Tinubu’s Strategic Outburst, Buhari’s Undoing

0 0
Read Time:4 Minute, 7 Second

The media space was awash with the video clips of the vituperation of one of the frontline presidential aspirants of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu pooh-poohing President Buhari.

Tinubu who was in Ogun State continued his consultation with party leaders and delegates to seek their support at the National Convention of the party in Abuja.

 

While speaking in his native Yoruba language, the former National Leader of APC who was visibly angry recalled how he had helped enthrone Buhari as President after three failed attempts at the polls. He further told a bewildered audience that the President was seen weeping on National Television.

 

While some persons particularly the leadership of the APC at the centre and some leaders of the party of the Northern extraction took a swipe at Tinubu for his unguarded, demeaning statements, some others who are close associates of the Lagos strongman rose in his defence.

Although Tinubu is said to have recanted his widely publicized statement, it is surprising that the President’s aides have not uttered a word in response.

 

The crux of my article is the undertone of the venomous attack, even if it is laced with some truth. Tinubu did not unconsciously fire the shot. It was a well-calculated onslaught against Buhari. His reason stems from Buhari’s statement when he met with the Progressive Governors of APC, over the search for the party’s flag bearer for the presidential ticket. Buhari had sought “reciprocity” from the governors whom he said had earlier chosen their successors and in some cases, obtained the party’s ticket for a second tenure. The signal was clear that Buhari was poised to influence the choice of who flies the party’s flag.

 

This position did not go down well with Tinubu’s camp which believes that the President may not favour their principal.The bottled-up anger forced Tinubu to unleash his hidden thoughts of how he is expecting payback from Buhari for ensuring he fulfilled his ambition to become the Nigerian President after several attempts. It was a subtle force majeure to stop Buhari from going against an existing ‘ ‘contract’ albeit without a binding document.

 

Buhari who had indicated a few months back that he has his candidate who would become his successor seemed to have backtracked after Tinubu’s outburst. There were insinuations before this time that the former military Head of State would endorse one of these three: Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Emeka Nwajiuba and Ogbonnaya Onu. Amaechi seemed to have been mostly favoured considering his exceptional courage in helping Buhari win the ticket of the party in 2014 when Abubakar Atiku and Rabiu Kwakwanso were both tipped and supported by Tinubu. Amaechi it was thought would have been Buhari’s running mate but the President asked Tinubu to choose the Vice President, to curtail the fallout from the primaries where Tinubu felt crushed by Amaechi who had not long joined the party from a faction of the ruling PDP, known as the nPDP.

 

It was no wonder Buhari sustained his winning streaks by maintaining Amaechi as the Director-General of his campaign, back to back. Amaechi since being appointed as Transportation Minister has not only proved his mettle as an experienced administrator but has further given the government a face and the party, reasons to campaign for the next election.

 

Ogbonnaya Onu and Emeka Nwajiuba may not have any visible significant contributions toward the actualization of the APC manifesto but they have been close allies of Buhari. They form part of his kitchen cabinet having followed him from his political sojourn through APP to ANPP to CPC and APC.

 

It is not in doubt that the battle would have been between an older Tinubu and a younger Amaechi.

 

The strategy to withhold Buhari’s endorsement of his own choice seems to have favoured the Tinubu group as the President has asked the party and the aspirants to continue the search for a consensus candidate or at least trim down the list of aspirants to three.

 

While some believe that Amaechi would emerge through a consensus arrangement largely influenced by the President, and Tinubu would succeed at a delegate election due to the number of Governors supporting his ambition, the President still has a constitutional and moral burden to ensure that he contributes to the success of a candidate of his choice if he has run a check on all of them based on the state of the nation.

 

It is not likely that any one of them would have a perfect rating but there are essential parameters that any candidate beyond just being favoured to win, must possess.

 

Whatever the dynamics that play out, the simple truth is that Buhari has to prove his ‘blackmailers’ wrong or go down in history as one who succumbed to the antics of his mockers.

 

Christie Oby Ndukwe is a political analyst based in Abuja

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

APC ticket: Buhari disowns Jonathan’s presidential bid

0 0
Read Time:10 Minute, 52 Second

Two days after former President Goodluck Jonathan got a reprieve from a Federal High Court, removing the constitutional obstruction that now makes him eligible to contest 2023 presidency, President Muhammadu Buhari has distanced himself from any plot to draft Jonathan into the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential race.

Indications have emerged that while few APC members, including a Northern governor, are behind the push to draft Jonathan into the ruling party’s presidential primary, a Presidency source late on Sunday, however, revealed that President Buhari has taken measures to distance himself from the plot.

The impeccable source in the Villa disclosed that instructions have consequently been given that there shall be no public release of photos of any meetings between the former President and the incumbent at this time as the President does not want such images to be used to confer any modicum of support to the plot to get Jonathan into the race.

According to the source, there are also concerns that the aides of the ex-President are “involved in actively keeping the plot alive in the media by releasing photos of his visits to the APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Alhaji Mamman Daura, the President’s influential nephew, to insinuate that these two gentlemen are in support of the plot.”

However, while speculative news reports have claimed the APC has granted Jonathan waiver to join the presidential race even though he is not known to have properly fulfilled membership requirements, there has not been any formal confirmation that he submitted the presidential nomination forms or whether he would be included in the screening expected to happen this week.

Meanwhile, the source added that the former president is not being precluded from visiting the Presidential Villa at this time in line with protocol, being a former President in good standing and due to his international assignments for which he has to regularly brief President Buhari.

Although President Buhari has not indicated who he is backing for the APC presidential primary, the Presidency source explained that “Jonathan is certainly not in the picture at all and the mentioning of his name has been invoking feelings of absurdity and ridicule in the Villa.”

The source recalled that “when during a public interview earlier this year, a journalist asked the president to use one word to describe the PDP, he instantly said ‘failure,’ how then would the same person who strongly feels that way would then be contemplating supporting the same PDP candidate he roundly defeated?”

It was also disclosed that neither the APC Chairman nor Daura are behind the plot to draft Jonathan, as it is being suggested. According to the source, “it’s only the aides of the ex-president that are going to town to create such an impression.”

The source further added: “All of these plots would be over in a matter of days as the APC presidential primaries are now irretrievably set and the President’s choice would be known.”

ALSO, former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae, has attributed the plot to draft Jonathan into the race to the desperate attempt by some powerful forces to quickly return power to the North after his one term in 2027.

Falae, who faulted the moves while speaking with journalists in Akure, the Ondo state capital, yesterday, wondered how Jonathan that was booted out over incompetency and corruption, suddenly became a beautiful bride to the powerful forces from the North.

He, however, maintained that the country could only move forward if she embraces restructuring, noting that the present constitution of the country is faulty and should be replaced to move the country forward.

“There could never be peace in the country with this quasi-unitary Constitution, which is what some people want to hang on to because it suits them in a faulty arrangement, without doing the needful.

“The man you threw away from government, describing him an incompetent man, an idiot, an imbecile and there was no name they didn’t call him and you are calling him back to ask him to come back to rule.

“And there is only one reason for that. The only reason they are asking Goodluck to come back is that he will spend one term as President. They don’t want the presidency to be in the South for more than four years.

“They want it quickly back in the North. So they want to use Goodluck to achieve that objective against his own people. They don’t care what he does if he goes back this time around and is a ‘bigger thief’ this time, or if he is more incompetent this time, it does not bother them as long as they get back to power quickly. Are we on the same plane? Do we have the same objective?

“They will sacrifice anything Nigeria as long as they get what they want. So, this is where we are, and that’s why we need a political party not what I call an opportunistic gang up for power. That’s what PDP is; that’s what APC is – opportunistic gang up for power, not parties.

“So, without restructuring, we are wasting our time because the English man was not a fool when he gave us a truly federal constitution. It is within the ambit of a truly federal constitution that 448 different ethnic nationalities can co-exist with reasonable amity and peace,” he said.

MEANWHILE, President Buhari has been urged to adopt the consensus method for the forthcoming APC presidential primary to protect the nation’s currency. According to a founding member of the party, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, who made the plea in an interaction with journalists in Abuja, yesterday, he said using indirect methodology opens the primary to monetisation and depreciation of the naira.

While pointing out that a nation’s currency is one of the critical indices of measuring the general health of its economy, Okechukwu stressed that when the currency nose-dives, hyper-inflation, gross unemployment and abject poverty ensue thereby worsening the nation’s security.

Okechukwu, who is also the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), said: “Sincerely, I congratulate Atiku Abubakar on his emergence from the opposition party primary, but, as a patriot and stakeholder in the Nigeria project, I am worried by PDP’s induced dollar rain, which led to unprecedented depreciation of the Naira. If that could happen in a party with about 731 delegates, imagine what will happen if APC with about 2,322 delegates is allowed to indulge in dollar rain.”

HOWEVER, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has described the emergence of Atiku as a brazing affront on the people of Southern Nigeria.

In a statement jointly signed by Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw of PANDEF, Okey Emuchay of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Jare Ajayi of Afenifere, Dr. Isuwa Dogo of Middle Belt Forum (MBF) and Ken Robinson, Acting Coordinator of SMBLF, the leaders roundly rejected the candidacy of Atiku and called on true lovers of peace and unity not to vote for him or any other Northerner next year in the interest of posterity.

“Again, SMBLF calls on all politicians of Southern extraction to refuse the position of a running mate to any Northern presidential candidate, which will equally be viewed as subjugating their people to political slavery.”

Lamenting the outcome of the PDP presidential primary, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazu Okechukwu Isiguzoro, described Atiku’s emergence as an erratic and corrupt process that was overseen by the North against the South.

“It’s amusing that PDP is now a political party for the Northern region, with Dr Iyocha Ayu as Chair, Walid Jubril as BOT Chair and Atiku as 2023 presidential candidate, all from Northern Nigeria. Another Northerner, Senator David Mark, supervised the process that schemed out Igbo from PDP.

“The outcome of the PDP primary is a pointer that Igbo should boycott the presidential election as a protest in response to the grand conspiracy against Ndigbo. We are waiting for the APC presidential primary to take the final decision on whether or not if Igbos will participate in the 2023 elections,” he said.

HOW Ndigbo will return to national politics in 2023 will dominate a proposed meeting of Igbo leaders scheduled for Enugu State next week. The Guardian gathered that the meeting followed the outcome of the PDP presidential primary last weekend as well as the widely held notion that the APC, whose primary is billed for next week, could toe a similar line of giving a Northerner its presidential ticket.

It was gathered that the Enugu meeting, which would involve political leaders across party lines and religious leaders from the zone would also weigh the possibility of the region producing the vice president or pulling its support base to any other political platform that may give an Igbo person its presidential ticket.

Although other details about the meeting remained sketchy as of press time, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in reaction to the emergence of Atiku, stated that it was not surprised, reiterating however that the development notwithstanding, Ndigbo would not accept the running mate of any candidate.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated that Ndigbo would contest the presidency of the country in 2023, as a matter of justice, equity and fairness, stressing that the move by the PDP to “repay the zone with the denial of the presidency would be resisted.”

National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, told The Guardian yesterday that “Igbo are still focused on the presidency. The PDP has done their own and that of the APC is still being expected. The outcome of these primaries will determine our next move. We are not making calculations on the Vice Presidential running mate for now. Ohanaeze will speak on that at the right time.

“One thing I can tell you is that Mr Peter Obi is still in the race for the presidency. He is contesting under the Labour party and our people will not rest until we get a ticket for the presidency.”

Also reacting, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, stated that the emergence of Atiku lent credence to his earlier position that neither PDP nor the APC would give its presidential ticket to the Southeast.

Okorie, who recently resigned from APC to rejoin APGA, stated that it was unfortunate that PDP could not concede its ticket to the Southeast after several years of sacrifice by the people of the region to project the party.
JOIN the moving train of the ballot revolution of the working people crystallising in the Labour Party, the Third Force Movement under the umbrella of the National Consultative Front (NCFront) has urged leaders of conscience in the country. This is coming against the backdrop that the Third Force Movement has adopted Labour Party as the alternative ‘Big Tent’ for the 2023 elections.

This call was made by Head of Public Affairs of NCFront, Dr Tanko Yunusa, in Asaba, Delta State, while addressing supporters and delegates of the Labour Party, who were in the city to attend the presidential primary of the party today at the Orchid Hotels, GRA, Asaba.

Yunusa, in company of other party chieftains and bigwigs also used the occasion to carpet the ‘cash and carry’ primaries of the APC and PDP, describing it as corruptive and criminal, calling on the EFCC to immediately go after the candidates and delegates of the APC and PDP for destroying Nigeria’s electoral system and moral fabric.

The Front, while also applauding the bubbling political synergy between two leading presidential aspirants of the party, Peter Obi and Pat Utomi, also condemned the activities of some disgruntled elements and sponsored agents by APC and PDP in the media, trying to create a false picture of disunity in the party.

THE Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has faulted the alleged inducement of party delegates with money by aspirants in the ongoing primaries of the different political parties. It lamented that party delegates are mortgaging the future and the already terrible situation of the country.

Speaking to journalists during Mass to mark the 2022 World Communication Day yesterday in Abuja, CSN Director, Social Communication, Rev Fr. (Dr) Michael Nsikak Umoh, observed that what transpired during the primaries showed that party delegates are not choosing those who can help the people and the country out of their present predicaments but those who have given them money.

Also, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Sunday, faulted the process that produced Atiku as PDP presidential candidate. The group warned the second-biggest party, the ruling APC, to move against a Northern candidate and make a Southerner, especially a candidate of Southeast extraction, its presidential flag bearer in the spirit of fairness and to preserve the unity of Nigeria.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said Atiku’s emergence was allegedly heavily compromised by undue monetisation and the PDP delegates gave their candidate’s slot to the highest bidder.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Buhari’s Visit to Ebonyi in Retrospect: Umahi’s Feats and commissioning of 16 Legacy Projects

0 0
Read Time:5 Minute, 29 Second

Muhammadu Buhari

Reviewing and reflecting on the events of 5th and 6th May, 2022; the two days of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Ebonyi State reminds me of the historical quote of Les Brown who stated that, “The difference between setting a goal and achieving it is in having a good plan and working it.”

Another supportive quote was that of Brian Morris, “He (Walt Disney) was a man that achieved what he set out to achieve, proving that if you work at something hard enough, you will succeed at it.”

In summary, let me also quote President Muhammadu Buhari while commending Governor Umahi of Ebonyi Stated, when he stated during the visit, ” I am not surprised of the quality and standard of projects in Ebonyi State because the two-time governor of Ebonyi State is an engineer of repute.”

Based on the above quotes, let me reiterate that Engr. David Nweze Umahi, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, is that man who has a dream and set up a plan on how to achieve it and by all records he normally surpassed whatever may be his dream so far emancipation and development of Ebonyi State is concerned.

His feats and wonders in Ebonyi State caused President Muhammadu Buhari to exclaim, “I am not an engineer by discipline but my eyes are very clear, even through my eyeglasses, YOU ARE AN ENGINEER WITH REPUTE; if you could achieve all these pieces of infrastructural revolution within less than eight years.”

For the avoidance of doubt, the aim of this treatise is to take a holistic look of, and reflection on, the two-day historical visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Ebonyi State from 5th to 6th May, 2022.

My Past Visits to Ebonyi State:

Before embarking on this treatise properly, let me reiterate incase some of you may have forgotten that on two occasions my good friend, Barr. Uchenna Orji, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation of Ebonyi State whom I christened the Orator of South East had invited me to monitor some of the feats displayed before the August Visitor and President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

On those two occasions, what was exposed to me was just a tip of the iceberg of what was displayed before President Muhammadu Buhari for commissioning within three weeks of my monitoring. I could only monitor the 16 flyovers, the out-of- this-world King David University of Medical Science and few of the health facilities. My findings were all listed in my publications then.

 

The Major Aim of this Treatise:

My concern therefore in this attempt is to review and reveal some of the projects that were commissioned by Mr. President in which out of over 300 key projects executed by the man most people call the enigma of this dispensation, only 16 were selected to be commissioned by the peoples President on this special occasion of his visit.

The Two Day Historical Visit in Retrospect:

President Buhari, though a tested and reputed Army General, never had it so tough comparable to what he witnessed during the two days he spent without one minute rest. He thanked God that he survived the ingenuity of the man they call the Akuburaoaha of Igbo Land (The Wealth Possessor that touches everyone).

From the report made available to this writer through the report of Mr. Femi Adesina the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity; President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival flew straight from the Akani Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, with a presidential chopper to Uburu the hometown of Governor Umahi and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu the former Minister of Science, to inaugurate King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu.

Before, I forget, Uburu is the only town in Nigeria to have produced a sitting Governor and a sitting Minster within the same period.

At hand to assist Governor Umahi to receive the People’s President were the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi,,

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo and his counterpart from Jigawa, Abubakar Badaru, plus other great personalities that included Dr. Kelechi Igwe the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Members of the National and States Assembly, traditional rulers, captains of industries, Stakeholders, etc.

The President commenced his two-day visit with the commissioning of projects at the state-owned King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu,  including a twin flyover, 12-kilometre dualised federal road from Mbu in Enugu State to Uburu, the University Building and the University Medical Hospital, facilities and equipment.

At his first stop in the State for the inauguration of the 700-metre length twin-flyover (also called King David’s University Flyover), constructed at the cost of N2 billion by the State government, President Buhari said:

”I am not an Engineer by discipline but my eyes are very clear, even through my eyeglasses. I am impressed with this performance and I know the projects will last. I congratulate the Governor on this feat and I am pleased to be associated with it.”

While in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the State, the President also inaugurated the Cancer Centre at the King David University of Medical Sciences, built and equipped by the Federal Government under TETFUND.

Governor Umahi, who thanked the President for graciously approving the funding of the Centre, said the facility can rank with other centres around the world.

”It is in the same standard as Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the State government also contributed to the project to bring it to completion,” he told the President.

He later proceeded to Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke via a Chopper. There, the president inaugurated the 5km dual carriage airport road and the airport’s Presidential Lounge.

The Governor announced that the tarmac and runway of the airport, built with concrete, had attained over 70 per cent completion, and would be ready the next month.

Other projects inaugurated by the president include the new Government House, the Centenary City and reconstructed St. Margaret Umahi International Market Complex, Abakaliki. The President also inaugurated the Aisha Buhari Wife of Governor’s Office Complex, Akanu Ibiam Lodge (new Governor’s Lodge), and Ebonyi House.

President Buhari was later hosted to state dinner by the Ebonyi State Government, on Thursday night. The next day, he inaugurated the Muhammadu Buhari Light Tunnel Flyover and Ebonyi Shopping Mall.

Mr President concluded his visit to Ebonyi with a closed-door meeting with South-East leaders in Abakaliki before departing for Abuja on Friday.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

President Buhari in Ebonyi: Why Chief Eze wept after Aviation Minister’s plea to President Buhari

0 0
Read Time:5 Minute, 13 Second
Why Chief Eze wept after Aviation Minister's plea to President Buhari
Explains how Umahi stopped him from crying
Pleads with Buhari as a father to save South East from further decimation

President Buhari in Ebonyi

93-year-old, Chief Mbazulukike Amechi one of Nigeria’s living legends, former Minister of Aviation and Transportation in the First Republic, and a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens in 1959, spoke in Abakaliki during the Southeast stakeholders meeting with President Buhari who was on a two-day working visit to Ebonyi State. According to this, statesman pointedly told Buhari

“I want to see peace in this country before I join my ancestors, I want to see peace in the Southeast, particularly where there is an upsurge of crisis and something that will lead to that peace is around the corner, and we are asking you to give me the mandate and I will give you peace. I guarantee you this Mr President

“We say in Igbo land that a madman is owned by his people. If somebody was mad yesterday, and on the guarantee of elders like me and other elders, I will bring him out and that is to get peace. Help us to get the peace and I will give you peace in this part of this country and also in Nigeria because I am a Nigerian, I took part in the struggle for the independence of this country.

In the same vein, the Chairman of the Southeast Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Charles Mkpuma, pleaded for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the prescribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“We stand by you in all efforts towards the fight against insecurity in the Southeast and the country in general. We, however, plead with you as a compassionate father to temper justice with mercy in the case of your son, Nnamdi Kanu. We have started a dialogue to ensure that all those who feel aggrieved are brought to a round table discussion.

After going through these pleas by this elderly statesman coupled with the Chairman of the South-East Traditional Rulers Council to President Buhari, I wept to see the sad state of the South East region where our people are being slaughtered like chickens on daily basis by the so-called unknown gunmen and the economy of the region at the verge of total collapse because of the unnecessary Monday Sit-at-home. This month of May has 32 days those in the South East have only nine days to carry out their business activities and most of these days our children are kept at home.

This week alone from Monday to Friday has been declared sit-at-home week, thereby keeping everybody at home with little or no movement in all parts of the five states of the region. It is reported that all the major towns and roads were deserted, that one may think that those living in this part of the country have all run away. What other punishment do we have to go through than this?

 

As I continued in my weeping, Governor Umahi came to my aid and restored hope by reassuring us all that President Muhammadu Buhari is not avarice to the release of Mazi Kalu or restore peace to South East. According to the Chairman of South-East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, “We wished that it should be solved and that’s why I went to Mr President. And our leader, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi, has also gone to the President and he agreed for a political solution, but it should be us that should initiate it,” .

 

“And I am asking Ambassador Obiozor (Ohanaeze President), he is very slow about this because I had gone to the DG DSS. I had gone to the Attorney-General of the Federation and they were ready to receive them to discuss. I had excluded myself so that politics is not by any means adduced to it.”

 

“So, we should be encouraging the president of Ohanaeze to work with the IPOB leader as Mr President suggested and then let them, you know, bring something before the Federal Government and say, ‘These are what we are bringing on board.’ I think that the President is not averse to that,”

 

The governor, who said he foresaw the growing insecurity in the South East, reiterated that that was why his government opposed the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) from the onset.

 

He, however, said many people misunderstood him and “jumped into and used it for politics”. Umahi lamented that the situation is now “a pain in everybody’s eye” in the region.

 

MY PLEA:

Eze quoted Mr. President as saying,

“I have listened carefully to the various appeals from the elders to the traditional leaders, regarding a wide range of options and as I have said previously, this matter remains in the full purview of the court where it will be properly adjudicated.

My worry is for our hard-working and innocent civilians, for whom life is already tough and will like to just go out and earn a decent and honest living.”

Eze as a stakeholder in APC been the erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct nPDP one of the bodies that saw to the birth of APC and a member of the APC Legacy Projects Media Team, I join other Leaders of the South East for Mr. President to consider his statement that, “My worry is for our hardworking and innocent civilians for whom life is already tough and will like to just go out and earn a decent and honest living.” and free the innocent people of South East and come to our aid and release us from this bondage.

As the Elders have requested, release Mazi Kalu to them and let us see if peace can be restored to this region and if peace is not restored then the challenge becomes that of our Elders and Leaders, Eze pleaded.

 

Signed

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,

APC Chieftain, member of APC Legacy Projects Media Team & former National Publicity Secretary, nPDP

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

Call Your National Security Adviser to Order – Groups Tell President Buhari

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 52 Second

Niger Delta Amnesty Vendors’ Forum in collaboration with Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-agitators/Justice for the Abandoned Youths of Nigeria, today marched through major streets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the National Security Adviser, Gen. Mongonu to stop interfering with the day to day administration of the Presidential Amnesty Office in the interest of peace in the Niger Delta region.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the massive rally which started from the beginning of Ada-George road to terminate at Agip round about by Ikwerri road, President of the Niger Delta Amnesty Vendors’ Forum, Tari Okosi and Coordinator of the Coalition for Niger Delta Ex-agitators/Justice for the Abandoned Youths of Nigeria, Comrade Okpakariari Eferebo lamented how the National Security Adviser has shut down the Amnesty Office, warning that the interference of the NSA could trigger fresh simultaneous violent protests across the region.

They called on the President to use his good offices to intervene before the issue gets out of hands. Meanwhile, the groups have expressed fears that the National Security Adviser may be playing out a prepared script from politicians who are bent on derailing the President’s new vision for the Niger Delta region.

In a swift reaction to the unfolding developments at the Presidential Amnesty Office, Coordinator of the Patriotic Niger Deltans for Good Governance, Comrade Adonba Amgbare, pointed out that the ongoing undue interference from the National Security Adviser to the President has come to the people of the Niger Delta region not as a surprise, judging from the recent provocative statements from some persons in the north.

According to him, the current reported actions of the National Security Adviser against the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme may invalidate all the milestones of the present administration in achieving sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region, saying that the people of the area are satisfied with what the Presidential Amnesty Office under Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) is doing in the region.

Signed By

Tari Okosi and Comrade Okpakariari Eferebo  for President of the Niger Delta Amnesty Vendors’ Forum and Coalition for Niger Delta Ex-agitators/Justice for the Abandoned Youths of Nigeria

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

A Problem with the Truth: Of Certificates and No Certificates.

0 0
Read Time:5 Minute, 57 Second

I am a bit lost, in fact more than lost. I am aghast at the inanity and lack of decorum being spread around by the supposedly “educated” Nigerians, just because of political opportunism and expediency. Do we have a problem with "academic certificates", especially of our leaders and political aspirants?

Continue reading

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

2015: Buhari’s Emergence A Quit Notice to Jonathan, PDP —Rivers APC

0 0
Read Time:3 Minute, 40 Second

2015: Buhari’s Emergence A Quit Notice to Jonathan, PDP —Rivers APC •Congratulates Amaechi, and other APC Leaders for their political sagacity

The emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) as the Presidential Flag-Bearer of the “All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2015 general elections has been described as an unmistakable quit notice to President Good luck Jonathan and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Congratulating Buhari who picked the APC ticket on Thursday at the APC Presidential Primary in Lagos, Rivers APC said: “APC was set up to rescue and salvage our nation from the inept leadership of President Jonathan and PDP. We are happy that this dream is coming true, as indicated by the emergence of General Buhari as the APC flag-bearer. This attests to the seriousness of APC to tackle headlong the menace of insecurity, undemocratic practices, corruption and maladministration which are the hallmarks of the outgoing government of President Jonathan. APC couldn’t have made a better choice than this well-respected icon of integrity.

“That President Jonathan’s administration has brought Nigeria to its knees through its high-tech corruption is to say the obvious. Under this unfortunate administration, Nigeria has never had it so bad, being divided alongside tribal, class and religious lines by a government that lacks vision and mission. Its unprecedented undemocratic credentials include the imposition of unpopular and disreputable corrupt politicians, witch-hunting of political opponents that makes the dictatorial Abacha regime look like a saint, production of millions of youths for the labour market and endangering their lives through unscrupulous advertisements and recruitment into non-existing jobs, looting of our common patrimony with impunity and exhibition of high-handedness, uncommon in a democratic culture. Indeed, President Jonathan and his government have brought nothing but woes to almost all families in Nigeria.

“Today, our country is being mocked all over the world because of poor leadership. This makes the emergence of Buhari imperative. With this development, Nigeria and Nigerians can now heave a sigh of relief that APC’s Rescue Team has come on board. The only thing left is for all Nigerians to unite and vote out this administration that has bought shame and pains to us all.”

Rivers APC in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, commended Buhari on his victory and his determination to lead the way to a new Nigeria if given the mandate next year by Nigerians. “As Gen. Buhari himself did say at the APC Convention, he is a man who is impatient for change, who loves Nigeria and who deserves to be given a chance to rescue the country and make her great again. We fully agree with him that we as a country simply cannot afford four more years of PDP’s corruption and the corrosive cynicism that it has bred,” Ikanya said.

The party congratulated former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governors Rochas Okorocha and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well Pharmacist Sam Ndah-Isaiah for being gallant in defeat and accepting the verdict of the delegates. “We pray and hope that these worthy Nigerians will fully throw their weight behind Candidate Buhari so that collectively we can march and save our nation from the hands of President Jonathan and his governance-miss-road assist as true democrats in this struggle to free our country from the chains of inept leadership forced on us by the evil PDP,” Rivers APC said.

It also congratulated the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, for the leading role he played towards the emergence of Buhari as APC’s flag-bearer. “We salute our worthy Leader and the other APC Leaders for their political sagacity, which resulted in the best party primaries ever conducted in the country and produced the best possible Presidential Candidate in the person of Gen. Buhari,” the party said, adding, “we specifically wish to appreciate the part that Bola Tinubu, Ogbonnaya Onu and others played to bring this broom revolution to pass. We are encouraged and motivated that the suffering and persecution that we in Rivers State have been going through in the hands of President Jonathan and his PDP will be over in a matter of months. We appeal to Nigerians to take heart as their problems will soon be a thing of the past when APC, with Buhari as presidential candidate, forms the next government after the 2015 presidential elections.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %

2011: The emergence of two party politics?

0 0
Read Time:7 Minute, 31 Second

There is much talk going at the moment amongst the political class of coalitions, alliances and mergers. The general consensus seems to be that the election machine of the PDP will simply be unstoppable come 2011 and the only way that non-PDP politicians can have a say is by forming a coalition (or coalitions). The story bubbled earlier in the year as legislators debated whether to include a two-party amendment into the Electoral Reform Bill, on that occasion the idea was shot down, albeit after some political manoeuvring, but nonetheless it raised the profile of the grand coalition agenda. The idea was first floated by the ‘love-him-or-hate-him’ Godfather of Nigerian politics, General Babangida, in the ‘Third Regime’ and eventually lead to what was considered the freest and fairest elections ever held in Nigeria which was contested between the National Republican Convention and the Social Democratic Party ( Who won the election with candidate MKO Abiola).

As the elections have drawn nearer, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) are reported to be in talks over an alliance (but probably not a merger) with the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) and their splinter party the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). In addition to all the politicians who are criss-crossing the carpet from one party to the other, Presidential aspirant Pat Utomi of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), the day after announcing his candidacy indicated on his Facebook page that he would be ‘going round Nigeria to build a coalition with ALL progressives’. The question is now why the sudden clamour for unity?

There are two scenarios here that though inter-related are best looked at separately. The first of which was that raised in May in the legislature, where The National Assembly sort to pass an amendment limiting the parties allowed to run to two. The argument being that a two-party system is a stable political system that has succeeded in polities all over the world (and indeed in Nigeria albeit briefly) and will have a number of beneficial consequences include reduced cost of elections, greater accountability and higher participation. As such it was advisable to have it in law. This move although apparently supported by many was opposed by PDP legislators, but is also opposed by a number of academics who contend that besides the problems of rigidity and restricted choice this may imply, the emergence of two-party politics in the US or Japan or for that matter anywhere in the world has never been induced by the passing of law or amendment of constitutions. These changes have always happened by evolution, with two parties emerging as dominant over time but with the existence of other parties not expressly outlawed. This is of course the second scenario for Nigeria, that parties will splinter and merge, grow and wither and two parties will emerge; one of which in all likelihood has already emerged, The PDP.

There is a degree of inevitability about as French sociologist Maurice Duverger outlined in what became known as his principle. Duverger’s law asserts that a plurality election system, like the one that exists in Nigeria, tends to encourage a two party system, as opposed to a system of proportional representation which tends to favour a multiparty system. The argument being that in a country like Nigeria, where each legislative seat (and the Presidency) is divided by a simple majority of votes casted by constituents, the party with the most seats is the majority (or gains the Presidency) and the second party is in minority (or is in opposition). In each individual seat there is no role for the party that comes third, and any party that consistently comes third across the seats will have no role at all on a national level. People will stop voting for them as they will begin to see it as a wasted vote and/or the party itself will seek to ally itself with one of the more successful parties. This model has been applied to analysis of the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom and is widely accepted, however it is only a theory and it is the practice of politics that concerns Nigerians.

This would be a good time for the opposition parties to unite. The PDP is suffering a dip in support; people are dissatisfied after 12 years of the party in Government. The pressure for free and fair elections is overwhelming, this combined with the cheap publicity via modern technology means that the elections will be more open than in previous idea. The concept of a non-partisan coalition chimes with the electorate and the theme of change that the parties are planning to run on and cooperation might give them the financial muscle to challenge the PDP’s hegemony. In practice, amalgamation looks unlikely. Though the parties are currently in talks with the view to some sort of understanding, there are a number of issues in the way so much so that Alhaji Bafarawa (formerly of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), now of the ACN) has come out to dispel talk of an alliance as just that, talk.

“As a democrat and I believe ACN is a democratic party. Whoever that is taking our ticket must be our member. I am assuring you there is no way ACN will adopt a presidential candidature without recourse to democracy. There is no way merger will work”

The CPC is a splinter of the ANPP and such is unlikely to enter any coalition with them, leaving the ACN to choose a suitor. The major problem hindering any agreement is that there is no real acknowledgement of who is the ‘second’ party and who is the ‘third’, in other words who will be senior and who will be junior partner. The CPC is a new party that although has considerable support particularly in the North, has no tangible political assets to bring to the table. The ANPP despite its state Governors and significant stake in the legislator has taken some political blows as a result of the defections that have plagued the party this year. The ACN would seem to be perched in the driving seat with the popular acclaim for Governor Fashola of Lagos and its recent court successes in the South-West, however they don’t appear to be able to put forward a heavy hitting presidential candidate and such seem to be very much playing second fiddle to the other parties. The latest gossip is that the coalition will be between the CPC and the ACN, with former head of state, General Buhari, being lined up as the presidential candidate with a running mate from the ACN, possibly former governer of Lagos State, Mr Tinubu.

If a deal is struck, there will be a number of losers including ACN aspirant, Mallam Ribadu, who seems to have been overlooked as well as Pat Utomi’s SDMP and a whole host of smaller parties who will have little or nothing to bring to the table. However, in this writer’s opinion a deal is not likely to be struck, Nigerian politicians are not well known for their cooperation or their selflessness. For progress to be made one or more parties will have to give up their claim to the presidency and accept a diminished role. The parties will have to choose a platform on which to run and that is proving a sticking point at the moment as all sides would want to preserve their political capital by running on their own party ticket. Then there is the question of what will happen in the likely situation that the PDP retains power, the PDP currently has 26 of the 36 gubernatorial seats while the other parties combined have only 10. What are the realistic prospects of any coalition continuing beyond the elections and forming a credible opposition? One can only speculate and on some level that is the problem in Nigeria, there is no power in opposition and so every election is winner takes all. Duverger’s theory doesn’t hold up for Nigeria because there is no second place, no shadow cabinet, in effect no opposition. Opposition that should be shadowing government activity, scrutinizing government agenda and formulating alternative policies simply doesn’t exist. It should act as check on the party in power and should fight to get the upper hand on its opponent by reflecting the will of the people. So this brings us back to the first scenario and perhaps instead of the National Assembly trying to legislate on a two party system, they should legislate on reform to the Assembly that will allow for or even require credible opposition and maybe this will bring about the evolution of a two-party system if it is indeed inevitable.

Enyinnaya Emmanuel Chukwueke

Green Label Project, Changing Nigeria Together

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

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.
Happy
0 0 %
Sad
0 0 %
Excited
0 0 %
Sleepy
0 0 %
Angry
0 0 %
Surprise
0 0 %