Why Jonathan, PDP Must Go by Babatunde Raji Fashola.

I want to thank all of you for taking time off your very busy schedules to be part of this session; especially a few days to the elections, which by all accounts could be historic and critical for the soul of our dear country.
Election is a referendum on the performance of the incumbent government and a decision whether to keep it in office or vote it out of office.
As Progressive Governors who are committed to Good Governance, this year’s 1st Quarter Progressive Governance Session is designed to present our assessment of governance challenges in Nigeria today as well as our proposals on what needs to be done to move our country forward, post- May 29, 2015.
The parameters of the referendum are defined by issues of national security, economic management, social issues and the like. So I will start by reviewing briefly the record of the current government and share with you what they say they have done.
Let me start with the Economy, and share with you a text message that I received from a Nigerian film maker in Nollywood on the 14th of March 2015.
This is what he said:-
“I will like to bring to your attention that there is a reliable information that our film has been pirated to be released in Alabaon Monday. I also want to confirm to you that the criminals committing this act are known and can be handpicked. There was a meeting with NCC last week where to our surprise they invited the so called pirates for negotiations and discussion on the previous works that they pirated. I am devastated sir and not sure what to do. Am not sure what you can do in your capacity as the executive governor of the State but I believe your approach to resolving issues in Ladipo could bring a lasting solution. This new development will not only bring a big set back to my business and the industry at large but will discourage a dedicated filmmaker like myself from going all the way in the name of being a Nigeria. Please do something sir”.
It must be clear to everyone that the greatest problem that people in the entertainment industry have is that their intellectual property rights are not being protected.
This is a law enforcement issue, rather than a cash solution that the PDP and its government has continued to proffer.
It is simple copyright law enforcement and the PDP simply does not get it.
Roads:
As far as roads are concerned, and they are critical to the economic development and prosperity of our people for the movement of people, goods and services, the record of performance offered by the Federal Government is that they have constructed 25,000 kilometers of road.
How true that is, is to be measured by the complaints of PDP Governors themselves, who say Federal roads in their States have been neglected.
How bogus this is, is the realization that the distance between Lagos and London is approximately 5,025 kilometers.
Has the PDP Federal Government constructed roads that go the distance of Lagos to London 5 (Five) times?
Is it possible to do this by a Government that has never had a capital budget of up to 40% in 6 (Six) years?
Housing:
As far as housing is concerned, please note that after being unable to account for $20 billion which is the equivalent of N3.3 Trillion at N165/$1.00 at the time the money was unaccounted for; after losing 400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand) barrels of oil per day for years, when oil was trading at $100 per barrel, meaning that we were losing $40,000,000.00 (Forty Million United States Dollars), the equivalent ofN6,600,000,000.00 (Six Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira).
Our country’s solution according to the PDP is to borrow $300 million from the World Bank in order to provide mortgage refinancing for all Nigerians.
What this means, is that every Nigerian must first buy a house with a mortgage loan, and then apply for his share of the $300 million as a refinancing facility.
That is the PDP model for housing.
I know that in Ogun State, there is a better model that places emphasis on housing construction in order to create jobs.
I can speak better about my State, where we are building public housing and allocating it to residents at a mortgage rate of 9.5% payable over 10 (Ten) years.
I know that construction is going on in no less than 25 sites, and we have not borrowed one kobo to fund this initiative.
It has been funded by tax payers’ money.
Jobs:
As far as employment is concerned, again their own service record is the place to look.
They say that they have created 2 (Two) million jobs. On a straight line analysis, this would suggest at least over 50,000 (Fifty Thousand) jobs in each of the 36 (Thirty Six) States and Abuja.
Simply ask yourself, how many people you know, who got those jobs. Were they part of the jobs in which people died while stampeding for employment in the immigration service?
Why is unemployment at 24% if this economy is working?
What I know is that between only (Four) construction companies over 5,000 (Five Thousand) workers have been laid off in this first quarter of 2015 and in the last two weeks at least 2,400 (Two Thousand, Four Hundred) bank staff have been laid off.
Security:
It is easy to summarize the security situation.
Thousands killed violently. Hundreds kidnapped routinely. 219 girls missing, citizens and even the Federal Government relying on alternative security, like ethnic militia to secure pipelines.
While all these happens, year on year, amounts close to N1 Trillion have been budgeted and expended on defence and security; yet there are unanswered questions of availability of equipment, while a new set of billionaires masquerading as security experts have emerged.
The answer of the PDP Federal Government and Mr. President himself is that General Buhari, who left office in 1985 did not equip the security forces.
Clearly the PDP forget that Nigerians remember that they have been in office for 16 (Sixteen) years, and President Jonathan has to account for 6 (Six) of those years.
They have killed Skekau, the supposed leader of the terrorist group at least 4 (Four) times.
During one of those killings for which they claim success, they signed a ceasefire with him; from which he quickly played his part by attacking more Nigerians.
After the 4th (Fourth) killing, there are now instructions to capture him.
Lies:
Ladies and gentlemen, there are two common denominators in the record of service of the PDP Federal Government.
The first is FAILURE and the second is LIES.
They have failed in their management of the economy and they have been untruthful about how bad the economy is.
These numbers are important. They dimension the real difficulty Nigerians are dealing with.
I expected that when the PDP Governors gathered in Lagos, on their poorly conceived mis-adventure, they would have spoken about these issues.
Instead, they were seeking to stop the use of Card Readers which their Government approved.
They forgot that they were the ones who approved the use of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC).
They forgot that they postponed the elections because they said enough PVCs had not been issued.
Now that PVCs have been issued, should we not verify and authenticate eligible voters with the Card Readers?
· We recognize the issues in the Nigerian State
· We keep a track on them
· We have made them the issues in the election as you will have heard from our Presidential candidate and his running mate
· No amount of Goodluck can help the PDP escape from these issues.
· Our candidates have kept the Nigerian electorate focused on the issues of jobs, security, and corruption
Our opponents urge that they are moving forward.
The question to ask is what their definition of forward is.
· Moving the rate of exchange of the Naira to the dollar from N120 to $1.00 toN198 to $1.00 is not the way forward
· Managing an economy where employers cannot keep people at work because of bad government policies is not the way forward
· Unemployment is not the way forward. Employment is the way.
· Inventory of imported raw materials trapped in the port is not the way forward to economic recovery.
· Fuel queues arising from Government failure to pay importers is not the way forward.
· Blaming the opposition for fuel shortage is not the way forward.
· The largest economy in Africa that cannot generate electricity is not the way forward.
· The avoidable loss of human lives, and the unresolved disappearance of 219 (Two Hundred and Nineteen) young girls is not the way forward.
It is the opposite of development. It is the opposite of industrialization. It is the opposite of job creation.
It is the way backwards.
It is not the way to continue.
Ladies and gentlemen, like Vision 2020, like the 7 Point Agenda, like the comparisons to Martin Luther Kings, Lee Kwan Yew, Nelson Mandela, Barrack Obama, and the Transformation Agenda, all of which have been abandoned because they are not true, it is obvious that our opponents in Government, have lost their way.
They are reading the Developmental Map of Nigeria upside down. So they do not know the way forward.
The Nigeria ship of State is heading in the wrong way because the captain cannot navigate.
This is the most important reason why PDP and the President must be voted out of power.
In 2011, President Jonathan made a total of 91 (Ninety One) electoral promises around power, security and the economy.
Majority of them remain unfulfilled.
Between then and now, he set up a total of 28 (Twenty Eight) Committees as his Government’s response to critical national issues such as Nuhu Ribadu fuel subsidy scandal committee, Steve Oronsaye harmonization of Government Agencies and Department Committee, Justice Alfa Belgore Committee on Abuja Parks and Zoo, Edem Duke’s Committee on Proliferation of Small Arms, Ibrahim Sambo Presidential Fact Finding Committee and PriceWaterHouse Coopers forensic audit of the missing oil receipts in the region of $20 billion.
The President has either forgotten or refused to either make public the reports of these Committees, or implement them.
The President resumed work only 6 weeks ago, because of elections.
Nigeria needs a full time President not a part time one.
General Muhammad Buhari will be a full time President, ready to work every day.
A full time President will re-set and re-direct this Nation and set her back on the right path.
That is the way forward.
The second major reason is that after 16 (Sixteen) years of start and stop, policy changes and no verifiable results, this country will benefit from a fresh pair of hands, that will have another look at the problems that have defeated the PDP for 16 (Sixteen) years.
We simply cannot continue on this road that has failed us, and expect different results.
A vote for change is the first step in the expectation of different and better results.
Instead of running on their record of service, the Party in power has chosen to become film makers, making one poorly scripted documentary after the other.
The tragedy is that after one year of TV propaganda dating back to March 2014, their bird has refused to fly. There is nothing to sell. The good governance road show died on arrival. And the captain was initially honest in Lagos to admit failure.
The PDP led Federal Government has no credible record to defend nor a roadmap to rectify the damage they have done to our body politic, our economy and all our institutions.
It is perfectly understandable that when you have an indefensible record like theirs, you resort to despicable diversionary campaign, the like we have not seen before.
We have demonstrated and must continue to demonstrate that there is a gulf of difference between the APC and the PDP, not only in our visions (if they have any) and in our policies, but that we are willing to engage with them in a transparent and accountable manner.
Our party, the APC has presented a year 2015 Election Manifesto, while the only known Manifesto of the PDP is dated 1999.
We are committed to reinventing governance in Nigeria in order to solve our socio-economic and political challenges.
We were farsighted when we established the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), where these kinds of questions and issues have constantly been interrogated through effective research, knowledge sharing, consultations and policies, at our quarterly fora.
So when the APC talks of change, what kind of change are we talking about?
How do we plan to redefine the concepts of leadership and responsibility?
The objective here is to demystify governance and restore ownership of the country to the Sovereign- the Citizens!
It means that we must be accountable to the sovereign for our performance and how responsive we are to their wishes and demands.
It means that the citizens will always retain the right to “hire and fire”.
It means that we must embed the Rule of Law, political and civil liberties in our political culture. The culture of unbridled impunity must come to a grinding halt!
APC does not believe that the Federal Executive Council should be reduced to a bazaar which merely awards contracts to leaders of ethnic militia posing as socio–cultural groups, to the detriment of constitutionally established institutions and in subversion of the procurement laws.
Were these contracts advertised? Where was due process here?
We are certain that this session will, in many ways, give more clarity and further insight into the kind of change APC represents.
The other presentations will amplify many of the issues I have addressed so far. While not underestimating the enormity of the challenges that will face an APC led Federal Government.
The APC is proud to have as its flag bearer, a patriot with the public stature and integrity of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who has unreservedly committed to this vision and mission as reflected in his Covenant with Nigerians and campaigns promises.
It is not by accident that teeming millions of Nigerians are showing their support effusively for Gen. Buhari.
What I have confirmed since the emergence of Gen. Buhari as our Presidential candidate, is that Nigerians still believe in the virtues of probity, selfless leadership and commitment to the greater good inspite of the 16 years of failed PDP government and leadership that they have been unfortunately saddled with.
For many years I have heard complaints about PDP’s dismal management of our national life.
Many Nigerians have expressed understandable frustration that PDP could not be defeated because there was no formidable opposition.
Our leaders have heard these frustrations. They have organized rather than agonise.
They have sacrificed their smaller parties and leadership role to deliver the first ever political merger in the history of Nigeria.
They will all vote for the APC, but they cannot elect the APC into Government. That is the duty of the Nigerian electorate if we must experience change, and save our country.
With the emergence of APC, PDP began to unravel.
With the mismanagement of its top leadership it began to dismember, losing its most vital parts; and making history for all the wrong reasons.
It is the first political party that I know that lost 5 (Five) Governors to the opposition without an election.
It later lost the Speaker of Parliament, and eventually its former leader and Chairman Board of Trustees.
The giant is tattering and about to fall.
For every goliath, there is a stone.
The APC is PDP’s stone and the people of Nigeria must rise like David to bring this plundering goliath down.
The merger was historic. But it will be more historic if Nigerians elect that merger to office.
The people of Nigeria will have taken power by doing so.
Let me underscore once more that while the APC is ready, willing and able to take on the huge tasks of regenerating our country once more, APC is humbled by the enormity of the challenges it has to deal with in the next few years.
Once more, let me re-affirm the commitment of the PGF to continue to provide the platform where our party, governors and other stakeholders will continually engage, reflect on critical issues and challenges, and more importantly proffer implementable policy options to address these challenges- indeed more than a talk shop!
It is now my privilege to invite you to listen to the presentation of our leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the other panel presentations on “Sustaining Development in Times of Dwindling Resources”, to be followed by an interactive session among the participants.
God bless us all as we work to protect our democracy.
Thank you!
Mr. Fashola is the governor of Lagos. He delivered the above speech, entitled “March For New Nigeria” at a conference of APC governors held in Owerri on Monday, March 23, 2015.

Nigerians have made up their minds to vote out Jonathan – Kwankwaso

        

  

By Bilesanmi Olalekan
Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State was in Lagos last week for consultation with the Arewa community even as he used the opportunity to receive an award from the Global Excellence magazine. In an interview at the departure lounge of the Lagos airport, Kwakwanso said the smear campaign against his party’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, can only further help the APC in the coming elections, because, according to him, “There are some who have already made up their minds, no amount of smear campaign that would change the minds of Nigerians”.

*Kwankwaso

You are coordinating three states in the North for your party, APC, regarding the March 28 election. What would you say are your party’s chances in these states?
The issue of change now has gone so deep and wide to the extent that no one man, no matter how influential, can change the tide. People are yearning for change at all levels, and, therefore, I have no doubt in my mind that, at least, the states that I know best, that is the northern states, I believe APC will capture them.

Including Jigawa where Lamido holds sway?
Yes, including Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Plateau, Nasarawa, all the states, 19 of them.

There is something perhaps you know that some of us don’t know which gives this kind of
confidence, what could this be?
We live with the people and we have seen the tide. I don’t know much about the South, but I know very much what is happening in the North. And, therefore, I am very confident that on the 28th of this month, Nigerians will come out en-masse, both South and North, to vote for change and that is APC. This is the change that is going on in this country.

Don’t you think, with the negative reports being churned out daily on your presidential candidate, there is the probability that the followership will be reducing?
You know the thing about this issue is that there are some people who have already made up their minds, no amount of smear campaign, that would change the minds of Nigerians. Therefore, I believe it is a matter of time that Nigerians would come to vote for APC at all levels including General Buhari who, I believe, is capable and competent enough to lead this country.
How true is the talk that Nigerians may be having a repeat Yar’ Adua/Jonathan scenario in the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket where a healthy vice would take over from a sickly President?
I believe those propounding such theory are not God. It is only God that gives life and takes it. I have not seen Buhari medical report or that of Jonathan. But on the surface, one would think Buhari is healthier than Jonathan. But what worries many people is that some leaders are making such negative statements against the North, even including the First Lady when she was talking of protecting children and throwing them away. I don’t think that is healthy, especially now that we are talking about a game of numbers because that is what politics is. That is why I believe that what they are saying from that end is actually helping the APC to win more votes especially in the North. I think all well-meaning Nigerians who believe we are one country will think the First Lady, as we call her, is speaking like the last lady.

She was quoted to have said that President Jonathan is constitutionally entitled to eight years and so they would have to finish the eight years.
I think she is right. The Constitution says eight years of two terms. Now, they have spent six years already there. They may claim they have just spent four years, they may even claim two years but I know they were not sworn on 29 May, 2011, but May 2010. But again, they can claim any number of years, but I think Nigerians know the truth. six years, I think, is enough for a good governor or President to perform. And by the 28th of this month, Nigerians will pass judgment as whether he has performed or not.

You said change is every where, and yet there are some defections here and there from the APC, and more importantly in Kano.
There will continue to be defections. Ghali Naaba and some others just defected from PDP to APC.

How does this make you feel?
You should tell me, after all, you raised the issue of defection. There are many things unknown to you, people are defecting every now and then, but it is only the popular ones defecting you know because they are being advertised. We are receiving them in thousands every day.

Notwithstanding the change your party seems to be championing, some people believe there is really no difference between your party and the PDP?
I think what Nigerians are saying is that this government has failed, let us try another one. Let us try another people that have not been tested. Let us test APC, and I am sure Nigerians will be impressed by the performance of the party.

Are you impressed by the successes recorded so far in tackling the insurgency?
I think it is all about political will which was not in place before. Now, I think there is the political will for whatever reason. Again, let us wait and see, because they are making progress and we are happy. They are supporting our military because it is key to the survival of our nation. I want to appeal to the service chiefs not allow themselves to be used by any political party. They should be neutral. They should fight for the country, not for any political party.

Until recently, you have not been known to be chastising people publicly, but you did to Governor Fayose. Why?
I was just expressing my mind. Governors should mind their words. Governors should be role models. Governors should respect the institutions, and, when somebody is not doing that, I think one should advise him, especially those of us who have been in the game much longer than him and those who conversant with traditions and cultures in this country, we always respect our elders, including the Yoruba. But for somebody, especially at that level, to come out to be making reckless statements about the North and somebody old enough to be his father, I don’t think that is good enough. That is why we have to advise him, it is just an advise. Even in any society, you have both the bad and good people, from all tribes, but that bad should come from a particular group especially those who are looking for food, those who are living on insults on others, but not from those who are elected, even though we have now seen, on tape, the kind of election we had in Ekiti State. Unfortunately, Ekiti State is one of the highly respected even in the South because of the level of education it has. I am sure they must be thoroughly embarrassed by such statements and definitely it will not help the PDP.

With the kind of social programmes like that of empowerment which has hundreds of thousands beneficiaries in the state, coupled with the different infrastructures going on there, one wonders you source for the funds such that it does not affect salaries?
On the issues of salaries, we had to plug all sorts of wastage, on the issue of over-head, we had to make a lot of savings such that the cost of running government was taken to the barest minimum, and, therefore, we have money to do other projects. I think with good management, government, even at the national level, should be able to replicate some of the projects we are doing . By the grace of God, our incoming government in Kano under our party, APC, will build on that. Nigerians, especially people from Kano, are in love with APC because they have seen our performance, because people have benefited across the state and they will continue to benefit.

Are you fulfilled as a politician?
I am very contented. I am happy. I served Kano State government as a civil servant for 16 years. I retired in 1991, joined politics. I was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. I was elected delegate of the Constitutional Conference 1994/95. I was governor 1999-2003. I was Minister of Defence for about four years. I was a representative of the North-west on the NNDC Board, and now, I am governor of Kano. And, I am contesting to become a senator so that we can give our own contributions in the National Assembly. I think I am a happy and contented person.

The aura of influence and affluence and even the paraphernalia of office is not reflected in your personality. People have access to you.
That is one of the ways of saving the tax payers money. That is one of the ways of meeting people. I am going to Kano on commercial flight. I use them (commercial flight) except they are not available, so, therefore, it gives me an opportunity at the airport like this to meet people who ordinarily I would not have met and vice versa, and that is one of the ways of getting quality information. People must try as much as possible to be humble. In any case, all those who are 100% using chartered flight, who are having their own aircraft as governors, lets us wait and see what happens in June.

My husband’ll win presidential election – Buhari’s wife

  

  

FROM DESMOND MGBOH,
The wife of the Presidential can­didate of the All Progressives Con­gress (APC), Hajia Aisha Buhari has declared that her husband, General Muhammadu Buhari and his party, APC would win the March 28 elections.
Aisha Buhari spoke yester­day, at the Government House in Kano, during her town hall meeting organised for her to meet with women groups and representatives from Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states.
She hinged the prospects of the success of their party at the presidential poll on the huge support her husband was receiving from all over the country, including the support of women in Nigeria.
According to her, the peo­ple of the Northern region were being looked down upon as Almajiris, and charged them to see the forthcoming election as a challenge, and thereby come out en masse to vote the APC to victory.
Although she admitted that General Buhari might be old, but insisted that health wise, he was very fit to lead the country.
She pledged that the APC and her husband would fulfill all the promises made to the Nigerian people in the course of the campaign, when eventu­ally they come to power.
Buhari’s wife advocated more freedom for women in the North so that they would be able to engage themselves in productive enterprises like their counterparts in the Southern part of the country.
She commended the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for its giant developmental strides, partic­ularly in the area of improving

Obama to Nigeria: reject calls for violence

 Ahead of this weekend general elections, United States President Barack Obama has urged Nigerians to reject calls for violence during and after the elections.
 Obama in his message to Nigerians also reminded Nigerians that violence has no place in democratic process.
 He therefore charged political leaders and candidates not to incite, support or engage in any kind of violence—before, during, or after the votes are counted.
 The message which was made available to Diplomatic Correspondents in Abuja reads: “I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence. And when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins.
“Successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent challenges you face today. Boko Haram—a brutal terrorist group that kills innocent men, women and children—must be stopped. Hundreds of kidnapped children deserve to be returned to their families. Nigerians who have been forced to flee deserve to return to their homes. Boko Haram wants to destroy Nigeria and all that you have worked to build. By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s progress.
“Nigeria is a great nation and you can be proud of the progress you’ve made. Together, you won your independence, emerged from military rule, and strengthened democratic institutions. You’ve strived to overcome division and to turn Nigeria’s diversity into a source of strength. You’ve worked hard to improve the lives of your families and to build the largest economy in Africa.
“Now you have a historic opportunity to help write the next chapter of Nigeria’s progress—by voting in the upcoming elections. For elections to be credible, they must be free, fair and peaceful. All Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear.
“So I call on all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections—and that they will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence—before, during, or after the votes are counted. I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence. And when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins.
“I’m told that there is a saying in your country: “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.” Today, I urge all Nigerians—from all religions, all ethnic groups, and all regions—to come together and keep Nigeria one. And in this task of advancing the security, prosperity, and human rights of all Nigerians, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America.”

WHO IS RICHARD GRENELL?

Ex American Envoy Richard Grenell has said electing Buhari as President of Nigeria will be a disaster for Africa because of Buhari's sharia credentials according to him.
 The PDP press has been agog with this news since it came out on March 19.
 In their desperation to discredit Buhari, Jonathan and PDP will go to any depth to use even the lowliest of persons to attempt to achieve their objective.
 Who is Richard Grenell? According to Wikepedia, Richard Grenell (born September 18, 1966) is an American media commentator and former diplomat. He is the longest serving U.S. Spokesman at the United Nations and briefly served as national security spokesman for Mitt Romney in his 2012 campaign for president of the United States. HE BECAME THE FIRST OPENLY GAY SPOKESMAN FOR A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, after being hired by Mitt Romney. He resigned after pressure from social conservatives and gay liberals alike.
 The PDP that has accused Buhari of going abroad to say he will repeal the anti-gay law has now hired a gay consultant to attack Buhari. So Jonathan has set another record, HE IS THE FIRST NIGERIAN PRESIDENT TO HIRE A GAY CONSULTANT to promote his campaign.
 Richard Grenell lives in California with his partner of nine years, Matthew Lashey, a media and entertainment company executive. This gay man "married" to another man is the PDP consultant telling NIGERIANS not to vote Buhari because he is pro-sharia. I dey laff o!!
 Having hired a gay man, we await the lesbian adviser of President Jonathan! For all we care they can hire Lucifer to threaten fire and brimstone against NIGERIANS. We will still vote Buhari. PDP and Jonathan have lost this battle. Sai Buhari/Osinbajo.

Who Is Afraid of Card Readers?

 TELL MAGAZINE.

By Debo Adeniran
The forthcoming 2015 general elections have recently been throwing up series of interesting scenario which, by all estimation, marks it the most controversial, most contentious and in fact, the most chaotic in the history of electioneering in this country so far.
The two prominent gladiators i.e. the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress have since been at each other’s jugular, trading accusations and brickbats.
Party campaigns, which should have been an issue-based exercise, have so far been reduced to mere mud-slinging, brickbats, name-calling, hate campaigns, innuendoes and in many cases, outright blackmailing. However, we cannot but allow all these to go on, on the excuse that, as some are quick to remind us, ours is still a nascent democracy. “We are still growing; we shall certainly get there someday.”
Granted that our over 50 years democratic experience is still considered young and that mistakes made are meant to serve as tools for getting better as we advance towards perfection, we cannot however help asking the question:  can we ever get any better in the face of apparent retrogression in our attitudes generally especially with the way we operate under our own peculiar, but absurd form of democracy? One would naturally have expected that an over 50-year-old person should be able to display some appreciable degree of maturity but when such a person now behaves like a toddler, something fundamentally nay pathologically is wrong and as such, a major, comprehensive surgical operation, cannot be substituted.
Excuse-makers, for series of abnormalities displayed by the major players in our political turf, are always quick to remind us of how the likes of the United States of America have had to grow steadily through decades and centuries before getting to where they are today. But the basic question these excuse-makers should have to provide answers to is; could America have been able to get to this enviable stage today if it had been a case of one-step-forward, five-steps-backward, as is seemed to be the case with Nigeria? Can growth be synonymous with retrogression?
Well, it is generally agreed that the very foundational bane of our society, has always been the issue of poor leadership. This being the case therefore, the only option left for Nigerians to effect the desired change is no other than to elect leaders of their choice and this could only be made possible through a free, fair and credible election.
Professor Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, today, has had, placed squarely on his shoulders, that onerous task of organizing elections that would be acceptable to Nigerians in particular and the international community that has expressed so much interest in what becomes of the world’s largest black nation as it files out to choose its leaders for the next four years.
Since making public his Commission’s time-table for the election, the afore-mentioned two leading gladiators have been having one issue after the other to contend with. Most pronounced of these contentious issues have centered on the appropriateness or otherwise of amendment in the set time-table, allegation of lopsidedness in the distribution method of the PVCs by INEC, the competence of the INEC as presently composed particularly Jega, the Chairman, as a section of agitators, mainly from the ruling party, the PDP, now calls for his removal and substitution ahead of the elections and most recently the issue of the appropriateness or otherwise of the use of the car reader in the process of voting at the polls.

Dissecting GEJ's Fraudulent Gospel of Continuity.

By Bunmi Awoyemi

 Some people are shouting continuity and am wondering if GEJ has achieved anything positive that makes him deserve another 4 years. Is the stock market better off today than it was 5 years ago? Is the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar better today than it was 5 years ago? Are interest rates offered by the banks in the money market today better than they were 5 years ago? Do we have a more robust excess crude account today than we had 5 years ago? Do we have a more robust foreign reserve than we had 5 years ago? Is the rate of unemployment today not worse than it was 5 years ago? Is the rate of insecurity and insurgency better than it was 5 years ago? Is the health care system better today than it was 4 years ago? Does the government of GEJ have better industrial relations today than previous governments before it? Has there been an improvement in the rate of students who pass WAEC and NECO today than it was 5 years ago? Do we have a more qualitative public tertiary educational system in Nigeria today compared to 5 years ago? I am not talking about a quantitative improvement in public tertiary education. I am taking about improvement in the quality of tertiary education. The list of things to consider is endless. So, is GEJ saying that we should let him repeat the class because he failed woefully by scoring Fs in all areas of the economy? What is this gospel of continuity all about? By Bunmi Awoyemi.