NIGERIA Elections Special Report III

 President Goodluck Jonathan regains lost momentum, but opposition still poised for landslide upset win in cliffhanger historic poll





Goodluck Jonathan regains lost momentum, but General Buhari still poised for upset



Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, largest economy and geopolitically most important state, is set to hold its first truly competitive free and fair democratic national elections this Saturday, 28 March. Despite jettisoning the outward trappings of autocratic military rule 15 years ago, the country’s politics largely retained the substantive autocratic diktats of quasi-military rule under the dominant People Democratic Party (PDP). In 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 Nigeria held mostly rigged, pre-ordained, non-free, non-fair and non-competitive elections. However due to major electoral reforms, launched by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, particularly promoting the exclusive use of secure biometric voter ID cards, and unique security verification, the country is poised to hold its first truly open, transparent, free and fair polls on March 28.

Regardless of who wins the March polls, Nigeria’s politics is poised for a dramatic change if the electoral commission is able to stand firmly behind its decision to insist that only those voters who are biometrically registered and verified can vote. That simple bold act by the electoral commission, will powerfully finally transfer political power in Nigeria from the brazen ‘Tammany Hall’ corrupt political and corporatist elites, who spend all their time in Abuja, the country’s capital, sucking the state dry, -- to the ordinary citizens in the 36 federal states to create ‘a government by the people, for the people and of the people.’ The fundamentally altered dynamic of the citizens of Africa’s most populous and largest economy, being empowered to truly have the right, choice and chance, to regularly freely change their leaders when they do not deliver socio-economic goods and security will help to powerfully transform Nigeria into ‘the China of Africa,’ an economic behemoth, that much like China’s role in Asia, help to catalyze a complete economic transformation of the African continent.

The six week postponement of Nigeria’s originally scheduled February 14 presidential elections allowed embattled President Goodluck Jonathan to take several pragmatic steps to claw back lost electoral momentum. However Jonathan’s valiant efforts notwithstanding, after several simulations, DaMina Advisors’s proprietary VERITAS Frontier Markets Electoral Forecast Statistical Model, (reproduced below) continues to still give the odds of an upset victory to opposition leader Retired General Muhammadu Buhari. Despite the bi-variate model’s heavy discount on frontier markets political challengers and favoring incumbency, Buhari still emerges on top.



Jonathan in late February bypassed the dispirited Nigerian army and authorized regional forces from neighbors Chad, Cameroon and Niger and foreign mercenaries to enter Nigerian territory and dismantle known Boko Haram camps. Additionally, Jonathan sensing that the ethnic Yoruba, will be the ‘swing voters’ in the forthcoming election has spent the past few weeks wooing ethnic Yoruba chieftains and business elites. Finally, Jonathan’s campaign has sought to convince many disgruntled wealthy political and business elites that Buhari election will trigger a ‘Putin-style’ anti-oligarch campaign aimed at sending many of them to jail to retrieving questionable funds and corrupt investments. Despite all these efforts the larger centrifugal forces of the forthcoming election are still running against the government and favoring ‘change.’

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DaMina Advisors Nigeria Elections VERITAS Model State	2006 Pop Census	2015 INEC Registered Voters	PVC (Permanent Voter Cards Collected by Voters)	% of Pop with PVCs	2003 Turnout	2011 Turnout	DaMina VERITAS MODEL Likely 2015 Turnout	DaMina VERITAS MODEL Likely 2015 PDP Vote Share	DaMina VERITAS MODEL Likely 2015 APC Vote Share	DaMina Advisors Analytic Comment
Abia	2,845,380	1,396,162	1,183,127	42%	59.80%	77.95%	69%	692,647	122,232	Abia and most of the pan-ethnic Igbo eastern states to firmly re-elect Jonathan
Abuja (FCT)	1,406,239	881,472	569,109	40%	43.70%	42.19%	40%	100,163	127,480	Capital Abuja to tilt towards Buhari
Adamawa	3,178,950	1,559,012	1,381,571	43%	77.60%	49.98%	60%	298,419	530,523	Boko Haram attacks; PDP elite confusion and unpopular Ribadu governorship quest
Akwa Ibom	3,902,051	1,680,759	1,587,566	41%	80.50%	76.22%	83%	1,185,912	131,768	Presidential stalwart Gov Akpabio to ensure PDP victory
Anambra	4,177,828	1,963,173	1,658,967	40%	48.20%	57.52%	55%	775,567	136,865	New Gov Obiano and pan-Igbo APGA party rooting heavily for Jonathan
Bauchi	4,653,066	2,054,125	1,967,081	42%	81.60%	63.80%	77%	151,465	1,363,187	PDP Party Chairman Muaazu's home state, but the anti-Jonathan wave strong
Bayelsa	1,704,515	610,373	548,585	32%	97.00%	85.61%	95%	469,040	52,116	Jonathan to win home state massively, but Buhari to make small in-roads
Benue	4,253,641	2,015,452	1,607,800	38%	71.10%	43.82%	55%	495,202	389,088	Senate President Mark stays in PDP and rallies state for Jonathan
Borno	4,171,104	1,934,079	1,407,777	34%	62.00%	49.46%	45%	82,355	551,145	Heart of Boko Haram insurgency; PDP will get very few votes
Cross Rivers	2,892,988	1,175,623	983,968	34%	96.00%	63.24%	85%	736,008	100,365	Cross Rivers and other pan-ethnic Igbo eastern states are firmly behind Jonathan
Delta	4,112,445	2,275,264	1,939,952	47%	72.90%	68.82%	75%	1,309,468	145,496	PDP Gov Uduaghan to assure Jonathan victory with large margin
Ebonyi	2,176,947	1,074,273	848,392	39%	80.50%	47.87%	66%	481,547	78,391	Ebonyi firmly behind Jonathan; but PDP Gov Elechi unpopularity to give APC room
Edo	3,233,366	1,779,738	1,224,608	38%	78.00%	37.52%	55%	383,915	289,620	Popular Gov Oshiomole will pull large parts of state to APC, but PDP still strong
Ekiti	2,398,957	732,021	522,107	22%	43.20%	34.24%	40%	98,156	110,687	Ekiti despite recent PDP governorship gain will tilt towards APC
Enugu	3,267,837	1,429,221	1,223,606	37%	77.40%	62.46%	70%	735,874	119,793	Enugu, a major ethnic Igbo state is firmly behind Jonathan
Gombe	2,365,040	1,120,023	1,070,198	45%	80.00%	58.41%	73%	218,748	562,496	Buhari to carry Gombe as he did in 2011; Boko Haram sinks Jonathan further here
Imo	3,927,563	1,803,030	1,707,449	43%	64.60%	83.56%	78%	599,315	732,496	Opposition Gov Rochas Okorochas cottails to help Buhari
Jigawa	4,361,002	1,831,276	1,757,658	40%	70.10%	56.64%	65%	434,142	708,336	Gov Lamido is in PDP, but heart is with Buhari/Obasanjo; APC wins
Kaduna	6,113,503	3,407,222	3,174,519	52%	83.60%	65.81%	75%	904,738	1,476,151	Opposition to topple PDP in Kaduna with pro-Buhari Muslim wave

NIGERIA Elections Special Report III.

President Goodluck Jonathan regains lost momentum, but opposition still poised for landslide upset win in cliffhanger historic poll   (FULL REPORT and 36 state-by-state statistical model attached)

---

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, largest economy and geopolitically most important state, is set to hold its first truly competitive free and fair democratic national elections this Saturday, 28 March. Despite jettisoning the outward trappings of autocratic military rule 15 years ago, the country’s politics largely retained the substantive autocratic diktats of quasi-military rule under the dominant People Democratic Party (PDP). In 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 Nigeria held mostly rigged, pre-ordained, non-free, non-fair and non-competitive elections. However due to major electoral reforms, launched by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, particularly promoting the exclusive use of secure biometric voter ID cards, and unique security verification, the country is poised to hold its first truly open, transparent, free and fair polls on March 28.

The six week postponement of Nigeria’s originally scheduled February 14 presidential elections allowed embattled President Goodluck Jonathan to take several pragmatic steps to claw back lost electoral momentum. However Jonathan’s valiant efforts notwithstanding, after several simulations, DaMina Advisors’s proprietary VERITAS Frontier Markets Electoral Forecast Statistical Model, (reproduced below) continues to still give the odds of an upset victory to opposition leader Retired General Muhammadu Buhari. Despite the bi-variate model’s heavy discount on frontier markets political challengers and favoring incumbency, Buhari still emerges on top. 

OUR LAST COLLECTIVE JOURNEY TO THE PAST - Yahaya Balogun.

From Petra's Facebook.
 The administration of president Goodluck Ebele Azikwe Jonathan is our last collective journey to the past as a country.
 The battle between the incumbent government and the ordinary people is a battle for the survival of Nationhood, Leadership and Followership (NLF). Nigerian leaders have failed their followers. But Leadership influences the followership and the follwership engenders tranquillity of the society. The three (NLF) are intertwined but the buck of regulation of tranquility and organization of society rest squarley on the shoulders of leadership. Leadership strictly executes and adheres to all set of rules that govern the society. This is not the case with Nigerian leadership.
 In Nigeria, rather than place more emphasis on its entity as contraption or mere geographical expression, our problems in my opinion is leadership rather than the followership. This should be our urgent focus. Hypothetically, imagine how America or Britain will look like in terms of law and order if there are no set of rules strictly being executed by all branches of government through leadership? It will be unmitigated chaos.
 The unification of minds of ordinary Nigerians this time around will certainly veer Nigeria away from this famished road, and put Nigeria on the new road to change and recovery.
 I have not in my lifetime witnessed in the history of elections in Nigeria where incumbent is so rattled and intimidated by the collective power of the people. From the crannies of the north to south and to the east, it is a resounding and defeaning clamour for change.
 Inspite of all the intimidating resources, lies and deceitful campaigns by the government, the wind of change is blowing across Nigeria. Power truly resides in the hands of the people.
 The unprecedented collective participation of the Nigerian people in this forthcoming elections, is a manifestation of the determined minds of the suffering people to effect change through ballots.
 And change is coming to Nigeria.
 Yahaya Balogun
 Arizona, USA.

APC Has Been Vindicated!!!The "Shady Deals" Of Nigeria Election Debate Group Exposed..

You Wont Believe Why Dokpesi Is Doing This…

The debates, the final lap of the series of debates organised by the NEDG, is holding on March 22, according to the organisers.
But there have been allegations that the group is actually a one-man show run by Raymond Dokpesi, the Chairman of DAAR Communications Limited (owners of Africa Independent Television, AIT), who uses it as a bargaining tool for private gains and political advantage.
When it was incorporated in 2011, the NEDG listed six organisations as shareholders, each with a representative.

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They include Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, represented by Abubakar Aji; DAAR Communications, represented by Tony Akiotu; Nigeria Union of Journalists, represented by Mohammed Garba; Alliance for Credible Election represented by Emma Ezeazu; Nigeria Guild of Editors, represented by Gbenga Adefaye; and Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, represented by Moshood Erubami.
At a press conference on Friday in Lagos, a pressure group, Value and Integrity Group, accused Mr. Dokpesi of having turned the NEDG into a private estate put at the service of President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party.
“Our investigation reveals as follows: First, a First Bank account was opened for the NEDG and had Dr. Dokpesi as the sole signatory, though he is not listed as one of the Directors,” the group said in a statement signed by Sina Odugbemi and Popoola Ajayi, Coordinator and Secretary respectively.
“He also used the DAAR communications office address, a personal address as the address listed in the bank account documentation. These two moves effectively turned the NEDG into Dokpesi’s private company.”
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According to the group, an initial N1 million was paid into the said NEDG account, and on March 28th, 2011, another N20 million was paid into his (Mr. Dokpesi’s) personal account.
“The N20m was paid into his personal current account number 2017171535 because the NEDG account opening was in process then hence he received the N20m in his personal current account instead of NEDG,” the group said.
“A text message from Dokpesi to the banker confirms this. The text message reads – ‘He sent about N20 million to the account since last week and I utilised about N50 million for the NEDG DEBATE. As soon as the sponsors pay, I will pay in.daar’”

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The group, brandishing copies of Mr. Dokpesi’s bank account opening documents and NEDG’s certificate of registration at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), also said that Mr. Dokpesi tried to open another First Bank account in 2012.
“The First Bank account was opened by Dokpesi at the Maitama branch of the First Bank in Abuja with account number 2021069251 with Chief Raymond Dokpesi as sole signatory to the account with the help of his aide banker.
“The second account which Dokpesi equally instructed the banker to open in the Bwari branch of the First bank is pending to be opened because the banker left. However, before then, Dokpesi in fact signed the application forms, attached his passport photos entered his personal details in 2012. The account was yet to be approved before one of the manager handling it was eased out of the bank.”
The NEDG began organising election presidential debates in 1999 and describes itself as a coalition of broadcast organisations, civil societies and professional groups committed to entrenching enduring democratic cultures through organised television debates.
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“The Nigerian Elections Debate Group has since transformed into a broad based non-partisan, non-profit making organisation with the primary mandate of organising and hosting live televised debates for all Presidential, Vice Presidential and Gubernatorial candidates in Nigeria,” the NEDG stated on its website.
But in their press briefing on Friday, the Value and Integrity Group described the NEDG as the non-profit wing of DAAR Communications, available to do the bidding of the ruling party and which had kept other NEDG directors in the dark about their financial transactions.

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“An Organisation on the board of the Group, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), had last year dissociated itself from the planned Presidential debate. TMG accused the organisers of the debate of fraudulently using its name in the promotion of the event and warned NEDG to desist from such shenanigan forthwith.
“Chief Dokpesi’s name does not reflect in the NEDG registration documents from the CAC only that of DAAR representative, Tony Akiotu. But Chief Dokpesi has opened the account in his name and went ahead to single handedly organise the 2011 election debate with AIT staff – Imoni Amarere and Nancy Ilo as moderators.
“Again, he is accused to be the sole organiser of the 2015 presidential election debate for the NEDG which has generated unpleasant credibility crisis for the NEDG. “It is alleged that for the 2015 debate, well over 250 million has been paid to the organisers by the Presidency.
“Again, he is accused to be the sole organiser of the 2015 presidential election debate for the NEDG which has generated unpleasant credibility crisis for the NEDG.
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“Unfortunately, the refusal of the leading opposition to attend the integrity deficit presidential debate, AIT has chosen to unprofessionally attack and even defame both the candidate and the party.”

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In January, the All Progressives Congress said it would not participate in the presidential debate organised by the NEDG, accusing the organisers of bias and “wearing the toga of government control, especially being composed mainly of agencies and allies of the incumbent PDP administration”. The parties involved When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr. Erubami, who was the Chairman of TMG when NEDG was incorporated, he said issues like that did not arise during his time at the helm of the civil society organisation.
In January, the All Progressives Congress said it would not participate in the presidential debate organised by the NEDG, accusing the organisers of bias and “wearing the toga of government control, especially being composed mainly of agencies and allies of the incumbent PDP administration”.
“I only know to the extent of the time I was chairman of Transition Monitoring Group, but I have completed my time and I’m now at Ibadan, I don’t know anything about the group again,” Mr. Erubami said.
“If you want to confirm the veracity of what has happened you can contact the current chairman in Abuja.”
Ibrahim Zikirullahi, the current Chairman of TMG, was more forceful in his response, accusing the NEDG of lacking integrity and being involved in ‘shady deals.’”
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“While I cannot authoritatively say whether Dokpesi is the only sole signatory, I will also say that the claims (of the Value and Integrity Group) are not far from the fact,” Mr. Zikirullahi said.
“I became chairman of Transition Monitoring Group in July 2012, till date, nobody informed me that TMG is a member of the Nigeria Election Debate Group, neither my predecessor nor those that are holding fort at the Nigeria Election Debate Group.

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“Between 2012 and now, there was no meeting that was called upon which to deliberate on any issue regarding Nigeria Election Debate Group until now when I saw our name being floated in the media that we are one of the organisers of the presidential debate.”
Mr. Zikirullahi accused the NEDG of using TMG’s name to send out proposals to foreign donors seeking support for the presidential debate.
“So as far as I’m concerned, I don’t know anything about the debate. No phone call has been made to me or to any of my officers, no written invitation, and there is no meeting between us in which we agree on the mode and scope of the debate,” he said.
“So for me I cannot allow them to be using our corporate identity. It was on that strength that I wrote to them asking them to stop forthwith using our corporate identity.”
Mr. Zikirullahi said that he had it “in good record” that the NEDG had already collected billions of naira from a political party.
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“Yet, to make it credible they are just sending out proposals to donor agencies, and those donor agencies we have a very good relationship with them. And before they do anything that they see our name they need to verify from us.
“And it was on that stretch we got to know the extent to which they have gone to. If not they should mention the source of their funding,” said Mr. Zikirullahi.
“A lot of shady things they are doing that is not known to the public, and I said under my regime we cannot be part of that hidden agenda. It’s better they come out open let us know the direction they are going, let us know the source of their funding?

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“Who is running the secretariat? How is the board being appointed? From 2011 till now there is no meeting that has been called. So it’s just a one man show, I can agree especially, it is a product of AIT and Dokpesi and so for us you have to count us out at any time we are not part of it.”
Eddie Emessiri, NEDG’s Executive Secretary, dismissed all the claims, accusing Mr. Zikirullahi of dabbling into partisan politics.
“High Chief Raymond Dokpesi has no hand (in NEDG), or let me put it better, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi was even the founder of this whole thing because he started election debate in 1999,” Mr. Emessiri said.
“By the time NEDG was formed, a group of organisations now decided to get this thing over, and he handed the management over to Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON.”
Mr. Emessiri explained that the chairman of BON at any particular time was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NEDG.
According to him, the headship of BON is rotated between the three federal government-owned media of Nigeria Television Authority, NTA; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN; and Voice of Nigeria, VON. The current head of NEDG, Sola Omale, is the Director-General of NTA. Before him were Taiwo Alimi of VON and Abubakar Jijiwa of FRCN.
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“The only thing Raymond Dokpesi does, or used to do, or even now is simply we contact him and tell him please we need airtime, we want to do this, and he’ll just give his final approval, ask his Group General Manager, Tony Akiotu, to give us every support that we require,” said Mr. Emessiri.
“And that is why they have given us airtime to carry everything, all their stations anywhere they are we want to advertise anything. And they are the hub of the production.
“Raymond Dokpesi does not even attend our meetings. How then can they say Raymond Dokpesi is the person who directs NEDG.”
Mr. Emessiri denied claims that Mr. Dokpesi was a signatory to NEDG’s bank account.

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“I am the Executive Secretary of the organisation, I manage the bank account and the bank account is Zenith bank. Come to Zenith Bank, Area 7, Abuja, and find out. That is the only account that we have,” he said.
“The First Bank account was the account that they ran many many years ago and we don’t use that anymore. It was at the very beginning when Raymond Dokpesi founded the organisation, even before 2003. We never used that in 2007, we never used that in 2011, not to talk of now.
“We moved over to Zenith Bank when the chairmanship of the organisation went to VON. And VON also has account in Zenith bank, that particular branch.”
Mr. Emessiri insisted that the NEDG had been having meetings, adding that TMG was part of the group but he doesn’t know “what got into the head” of Mr. Zikirullahi, its current chairman.
“He didn’t look through the books he had to know that the former chairmen of TMG were full time members of NEDG and present in every of our meetings. This man has taken over, because he has a bent on politics he started criticising.”
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PREMIUM TIMES also contacted Mr. Dokpesi, who vehemently denied all the claims, particularly the allegation that he collected billions from a political party on behalf of NEDG.
“Which politician ever gave me money? Which politician ever gave me money?” he asked.
When told that some newspapers had already run the story on how he was using the NEDG as a private estate, Mr. Dokpesi said he had not seen the publication yet.

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“I’m in Edo North at this point in time. Election is next week, I’m busy in my senatorial district so I do not know what you are talking about,” Mr. Dokpesi said. “But you say there is a publication, they can publish anything they want. Before they invited you to a press conference I’m sure they already had what their considerations are.
“NEDG is a group that started the debate in 1999. DAAR Communications and I have always wanted a debate in Nigeria since 1999. Almost single-handedly, it is part of our budget.
“In 1999 when we held the debate in Lagos all the media people (that) are existing how did they contribute? When we held in 2003 was it not the same DAAR Communications that funded it? When they held in 2007 was it not DAAR Communications that supported It? When they did in 2007, did they not see It?
Asked if he carried other board members along in NEDG’s activities, Mr. Dokpesi responded, “What do you mean whether I carry? Who do I have to carry? Mr. Gentleman, understand that there is a chairman, NEDG, in the person of Aremu Taiwo Alimi. There is a chairman Board of Trustees of the NEDG, that was Jijiwa but it’s now DG of NTA. They have their Board of Trustees, what is my role in It?
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“I have no problem. I know that…. Who are these Integrity Group? Who are they made up?
Mr. Dokpesi also denied the claims that he single-handedly ran the account of the NEDG.
“So why don’t you find out, they have an Executive Secretary of NEDG, whether I know anything about the account?
“I have no apologies. I can understand. I’ve told you I’m in Edo north at this present time.
“Whatever is the issue it is good, if the fear of Raymond Dokpesi is the beginning of wisdom now, may God Almighty help Nigeria.”

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Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) says it had been vindicated on its stance of not participating in the presidential campaign debates, owing to the outbreak of rumpus among the organizers, the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) has been compromised.
A press statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC campaign, Mallam Garba Shehu on Sunday, noted that sordid details coming out of organizers of the debate would have tainted the APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, had he presented himself to the group.
A civil society group with knowledge of the working of the NEDG, Value and Integrity Group alleged at a press conference on Friday, that a First Bank account opened for the NEDG had the Founder of AIT and Raypower, Chief Raymond Dokpesi as sole signatory, even though he is not listed as one of the directors of the NEDG.
The group also alleged that the leading private television’s network address was used for the documentation of the First Bank account instead of the NEDG’s office address.
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According to leaders of the Value and Integrity Group, Sina Odugbemi and Popoola Ajayi, co-ordinator and secretary respectively, “an initial deposit of N1 million was paid into the said First Bank account, and on March 28, 2011, another N20 million belonging to the NEDG was paid into the personal account of the said Founder of the leading private television network.”
“We at the APC Presidential Campaign got the eye-opening news of the press conference by the Value and Integrity Group accusing the Nigeria Election Debate Group, the crux of the allegation being that some members of the NEDG have been monetarily influenced.
“Although the group failed to mention from what source the monies came from, we had taken a position, based on intelligence made available to us that the PDP has compromised the integrity of an unnamed few in the NEDG with huge and ridiculous sums of money.
“And watching President Goodluck Jonathan reading from a prepared script gleefully as he answered questions in the debate confirmed our suspicion that there will be “EXPO”. Without a fore-knowledge of the question to be asked, how did the president come with prepared answers?
“These two scenarios: The allegation of corrupt inducements in the NEDG and the president reading from a prepared script during the debate validates our reasons for abstaining from the debate.”

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