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Yoruba elders have seen something good in Jonathan

Chief Ebenezer Babatope, 72 came to national limelight as the fiery director of organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN in the Second Republic. Babatope was a shinning light among Nigeria’s progressives. An unrepentant Awosit till date, his ideological bearing, however, became an issue among some during and after his years of service in the General Sani Abacha regime where he held the transport portfolio. Such concern also shadows his prominent standing in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Even when many question his present ideological leanings, however, none has as of date questioned his morals in the midst of the morass that is depicted of his party, where he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT.

In this interview with Vanguard, Babatope bares his mind on the campaigns so far, chances of President Goodluck Jonathan and the place of PDP in the South West among other issues.

By Henry Umoru

There were complaints that when the PDP and the APC started, the campaigns were not quite issue based. Have we moved from insults to issues now?

The PDP has always ensured that its campaigns are purely issue based. You hardly can see us throwing insults to people or jiving at them. No! We carry out the messages of the party to the people. And it is the other party, the opposition party, the APC that is involving itself in throwing insults upon people and in signing peace treaty which they don’t believe in and in ensuring that they cause confusion.

But we thank God that the PDP has not played the game as they are playing it because if we had played the game as they are playing it, there would have been chaos and catastrophe in the society. We are very interested in ensuring that we mobilize the greatest number of Nigerian people to see the side being presented by the PDP and to be with us at the campaigns and the election victory.

Does that mean that the peace treaty will not work since you are saying that the APC does not believe in that?
When they signed the treaty, honestly I was not into self seeking about it because I know that the APC boys are naturally belligerent, they are naturally repulsive to anything which in fact can move for amity in political relationship. I know they can never be anything supportive of any action of my people to ensure that we don’t have violence. So I didn’t give it a chance.

So when they now decided to throw stones at the president in Katsina, also in Bauchi and also made an attempt at bomb throwing in Gombe, I just felt well, this country is greater than all of us and God Almighty loves Nigeria and will never allow our country to disintegrate. It is the APC that is responsible for the breakdown of the Abuja Peace Accord that was signed, in the presence of Kofi Annan and some other United Nations top officials.

But that notwithstanding, what is important to us now is how to consolidate on the gains we have had in the campaigns and to ensure that we win the elections.

What are the chances of your party in your zone that is the Southwest, considering the fact that you have only Ondo and Ekiti as PDP states?

Let me be firm in telling you that there is no way APC and Buhari will defeat Jonathan and the PDP in the Southwest. I am not talking in terms of governorship contest. No, I am talking about presidential contest.

Despite the noise being made by the APC, there is no way Buhari and the APC will beat the PDP in the Southwest because all we are doing in the Southwest are all rooted in the tradition and culture of our people in Yoruba land.

Awolowo said that before you can be a good Nigerian citizen, you must first and foremost be a good Yoruba man, a good Hausa man, a good Igbo man and the rest of them. So we believe that before we can chest out in the Southwest to say we are good Nigerians, we must be very good and acceptable Yoruba patriots and this is what we are doing.

Yoruba patriots

And when the results come out, it will surprise everyone the votes that Jonathan will score in the Southwest. We beat them the last time; we are going to beat them this time again.

What is your take on the endorsement of President Jonathan by the Afenifere?

It is a very good development. I am not in that Afenifere group. I am Awolowo’s Afenifere. But I have tremendous respect and regard for the leaders of the Afenifere group that declared support for Jonathan because they were my leaders in the Unity Party of Nigeria when I was their director of organisation and I really respect their intelligence and I respect the way they view the future and the way they responded to issues to ensure that the Yorubas are well prepared for the future.

There are things they would have seen because they are a group of elders: Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Chief Adebanjo, Chief Olaniwun Ajayi, all of them in the Afenifere. They are people who are not frivolous, who are never sentimental or emotional about issues, they are people who view matters constructively and objectively.

Growing strength

When they made their pronouncement, I know that the Yoruba people because we don’t joke with maturity, age as expressed in Yoruba land, would have picked something that these elderly people know what they are talking about.

So it is a good thing they have done for the PDP and honestly speaking I am very happy about it and Nigerians are happy about it and the Yoruba people are very delighted about that development because they will add fillip to the growing strength of the PDP for Jonathan’s presidency in the Southwest.

How would you look at the two major presidential candidates, Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari?

Even while sleeping it is obvious. You must forgive me, while sleeping I will pick Jonathan. Any human being that invests heavily in individual freedom is the human being that should be supported to run the democratic experiment that we are having in Nigeria.

The past of Buhari shows that he is not a man that can be described as a democrat. A lot of people perished under his first coming. I was one of his victims. I was in jail for 21 months. I was not in government. I was just a party official, director of organisation of the banned Unity Party of Nigeria led by the great Obafemi Awolowo. I spent some time in Kirikiri prison, from there they took me to Jos prison, from there they took me to Yola prison. So I know what I am talking about. And many innocent people were killed.
Three innocent young men were executed on back dated laws because they said they found them with cocaine. What is cocaine? Cocaine is criminal, but it is attended in civilized countries with imprisonment.

So why you are asking me to pick between Jonathan and Buhari, I will pick Jonathan because since Jonathan came to power in 2011, not one single Nigerian has suffered executive murder in his hands.

No one single Nigerian has gone abroad to Britian, to America, to Paris, to Italy, to Germany to say that he is being witch hunted at home and he is looking for political asylum. If anybody says that he is deceiving himself, not under Jonathan. And Jonathan is a man who allows everybody to air his opinion. So with that it is Jonathan all the way.

Many people left the party after the primaries under Mu’azu, what is your take on this?

Muazu has been trying his best and he is leading us in this battle, for this great electoral war we are fighting and I think that we of the PDP should give him all the support.

I am not telling you that everything about our secretariat is rosy, I won’t tell you that.

But we will first of all finish the elections and win the elections before we come down. But Mu’azu has been doing very well and he is somebody who is in fact very versatile in political matters. He is a person who respects the people and he is a gifted orator.

When he speaks Hausa language or he speaks Fulfude, you will find out that he is a gifted orator.

Mapping out of strategies

So he is going to lead us in the battle and we are going to come out victorious and when we come out victorious, then we will then settle down and map out strategies by which we are going to push our party forward, with total reformation, total reorganization, so that at the end of the day the PDP will stand head and shoulder above all the other competitors.

As campaigns continue and will end in the next couple of days, what do you think your party should be concentrating on now?

We must not relent in our efforts, we must continue to campaign very hard and when the president finishes all the tours he is making to all the 36 states of the country and the FCT, the grass root members of the party must ensure that they sustain the campaigns with the people.

And not only that, we must ensure that our messages are got by the people of Nigeria. We must use the radio stations in all the states. We must use all the media available, we must use the social media to ensure that our messages are sent to the people, within the time frame that we have now.

We will give the opposition no respite. We must continue to sustain what we have gained and what in fact we believe we can still gain by moving to the people. So we are very well set and when we are set and we keep the enthusiasm of our people very well mobilized then we are home and dry and we will be home and dry.

So you see the PDP winning?

Oh, the PDP is going to win. I am not a magician neither am I a soothsayer, but I think that we are going to win the presidential election and when we win presidential election, all other things will follow, but we are going to win. It may not be with such a gap. Don’t forget that they are now having a coalition of parties. But despite that the PDP will still win.

I have done some graphs and I am not going to sketch it out now. There will be a battle in some states. I give the PDP an edge in 15 states; I give the APC an edge in 9 states and I give the two parties tough battle in about 12 states and those 12 states are states that the two parties could conveniently make 25 per cent. So at the end of the day, the PDP will win. But like I said I am not going to disclose our operational strategies which are drawn up or organizational plan which are drawn up, but I will rely on it and work on it until we get to the elections and we have the results of the elections.

We are still battling with insurgency in some parts of the Country. What is the way forward?

We must continue with the appeal that President Jonathan has been making to the Boko Haram people, let them drop the guns, let them embrace peace, let them know that they have a lot to gain with us, the rest of the country in investing in the unity, progress and stability of Nigeria. Nobody will gain anything by all these shootings. Nigeria has been a country that has really witnessed some of these fundamentalist religious groups. I mean we had at one time Matatsine.

I was in prison with some of the Maitatsine people in Yola prison during the Buhari time. And I could remember very well, one day one of the Maitatsine people just used a razor blade to cut off the hands of one of his colleagues and decided to suck the blood. I was there and immediately the military people were called in and they quelled the riot.

Have you forgiven Buhari?

The question of forgiving Buhari or not forgiving Buhari does not come in. It is a difficult thing to say forget. But the question remains, has even Gen. Buhari, has he ever said sorry for what happened during his reign? He has not said sorry. A man has not said sorry to you and you are asking me if I have forgiven him. If the man says I am sorry, it is a simple English term, I am sorry. Do you want me to go and cut off his head? He has not said it and that man that I know very well, will not say so because those who vote for him and who are jumping up now campaigning for him will soon jump down and will feel sorry for themselves and they may be sorry for themselves until their dying days.

It ‘ll be a disaster if we don’t change Jonathan — Gen. Momah

General Sam Momah (retd) , a former member of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council and Minister of Science and Technology, Gen. Sam Momah, hold s PhD in Strategic studies and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineer. He once served as a Principal Staff Officer to General Muhammadu Buhari, (retd) the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Momah, in this interview dismisses the furore over Buhari’s certificate as a dent on Nigeria and not the former head of state. Excerpts:

By Soni Daniel,   Regional Editor, North

You were the Principal Staff Officer to Buhari when he was the GOC of the 4th Division of the Nigerian Army. What do you make of the controversy over his missing certificate?

Honestly, the certificate issue is very embarrassing to some of us because here we are talking about the survival of Nigeria. We know that Nigeria is at the brink of collapse and here we are, with one of our best Generals, who have trained in the best institutions in Europe and America, including the United States War College, which by all standards is a Post Graduate institution, and you are talking about school certificate.

I find it ridiculous and unbelievable how our political class could be so petty and mundane at this particular crucial time. It is unnecessary to go that low because we must win at all cost.

The certificate saga is something that they should realise that they are denigrating the image of Nigeria and not just General Buhari.

Gender equality

That is one of your best Generals and you are denigrating him. If you are the one trying to use a non-issue to disparage Buhari, what should outsiders think of us? We must be careful of what we do and not take it that far.

How do you rate the two major contenders in the forthcoming presidential elections?

Jonathan has tried his best. I doff my hat for him for holding the Constitutional Conference; he has given the women 35% Affirmative Action on gender equality and has tried to tinker with agriculture, the cassava bread issue, which has now virtually died and now he is trying to bring up a rice issue.

I know that he voted about 100 billion Naira to revive the textile industry and all that. Indeed, I can say that he has tried his best for Nigeria.

But the point is that when you have a president who says that stealing is not corruption and treats corruption with kids gloves, then most of that money released, just disappears. There is no system that will progress if there is no accountability. Jonathan has tried, but he has left the core issues which are security and corruption hanging loose.

If you cannot secure the lives of Nigerians, then I do not see why you are there as the Commander-in-Chief of the country. You are keeping some of us sleepless.

Right now, we have a country where kidnapping is the order of the day; a country where unemployment is off the roof, about 80 million Nigerians unemployed; we have a country that God has blessed with petroleum, but we are importing oil and refineries are left unutilised. We have a country where the index of growth which is power, is virtually non-existent.

Nigeria is 187 out of 189 on the global index, so we are almost the last on the list of countries in terms of availability of power. We generate less than 4000 megawatts of electricity for 170 million people; while South Africans are 50million people and they generate about 40,000 megawatts of electricity.

The president has not dealt with the core issues that would have made Nigeria what it ought to be. We know what our foreign reserve was when he came in. It was $48 billion; now we know what it is. Naira is going down the drain with over N200 to the dollar; our money is almost getting valueless. So when you ask me to compare the two, I think that we do not have a comparison to make.

How convinced are you that General Buhari can perform better than Jonathan if he wins the next election?

Everybody has antecedents; I have worked under Buhari as his Principal Staff Officer when he was a GOC. We know him as incorruptible, we know him as being a man of Spartan life, one who is disciplined. We know him as a man of his words; his word is his bond, so he can be trusted. He has been patriotic, he is an achiever, one that you give a task to, and he gets it done.

To us in the army, we know that there is no doubt that General Buhari is vying to become the president of Nigeria virtually for only patriotic reasons. I was privileged to visit him in Daura when I went there to attend an event; I was amazed to find out that Buhari has only a bungalow in his village and nothing more. There were no luxury leather chairs there but simple wooden chairs. He lives a Spartan life because he does not believe in tampering with money that is not his.

But many have described Buhari as a religious fanatic? Aren’t you worried about that?

To be an effective commander, you have to be seen as being neutral. So in the army we do not tolerate such.

Playing of naked politics

The troops are made up of Christians, Muslims and other religions, and you have to command them. So, if anybody is trying to input that Buhari is a religious bigot, just know that the person is playing naked politics, far from the truth.

What can you say about the quality of the election campaigns?

The campaigns have been very poor in quality. It has been very disgraceful because they have not been issue-based. It has been praise-singing and mud-slinging.


Obama became re-elected based on two issues. They asked him, ‘if you are elected, what will you do about Osama Bin Laden,’ and he replied, ‘I will kill him.’ Journalists were shocked that Obama could be that brutal and blunt.

When he became president, he quietly planned and killed Osama Bin Laden. Based on that, he was re-elected. Americans like someone keeping his words.

Again during Storm Katrina, it was towards the election, Obama left his campaign preparation to go and look after the people that were affected by the storm. He used his incumbent opportunity to prove that he is a caring person. That is what I expected the incumbent Nigerian president to have done. All the displaced persons should have been taken care of and Boko Haram crushed. If he had done that, he wouldn’t need to campaign; people would vote for him. So these issues are clear and straight forward.

We can’t go on this way, we need a change. We are toying with something that can spell disaster if we fail to effect a change now: May God forbid such disaster upon us.

Are you not worried that militants have threatened war if the election does not favour their own candidate?

Well I am not surprised that this is coming up because, for long or too long we have treated militants and all sorts of law-breakers in this country with kid’s gloves. We have even talked of negotiating with Boko Haram, people who do not just shoot but also slit throats. They have been killing people like goats. It is hard to believe that the government spends N24 b annually on the militants for them to guard our pipelines. Yet they do not guard the pipelines. They break it and scoop oil making us to lose about $1m every day. So if an individual now goes to buy warship, you can imagine what is on the ground. A war ship is never switched off; it is always on 24 hours of the day. It is expensive to maintain it. And that is what an individual has. We have given them too much latitude and too much money. It has come to a point where we must assert our sovereignty as a people because the country belongs to every one of us.

They buy war ships, build universities abroad and live in luxury while the majority wallows in abject poverty. This impunity must stop else Nigeria will go down the drain.

It’s unfortunate that many Nigerians do not know that Nigeria is sinking. It must be prevented. When people make such statements, you can imagine the state of madness that we are in.

May 29 handover date sacrosanct — President Jonathan

 President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that the May 29 handover date remains sacrosanct as it is the terminal date of his first term in office.In a statement yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, quoted the president as saying that the adjustment by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should be accepted by Nigerians as necessary decision to ensure that Nigerians are not disenfranchised.

While calling for support from the international community and civil society organisations, President Jonathan noted: “This is not a time to trade blames or make statements that may overheat the polity, but a time to show understanding and support the electoral commission to conduct the elections successfully.”
The statement read: “Following the adjustment of the dates for the 2015 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, yesterday (Saturday), President Goodluck Jonathan has reassured the nation of his commitment to the sanctity of May 29, 2015 as the terminal date of his first term in office.

“He strongly reaffirms that May 29 is, has been, and will remain sacrosanct.

“The President appeals to all stakeholders to accept the adjustment of the election dates by INEC in good faith, as the electoral body has a responsibility to conduct credible elections in which every Nigerian of voting age is afforded the opportunity to exercise their civic right without any form of hindrance.

“President Jonathan believes that this is not a time to trade blames or make statements that may overheat the polity, but a time to show understanding and support the electoral commission to conduct the elections successfully.

“It is the President’s understanding that INEC’s decision ought not to generate acrimony since it acted within its powers under the law and in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

“He calls on the international community, civil society and the electorate to continue to support the administration’s commitment to a free, fair, credible, and non-violent electoral process.”
 

POLITICS - Polls postponement: Criticisms mounts

 
THE polity  was awash with harsh criticisms, yesterday, over weekend’s postponement of the 2015 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over insecurity concerns and poor arrangements.

The Presidential and National Assembly polls initially fixed for February 14 were shifted to March 28, while the governorship and state assembly elections meant for February 28 will now hold on April 11.

Among those who criticised the move were the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Ret); APC Senators, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, the United States of America and some eminent lawyers among others.

However, there were also eminent persons, who said that the polls’ shift was within the law and would pave the way for the conduct of a peaceful and credible election.

We must remain calm but resolute – Buhari

In a statement on the postponement, Buhari appealed to APC supporters to remain calm.

He said: “This postponement, which comes on the heels of the bogey of the National Security Adviser that half of the registered voters were being disenfranchised was exposed as a crude and fraudulent attempt to subvert the electoral process. The PDP administration has now engineered a postponement using the threat that security will not be guaranteed across the length and breadth of Nigeria because of military engagement in some states in the North East. It is important to note that although INEC acted within its constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a situation where it had to bow to pressure. Thus, the independence of INEC has been gravely compromised.

“As a Nigerian and a presidential candidate in the elections, I share in the disappointment and frustration of this decision. This postponement coming a week to the first election has raised so many questions, many of which shall be asked in the days ahead. However, we must not allow ourselves to be tempted into taking actions that could further endanger the democratic process.

“Our country is going through a difficult time in the hands of terrorists. Any act of violence can only complicate the security challenges in the country and provide further justification to those who would want to exploit every situation to frustrate the democratic process in the face of certain defeat at the polls.

“If anything, this postponement should strengthen our resolve and commitment to rescue our country from the current economic and social collapse from this desperate band. Our desire for change must surpass their desperation to hold on to power at all cost. We are clearly dealing with people who feel they can get away with placing their personal interest over those of our nation and its citizens. What is at stake is the very survival of our country. We must not allow this temporary delay to abort this great opportunity. While I share the pains and frustrations of my fellow citizens over this development, my deep faith in the democratic process assures me that this country, with your support, will overcome.

“We must remain resolute and rise above all provocations. We must continue to trust in the entire democratic process and in INEC, which has been brought under so much pressure in the last few days. Our trust can only serve to encourage the electoral body to remain steadfast and remain committed to the rule of law. I wish to state strongly that our party will not tolerate any further interference with the electoral process. The rescheduled elections of March 28th and April 11th, 2015 must be sacrosanct.

“Nigeria is definitely greater than any of us, and much more important than our individual ambitions. Before us there was Nigeria, and long after we are gone there will still be Nigeria. Let us continue to do our part to make it the great country that it should be. We must rescue our dear country. God being on our side, we shall salvage Nigeria together.”



It’s a sinister plot to derail democracy —APC senators

APC serving senators, yesterday, condemned the postponement of the polls, saying it is a ‘teleguided plot’ by the Peoples Democratic Party, to derail democracy.

Spokesperson of the APC Senators Forum, Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central) in a statement in Abuja said: “What we are seeing is a desperate and jittery response to the imminent defeat of the PDP. The postponement has shown the helplessness of INEC in the face of a malicious cabal bent on destroying the fabric of democracy.”

Besides, the APC senators claimed that the decision to shift the elections had raised a big credibility question on INEC and the forthcoming polls. “This decision is borne out of fear of defeat and malice against the people of Nigeria”.

INEC was ambushed by FG, PDP – Fashola

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the INEC was ambushed by the Federal Government and PDP to postpone the general elections.

Speaking with newsmen after collecting his Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, at a polling unit within the premises of Itolo State Senior Grammar School, off Eric Moore, Surulere Local Government Area, Fashola, who collected his PVC in the presence of the state Resident Electoral Commission, REC, Mr Akin Orebiyi, condemned the postponement, saying the move was to achieve PDP Federal Government agenda.

Earlier, at Arewa Community rally in Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island, he appealed to them not to be provoked and to remain calm.

According to Fashola, “On the postponement of the elections, I think that the reality is that INEC was ambushed by the PDP and the federal government and I think Nigerians must be disappointed. I use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to remain calm, especially to supporters and members of the APC.”



US expresses disappointment

The United States government has also expressed ‘deep’ disappointment by the decision to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election, which had been scheduled for February 14.

A statement by U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, shortly after the announcement of the poll shift by Jega said political interference with INEC is unacceptable.

The U.S. government in its reaction said: “It is critical that the government does not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process”.

The US said the international community would be watching closely as the Nigerian government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates.

According to Mr Kerry, “the United States underscores the importance of ensuring that there are no further delays.

“As I reaffirmed when I visited Lagos last month, we support a free, transparent, and credible electoral process in Nigeria and renew our calls on all candidates, their supporters, and Nigerian citizens to maintain calm and reject election-related violence,” Mr. Kerry said.



Ensure credible election—UN

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his reaction to the postponement urged electoral authorities “to take all necessary measures to enable the citizens exercise their right to vote in a timely manner,” including the rapid distribution of voters’ cards. “This is imperative for ensuring a credible, free and transparent election,” his spokesman said in a statement.



It’s a bad omen – Chekwas Okorie

The Presidential Candidate and National Chairman of the United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie described the polls’ shift as a sinister design by manipulators of the electoral process, which he said is a bad omen for the growth of democracy in the country.

His words: “The development is a bad omen for Nigeria’s democracy. The capitulation of INEC to the executive pressure does not speak well of INEC’s constitutional independence.

“The letter written by the National Security Adviser, NSA, triggered off this interference, it is bad. The somersault of the Chief of Defence Staff who recently assured of readiness of the military towards ensuring adequate security only to change his statement is scandalous to a General of his standing.

“There are security challenges in five local government areas of the North East and Nigeria is made up of 774 local government areas. This will be a bad precedence if because of the five local government areas elections are shifted in the entire 774 council areas.

“I urge Nigerians to remain calm, but to be vigilant. This shift to six weeks is a prelude of more sinister design by the manipulators of the electoral process.”



Conducting polls in a hurry is dangerous

–Abba-Gana

However, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Mohammadu Abba-Gana, said the it would be dangerous and reckless if the INEC conducted elections in a hurry without tackling all the challenges before it.

Abba-Gana advised the INEC to listen to wise counsel during the presentation of a book titled, “Why President Goodluck Jonathan should be re-elected in 2015” written by Odiche Monday Odiche and sponsored by Change Initiative Forum, CIF, in Abuja.

“Since about 20 million Permanent Voters Card, PVC, are yet to be distributed and since it is legal to conduct the elections not earlier than 90 days and not later than one month (30 days), it is legal now within the constitution and Electoral Act, to say that the election can be shifted to April this year so that INEC will have the whole of February and March to conclude all the challenges which they are grappling with.”



Postponement is unfortunate, unpatriotic—Tsav

Former Lagos State Commissioner Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav picked holes in the postponement, saying: “If the polls shift is to truly enable the military carry out the final onslaught against Boko Haram, this is quite reasonable. But if it is to prepare ground for the PDP to perfect its rigging machinery as they did in Ekiti State, then it is tragically unfortunate and unpatriotic. But did the military not think of this onslaught five years ago? Why wait until a few days to the scheduled presidential election?”



It is a coup against the constitution

—Festus Okoye

Also speaking, National Coordinator of the Independent Election Monitoring Group, IEMG, Mr. Festus Okoye, said: ‘’The IEMG is not convinced and will not accept the postponement of the February 2015 elections as the reasons given for the said postponement are not cogent and verifiable.

“We view the postponement as unwarranted and a coup against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigerian people and therefore unacceptable.

“We condemn the decision by the security agencies and forces not to provide security for the February 2015. The said decision is a coup against democracy, the constitutional order, the electoral process and the Nigerian people.”



Postponement is constitutional – Agbaje

However, Lagos State Governorship Candidate of the PDP, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, said that the postponement of the elections fell in line with the Nigerian constitution.

Agbaje spoke, yesterday, when his campaign train stopped at Eti-Osa. According to him, the postponement would facilitate the holding of more credible and better inclusive elections by INEC.

He said that a slight delay in the polls should raise no eyebrows so long as the May 29 handover date remained sacrosanct.

“It is apparent to everyone now that the postponement is within the confines of the Constitution and the electoral guidelines,” he said. “As long as May 29 remains sacrosanct, everything is in order. And it is obvious that May 29 remains sacrosanct.”



Nyiam, Odumakin, Opara hail move, want Jega probed

Former delegates to the 2014 National Conference, Messrs Tony Nyiam and Yinka Odumakin have called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Sulieman Abba, to investigate allegations levelled against the Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, that he is colluding with the Northern Elders Forum to manipulate the general elections in favour of a particular presidential candidate.

Speaking, yesterday, in Lagos under the aegis of the Transition Resurgent Group, they said Jega had continued to gloss over the allegation made against him by the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly where he was said to have met with leaders of the NEF.

Mr Odumakin, who read the communique of the group said: “They (SNPA) accused Jega among others of attending meetings with leaders of Northern Elders Forum where plots were hatched to compromise the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. The group claimed further that the INEC boss accepted a donation of 150 laptops for each state of the North from the Northern Elders which were given to youth activists to compromise the registration process among legion of other charges.”

Accusing the INEC chairman of having a hidden agenda, Odumakin said: “We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the allegations against Jega and if Jega does not admit that there are lapses, then he should step aside.”

On the postponement, Odumakin said it offered an “opportunity to beam a searchlight on Jega and INEC.”

In his remarks, Col Tony Nyiam (Ret) chided the INEC boss for failing to ensure even distribution of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) wondering why more PVCs were distributed in the North East that is contending with serious security challenges than the South that is relatively calm.

Nyiam said “there are some communities that have been battling to get their PVCs in the South and this raises some concern. It is left for Nigerians to decide whether Jega should resign or not but we have no confidence in Jega. Also, if the allegations against Jega are not cleared, he should step aside.”



Reps divided

Members of the House of Representatives shared divergent views on the development. Some of the lawmakers who spoke to Vanguard were of the view that INEC must have been influenced by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Others argued that the apex electoral body took the right decision in the right direction and that no law was violated due to the shift by INEC.



INEC did not violate any law

–Ogor

Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP, Isoko Federal constituency), in his reaction said: “I think INEC did the right thing by shifting the polls because it has no right to disenchafranchise any Nigerian as many till date do not have their Permanent Voters Card, PVCs. Since no law was violated, I think INEC did the right thing to move Nigeria forward and that I fervently support it”.



It’s the proverbial hand of Esau, voice of Jacob

– Gbajabiamila

Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Surulere Federal Constituency, Lagos), on his part said: “We must concede INEC’s general powers to fix and cancel election dates. INEC’s reason for postponement also seems logical on the surface. However a deeper analysis and closer scrutiny reveals a lot more. It reveals perhaps the proverbial hand of Esau and voice of Jacob. A complete about turn barely 24 hours after INEC’s clear ready to go to presentation to the council of state says a lot.

“The independence of INEC has been put to question because the sum of what we heard from INEC now is that its powers to determine election dates have been usurped and the military now determines when we have elections in this country simply by their saying so. That is a dangerous precedent.”



It is a step in the right direction – Gujbawu

Hon Kyari Gujbawu (PDP, Maiduguri Federal Metropolis), in his contribution said: “I believe, it’s the right step in the right direction. Democracy is all about participation through the right to exercise voting for one’s choice in a free and fair election, and of course under a fearless atmosphere.

“So, for me it’s only natural that INEC considered all these variables as germane for them to conduct the election for it to be a credible one. I don’t understand the whole anti-attitude to shifting a date within the ambit of our law so as to have a credible election.”



Akintola, Ozekhome offer legal perspectives



Speaking on the development, some leading lawyers and senior advocates including Niyi Akintyola (SAN) Mike Ozekhome (SAN) offered some legal insights.



Things can’t be same again

— Akintola



Commenting on the issue, Akintola said: “The prevailing development has upset the calculations of many political pundits. The shifting of the polls may upset the apple cat in spite of the political arithmetic that favours or disfavours the major candidates. Things can certainly not be the same again.”



There’ll be constitutional crisis if… —Ozekhome

On his part, Ozekhome said: “My initial reaction had been that the elections must go on as scheduled because of the hopes, aspirations and expectations that Nigerians had invested in the electoral process. However, INEC is the only electoral umpire that we have in this country and it had said that the situation it found itself is such that it could not go on with the election. Jega said that he had consulted widely with the civil society, all stakeholders, security agencies and even the Director General of the NYSC which INEC relies on for adhoc staff and that he had come to the conclusion without pressure that it was better to shift the election.

“The constitutional provision and the electoral act provisions are that the election must not be earlier than 150 days before May 29 and not later than 30 days before swearing in. What the electoral act demands of INEC is that the reason for shifting the election has to be cogent and verifiable and it is now left for Nigerians to decide whether the issue of insurgency is not cogent and verifiable.

“There is a constitutional crisis that may arise if election holds in 32 states out of 36 because the entire country is the constituency of the president, he must (apart from having majority of votes) score 25 per cent of the votes in two third of the states of the federation and Abuja.

“So, if the election is conducted in 32 states without fulfilling the constitutional requirement, there will be a constitutional crisis. This is what INEC considered and postponed the elections. There may be anger and disappointment over the postponement but my appeal to Nigerians is that it is better late than never. We should not sacrifice the unity and cohesion of Nigeria because of a little delay in the conduct of the election.”

 

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POLITICS - The Presidency is Relentlessly Working on Who to Replace Jega

With the suspect postponement of the elections due to pressure on INEC, the Presidency has launched a two-pronged war to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan wins the election at all cost.

The two strategies are to stop Muhammadu Buhari, the APC Presidential Candidate from contesting for the post of president against Jonathan and the replacement of the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, with a less independent-minded person as soon as possible.

Jega, it was gathered, had been described by hawks around President Jonathan of being too independent-minded and ‘uncooperative’ despite being given the job by the president.

Jega might have played into the hands of the evil forces by agreeing to shift the elections...

Legal war to disqualify Buhari
According to Vanguard, competent sources said that the move to remove Jega and the legal fireworks against Buhari, would be taken up simultaneously this week given the timeframe made possible by the shift.

The retired general is to be prosecuted by a team of legal luminaries for ‘lying on oath’ that he had a school certificate with the Nigerian Army when he knew that it was untrue. The plaintiffs are said to have settled for trying Buhari for alleged ‘perjury’ instead of outright non-possession of certificate following legal advice that the latter would be more difficult to prove within the time at their disposal.

Vanguard learnt that although Jega reluctantly succumbed to pressure from the Presidency and its security chiefs to shift the polls, he might still not be allowed by the forces to conduct the rescheduled elections between March 28 and April 11. Vanguard gathered from competent sources that the Presidency was no longer comfortable with Jega and was, therefore, working tirelessly to get him out of the commission to pave the way for a more ‘trusted hand’ to conduct the rescheduled elections.

It was learnt that the forces arrayed against the INEC boss had convinced the President not to renew Jega’s tenure, which is expected to lapse on June 13 this year. The forces, it was learnt, felt that Jega was rather too ‘difficult’ to deal with, having not allowed himself to be dictated to by anyone since assuming office like other appointees of the government.

It was learnt that in a bid to sweep off Jega from his seat without raising any dust, he would be asked to comply with the civil service procedure by proceeding on his three months terminal leave with effect from March 1, this year since he is expected to retire on June 13.

S-West gov’s brother may replace Jega
Vanguard gathered that in his place, the Presidency was considering bringing in another academic from the South-West, who is currently heading a tertiary institution in the country. The professor of Political Science and International Relations is said to be a sibling of a serving governor in the South-West, who is a close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan and his party.

Competent sources also told Vanguard last night that although the name of the academic had been made known in security circles, it was not clear whether the man had been cleared by the forces with a view to sending his name to the National Assembly for possible confirmation, as required by law.

Working against Jonathan’s interest
As a prelude to removing Jega from office, some close allies of the President had started accusing him of taking side with the opposition to undermine the success of Jonathan and his party in the next election. Earlier last week, Jonathan’s godfather, Chief Edwin Clark and other prominent politicians from the Southern part of the country had accused Jega of working against the interest of the president and the PDP and asked him to resign from the commission.

Although no evidence was adduced by Clark and his group to support their allegation, they nonetheless called for the arrest of Jega. Similarly, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, on Saturday, said Jega had lied about the state of the commission’s preparedness for the conduct of the election.

In the same vein, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, accused INEC of working with the opposition to deny its members of permanent voter cards in some states. He called on the security agents to probe the commission over the development.

All known Boko Haram camps will be 'taken out' in six weeks- NSA

Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, says all known Boko Haram camps in Nigeria will be taken out within the six weeks so the country can have a safe election.

Dasuki said this while responding to a question from AFP on the gains of the postponement of the 2015 general elections by INEC

"All known Boko Haram camps will be taken out. They won't be there. They will be dismantled" he said.

According to Mr Dasuki, the ongoing multinational task force launched against Boko Haram will work together to destroy all known camps of Boko Haram within the next six weeks. He said the new dates for the elections, March 28th and April 11th will not be shifted.

While speaking at the London think-tank Chatham House in Jan. 2015, the NSA chief had proposed a postponement of the general elections on grounds of insecurity in the North East as well as irregularities in the distribution of permanent voters card.

Boko Haram releases new videos, stones adulterer to death, amputates thief

The Boko Haram sect today released three new videos on Youtube (that have since been taken down) showing how a man accused of committing adultery was stoned to death. The sect members also amputated a man's hand for stealing.

In one of the videos which was released in three parts, a man buried in the ground with only his head visible, is seen being stoned to death by a crowd. They accused him of adultery. Another part of the video showed a man's hand being amputated for 'stealing'. Young men were also shown being flogged for committing fornication.

In one of the videos, the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau denied claims by Nigerian military that they repelled the December 1st attack on Damaturu in Yobe state carried out by the terrorist group.

Kanye West's butt grab! Spot the difference...:-)

Lol... The grip just different when the booty real.

POLITICS - Bola Tinubu releases statement on 2015 elections postponement

The APC Chieftain said the elections was postponed because GEJ feared he was going to lose. Find the statement below...

What happened Saturday was actually not a postponement due to security or logistical reasons. What happened was the by-product of overt political interference undermining the independence of the election management body, INEC. The elections were postponed not because they could safely be held. They were postponed because one man, President Jonathan, feared that an election held on February 14 would for him become an election lost. While the mouth was Jega, the words were Jonathan. He chose to place our democracy at risk than do what democracy demands by facing and risking the verdict of the people. That he would use our security agencies to provide his excuse only adds insult to injury.

This act was one desperation of a man in fear of defeat. It was not done for the national good. It was the wrong thing done for the wrong reason by the wrong man.

The rationale stated by the heavily intimidated INEC chairman does not withstand close scrutiny nor the rigors of logical thought. It is nothing but a lie draped in a falsehood born by deceit.

Jega said he hinged his decision on a purported letter stating that due to an impending offensive the security agencies will not have the personnel to spare to adequately guard the polling areas in the northeastern states.

For the Service Chiefs to be inserted in the electoral process in this manner and at the eleventh hour reveals nothing but a cynical plot to thwart elections. President Jonathan has revealed that he only wants elections where the guaranty is that he shall win. This is not the nature of democratic elections. Jonathan's government has purposefully undermined the electoral process because he is not interested in a free and fair honest where the outcome reflects the sovereign will of the people. He wants an elaborate coronation dressed in the garb of an election. The Nigerian people are too smart for this rude trick.

This postponement is a smokescreen because what the letter says is that they are advising a postponement of six weeks in the first instance subject to the amelioration of the security situation in the North East. This is coming from a Chief of Defence staff that vowed to crush the insurgents within four months early last year. A year later, nothing has changed. He is now asking Nigerians to believe this government can do in six weeks what it could not do in six years.

I ask Nigerians to question why these Service Chiefs decided to launch a major operation a week before the elections? What is new about the security situation in the last two weeks that has not been there these past several years? The date and importance of the election was well publicized. Why did they wait till now? They waited because they were given marching orders by the president to delay the elections.

They have gone on an offensive already. However, the true offensive is not against Boko Haram. It is against the Nigerian people and our democracy.

If elections could hold in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, why not in Nigeria where only 14 out of 774 council areas are under siege?

This postponement may be the prelude to even rasher more authoritarian action by this desperate, inept government.
This postponement has deeply wounded Nigerian democracy. While my party hoped to go into the election and win it that we may offer a new and honest deal to the people. This government continues to feed the people a raw deal.

The ambition of one man should not be allowed to affect the destiny of 170 million Nigerians.Nigerians have signalled their desire for change and there is nothing this government can do to erase it.

Thus, we do not despair. I ask our supporters and Nigerians to remain calm and do everything to keep the peace. I ask you to renew your determination in the face of this insult to our democracy and common sense. It is inevitable that change shall come and we shall bring it fairly, democratically and peacefully.

They will attempt more tricks before the six weeks is over. Each time, they will be defeated by the power of our commitment to a new day in a new democratic Nigeria.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu

POLITICS: - Uncertainties Over Election Date | READ MORE

Barely 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, told the nation that it was ready for the February 14, 2015 presidential election, the commission has again said that it would brief the nation today on whether or not the the polls would hold as originally scheduled.


This was as indications emerged last night that the INEC might have come under immense pressure to postpone the 2015 elections, whose timetable was released to the public over a year ago.

The briefing on whether the elections would go on or not as scheduled would hold after a meeting between INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega with Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. This will be followed by another meeting between INEC and chairmen and secretaries of registered political parties. Thereafter INEC will unfold their plans to Nigerians.

Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Prof. Jega, made this known yesterday in Abuja.


In a statement in Abuja, Idowu said, ‘’As a follow-up to that meeting (NCS), the commission has scheduled a consultative meeting with chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties, as well as a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, on Saturday, February 7, 2015 (today).

‘’Thereafter, the Commission will address a press conference to brief the nation on its decision with regard to whether or not the general elections will hold as currently scheduled.”

INEC had said Thursday that it was ready for the election over which 70, 383, 427 people were registered as eligible voters.


It said that out of the figure, 45, 098, 876 Nigerians had collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, while 25, 284, 551 others or 34 percent were yet to collect the PVCs for the exercise.

Meanwhile, sources told Saturday Vanguard that although the commission chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, had stood his grounds that the election should proceed as planned, agents of the Federal Government opposed to the polls, had mounted pressure on him to shift grounds.

It was learnt that some of the security agencies that had earlier assured Jega of their preparedness to provide cover for the commission to conduct the election, had claimed that they could no longer guarantee same. The security operatives are said to have distanced themselves from Jega and his commission after reading the mood of the National Council of States, which shied away from directly asking INEC to go ahead with the conduct of the election but simply authorised it to ‘’exercise its constitutional role.’’

The security chiefs, it was gathered, took advantage of the ambiguity created by the decision of the NCS and the feelings within the Presidency and the ruling People’s Democratic Party, which favour a shift of the polls, to distance themselves from INEC.



A source close to the administration in Abuja told Saturday Vanguard that the commission would not want to play into the hands of its enemies by going ahead with the election if there would not be adequate security cover for its personnel given the current situation in the country.

According to the source, INEC was now willing to shift the polls for a few weeks in a bid to douse the tension being generated over the non distribution of PVCs to many Nigerians and also assuage the feelings within the ruling party, whose members have already called for Jega’s sack.

Apparently in a bid to find justification for the planned shift, Jega said yesterday that a firm decision on the election would only be taken after another meeting with the political parties and RECs in Abuja today.


In another development, Oganiru Ndigbo, an association of Igbo residents in the North, had yesterday lamented that most Igbo living in the northern states were leaving for the east due to the tension generated over the forthcoming polls.

A statement signed by Mr Chidi Anyanwu in Kaduna State yesterday regretted that Igbo were not allowed to exercise their franchise in the various states as they were being vilified by their host states and asked the Federal Government to assure the safety of all Nigerians, before during and after the polls.

Ferrari burned to the ground in Malaysia (photos)

This supposedly happened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Damn! Y'all know how much a Ferrari costs, right? Painful. Another photo after the cut...

Can you spot the mistake in this photo?

Y'all see what I'm seeing? Lol. Who do we blame for this now?

Photos: Kylie Jenner shows off blonde look for her new photoshoot

The 17 year old reality star, showed off her blonde look for a photo shoot for Love Magazine...

Photos: GEJ's visit to former Head of State IBB in Minna yesterday

Pres. Jonathan yesterday paid another courtesy visit to former Military Head of State, Gen Ibrahim Babangida at his home in Minna. The President was in Niger state for his campaign rally. See more pics after the cut...

Remarks by Gen. IBB during the courtesy visit below as shared by Reuben Abati...

The Former Chairman who is now the Director-General of Namadi Sambo and Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Team, the deputy chairman, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. My Governor, the chief servant. Mr President, I want to thank you most sincerely for finding time amongst your crowded programme to pay me a visit.

I feel deeply touched Mr. President because on your own, you travelled to Germany to see me just coming out from hospital after a gruesome nine-hour operation on my back and tummy, I felt deeply touched by your kind presence. Then when I struggled and traveled back to Nigeria, you found time to also visit and see how I was doing. I thank you Mr President and I want to tell you that I appreciate that very kindness. You have also made a very good decision to visit me during your campaign tour because Minna is known for producing Presidents. Either from your name sake, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who was born in Zungeru, not very far away from here. Since then all the Presidents that this country has produced have got one thing or the other to do with Minna.

They do come to us for blessing and today I will offer this blessing to you. The house has played host to quite a number of activities in the past. When we were doing nocturnal activities to get PDP on track, we also played that role here in this house.. but we were doing it in the night because we didn't want to be caught.

Ahmadu Ali will also bear witness that this was so during the NRC and SDP days, so this is a peculiar and particular turf and myself and the family are very proud that we were able to play the little role we could in this.

I want to commend the party and the party leadership for being very strong and one of the good things that this party has done, Mr Chairman of the party, is that our vision about the formation of two parties is good for this country.

I have seen in PDP a party or organisation that is devoid of religion, ethnicity and so on and this is something we prayed for and you are showing the lead and I want that to continue. If others are breaking up, you must remain strong and I think that is how it should be. I'm glad you backed the President, back him strongly.

The passion which the President has got, I share a common passion with him. That passion is making sure that Nigeria stays peaceful, stable, developed and transformed. It is a passion in Mr President that anytime I see you, talk to you, I come out with the impression of a very young man who has passion for this country. I wish you well on this and I want to assure all of you that Nigeria under Jonathan, we are in safe hands. Once more Mr President, Mr Chairman, Mr Vice President, all the distinguished friends, I want to thank you for finding time to be with us. Thank you so much.

Governor Fashola throws recharge cards/cash to crowd? (photos)

This twitter user shared the photos on social media. It shows Lagos state governor Raji Fashola throwing things to the crowd. Nuel says they were recharge cards and cash. Another pic after the cut

Defence HQ says Nigeria's Territorial Integrity Remains Intact

Find the Defence HQ statement below

“The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in which Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad have contingents are part of the ongoing onslaught against terrorists in this region. The countries that make up the Lake Chad Basin Commission also had some understanding, which now enables a massive move against terrorists from all angles. Contrary to the impression being pushed in some quarters, it is the Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria; not the Chadian Forces as is being propagated by some media.
For instance Chadian forces have been deployed in Baga Sola, which is a Chadian territory. There have been some joint deployments and patrols around Kirawa, Ashgashiya and other locations in borders of Cameroun, Nigeria and Chad as part of these operations. Chadians and others are however keying into and working in concert with the overall plan for an all-round move against the terrorists as agreed. Nigeria's territorial integrity remains intact".

Fresh attack in Baga, Mungulo village by Boko Haram members

Boko Haram members are currently attacking Dikwa, Baga and Mungulo villages in Borno state. According to reports, the sect members launched a fresh attack on the villagers in the early hours of today Wednesday February 4th. Nigerian troops and allied forces are currently engaging them in a gun battle. More details later.

Nicole Scherzinger splits from Lewis Hamilton after he refuses to marry her

After dating her for 7 years, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, 30, was not ready for marriage and Nicole, 36, has finally ended their relationship. It's the 4th time the couple have split since they began dating in 2007, but friends say this time, its over for good. Sources said Nicole is devastated and heartbroken that Lewis wasn't interested in settling down and starting a family with her.

"They've been fighting for months but things had got much worse. She finally had enough. Nicole knew Lewis had no plans to marry her, she's completely gutted and feels lost about her future.' a source told The Sun

In an interview in December, Lewis said that he and Nicole had never talked about marriage because of their busy schedules. Lewis had reportedly told friends he wasn't ready for marriage.

EFCC declares former Adamawa state gov, Murtala Nyako wanted

Find the EFCC Press statement below

Former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako has been declared wanted by the anti- graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Also wanted by the EFCC is the son of the ex-governor, Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako, a retired Naval officer. Both are wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering. - Wilson Uwujaren - head of media & publicity for EFCC

A married man & newly engaged woman have sex in the office..and it's caught on tape

Two Christchurch office co-workers, one a married man, and the other a newly engaged woman, had sex in their office last Friday Jan. 30th and forgot to switch the office lights off, allowing drinkers at a bar across the road from the office to see their hour-long romp which was then posted on social media

"It started with a casual flirt. Then the kiss, grabbing the attention of all. Get it, son! Finally they moved to the back of them room, thinking they were unseen. Off comes the tights, down goes his head. By this stage, 50 bar patrons were pressed up against the window yelling their approval.

‘To be honest, after watching them f*** for a good half hour, people started to get bored and drift off back to the dancefloor.’ a reddit user said

According to New Zealand Herald, the two who work for insurance firm Marsh Ltd haven't returned to work since the photos went viral in the country. The man hold a senior management position at the firm. The company said they're conducting an investigation. See the photos after the cut...

The two are expected to lose their jobs...and can't sue for breach of privacy.