2015: Who will be APC’s consensus candidate?

President Goodluck Jonathan is primed to pick the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 presidential election ─ from all indications. Most of the aspirants that could challenge him for the ticket have left the party, while Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido is not regarded as a serious challenger.

Nigerians who want see the back of Jonathan will now have to look closely at the All Progressives Congress (APC), where there is an array of political heavyweights ─ some will say too loaded for APC’s own good. Although many of the aspirants have not come out openly to declare their ambition, it is anybody’s guess who the real contenders are.

Since the damn of this democratic dispensation in 1999, APC is the first serious attempt by the opposition in Nigeria to win power through a coalition. That the parties even agreed to fuse is already seen as some form of victory, but APC’s supporters would love the party to go all the way and dislodge the PDP from Aso Rock next year.

Since the party has unofficially zoned the ticket to the north, the top contenders will naturally come from the region. There are suggestions that APC would eventually settle for a “consensus candidate” to face Jonathan ─ to avoid the bitterness and rancour that could result from a fiercely contested primary.

The talk of consensus is gaining significant following up north, but the criteria are yet to be defined. There has been a series of meetings, first to forge a common purpose and then to see the possibility of backing a sellable candidate. In the opinion of some APC insiders, the party must look out for someone who has less baggage and can serve as a unifying force for different sections of the country. He must be somebody Jonathan’s machinery cannot easily tear apart.

In asking the question on who APC will pick to run against Jonathan in the February 14, 2015 election, TheCable takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the party’s top five contenders: General Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.

Who’s he politically? He is a retired major-general who has served the country in different capacities: minister of petroleum, member of the Supreme Military Council, governor of north-eastern states, head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and chairman of Presidential (Special) Trust Fund.

What’s hot about him? Arguably the politician with the largest street support in northern Nigeria, able to galvanise millions of votes without spending a kobo. Regarded as honest and incorruptible, able to fight corruption headlong. Strong political will, able to take the toughest decisions no matter whose ox is gored. Exceptional public service experience, having served in various capacities, including being a former head of state. Strong member of APC, controlling the second largest political platform that fused into the coalition. Modest lifestyle, therefore unlikely to be given to wasteful spending.

What’s not hot about him? Feared by the elite over his likely crackdown on corruption and waste in government. Limited in political manoeuvres, thereby perpetually at the mercy of party hawks. Failed in three previous presidential elections, forcing a conclusion that he is unelectable. Man of modest means, severely limited in war chest needed to prosecute elections and thereby vulnerable to compromise to campaign financiers. Seen as a religious fundamentalist and northern irredentist, significantly making him difficult to market in many parts of the country. At 71, some think he should give the younger generation a chance.

Who’s he politically? He is a former vice-president of Nigeria who acted as president several times in the absence of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was elected governor of Adamawa State in 1999 but did not assume office after being picked as VP by Obasanjo. He has been seeking to be president since 1993, when he was in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).

What’s hot about him? A consummate politician, one of the most clinical the country has produced. Pan-Nigerian appeal with a wide network of foot soldiers and loyalists, although he played politics of northern sentiments in 2011. Heavy war chest, meaning he can finance his campaign without having to pander to any interests. Team-builder, able to identify talents and groom them for leadership. Experienced public officer, having served as vice-president for eight years at the critical moment of consolidating Nigeria’s democracy.

What’s not hot about him? Late-comer to APC, meaning he does not have enough hold on the party and may struggle to get the needed support. Frequent defector, having left and returned to the PDP and left again in his quest to be president, a development that makes some APC leaders doubt his fidelity. Rusty machinery, having been out of power for long and unable to dispense patronage like he used to do as vice-president. Corruption perception, having been indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

TheCable

Boko Haram General Ihejirika: A Loony Biafra Fanatic Or Just Deadly Corrupt?

The Federal Government of Nigeria has not come out to reject the incriminating statements made by its employed Chief Boko Haram negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, from Australia, who three days ago named former Chief of army staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika and a former governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, both ruling party members, as the top sponsors of the Boko Haram deadly sect that has killed more than a hundred thousand Nigerians and displaced over four million, mostly farmers in the nation’s north.
For some reason I bet the Jonathan government will never discredit him because they know he knows much more he is not yet saying and they will not want to risk him getting bitter and telling Nigerians much more of the truth they are dying, literally dying to know.
It can be concluded that the ex-military chief is a top sponsor of Boko Haram. The inefficiency and gross sabotage of the military and military operations over the past four years of his reign are living and dead testimony of his membership role in the organization. Well noted military abandonments of post prior to Boko Haram attacks, the facilitated transfer of Nigeria’s best weapons, armored tanks and APC’s (taken up north to “combat the terrorists) by the military to Boko Haram throughout his tenure and continuing today are further evidence of his support of the group.
The question Nigerians now ask is, why? Why will a Christian army general from the southeast sponsor a group that is promoted as being radical “islamist?”
The answer must lie between or be a combination of the following:
Retired general Azubuike Ihejirika is likely a loony Biafra Zionist fanatic. His interests lie in the destruction of the north of the nation which he blames for the defeat of Ojukwu’s Biafra secessionist attempt. This will explain why the Nigerian military men drafted to protect a well respected former general, who fought valiantly on the Nigerian side against Biafra, late General Muhammed Shuwa, were described to have withdrawn and looked on as the general was assassinated at his home. Of course General Ihejirika not court-martialing these men proves his involvement.
General Azubuike Ihejirika would have been enjoying the havoc caused by Boko Haram on the north along with the handful of fellow loony fanatics like himself that always celebrate the deaths and destruction to the north and call it “pay-back,” not mindful of the fact that hundreds of thousands of innocent people who were not even born during the civil war; and millions who did not participate in any way are the majority of victims.
There are hundreds of cases worldwide where people and States act in like fashion with conspiracies to undermine others they hate. In many of these events, these mischief makers even sacrifice their own in false-flags to achieve their ulterior goal.
It is evident that General Ihejirika did not mind as Boko Haram continued to murder Nigerians in the north. He vehemently opposed the request for additional troops made by the then Chief of defense, Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim to curb Boko Haram’s onslaught. It can be recollected that by May last year, Boko Haram had taken over 2/3rds of Borno and the General still rejected the demands for the needed troops and was seen driving in convoy’s in Abuja building his multi-billion hotel.
It was later that May, after we released a high level intelligence report, alerting the world about the permitted occupation of the north by ragtag terrorists, that Nigeria’s President and the General were finally forced, reluctantly, to declare a State of emergency and finally draft the needed troops.
It can also be recollected that as soon as victory was in sight and the first “Shekau” was killed by the then Joint Task Force – in August of 2013 – that the Nigerian president and General Ihejirika stopped the successful coordinated JTF-CivilianJTF assault on Boko Haram and re-deployed all troops with knowhow of the war; and created a docile 7 division army that was now “banned” from cooperating with the CivilianJTF and would leave Boko Haram to recover and re-establish their assault on the farmers of the north.
The ex-general was fulfilling the dream of the handful of fanatics who believe self-determination can only be gotten through murder. Many of us will fight for the liberation of not only the Igbo States if the people so desire, but also every Nigerian zone that wants sovereignty and self-determination; but one must not and need not shed a drop of innocent blood to achieve this and any other goals.
Corruption is also a motive for his actions sponsoring Boko Haram. The alleged war against terror is a great source of wealth for the army chiefs. A quarter of Nigeria’s budget goes to financing this war and yet several reports, some by ENDS and others by SaharaReporters have exposed how the Nigerian army has been severely underfunded. Soldiers sleep and eat in shameful condition. They wear substandard gear and sometimes two army divisions are combined to one unit to half the cost of operations. The billions allocated to the war on terror have been swallowed by Nigeria’s executive government and the top army chiefs. Soldiers complained to us that they are given only two rounds of ammunition to defend barracks’ with instead of 10 times that, the minimum required allocation. Soldiers complained that they had to beg the armory for rounds. The former General was stuffing his mouth with money for the army beyond belief.
He has been reportedly constructing mansions and ultra-modern hotels on the money for Nigeria’s defense. Clearly the preservation and continuation of the war was in his interest and is still in the interest of Nigeria’s army chiefs as it gives them stupendous wealth under in the “democratic” era where they are out of government.
The ex-General made an inadvertent confession of the sabotaging of the needed development of the Nigerian army in his rascally diversionary attack on the person of El-Rufai when these accusations were first published. He admitted and alleged in that statement published in the Vanguard that “it was because money was not spent on the army that Boko Haram was successful.” So #WhereIsOurMoney? Is it money for the Nigerian army that he spends on Boko Haram? What wicked treachery!
If I may add a third reason- the former army Chief is a known as a PDP ruling party potential gubernatorial candidate for Abia State. The ruling PDP party has always utilized Boko Haram as a means of tarnishing the image of their opposition. It can be recollected that the former Party chairman and a best friend of the President, Bamanga Tukur, still on public salary, said, “Boko Haram is fighting for justice, Boko Haram is another name for justice.” General Ihejrika on this basis would have been doing the party’s bidding by destroying the north, most especially opposition States.
We must thank the Chibok grls for their prayers which the Lord is answering by revealing the identities of those doing this to them and their people. Nigerians can bet on more revelations in the coming days and months. Meanwhile the nation waits as it expects these sponsors to be arrested in the coming days; else the Jonathan government will be again more seriously implicated in Boko Haram sponsorship.
Dr. Peregrino Brimah; http://ENDS.ng/ [Every Nigerian Do Something] Email: drbrimah@ends.ng Twitter: @EveryNigerian

UPDATE: 2015 - Lamido Dissociates Jigawa From Jonathan N/West Endorsement.

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state today dissociated himself from the 2015 endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the North/West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

The governor who spoke through the deputy governor,Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed Gumel who repsented Lamido at the meeting,said the communique read at the meeting was prepared before the meeting started.

" I am here to inform you categorically that the government and people of Jigawa state completely dissociate Jigawa people from the purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election. We are not part of it and we don't support because the communique was prepared even before the meeting started."

He said Governor Sule Lamido and the people of Jigawa remain 100 percent loyal to the PDP but they are not part of the communique calling for Jonathan to contest 2015 presidential election.

Gumel told Journalists that in 2011 the people and government of Jigawa especially Governor Sule Lamido supported President Jonathan wholeheartedly adding that Lamido was called all sorts of name then but the President never fulfilled all the electoral promises he made to Jigawa.

The Deputy Governor said there is no basis for supporting Jonathan in 2015.

Details later...

Daily Trust.

WHERE ARE THE NORTHERN LEADERS? By Sharon Faliya Cham

First, let me start with this sombre news that the Nigerian Air Force jets bombed the army barracks in Bama, Borno state, north-east Nigeria, on Monday, September 1, 2014. News reports have it that the fighter jets bombed the army barracks when the army was fighting "Boko Haram" fighters who came attacking the town, and that the army was seriously repelling and destroying the "terrorists" when the Air Force jets came on the scene and bombed the barracks, and in the process all the armoury in the barracks was destroyed in addition to many casualties, which made all the soldiers completely defenceless, and then "Boko Haram" took control of the town while the soldiers fled the town alongside multitudes of civilians.
For those who don't know, Bama is the second biggest city in Borno state after Maiduguri the state capital, and if "Boko Haram" has taken over Bama you can be sure that their next target will be the state capital.
Remember that a few months ago President Jonathan has withdrawn the soldiers guarding the governor of Borno state, which means, if the plan to takeover the entire state through "Boko Haram" proceeds, he will be very vulnerable, for he could be captured like chicken for barbecue.
Please, do remember that all this bloody fraud is happening under a so called State of Emergency with President Jonathan's 20, 000 soldiers in charge.
I am tempted at this point to laugh but I will not, because lives and properties are being deliberately wasted and destroyed everyday over nothing.
Having said that, let me quickly assert that there is nowhere in the world whereby military fighter jets of the same country will bomb military barracks in a city where the same military is engaged in a fierce battle with terrorists and then the terrorists will takeover the city. It only means the military fighter jets were commanded to aid the terrorists at the expense of the lives of the soldiers who were gallantly fighting the terrorists.
Even a trainee fighter pilot cannot make the mistake of bombing any military barracks, because all military barracks are uniquely visible, and every fighter pilot has a clear map of the area they are dispatched to fight, and moreover, all fighter jets are in communication link with ground troops and a central command centre. Therefore don't ever believe the spin they may make that "it was a mistake" or "friendly fire".
Remember also that when "Boko Haram" attacked the Giwa army barracks in Maiduguri sometime this year, their video of the attack also showed a military fighter jet giving them cover in the sky.
Note that after each town has been captured by "Boko Haram" the Defence Headquarters will issue the same statement that the military will recapture the towns back from the "terrorists" but nothing of the sort will be seen until another town is captured by the "terrorists" again.
So, what further evidence does anyone need that "Boko Haram" is a government agenda against a particular people? If this is not False Flag operation then the world should gather all her grammarians and etymologists to construct a new meaning for False Flag operation.
Now back to our opening question:
WHERE ARE THE NORTHERN LEADERS?
For now, Nigeria is one country but everybody knows his or her father's house. But when your father's house is under attack you cannot fold your arms with your mouth sealed. There is no room for diplomacy when your enemy has undiplomatically brought war right into your home. Therefore the idea of keeping sealed lips while you are being destroyed is the height of self destruction and self injustice.
I expect that by now a powerful coalition of northern leaders should hold a World Press Conference and declare that they are being destroyed systematically through a well orchestrated State Sponsored Terrorism, and should raise a powerful delegation to visit world leaders and raise the same issue, and then finally take the matter to the International Criminal court of Justice and secure some arrest warrants.
The way things are going, northerners may wake up one day seeing all the military barracks in the north up in smoke, and then, of course, THE FINAL SOLUTION will take place.
Adolf Hitler's own agenda was also titled THE FINAL SOLUTION.
When Governor Nyako factually presented what is happening today, only a few northern leaders stood by him while some joined "the terrorists" in condemning Nyako by accusing him of "overheating the polity", and even gleefully collaborated in the plot to remove him from office, and you are left wondering whether a programme set out to kill hundreds of people daily and to wipe off certain towns and villages has not "overheated the polity" and the spoken truth should be the salve that will cool down the heat!
The Northern Governors Forum was neither here nor here. Till today they have not confronted President Jonathan to stop the carnage going on in their region, and I am left wondering if the north is wiped off what will they govern? There is no time for diplomacy in certain things. Enemies don't know diplomacy, for if they knew diplomacy they wouldn't conscript all institutions of state to fight you.
The other time General Buhari questioned certain double standards in regards to dealings with "Boko Haram" the conspirators, including the shamelessly loquacious Ayo Oritsejafor who has become quiet these days, and all their supporters, pounced on him and accused him of what they were doing. All that reaction was to make sure they blackmail northerners from speaking against this conspiracy.
Have you noticed how they label everyone that speaks against this conspiracy as a sympathiser or sponsor of "Boko Haram"? It is called psychological warfare aimed at blackmailing you to keep quiet while they continue to finish you off.
There is no time for diplomacy in certain things. By the time the world was busy with diplomacy over Adolf Hitler he was almost halfway conquering Europe.
With the exception of people like Professor Ango Abdullahi, Solomon Dalung, Anthony Sani, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, Paul Unongo, Joseph Waku, Governor Nyako, Governor Kwankwaso, Governor Wamakko, Honourable Adamu Aliyu, Engineer Buba Galadima, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Nasir el-Rufai, Adamu Adamu, Mohammed Haruna and a few others who have been vocal on what is going on, the others seem to have become cowed into silence or have been paid off.
But then, more still needs to be done by the north to save herself from enemies with state power. Northern leaders, including the traditional rulers, need to come out and call a spade a spade, for enemies don't know diplomacy.
Let nobody kid themselves that because certain names like General Ihejirika and Modu Shariff have been mentioned as sponsors of the carnage that the agenda will stop. No way, they will not stop it. The plotters are determined without qualms as can be seen by the latest Bama onslaught and capture.
Remember that General Ihejirika was carefully chosen by this president to be Chief of Army Staff, and even when the General was due for retirement around 2012 he extended the man's service up to January 2014 after his successor was also carefully chosen and groomed. The fact that about one hundred senior army officers had to be retired for General Minimah to succeed General Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff should tell you that they are committed to this agenda.
WHERE ARE THE NORTHERN LEADERS?
Will they step up to the plate? Time is running out!
When diplomacy works not brinkmanship is recoursed to. Ask Russia and Israel for lessons on brinkmanship.

Somebody Left Our Doors Open To Insurgency– Kukah

Somebody Left Our Doors Open To Insurgency– Kukah

Ankeli Emmanuel

— Aug 17, 2014 | 2 Comments

Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah is the Catholic bishop of Sokoto Diocese. His opinions on critical issues usually create national agenda for public discourse. In this exclusive interview with ANKELI EMMANUEL, he observes that certain salient issues bordering on the loss of moral values both in the religious and political arena are responsible for the myriads of problems confronting the country
In recent times, there appears to be mutual suspicion about northerners in other parts of the country who are seen as potential Boko Haram members. What do you think this suspicion portends for the country?
I think the issues are grossly exaggerated. And I don’t think it is something we should pay too much attention to. It seems to me that there is a bit of media frenzy and there is the need for us to think even much more clearly and closely about how the media behave in a period such as this. How do citizens, religious leaders, and everyone behave in a period such as we are in?
I say that because some days ago, Daily Trust newspapers published a story involving a very prominent leader of the Arewa Community in Imo state who was actually saying the idea of identity cards was their own not that of Governor Rochas Okorocha. However, on television today, Okorocha denied anything of that sort.
What I am saying in effect is that the media has gone into frenzy and the result is that, there is very little attention to facts before they are published. There is so much sensationalization in some of the reportage. Therefore, I am just saying that it is not correct to say that every northerner is a potential Boko Haram member. I have been to Asaba, Onitsha and different parts of this country. Therefore, it is not true to say that I or anybody coming from this part of the country should be seen as a potential Boko Haram.
Recently, the Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar III solicited advice on the way forward thereby prompting criticism that Muslim leaders are not doing enough on terrorism. What would be your advice as a clergyman?
Well, I am not an adviser to the Sultan. He is more than eminently qualified to speak for himself. Let me, however, say very quickly that I think the most important thing is that perception is a reality. Cain did not necessarily cease to be the son of Adam because he killed his brother. That I have become a murderer today does not mean I am not the son of my father, rather, I am probably a bad son. So, the truth of the matter is that the people who are perpetuating this violence said they are Muslims; they are not asking for anything but an Islamic state.
Now, you may quarrel with how they are going about it. You may even say that Islam does not allow anybody to murder another person. Indeed, no religion or society tolerates murder. But what I think we are missing in the whole of this conversation is that we are not asking ourselves what prepared people for this kind of action.
If you have children that are well fed, and well clothed within the best means available to you and suddenly, one of them becomes a thief, I don’t think the best thing to do is to simply condemn him, rather you try to find out why in the midst all the affluence, he went wayward. In the same way, I think these are times for serious introspection among the Muslim communities in Nigeria. I have said it severally that Boko Haram has been a terrible advertisement for Nigeria, but perhaps, it is the worst advertisement for Islam.
It is not enough to say that these people are not Muslims but that what is it in Islam that predisposes people to this kind of action? For me, these are not questions that we can answer. The question we should rather ask ourselves is about the person that left the door open for this calamity to set in. Perhaps, we must also say that these issues are not peculiar to Islam in the whole country but in northern Nigeria alone. Therefore, we must isolate and localize the problem not because it is a northern problem but because it is a problem peculiar to Islam as expressed in northern Nigeria.
There are Muslims in the southwest. There is also a little percentage of Muslims in the middle belt and there are Muslims in some parts of the southeast. They are not going around murdering people. There are Muslims in Senegal, Gambia and other parts of Africa. They are not going about it that way.
So, the question we must ask with honesty is, “What is it about Islam as practised in northern Nigeria that predisposes people to this kind of action? And as I said earlier, we can have long lectures on this, but I think that is the direction we should focus the question. It is not about whether we are being represented well or not or whether those people are not Muslims. The criminals who represent us badly in Nigeria do not lose their Nigerian identities. That was why I said this is a very trying time for us as a nation. It is not for us to cast aspersion but to ask ourselves certain honest questions.
 The Sultan said recently that insecurity in Nigeria is all about 2015. Do you also share that thought?
Well, that is what the Sultan said and you should have asked him. However, whether there is a correlation between the insecurity we are facing, I do not know. I however, have the feeling that the matter is grossly exaggerated. I think that it is quite conceivable and possible that 2015 will come and go very peacefully, but since we are Nigerians and we always look at the worst case scenario for ourselves, we are also our worst enemy in terms of perception.
But over and above that, like I have consistently said to the politicians, there has to be a country first, before we can think of conducting elections.
The abduction of over 200 innocent school girls in Chibok has raised global concern and criticism against Nigeria. As a priest, what do you think the government should do and what they have failed to do to rescue these girls?
You know, I worry because this is Nigeria where you have about 170 million experts on everything. And there are certain things that we must concede that, at least, we don’t have the answer. I think people have been very critical of the president, the government, the military and all that. Yes, they have the right to do so, but none of these get us anywhere closer to bringing these girls home. And I think it is sad if anybody believes that the president of Nigeria, one way or the other, has something to do about this matter which he is not doing now.
It is not a fair assessment of the situation because nobody else could have done something else completely different from what he has been doing. Secondly, I think that we should have been praying. The unfortunate thing is that this whole thing has turned into politics. And there are people who are looking at it as if the president is weak. It is not the way a country behaves when you have a crisis of this nature, there is need for sobriety.
It is important to note that we are not the first people to go through all these. America sat down helplessly to watch for, at least, 445 or so days when its citizens were kidnapped in Iran. They could not do anything about it. This is not the first time something of this nature is happening but the most important thing we are saying is that we want these girls back alive.
With the level of insecurity in Nigeria almost reaching its crescendo, most Nigerians are of the opinion that the country is at the crossroads. Do you also share that belief?
There is no doubt about the fact that we are facing very challenging times as a nation, and as I said, no sane citizen must treat this situation with levity. It is a wakeup call for all of us. But we must also appreciate the fact that this is not the worst thing that has happened in human history. Few months from now, it will be the beginning of the First World War in which over 20 million people lost their lives.
The people of Algeria had a war after their election and it all came to pass. Now, we have the Boko Haram insurgency in its intense form for the better parts of a year and a half or two, and for the lives we have lost, it is one of the greatest tragedies because we are not even having an all-out war. It is also that we are dealing with senseless killings.
We must, however, address the fact that if anybody knows the best way of addressing this kind of things, let them step forward and say so. But the fact of the matter is that, there are no easy options. The way our country is right now, there are massive wastelands and with a police force of less than half a million, how many policemen can you send across the country? With the military force of perhaps less than 200,000, how many of them can you send across the nation? These are some of the practical realities.
For instance, when some innocent people were been killed in Southern Kaduna and I went there on condolence, one of the things I tried to tell the young people was that they should be very careful because I could see anger and frustration on their faces because you may be the only one left and I said, “Look, you may be angry but do not do anything stupid. May be you are the only surviving person left and other people have died on your behalf. If you go on and do something stupid the history of your house is forgotten”.
So, it is the question of us having the maturity and the capacity to know that this too will pass away. And depending on how we handle situations, it could give us a stronger and a better nation. But frankly, I’m personally convinced from the things I am seeing and from the things I’m monitoring that the worst is over. Also, the unwritten part of this text is that I am convinced that a substantial part of these evils have been perpetrated by people who are not necessarily Nigerians.
The easy thing, of course, is for us to say that everything that has happened is a Fulani man creation or whatever. But again, we also have to ask some of the questions as to whether we have the kind of Fulanis we used to see around us to have been able to acquire the kind of sophistication and the clinical ability to do the kind of things that these people were doing?
Now, the Janja weeds were in Sudan until about three or four years ago and we do not know where they have gone to. And like my grandmother used to say, that the bird that calls the rain is usually the first to be beaten by the rain. It is quite possible that some people contracted these people expecting that they will probably do a quick job and get out and as it has turned now, it is worst than they expected. So, I think what we can do is just to still remain together like men and women in a boat that is threatened by a turbulent sea. We may have reasons to quarrel but the worst we can do is to lose control of the rowing instrument.
The National Confab recently gave recommendation for the creation of additional states. Do you think Nigeria needs additional states as it is now?
I guess my thought don’t matter because I am not a member of the confab and I can only say, well, if they have come up with the recommendation for the creation of 18 more additional states, then I’m sure they probably know how thestates can be created. So, I guess it is left for them, the National Assembly and the president.
Nigerians seems not to be happy with the confab because they failed to place emphasis on security of lives and properties of Nigerians but rather concentrated on resource control and the host of other petty issues. What is your view on that?
They are not police force. I don’t think you could have called a national conference or whatever name it is called just to address the problem of security. If you want to address the problem of security, very few people in the hall have been brought to the place because of their competence in security matters. If you want to address the problem of security in this country, then the person who is the chief security officer of this country is the president. He has his service chiefs and then the various directors of the security agencies.
There are nobody else; they could solicit for advice but the ball is in their courts. And I think we must also trust their abilities and competence. No matter how knowledgeable you and I may be, unless our advice is sought, there is little or nothing we can do, but, remember that we are living in a country like Nigeria where everybody knows everything and everybody has a point of view about everything.
So, there are no learners. Everybody in Nigeria is a teacher because everybody has a point of view about everything. But the issues we are dealing with are not issues you can resolve by conference. And like I said, I have listened to many people on the television like the governors, ministers and so on and sometimes, I’m very happy with the effort that most of them are putting in. All those efforts are tied to the security of this country. So, it is not as if one day, whether Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, January, February, March or May that we would say now this is the deadline and security has returned to Nigeria.
Security is a psychological state of mind. Israel is one of the most secured countries that one would want to be but if you go to Tel Aviv, there is also far greater tension. So, insecurity is not necessarily absence of harm it is more or less a psychological state of mind that is contingent on a range of other factors. So, I don’t think that all of us should necessarily think that we have the capacity to comment on matters that are as sophisticated as the issue of security.
So, clearly, there is a correlation between the unemployment as we called it and the non industrial activities that are occurring in Nigeria. I mean, probably you were not born then but when the Textile industries were functionally running in Kaduna, even if 10 or 15 of such industries are still working, then it would have been an open question whether we would have had Boko Haram?
But again, you will discover that in those days when the textiles were functional, people require minimal skills. There are people that were working there who never went to any school. There are people who had primary school education and a very few number of them then had secondary school education, but there was always something for somebody them to do. So, our glorification of the university degree, in my own view, is not only largely a misplaced priority but is also a function of the colonial mentality of the feelings that this is what you require in order to climb higher.
Like I said, there was this joke somebody told me about an Igbo man who came back from America with a Ph.D and there was a reception in his honour in the village square. After the man got up to speak, he was speaking eloquently about how much he worked had to get the Ph.D and one spare parts dealer who is one of the richest men in the village got up to say, “Look, can somebody ask this man what is it that he is saying and how it can be translated in naira?” He requested that the man should tell them the value of Ph.D in naira. What I am saying in essence is that, money may not be everything, but it is also important to know that people have also demonstrated that you can actually do the best you can and everybody does not necessarily need to have a university degree.
 

“THE CHALLENGE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE” - BY THE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, SAN ON THE BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF HIS EXCELLENCY TIMIPRE SYLVA - August 14, 2014

 I think it is too elementary to attempt any formal definition of democracy.

It will serve our purpose to say that it is participatory governance in the sense that we all have a say, whether we vote or not.

It is also useful to remind ourselves that participation is largely by representation; in other words, those who are old enough to vote and those who are not, are represented by people elected to speak, think and act for us.

This part is very important because we all cannot be in Government, especially the Executive and Legislative arm, so we must elect or otherwise choose people to go there on our behalf.

The problem is compounded by size.

Can you imagine what a Senate or House of Representatives where all 160 million of us can sit will look like?

From this point we can see the inherent challenges that lie in a process of collective decision making.

In order to further highlight some of the challenges that lie in democratic governance, I will share with you a report of developments across the World published by Newsweek Magazine on August 23 & 30, 2010 edition titled “the Best Countries in the World”, Newsweek Top 100.

An article by Rana Foroohar posed the following question before delivering the report of a survey of 100 nations:-

”If you were born today, which country would provide you the very best opportunity to live a healthy, safe, reasonably prosperous and upwardly mobile life?”

In the answer, Finland was number 1, Nigeria was number 99, Ghana was number 86, South Africa was number 82, Brazil was number 48, Singapore was number 20, USA was number 11, United Kingdom was number 14. Greece, with its recent economic and debt crises was number 26, Russia was number 51.

The United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, that are not democracies in the contemporary sense of the western conception were rated 43, 53, 54 and 64 respectively.

Out of the 53 African countries on the continent, only 18 made the ranking, the highest being Tunisia 65, Morocco 67 and Egypt 74.

South Africa, which is reputed to be arguably the best democracy in Africa and at the time, the largest economy ranked lower than these “undemocratic” North African countries at 82.

As if this was not bad enough, earlier this year on a business trip to Abu Dhabi, I was forced to enter into conversation with a middle aged man of Arab extraction.

It was in the evening in our hotel. He had come out to the restaurant to dine and unwind. I ended up on the same table with him and he was insistent on making conversation while he drank a glass of red alcoholic wine.

In the event he sought to know where I came from and when I said Nigeria, he accused our Government of pauperizing our country when we have oil like his own country, Saudi Arabia.

When I told him that he was not supposed to drink alcohol he asked me if I was going to report to his country.

When I reminded him that his country was not democratic, he hit me where it hurts most.

He asked what the value of democracy is to my own countrymen when his own countrymen can build hospitals that we bring our own ailing presidents to.

As if this was not enough, he rounded off by saying to me that in his country they see what their leaders are doing with their money, building roads, bridges, new airports, schools, hospitals, rail, shopping malls and generally driving development, and he at least did not care about democracy.

Although I felt hurt that he thought very little of my country, the idea of freedoms, to think, to speak, to act and to ask questions is too valuable for me to exchange for development under an autocratic or undemocratic government.

So I worry as we must all worry, when I hear some people say that it is part of their achievement that they allow us to express ourselves. Utter Rubbish!

They seek to re-define the relationship in the social contract. They are to serve us and not the other way round. It is not a privilege for us to complain when they do not deliver.

If the only options left to choose from were between freedom and development, I for one will rather surrender development than freedom.

However, I am however convinced beyond doubt that democracy can deliver development and this is the central theme of my presentation.

Political Parties

In order for this to happen, the vehicle of politics, the political parties must be developed as first class institutions.

The first thing to seek is the “idea” behind governance (this is often contained in the program of a political party).

This is very important because the extremes of left and right ideologies have now converged around the centre.

If China and Russia are democratizing, no matter how imperfectly, it is clear that the communist or socialist ideologies of economic exchange have proven to become unsustainable.

Conversely, capitalism in its purest sense has also had to reinvent itself to remain viable. Therefore it moved from cash to credit and credit almost killed it.

The question of ideology is important because it lies at the heart of choice making for the people who participate in election to choose their representatives.

At all times, the welfare of the people is the central theme for the canvassing of votes. It is the ideology, often on economic outlook, sometimes on social outlook that helps to crystallize the difference between the political party machines.

Before concluding on party ideology (because it can be the subject of a full lecture itself) let me say that while some people still delude themselves that there is no difference between our political parties, especially the ruling party and the main opposition, the differences are emerging daily for those who are discerning enough to notice.

If on major policy issues such as power, security, agriculture, corruption and unemployment the main opposition has disagreed with the party in Government and has criticized its choices, I wonder what else the party needs to do to prove that there is a difference.

If you look at the level of progress and development (World Bank poverty index) in the States governed by old and new opposition Governors, there is clear daylight in terms of development.

For example, it is no coincidence that only 2 (two) States, Lagos and Rivers, governed by APC Governors are executing rail projects on their own as a mass transit solution.

The party in government has lied about when there will be stable electricity for 16 years, and an APC state, Lagos led the way in showing what is possible with its power initiatives in Egbin, Akute, Lagos Island and Alausa. Ikeja and Lekki will be commissioned this year.

Other APC Controlled states are clearly Pack Leaders in service delivery across the religious landscape.

The party in power prefers to continue to import fuel with the attendant disruptions, and monumental corruption. It cancelled its own concession of moribund refineries.

Lagos believes that in a strategic partnership where it provides land for a refinery, Nigeria can produce enough petroleum products for consumption and still have some to export in 4 (four) years.

The ruling party is now sending a clear message to the people. This is what they are saying:-

“We care about you, but you do not need development so we will not do any developmental work in 3 (three) years. In the 4th (fourth) year we will give you money, kerosene, and rice. Please vote for us, and use the money we give you to provide your own roads, schools, hospitals and security, until we see you again in 4 (four) years”.

In the last election in Osun, the APC candidate sought the peoples vote on a campaign anchored on first his record of 4 years, and a clear developmental and economic agenda to empower the people if elected.

For the candidate of the other main party, the election was going to be a war. So said no less a person than the Vice-President of our country. A leading member of that party. The candidate therefore anchored his campaign on an intention to CAPTURE Ekiti. For me there is clear daylight between these two approaches.

Anyone who still pretends not to see this major economic ideological difference will not see the tallest building in the world even if he stands in front of it.

People and members

I will start here with the quote of Bertolt Brecht who said:-

“The worst illiterate is the political illiterate. He hears nothing, sees nothing, takes no part in political life. He doesn’t seem to know that the cost of living, the price of beans, of flour, of rent, of medicines, all depend on political decisions. He even prides himself on his political ignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates politics. He doesn’t know, the imbecile, that from his political non-participation comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber and, worst of all, corrupt officials, the lackeys of exploitative multinational corporations”.

It seems that when opposition does its job will the Governmet panic and resort to a propaganda of lies.

It is part of the lies they have told us about the mismanagement of our National Security.

Their first story was that those behind it were within the Government. When the opposition pushed them to identify those people they have turned around to say it is the opposition.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is still regrettable that the majority of the members of our political parties and politicians do not yet include the critical elite of our society.

They still see politics as something too dirty.

Whether we like it or not, history has shown that the elite of any society, especially its professional cadre, and the very best of them decide the direction of the nation when they come to a consensus about the pathway for their nation, even if they belong to different political parties.

Where are all the people who have built things with their hands in our society?

What are they doing outside of Government?

Where are the founders of the big banks, businesses, telecoms in our body politic?

Are they just content to finance and yet remain unwilling to take the plunge?

There is unverifiable talk that they are willing to identify with the ruling party when they are in Abuja, and with the party in Government in their states when they get to their bases for fear of reprisals?

What do our elite believe?

It is only by their belief, that contributions can come in to fund parties, where members pay dues, where strong values restrain people from decamping whenever the grass in not green on their side again.

Truth be told, opposition politics is tough and only the committed and true believers see it through.

Opposition politics carries its own pain everywhere and has been the subject of a book called “How to be in Opposition. Life in the Political Shadows”, where Nigel Fletcher provides useful insight into the challenges of being in opposition and also profers useful tips.

The one I will share with you is sub-titled “choose your weapons wisely”, and this is what he says:-

“An opposition cannot compete with the Government on resources, so you must be inventive. In what is a David and Goliath contest, you can use the advantages of greater agility to aim your slingshot where it can do the most damage. Parliamentary ambushes, media attacks and effective research will wear down Ministers and help expose their mistakes”

As you may have also heard in this part of the World, the party in power will accuse you of trying to bring down the Government.

This is certainly not the same thing as bringing down the Country because the Government can be removed by LEGITIMATE and CONSTITUTIONAL means at the ballot box.

According to Nigel Fletcher:-

“…bringing down the Government was a peculiar day job and it is. But that is really only the negative side of the job description. With equally lofty ambition, the positive side of opposition could be summed up as ‘trying to change the World’. This is surely something worth doing…”

Perhaps when all these issues have been put in proper place, can we then begin to talk of the people of the party and what defines it.

This is different from a manifesto, which can change (discuss) easily.

It is the ideology of the party (what the Americans call the platform statement )and what I call the DNA of the party that is very difficult to change. The nearest to it since the Action Group was formed in 1951 is the All Progressive Congress Code of Ethics unveiled at its inaugural summit on the 6th of March 2014.

It is important to repeat the codes here:-

“1. Our party considers the Nigerian people as our nation’s greatest asset, and will do everything to protect and preserve human life and dignity.

2. Our party upholds a Nigeria bound by the principles of freedom, justice, peace, unity and the rule of law.

3. Our party upholds and respects every individual’s choice of faith under God.

4. Our party has no tolerance for corruption and will manage Nigerian resources responsibly, with a commitment to accountability and the pursuit of the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

5. Our party is committed to a strong system of government at the federal, state and local levels as the most effective vehicle for harnessing the diversity and preserving the unity of Nigeria.

6. Our party rests on the foundation of democracy, fairness and the pursuit of opportunity for all citizens, predicated on economic productivity, fair competition and the bridging of inequalities.

7. Our party pursues its objective of increasing economic opportunity, social welfare and progress through a government-led and private sector driven economy.

8. Our party upholds the principle of one person, one vote grounded in free and fair elections at all levels.

9. Our Party upholds and respects the interests of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups that constitute our Nation.

10. Our party recognizes Nigeria’s strategic role on the African continent and commits to the pursuit of a foreign policy that promotes peace, security and our national interest.”

The existence of these codes leads inexorably to how the parties are managed.

Who leads them? What type of experience do they have? When and where are meetings held and how are decisions taken? (Night meetings).

Finally, what is the process of choosing representative of the party (officials) and its flagbearers?

What role do debates play?

What is the efficiency of primaries?

Where do we draw the difference between “godfatherism” and “endorsements”?

I have taken the trouble, even if in summary form, to highlight some of the bridges we must cross in order to deepen democracy.

These are only some of the challenges that democratic governance faces.

It seems to me that the countries that have managed to deliver development with democracy got one thing right – they built strong political parties (Not one in four years parties).

The makings were appearing in SDP and NRC until the annulment of June 12.

Thankfully, the APC provides the opportunity for a rebirth, with the broad base from which its coalition is formed.

That in itself is a challenge, which, if overcome and harnessed, provides very deep diversity from which to project strength and national unity.

Leadership of Government

Until recently, we all used to think that our national development was inhibited by the fact that we never had a university graduate as leader of any national government in an executive capacity.

This perhaps alludes only faintly to the issue of the elite consensus, but it is not the same.

Thankfully, the myth of graduate leadership as desirable as it is, has been exploded now.

We have two graduates (a zoologist and an architect) at the helm of our National affairs and I think the majority of Nigerians will tell you today that their lives are worse off today than they were 4 (four) years ago.

Clearly there must be more to leadership than a university degree and educational qualification.

There is character, vision, courage, empathy, compassion and many more attributes that you simply will not find in a classroom or school.

They are in homes, in communities and also in the value system of society.

Recently, our leadership has re-defined empathy by inviting parents of abducted Chibok girls, bereaved people, to the presidential villa for commiseration.

I find this truly strange. Truly unAfrican.

How does this sound? “I heard you lost your child to abductors. Please come and see me at home so I can sympathize with you”.

This is my paraphrasing of what has so far transpired.

As if this was not bad enough, there is a tissue of lies around whether or not they tried to give the bereaved parents money. It is a low point for leadership. It suggests the lack of empathy.

This is not the first lie that surrounds the unfortunate abduction of young girls in Chibok.

The first statement was to say that they had rescued the girls.

When pressed to show us the girls they issued a statement casting doubt on whether the girls were actually abducted.

The new story, is that they now know where the girls are.

This is the same way they lied about the unaccounted for $48 Billion; when they say it was only $20 Billion as if it was good not to account for $1.00.

They have turned around to say no money was missing, but add that they have appointed “forensic auditors” to find out of the money was missing. It seems strange and illogical to be searching for what is not missing.

Where is courage? The character to proceed even in spite of fear.

I think we will all do well to remember that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King led from the front in the civil rights movement, so did Mandela, so did Lee Kuan Yew in the agitation for Singapore‘s independence.

Barack Obama has been to the war fronts in countries where American troops (young men and women) are put in harm’s way, to inspire them.

As racially divided as America was in the days of Martin Luther King, he did not seek to divide the country and impose black rule over white.

He dreamt and worked hard to unify divided people.

Mandela sacrificed personal liberty for the emancipation of his people and surrendered presidential power for a higher power – a moral authority – that made him the father of a continent and a global leadership reference, when by clinging to power he could not have been more than a president of one of the world’s 196 (One Hundred and Ninety Six) countries.

Instead of dividing the ethnic Chinese, Malay and Indians in Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew united them by his housing and education policies, built a nation, and took them on a journey of dizzying adventure and development.

What we are witnessing now is a daily dishonor and discredit of the service of previous Governments.

They tell us now that since Nigeria was created, no Government has done for us what they have done for us.

What would the nationalists who fought for our independence say to these inheritors?

I wonder how the 7 surviving formers Heads of State and Presidents who attend the National Council of States feel, when they hear this kind of talk.

Yet their unmatched achievements has not delivered stable power whose delivery date has not escaped their lies. The date has shifted from month-to-month to year-to-year since 2011. The lie was even told to an International News Agency.

Instead of boasting that no previous leader of Government has done more for the country as our Government does, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the leader of Dubai whose achievements far surpass ours (at least for now) not only acknowledges the service of those before him, he sets new challenges for his Government and dreams new dreams for his people.

This is what he said in the book “MY VISION: Challenges in the Race for Excellence” at pages 44, 45, 46, 213 and 214.

“Although Arab and world history abound with numerous examples of such leaders, if I were to review the history that I stood witness to, the leader I constantly think about is Sheikh Zayed”

“Sheikh Zayed earned the love of all those around him, out of their great respect for his hard work and achievements. He was also frank and expected people to be frank with him. This is something he taught me and this is how I came to respect him”

“How can I prove this? Well many people, from the United Arab Emirates and overseas, criticized Sheikh Zayed for drilling artesian wells in the desert and using the water for farming. They said this would deplete a non-renewable source, inflict heavy damage on the environment and disturb its natural balance. Although none of those critics ever knew the actual size of the underground water reservoirs, they continually criticized the idea.

As time passed, water remained abundant and none of the fears of critics materialized, while Sheikh Zayed was proven right. In the not-so-distant past, people travelling between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain would die of thirst if they did not have enough water for the long journey. Sheikh Zayed transformed the same journey into a fascinating drive on an ultramodern highway flanked by farms, palm gardens and endless greenery.

In fact, Sheikh Zayed transformed a large area of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi into the world’s largest oasis in one of the world’s harshest deserts. All this was made possible by the huge water reserves he put to good use and which are now expected to last many decades.

“I will never abandon one opportunity and wait for another. We have not reached the goal we are striving for. What you see now is nothing compared to our vision…just tiny parts of what lies ahead”

“I know the road to development and modernization is difficult; I know that it is long and I also know that the next stages will be even tougher and longer. But I have faith in God, I believe in my people, in the wisdom of our leadership and the future of our nation. I am confident we will realize our goals. Our vision is clear, our road is paved and the clock is ticking. There is no more time for hesitation or half-baked goals or solutions. Development is an ongoing process and the race for excellence has no finish line”

So until we find that kind of leader that believes in God and country, who truly loves the people, the leader who recognizes ‘service” not awards, self-adulation and national honours as the highest honour, until then will our democracy remain undeveloping.

Certainly, without subscribing to any recklessness, I would think that if the leadership of any country is worth living for, it must be worth dying for.

Regrettably, such sterling leadership as we now so desperately need is not given to nations, frequently or in abundant supply.

In 236 years of the USA, she has produced 44 presidents (of which one was elected for 4 terms) and in about 500 years of British democracy, she has produced about 75 Prime Ministers.

How many of those Presidents or Prime Ministers do you remember off hand? Why?

Many were either not outstanding or simply did not meet the developmental aspirations of their people.

In just about a decade, Britain has produced 3 (three) Prime Ministers, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Who knows what will happen in next year’s election?

This March 2014 in India, the ruling party, the Congress Party was defeated with the winning party, BJP having 31.4% of the votes against the then ruling party’s 19.5% of votes.

The instructive message of this musical chair of leaders is that their people have always acted to vote out leaders who were inefficient, not trusted or simply unable to inspire their people.

A number of American presidents served only one term, some voluntarily stepped down (e.g. Nixon) others were voted out after one term (eg. Carter, Bush Snr.).

Recently, Gordon Brown only finished the term of Tony Blair and was voted out in the first election he called.

Conclusion

So apart from building great parties, finding good people, and so on and so forth, the Nigerian people must find the courage to vote out an un-performing Government after its first term.

This must be the mood when a Government lies about power, about security an about the economy which are the problems it was mandated to solve.

This is the strongest message of a desire for development that the Nigerian people can send to the incoming government as well, that we will vote you out if you also do not develop our lives.

It remains or me to wish Governor Timipre Sylva, at whose behest this paper was written to commemorate his birthday anniversary, a very Happy Birthday and many happy returns.

I thank you for listening.

Babatunde Fashola, SAN
Governor of Lagos State.

APC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: POLITICAL EXPEDIENCE AND ELECTORAL VALUES (PART 3).

Chief Bisi Akande, after the merger became the Chairman of the APC Interim Management Committee (IMC). I attended his first Press Conference as Chairman, IMC and listening to him further earned more of my respect for him when he said that “a political party is like a cult and only those that are in tune with the objectives/direction of the leadership will get to the destination”. This has been in my memory till date and I am never going to forget that statement. Interpretation of the statement can be in different ways and with different meaning and understanding. But in politics, this is what some of us refer to as LOYALTY. Leaders do not joke with loyalty.

While the APC merger process was going on, Governor Rotimi  Amaechi was engaged in a political battle of his life with the Presidency and his former Party (PDP). He was therefore “caught between the devil and the deep blue sea”. The APC leadership saw an opportunity to pay solidarity visit to Governor Amaechi and cultivate his friendship, inviting him to join the APC. Eventually, Governor Amaechi, after wide consultations, decided to take the plunge into the “deep blue sea”. The general opinion then was that Rotimi Amaechi will be offered the APC Vice Presidential ticket to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan from the same South-South geo-political Zone and deliver substantial electoral votes from the Zone. At the time, the opinion was politically expedient and an accepted political calculation. But as political expedience and electoral values will later dictate, this political calculation became unattractive. The reason for this will be made clear shortly.

Later, the G5 (PDP Governors) including Governor Rotimi  Amaechi and their loyal followers and supporters, staged a walk out on their Party (PDP) and formed the new PDP (nPDP). They all subsequently decamped to the APC. The G5 Governors teamed up with the APC Governors and started agitation for the Presidential and VP Candidates to be picked from within the now APC Governor’s Forum under the Chairmanship of Governor Rochas Okorocha. Again political expedience came into play.

Prior to this period, there was an unwritten arrangement in the APC that the Presidential Candidate will be a candidate from the North. Will it be politically expedient to have Rotimi Amaechi, incumbent Chairman, Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) and a PDP decampee to APC as the Party VP Candidate and another PDP Governor decampee from the North as the Presidential Candidate for the APC? Will the APC Governors (from the legacy Parties) accept this situation and be edged out of the Presidential ticket/candidacy? Your guess is as good as mine. And certainly, members of the legacy parties will hear nothing of such arrangement. In all these, the decampee Governors conveniently overlooked the fact that the two leadership of the APC (GMB and BAT) that conceptualize the idea of the merger and the unwritten agreement of a Northern Presidential candidacy were completely and conveniently left out of the Governors arrangement!!!

As the Governors scheming and horse trading were going on, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his group announced the formation of the PDM (another breakaway faction of the ruling party, PDP) The PDM was registered by INEC as a political party. Then, out of the blues, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar dumped the PDM and pitched his political tent with the APC. Atiku Abubakar announced to the world that he came into the APC assuring the leadership that he had no presidential ambition. But later events during the APC Congresses in the States revealed otherwise. Atiku Abubakar’s underhand and underground scheming became exposed. Again, will political expedience allow APC to hand the Presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar, another PDP decampee. Atiku’s political sojourn has taken him from PDP to AC, back to PDP, then to PDM and now APC. Will it be politically expedient to trust Atiku Abubakar with the Presidential ticket of the APC?