decision soon. I understand that The New Deal will be having a meeting on Wednesday or Thursday to brainstorm. And as a leader who respects the wishes of my followership, I will patiently wait for that decision. If you ask my opinion as West Idahosa I will say ‘leave the arena and go back to practice’. But man is a political animal, you must also be seen as not only supporting yourself but also supporting your supporters.
Chances of Edo PDP/APC in 2015 elections
Well there is no question whether the governor has performed even though you want to deny the governor of some credit because he is in the APC while I am in the PDP, but conscience will not allow you to completely deny him the credit. When you fly into Benin for example, and take an aerial look of Benin, you will see what it used to be and what it is today.
When you go out of Benin and go to the local governments and you see what has been done there, you cannot in your quiet moment appreciate him. I have been tempted to deny him some credit myself especially when I got angry and left the APC for the PDP. Each time I see primary schools in the rural areas, each time I see his machines working on infrastructures, I always tell my self notwithstanding the difference in platform, this man is doing well.
No man is God, no man is perfect, many will accuse him of taking some erratic decision, but for a comrade, a mobilizer, somebody who gave all his life from the Aluta back ground, you must allow some excesses to be excused on his part. But in terms of focus on government, I will say that infrastructurally, he has done well. Again in terms of cutting areas of waste, he has also done well. Again whether you hate him or not in terms of improving on our internally generated revenue, he has also done very well.
He has blocked the leakages and up graded the intake because we know what we were getting before, we know where we are now. And we hope that if somebody else were to continue in his stead and do exactly these things and even improve on them, in another eight years, you will not say the state has not made progress.
You spent 12 years in the House of Representatives and worked closely with President Olusegun Obasanjo. How would you compare the National Assembly/Presidency relationship and what you see today?
In those days, we had the luck of having a couple of people in our midst who were serious about the job we were elected to do. And don’t forget that we served under a very strong president like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who had several plans laid on the table of the parliament, so we always had what to do. We disagreed on a number of issues but most times we agreed on nationalistic issues and, if you ask me, I will say that parliament was generally more focused at that time and I am hoping that the 2015elections will be key in helping to select eminently qualified persons with suitable experience to operate as legislators.
I think on the whole we had a good time, we made far reaching policies. For example, this NNPC Mega Station policy was conceived by the House Committee on Petroleum Resources chaired by me at that time. The Gelegele Port was a project we were able to put as an item in the budget from the Ministry of the Niger Delta.
So we had the vision, we wanted to do something but we could not do every thing at the same time. I think those steps taken at that time can be consolidated by the new crop of legislators seeking to come into the arena in 2015. And the electorate needs to hold that in microscope and view them carefully so that you don’t elect occupationists who just sit on the chair without utilizing these chairs.
There was a time we drew up impeachable offences against Obasanjo. I was in that committee at that time. We said we were going to impeach Obasanjo because we thought he was overbearing and he had no respect for the rule of law. But I think that was largely in his first tenure, but looking back, one will say he was just exhibiting his military image at that time.
Subsequently, he became more cooperative and began to be truly democratic. I know that at that time Obasanjo began to lobby legislators to get his bills passed and to get his policies approved. I have no doubt in my mind that if there was one president that fought corruption in this country, it was Olusegun Obasanjo. Let me give you an example, it was difficult to find a member of parliament between 1999 and 2007 negotiating with a Minister or head of parastatal for any reason to get some level of benefit in order for him to get his budget passed.
There was this feeling that the EFCC was all over the place. There was this feeling that you may even and up in jail; remember former Senate President Wabara was arraigned in court, several committee chairmen were arraigned in court. The impression we had was that no man was above the law. I remember, there was a day Nuhu Ribadu called me to say he was coming to see me in my Gwarinpa House, I could not sleep. I began to think about my role in the House. I had to x-tray my salaries and allowances.
Luckily for me, I was not a principal officer, I had no approving power. I could not think of what I could have done. When Ribadu finally came, he had only come to ask me if I had a puppy because at that time I was breeding dog. I am trying to tell you the kind of thing that we went through. And that is why sleaze at that time was very low. But after that, I later find out that law makers will openly negotiate with Ministers. Obasanjo may have his own weaknesses but you cannot undermine his very strong side as president.
Since he left office Baba has continued to make strong statement, some of them may be supported by personal information known to him, some may be based on the environmental system going on today. However, I think that what is significant for the country at this time is to elect a strong leader because what we are lacking is strong leadership and that was why I gave you example of the Obasanjo administration. There was a time in this country that Baba had to do what was strong, when they started killing his policemen, he took a strong step in Odi, he was criticised.
But I can recall that through out his tenure that never happened again. When they messed up in Zak Ibiam, he took a strong step and every one criticised him, but again under him the government did not accommodate this kind of shenanigans where a group of people will take over some portion of the country, hoist their flag and kill our soldiers.
So I think we need a strong leader and I think it must be the key issue in the 2015 elections. Nigerians must look at the calibre of those aspiring to lead them. They must look at their pedigree, their history and make the right choice for the country. Don’t vote for yourself, vote for Nigeria. Let us vote to keep Nigeria together and vote to make our country respected in the comity of nations.
Buhari/Jonathan
I think it is going to be a tough contest because if you look at the balance of electoral power, you will see that the voting profile of 2011 is looking likely to be significantly altered. I am aware that the president won the South-West with a difference of about 2.5million. Then I also know that he won the South-South with a margin of about 4.4million. And then he won the South-East with a margin of about 4.5million, that was probably where he got the difference of about over 12million from the same challenger, Gen.Buhari.
But if you look at the way things are going now in 2015, it is clear now that the president may not be able to get that margin in the South-West. In Lagos State alone, he got over one million difference, I think that was due to a clear understanding between the old ACN and the PDP because, at that time, they knew they had no chance at all and it was not likely that their candidate Nuhu Ribadu may have been able to do significantly well in the North.
I think political exigency and expediency may have led to some horse trading; whether we like it or not, that happened and that cooperation was evident. Even in Edo State, where, for example, the president polled over 500,000 votes, he scored about 87.9 per cent of the votes cast in the state. But if you look at the scenario on ground today, we don’t see that kind of cooperation, it is going to be a fight to the finish. So that is why I say the calculations have been significantly altered.
If you look at the South-East for example, like Imo where the president got his highest votes, he secured 1.4million there to Buhari’s 9,000 or 10,000, you will see that that state is being controlled by the APC now and by a very rugged governor. So even if he wins that state but with a very small margin, that again will be a loss of ground for him. Now if you compare the situation in the northern states then as compared to what it is today, it is tighter for the president.
That time the president had serious northern supporters who were coming out to openly canvass for him, but now we are not seeing many of such person coming out to chest out. And from what we are seeing, even more northern states are in the opposition like Sokoto and Kano. When you have a governorship candidate like Tambuwal, it means the margin of loss for the president in Sokoto will be much. My prediction is that it is going to be a tight contest, the odds are likely against the president.
How will you sincerely rate President Jonathan’s performance in six years. Do you think he deserves to even run for second term?
Well whether you like him or hate him, there are areas which the president may have made some marks. For example, infrastructurally, we have seen some progress in the aviation sector, for the first time we are seeing the government trying to do something new in that sector. But not so in the manufacturing industry which is the key to the economy. So when I hear talks about large economies with impoverished people, I always laugh because large economies always have a corresponding impact on the people to earn a living.
It is now not in the court of Jonathan of Buhari to tell Nigerians what they want, it is in the court of Nigerians to mould the future that they deserve. It is now left for them to x-tray the nation’s woes. But one minus for the president is that there has been so much allegation of corruption and depletion of the foreign reserve. This is not come thing that is encouraging.
The second minus is that they has been so much incompetence around him. The third minus for the President is that he has not had enough courage to make the right changes appropriately. For Buhari, one plus for him is that he is regarded to have enough courage to make significant policy changes and he is regarded to having enough courage to implement the laws of this country. But two fears, many wonder whether if he has completely been able to democratize himself. Can he cope with the manipulations, horse trading in a democratic set up?
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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