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Femi Ayelabowo: 2015; For A Former Dictator, General Buhari Tell Yourself The Truth

Mohammed Useni
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Femi Ayelabowo: 2015; For A Former Dictator, General Buhari Tell Yourself The Truth

Here we go again, discussing the presidential ambition of the former military dictator, General Muhammadu Buhari, which he is hoping to realise in the 2015 general elections. The former military head of state from 1983 to 1985, who will be 72 years on December 17, this year, has just declared his intention to contest next year’s presidential elections on the platform of the main opposition party, the All progressives Congress (APC). The news is not whether Buhari’s declaration was well attended or not. Of course, nobody will contest his ability to draw a sizeable crowd, especially from the pool of his fanatical followers most of whom unfortunately may not be eligible voters. From what has played out so far, it is also getting clear from the body language of the real owners of the APC that Buhari is, in fact, their preferred choice even before the party’s convention, leaving the like of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and other pretenders chasing shadows.

It is not difficult to understand the conundrum in which the APC has found itself in the matter of the choice to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been in power since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999. An Atiku candidature for the party may mean an easy victory again for President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, PDP. The former vice president, in spite of his stupendous wealth, mastery in political organisation and mobilization as well as deft stratagem, has been terribly damaged politically by his former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. So, it does not matter how beautiful an economic policy blueprint that Atiku has produced or how lofty his ideas of governing our country might be, his greatest challenge in the 2015 general elections and indeed in the future may well be how he succeeds in convincing our people that he is not what his former boss, Obasanjo, says he is. It is not as if Obasanjo has not made allegations against other aspirants; sadly, Nigerians seem to believe him more on Atiku!

If with Atiku, who is at least known countrywide, APC will suffer a routine loss to the PDP, with the governor of Kano, Kwankwaso, there probably will be no contest at all, as the PDP will supremely run away with victory. Honestly, apart from Kano State, where else in Nigeria can Kwankwaso win a presidential election?

There is also the emerging game plan of the power brokers in APC to keep at bay the horde of the travelling contingents from the PDP now in APC. Although it makes eminent sense for the APC leadership to boast about the big captures it has from the ruling party and the resources they are putting on the table to run the party, yet the truth is that the Tinubus of this world don’t trust any of them with any sensitive party position. The former governor of Lagos State hinted that much in his vituperations against Tom Ikimi on his ambition to chair the opposition party.

It is therefore not very difficult now to see the dilemma in which APC has found itself over the choice of its presidential flag bearer in 2015. There is indeed a famine of credible presidential materials within the APC clan. It is perhaps this frustration that has led the party into a Buhari cul-de-sac. The ruling PDP must be having a big laugh now. And, why not? For the umpteenth time, the obstacle between them and retaining their stranglehold on power at the centre is once again likely to be a familiar spirit, one they have mastered how to conquer! Please don’t be deceived with the notion that 2015 is going to be different from 2011. Yes, 2015 is going to be different from 2011, 2007, and 2003, but has there been any difference from General Buhari? He is still being played by politicians who are only interested in using his name to attain their own selfish political calculations.

Even in acknowledging the dearth of credible presidential options in the APC, it is pitiable and part of our political crises as a nation that the seemingly best that the main opposition party in our country can offer us in 2015 will be a 72-year old man who was a military dictator way back. Buhari’s well documented anti-democracy past aside, can APC leaders in all honesty beat their chests and say that Buhari is the President that Nigeria needs now in this world of restless alterations? I don’t think so! The world has moved on so fast away from the Buhari days and the General himself knows this. Since he was ousted by General Ibrahim Babangida in 1985, the only known public service record of the APC presidential hopeful was his outing at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

A man, who took time to castigate President Jonathan for seemingly dividing and polarising the country in his declaration speech, may have easily forgotten how in carrying out his assignments at PTF, segregated heavily against southern parts of the country. His unhidden discomfort with people from the eastern part of the country, which clearly reflected in his appointments, actions and associations as military leader and politician, is also in the public domain. He did not even bother to campaign in certain areas of the country in the 2011 general elections! And just days ago, his fellow aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, in a veiled attack on him cautioned that the country does not need a religious fanatic or bigot as president in the year ahead.

If there is one attribute General Buhari is credited with, it must be the belief that he is a man of integrity. Just before going into the 2011 elections, he informed Nigerians that he would not seek any elective position afterwards. But here we are again with the old General in our faces for the 2015 elections.

Though the General is well within his rights to change his mind on political retirement, it would have been more dignifying for him to stick to the earlier decision than succumb to the pressures of the wicked politicians hovering around him to nurture their own careers. It is quite clear that General Buhari is out of tune with modern governance issues and facts. The way he bandied incorrect comparative data on power generation and agriculture under Jonathan’s government to obfuscate the reality on ground speaks eloquently of this. Perhaps it is the time General Buhari told himself the truth that Nigeria deserves more than he can possibly offer!
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Written by Femi Ayelabowo.
[email protected]

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2015: No Automatic Waiver For New & Returnee PDP Members – National Chairman

Mohammed Useni
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2015: No Automatic Waiver For New & Returnee PDP Members – National Chairman

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, said in Abuja that there would be no automatic waiver for both new and returnee members of the party.

He said this on Tuesday at the party’s National Secretariat while receiving the report of its zonal re-integration committee for the North East even as Mu’azu, explained that all new members of the party would be required to personally write to the party leadership to seek waiver to participate in the party’s primaries slated for November.

“We don’t give automatic waiver like other parties. But one thing I can assure you is that anybody that will contest for any position should proceed to buy forms and apply.

“So that is the message. We don’t do blanket case. Every application is on individual basis, just write a letter and we will process it,” he said.
The PDP national chairman added that all of such applications would be treated and given consideration.

The occasion also served as a formal reception for former Governor of Borno, Sen. Ali Sheriff, and other members of the opposition in Borno who defected to the PDP.

Mu’azu, who described the defection of the opposition members to the PDP as dawn of a new era, assured them that there was no discrimination in the PDP.

He, however, charged party members in the states to work in harmony, to ensure its unity and victory in 2015 general elections.

Earlier, Sen. Sheriff, promised to ensure that the PDP reclaimed Borno in 2015 general elections.

He said his defection to the PDP was to pay back the people of Borno and help to change the mistakes made in the past.

Chairman of the committee, Sen. Ken Nnammani, expressed optimism that the PDP in Borno would henceforth know peace, stressing that the party had a singular objective to win the state.

APC Presidential Ticket: I Will Not Step Down For Anyone – Rabiu Kwankwaso Insists

Mohammed Useni
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APC Presidential Ticket: I Will Not Step Down For Anyone – Rabiu Kwankwaso Insists

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso yesterday said he will not step down for anyone in the race for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress.

The Kano State governor is among APC’s four presidential aspirants, the others being retired General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah.

Since Senator Bukola Saraki announced he was shelving his ambition to be president last week, Kwankwaso is reported to have come under pressure to step down for Buhari in order to avoid rancour in the party.

There have also been calls for consensus candidacy in APC such that other aspirants would back the former Head of State.

But Kwankwaso told journalists in Kano yesterday  as reported by Daily Trust Newspapers that he was staying in the race and was not under pressure to quit for anyone. He also expressed preference for conducting primaries to going for consensus.

“I’m not under any pressure to step down for anybody. In fact nobody asked me to step down for anybody and doing that will not be even good for the party,” he said.

“You see many people are used to either small parties or let me say medium-sized parties where people sit down and choose somebody in a room. Now we are talking about APC mega party which is not ANPP, CPC, APGA or ACN.

“It’s a collection of all and we always tell people to look at the example of PDP. From 1999 to 2011, each election they had to go for primary elections not arranged election, but real elections.

“Even when we have sitting presidents in 2003 and 2011, there were elections, serious elections. And that’s why the PDP has been winning all along and all others who are making arranged elections are losing elections.

“As you can see as fate would have it, now PDP has decided to do their own primary in the Villa and the APC is going to the field. That shows us clearly that APC will win elections and the PDP will lose election in 2015.”

On the consensus arrangement, he said, “We have always been consistent, but you see many people who are soliciting a president for this consensus, many of them are having in mind that when people go and sit down they will give it to their candidate. That’s consensus to them that’s the main issue.

“And I believe that since this party is very strong, all candidates should go round the country and campaign, bring in more hands, more people. And that’s exactly what we are doing. In the last few weeks many people joined APC because of me and they will continue to join especially if I have a ticket.

“Most of the guys in the PDP, the good ones, are my friends and certainly once I declare and get a ticket, they will cross over to APC or stay there and work for me. One of the advantages that I have is that it is not only APC that will vote, the PDP will also vote for me in the general elections.”

Kwankwaso said he was confident the party will remain united after the primaries, and pledged to support any candidate who gets the ticket.
“If I win the primary election, I will be very happy and other contestants will work together, we are very close, all the three or four of us. And of course if anyone wins elections we will support him,” he said.

Kwankwaso urged for free and fair elections. “And that’s why we are saying to INEC and other people that they must not go and take dictations from the villa and come out and write figures because that will not be acceptable,” he added.

The governor said his formal declaration earlier slated for tomorrow has now been rescheduled for Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the delay was because of the refusal of the Federal Government to grant him permission to use the Eagle Square for the event.

“It was the issue of venue that made me to change the date of my formal declaration because they did not give us approval to use the Eagle Square. It is now going to be on the 28th of this month.

We are still looking for venue but if they don’t give us we will declare on the streets of Abuja because most of the venues are owned by them,” he said.

Aisha Falode Pens Open Letter To Nigerians 8 Months After Son’s Death In Dubai

Mohammed Useni
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Aisha Falode Pens Open Letter To Nigerians 8 Months After Son’s Death In Dubai

It is with a heavy heart that I read about the death of the son of Chief Alameiyeseigha on the streets of Dubai; an incident that immediately jolted me back in time thanks to the bizarre similarities to that of my son as regards ‘cause of death’.

My son was said by the Dubai authorities to have jumped down from a balcony, dismissing it as ‘suicide’, same with Chief Alameiyeseigha’s son.

I am saddened that this has happened despite my nationwide campaign to stop this happening AGAIN by putting all relevant government agencies on notice, in vain.

For record emphasis, my son was thrown from the balcony of a 17th floor apartment in Manchester Tower in Dubai. A Saudi boy resident in Dubai confessed to the murder; he had my son’s blood on his t-shirt, he had my son’s blood on his knuckles and boasted about serving time for 25 years in prison if it comes to the worst. His murderer has a name.

There were witnesses to this murder, they have written statements verbally and orally corroborating what the murderer said. I have put all this together to make this easy for the Nigerian government to help me get justice for my son in Dubai.

I warned the Nigerian government that Nigerian youths were being killed in Dubai on a daily basis as confirmed by our embassy in Dubai. I also warned parents about the danger of Dubai. I also stated repeatedly, that if justice was not gotten for my son that another murder will happen. Indeed there have been many more after my son although not mentioned because they do not have a voice. But now, there is one so close to government that has been struck.

I did not have to be a soothsayer to know this. Many more will happen until we get Justice for Toba Falode, and all those who have been murdered in cold blood in Dubai. We cannot stand by and watch our youths lives being down played over and above ‘collaboration and partnership’ with a country that hates us with so much passion, that they are cutting down the lives of our young ones in cold blood crudely and viciously and yet we seek ‘partnership and collaboration’ in investment with this same country.

Our ambassador in the UAE, Ambassador Ibrahim Auwalu, must be called back to Nigeria to answer to every young soul that has been lost to Dubai unaccounted for due to his lack of responsibility in office. The Foreign Ministry also, must be asked questions on what they have done about Toba Falode’s case 8 months after.

It took Israel less than 48 hours to act on the loss of their 3 youths. 8 months after Toba Falode’s murder, we are still waiting on the Nigerian government to give us any kind of reaction on the loss of a young life-Toba Falode in Dubai. Even after submitting every evidence, our protest, police reports corroborating the fact that my son was murdered; we still have gotten no response at all from the Nigerian government. Take a queue from Israel.

And the Nigerian Government for once should start acting like a big country with so much might and power that it is in the continent and indeed in the world and go after Dubai for justice for every young soul and every Nigerian life that has been cut short in Dubai. We send our sympathy and condolences to DSP Alamieyeseigha.

We empathise with the family and friends of their son, because we have been through and are still going through it and it is nothing we wish for any parent, which was our concern from the start. This, is one death too many. May it not happen again….

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Aisha Folade is a broadcast Journalist and mother whose son was killed in Dubai

Disclaimer

It is the policy of NewsWireNGR not to endorse or oppose any opinion expressed by a User or Content provided by a User, Contributor, or other independent party.
Opinion pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of NewsWireNGR.

Nigerian Government Saves N160 bn From Ghost Workers

Mohammed Useni
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Federal Government says it has saved N160 billion in salaries after weeding out 60,000 ghost workers from the service using the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS).

The Minister for Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the ministry’s annual ministerial press briefing.

She said that the ministry would forward the names of those suspected in salary scam to the Independent Corruption and Practices Commission (ICPC) for further action.

She said that 50, 000 ghost workers were discovered in 2013, adding that this year, 10,000 had already been found.

“Now many people will ask who those responsible for these ghost workers? Because the ministry of finance is not an investigating agency, we have gathered all our facts and submitted them to ICPC to trace them and bring them to justice.

“We are willing to continue to work with ICPC to give them any information they need in order to clean up the system.

“So this is a sample of what we are doing to show transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

“It is an overwhelming problem sometimes, but we will not relent because if we say we will relent, who will fight it for us,” the minister told newsmen.

The Minister went on to say that rebasing has also made our economy more attractive to investors as the figures show, adding that rebasing helps us know the size and structure of our economy which is good for planning.

“Nigeria rebased its GDP for the 1st time in 24 yrs. It showed the size and growth of different sectors, benchmark is 5 months worth of reserves for countries. Nigeria has 9 months. But we need to increase it significantly.”

“FIRS has improved collection with Mckinsey’s help: N44bn out of a projected N75bn has been collected, revenue to GDP at 12 percent is too low; we need to generate more non-oil revenue.”

I Left APGA Because It Has Derailed – Peter Obi Replies Bianca Ojukwu

Mohammed Useni
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I Left APGA Because It Has Derailed – Peter Obi Replies Bianca Ojukwu

Former Governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi has reacted to the statement made by the wife of the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu in which she expressed her shock and disappointment at Ojukwu’s defection to the People’s Democratic Party.

Bianca had said “It is undeniable that Obi made immense contributions to APGA. I remain proud of his achievements, as governor of Anambra State. His exit diminishes us, and many of his supporters and grassroots crusaders are disappointed and demoralised.”

However, Obi in his reply said “Of all those who have spoken, and who continue to speak, on the issue of my leaving APGA, only Bianca spoke with sincerity. She does not fall into the class of those who are now displaying dated video clippings and presenting matters out of context for political reasons, without appreciating the sacrifice put into building the House they are now destroying.”

“I want to have it on record that Bianca was right when she reported my exchange with the Ikemba when he called me and asked whether I would leave APGA, after the events of Abia State at that time, when the  governor left APGA for reasons I believe to be genuine.  I wish to reiterate that I am still loyal to our great leader, in terms of what serves the interests of our people and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Everyone knows today that APGA is not what it used to be. My assurance to our great leader did not imply that I would be loyal to a platform that some people have resolved to turn into an empty shell without an inner core of shared values. I remain faithful to those values and  principles our great leader asked me to stand by and defend.”

“According to Mrs. Ojukwu,  our political father, Odumegwu-Ojukwu,  Ndi Anambra and Nigerians believed I was humble, hard working, honest, good mannered, among others and that I delivered on good governance. These were not primarily because of the political party I belonged to, but because of my belief that we must build a better society for our children.”

“Like my leader and political father, Odumegwu Ojukwu, who was bitterly criticised for ignoring the Zik-led Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) to join the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), where he felt the interests of Ndigbo and the nation would be better served, I have moved out of a political party which in my own opinion has derailed. I have moved on to a place my contributions towards proper representation of our people would have the level of impact that would make Ikemba rejoice in his grave,” Obi Said

Sam Nwanti, International Detective Joins Presidential Race, Vows To Stamp Out Corruption

Mohammed Useni
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Sam Nwanti, International Detective Joins Presidential Race, Vows To Stamp Out Corruption

A US based International Detective, Mr. Sam Nwanti, has joined the presidential race, vowing to stamp out corruption, if given the mandate.

Nwanti also contested the 2011 presidential elections on the platform of the National Reformation party.

This time, Nwanti plans to fly under the umbrella of the  Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP).He said he wants to save Nigerians from the stifling grip of the major political parties and boasted that he will beat President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and any candidate fielded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Imo State-born technocrat, who had lived and worked in the United States of America for over 26 years, said his exposure and experience had placed him in a better stead among the horde of aspirants on the prowl to steer the ship of state to the path of growth and development, if elected.

“I was a detective, trained in US; I have investigated what the problems of this country are. I believe that I am the only person that can solve the problem. I am not corrupt; I have the capacity to reduce corruption as soon as I get to office.”

“I am not saying that I should be elected only because I am a trained detective; no, that is not my position. I want to go there because I can help rid Nigeria of corruption and insecurity. Corruption is our main problem and I assure that I will bring my experience and ideas to bear in solving it. If corruption is addressed Nigeria will realise the dream of the founding fathers.” He said

Fayemi Spent N50m On Two Beds- Fayose Cries Out

Mohammed Useni
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Fayemi Spent N50m On Two Beds- Fayose Cries Out

Governor Ayodele Fayose has again cried out on the expensive nature of the newly built Government House in the state built by his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. Fayose said that Fayemi spent about N50m on just two beds in his and his wife’s bedroom.

Earlier in the week, Fayose had accused Fayemi of spending a whooping sum of N3.3b on the new Government House.

In a statement made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday was signed by his Special Assistant on Information and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka., Fayose said that what was spent on the two bedrooms, their toilets and bathrooms was in the region of N100m.

The statement titled “N3.3bn new Government House Is Fayemi’s Show of Wickedness To Ekiti People,”

The statement said that Fayemi was insensitive to the suffering of the people for spending such huge sum for an“out-of-this-world luxury” provided with over N3.3bn borrowed funds for Fayemi, his wife and children and will not weep for the state and its people.

“How can a responsible government use borrowed funds to provide this kind of luxury for the governor and his family alone in a state where a lot of people cannot afford to feed more than once in a day?The statement read in part, “Between Fayemi and his wife, what was spent on their bedrooms, toilets and bathrooms will be in the region of N100m.

“People should ask the former governor what was really wrong with the abandoned governor’s lodge used by his (Fayemi) predecessors?

“Shouldn’t such funds expended on the hilltop edifice have been used to resuscitate the moribund textile factory in Ado-Ekiti that was turned to lock-up shops to provide employment for our teeming   youths?

“Also, was Fayemi living in that manner of opulence before he became governor? Was he sleeping on a body-massaging bed and bathing in an electric-controlled Jacuzzi?

“Here is Fayemi, who could not pay workers salaries, owing them two-month   salaries before he left. A Fayemi, who out of sheer wickedness refused to pay pensioners N2.4bn pension and gratuities; N400m workers leave bonus, N700m subventions to parastatals and tertiary institutions and remit N2.4bn four months’ cooperative society’s deductions from workers salaries preferring to use N3.3bn borrowed funds to provide luxury for himself, his wife and children alone.

“This is wickedness!’’

“The governor would have preferred to sell out the property and use the fund to provide basic amenities and employment opportunities for the people.”

“That’s also the reason he (Fayemi) refused to renovate the Governor’s Office, leaving it in a state of disrepair because he knew that he was not going to use the office during his second term.

“Also, contract for the maintenance of the property was already awarded for N150m per annum.

“When we visited the Government House for the first time yesterday, Mr Governor was like; how I wish I can sell off this place or turn it to commercial use? It is simply wicked for a governor to be more interested in this manner of ostentatious comfort at the expense of the people.”

Fayose, according to the statement, wondered “if the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whom Fayemi and his so-called progressives claimed as their role-model, lived in any government house, much less of building an Emperor-like house for himself.”

“Did the late Adekunle Ajasin build a monarchical government house for himself? Did Baba Lateef Jakande live in any government house? These are great Yoruba sons, who recorded landmark achievements as premier of the old Western Region and governors of Lagos State and the old Ondo State respectively.

“The duo of Ajasin and Jakande were able to impact tremendously on their states because they did not like to waste public funds on the provision of luxury for themselves.”

The statement said that “left for Governor Fayose, he won’t use that aristocratic government house because it is a symbol of oppression in itself.”

“He(Fayose) will prefer to live where Ekiti people can easily see him, touch him, eat with him and discuss the progress of the state together.

“But abandoning it would amount to colossal waste of public funds; but Governor Fayose will not hide himself from the masses.”

However Fayemi’s media Aide has moved to quickly deny the allegation saying that Fayose is a dramatist seeking attention. He advised the Governor to quit acting and start governing “I have taken a guided tour of that place and I don’t think I have seen such an outcry.

“I don’t know where they got their figure from; it sounds absurd. I ‘ll advise them to stop this theatre of absurd. Governance is a serious business and I am appealing to them not to reduce it to a joke.

“They are turning Ekiti into a circus show and they should stop it. It is childish and puerile for them to have come up with that figure. There is nothing ostentatious about Dr. Fayemi’s lifestyle: the lodge is there as a property of the state.

“Whether Fayose stays there or not is his cup of tea. The new government house is a legacy building. Dr. Fayemi did not go with it to Isan-Ekiti; it is for the state. It is not about personal aggrandisement; it is a befitting edifice for the state. Go to other states of the federation and see their government houses. Ekiti state deserves the best.”

Tambuwal Slows Down As PDP Meets To Decide His Punishment For “Anti-Party Activities”

Mohammed Useni
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Tambuwal Slows Down As PDP Meets To Decide His Punishment For “Anti-Party Activities”

Despite the denial by his media aide Imam Imam, TheCable reports registered as a member of the All Progressives Party  (APC )on Monday evening at his hometown, Tambuwal, in Sokoto state,  and the People’s Democratic Party has concluded plans on how to deal with him.

Reports are that  Tambuwal is only watching for reactions from his former party before taking the next step of formally announcing his defection. PDP insiders have informed TheCable that the party will move against Tambuwal “both politically and legally”. One of the options being worked upon is for a member of the house of reps to institute a legal action to seek the removal of Tambuwal as speaker. But they will have to wait for Tambuwal to make the official pronouncement.

“He has his cards close to his chest. But it is a done deal. Tambuwal is officially a member of APC and will, insha Allah, vie for the governorship of Sokoto state in 2015,” An associate of Tambuwal said on Tuesday

However, Tambuwal, has chosen to thread carefully so as to escape whatever removal plan is been hatched by the PDP. “We do not have the numbers. We need 240 out of the 360 lawmakers to remove him. There is no such chance,” a ranking PDP member said. PDP currently has less than 200 members in the house due to defection of its members to the APC

Tambuwal through his media aide, Imam had on Monday said that he didn’t attend the PDP reconciliation meeting because he was not invited but the Secreatary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jubrin said Tambuwal was not invited because they learnt that he was going to attend an APC meeting

“Pictures don’t lie. He was at the APC stakeholders meeting and the pictures are in the newspapers and he has not denied them. Though, he is has not returned the PDP membership card, it would be futile to invite him to our reconciliatory meeting.”

“Though, we planned to invite him because he is a senior citizen of the country and with respect to the office he is holding, we intend to invite him separately, I don’t think it is necessary again, since he has started attending the APC meeting, albeit openly.” Jubrin said

On Tuesday , the PDP held separate meeting at the Legacy House of the party in Abuja to consider the report that Tambawal attended the APC meeting in Sokoto. The Party will again meet on Wednesday (today) to consider the disciplinary action against Tambuwal for what it termed “anti-party activities”

The PDP national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh had on Monday said that the party will take no action until there is an official confirmation of Tambuwal’s defection. He said the party will not act based on insinuations and rumours.

 

Abia PDP Chairman Denies Imposition Rumours, Says He Is Not Aware Of Any Interest From Orji’s Son

Mohammed Useni
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Abia PDP Chairman Denies Imposition Rumours, Says He Is Not Aware Of Any Interest From Orji’s Son

The Chairman of the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Emma Nwaka, has denied rumours making the round that Governor Theodore Orji plans to impose his son as a member of the state house of Assemby and subsequently as the speaker of the house.

Senator Nwaka who spoke with newsmen on Tuesday denied awareness of any knowledge of Orji’s son to contest for a seat in the House.

Some media have carried a news report in which it was claimed that Orji has concluded plans to impose his son on the party.

Nwaka said that though Orji’s son “is eminently qualified to contest the House of Assembly if he chooses to do so”, he has no knowledge of such interest.

The PDP have banned state governors from imposing their preffered candidates on the party and has directed them to have an open primary from which the most popular candidate should emerge for the 2015 elections.

 

“I’m The Best Man For The Job” Two-Time Senator, Chris Anyanwu Declares For Imo State Governor

Mohammed Useni
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“I’m The Best Man For The Job” Two-Time Senator, Chris Anyanwu Declares For Imo State Governor

Nigeria’s Senator Chris Anyanwu is stepping out to challenge incumbent governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha for the office of the governor ahead of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

The two-time Senate representing Imo East senatorial district, Senator Anyanwu, also member of the of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said she is the right person for the job addressing her supporters in Owerri, the Imo State Capital.

Anyanwu promised to bring to bear exemplary leadership and ensure that democratic governance prevails in the state, in her speech, tagged “Imolites The Time Has Come”, she expressed outright displeasure over the state of Imo State’s economy under the Okorocha-led administration.

She said that as the best man for the job, and vowed to offer strategic leadership which would set Imo State back on track and also lift the state to a higher level of advancement and development.

Anyanwu who purchased the governorship form, and the only female governorship aspirant, has joined 21 other aspirants in the governorship race in the state under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Macaulay Babajide Milton: FEMINISM: The New Form Of Extremism!

Mohammed Useni
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Macaulay Babajide Milton: FEMINISM: The New Form Of Extremism!

If after reading the title of this article, you say to yourself, “Not again. Male chauvinists!!!” Then you are indeed a feminist! And this article is specially written for you. As expected, some paragraphs may bore you out because it exposes some of your weaknesses, but if you can manage not to doze off, I assure you that you will pick up one or two lessons that will help improve your personality for good. Well, just to make it clear, I am NOT a male chauvinist. I am just a concerned observer who perceives the recent actions/attitudes of ladies who refer to themselves as feminists, as unacceptable! As usual, my dissatisfaction compelled me to harness this piece of detailed information from all reliable sources to express the opinions I have about feminists!

Now, we understand that certain cultures and religions around the world have not given women the rights they deserve. Some cultures and religions have confined women to the four walls of the kitchen as domestic slaves! Some others treated them as second-class citizens which have led to the advocacy for women’s right on political, social and economic equality with men by the United Nations under the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). Even till this day, in certain African cultures, female children are still not appreciated! Some husbands also mistreat their wives or replace them if she is unable to produce a male child. Such men in their stupidity and ignorance are not even aware that the ‘Y’ Chromosome which is the needed genetic entity for the creation of a male child is actually produced by them and not by women.
I remember in 2009 during my Industrial Training at a medical laboratory in Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria, a couple walked in to perform some medical tests – SFA (Seminal Fluid Analysis) and HVS-MCS (High Vaginal Swab – Microscopy Culture Sensitivity) – to find out why they have been unable to procreate. The husband bolstered, “I didn’t want to come here because I am damn sure I am medically okay! It is my wife that needs check-up! You have no idea how much effort I have invested just to impregnate her. I have emptied all my semen into her; pumping her mercilessly from all directions; yet no show!!! Anyway, just to fulfill all righteousness you can still have my semen to be tested. In the end, she will be convinced that I am not the one at fault but she is!” I stood behind the senior med lab scientist who later instructed me to take the EDTA bottles containing the couple’s sample for testing. I headed straight to the Microbiology Lab and used a micro-pipette to place a drop of the cocky husband’s semen on a clean slide and focussed it under an electronically-powered binocular microscope. I was shocked at what I saw. Millions of the sperm cells were not motile indicating that they were either dead or ‘tired’; they could barely swim. I couldn’t stop laughing while documenting the result. The husband had a low sperm count, therefore, could not impregnate his wife despite his turgid ‘John Thomas’ and his merciless aggressive pumping in all directions. The lesson learnt is that a man’s stature or ability in bed does not guarantee his capability to father a child. Unfortunately, the African society has brainwashed most people that once a couple cannot procreate, the woman is the culprit! These various forms of marginalisation and injustice against women has led to the need for them to survive and preserve their kind, thus, becoming proud feminists!
You hear them mentioning the names of Benazir Bhutto, Beyoncé Knowles and Chimamanda Adichie without having a clue about the family lifestyle of these women. Beyoncé sang, “Who runs this world? Girls! Girls!!” and unfortunately, a million gullible ladies took her lyrics literally and then end up treating all the guys around them (including their suitors) like trash without asking themselves if Jay-Z is also being disrespected! Even if the husbands of great Nigerian women like Obi Ezekwezili and Dora Akuiyuli are not popularly known, it does not mean their husbands are irrelevant in the society and subservient to their famous wives! I watched a TV programme where Dora was interviewed. She pointed out that she still cooks for her husband despite her busy schedules but many young ladies won’t remember that! All they pay attention to is how to be great and famous; expecting their husbands to be in full support even if some of their lofty desires may alter their ‘natural role’ in the home. What I mean by natural role is your role as a helpmeet (as described by the Holy Scriptures). You are not meant to consciously seek superiority but to help him succeed without losing your personal dreams as well. There are times when the woman’s success will eclipse her husband’s. The way to ensure the natural order of things in such a home is for the woman to display a high degree of respect and submission despite her superior achievement because the man is the natural head (as espoused by many religions). Struggling tooth and nail to take the man’s position will not do her any good but would rather destroy her home. This is why many feminists in history were not able to keep their homes.  
Most females believe the only way to break the male superiority over them is to be equally as aggressive as the males. Let us learn from the story of the British women in the 1800s when they were disallowed to vote. The first thing they did was to form a party (National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies – NUWSS) under the leadership of Millicent Fawcett in 1897. The members called themselves the suffragists and Millicent ensured they followed peaceful, persuasive tactics in actualizing their goals.  However, some members of the party felt her approach was too slow and inefficient so they broke away in 1903 and formed their own party (Women’s Social and Political Union – WSPU) headed by Emmeline Pankhurst. Emmeline referred to her members as suffragettes in order to differentiate them from Millicent’s members. The suffragettes adopted violence and destruction, thinking it was a faster way of solving the problem but it only put them in more problems. “Be very careful not to open suspicious parcels arriving by post. On the other hand, do not leave them lying unopened in the house. They should be dealt with carefully and promptly. These harpies (suffragettes) are quite capable of trying to burn us out’ (Winston Churchill’s – the British Prime Minister at that time – note to his wife in Feb, 1913). In the end, it wasn’t Emmeline’s violent tactics that actualized the goal but the peaceful approach of Millicent. The cool, calm, collected but highly focussed approach spearheaded by Millicent, eventually got British women the political liberty they deserved. Millicent coerced the members of her party to build the nation during the 1st world war when the men folks were out in the fields shedding their blood and sacrificing their lives to protect the sovereignty of their nation. The suffragists ended up building roads, bridges (one is still standing today across the River Thames in London) and many other infrastructures in the absence of the men between 1914 and 1918. Finally, in 1919 after the war had ended and peace was restored, the members of parliament in the House of Commons and House of Lords in Britain were astounded by the efforts of the women during the war and they unanimously passed the ‘women suffrage rights law’ not as a result of the stupid violence and aggression by the suffragettes but because of the sacrificial contributions of the suffragists during the war. This lovely story has shown clearly that aggression and extremism will solve absolutely nothing!!!
Male chauvinists will say, ‘It’s a man’s world’ but I will say, ‘It’s a human’s world’ because humans are the most ‘evolved’ animal species on Earth. We should have other animals under our feet rather than enslaving one of our kind (female humans). As much as I do advocate for women redemption, I will not tolerate unnecessary extremism from them. Women need to hear the truth about life, that although they were created equal with men, they are never equal with men in ALL things! Yes, we may have had women presidents such as Gloria Arroyo of Philippines, Sirleaf Johnson of Liberia, Cristina Fernandez De Kirchner of Argentina, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, but these women also doubled as wives, subject to their husbands when they get to their homes. This family role of a ‘helpmeet’ is NEVER a servile position as most women these days see it. It is indeed a powerful role for women who can utilize the latent power wisely. A soft and caring wife stands a higher opportunity of controlling subtly, the decisions of her husband, than a fierce and aggressive wife. Aggressiveness and confrontations only weaken the influence women should have over men. If you doubt this statement, ask yourself why the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra, was so powerful? Even controlling the most powerful man of her time (Julius Gaius Caesar). It is important to point out here that this power shouldn’t be wheeled as a tool of manipulation or else suicidal consequences may follow!
Radical feminism aims to challenge and overthrow patriarchy by opposing standard gender roles, calling for the radical reordering of the society, but this is a cause that will never succeed because most societies rest on the fulcrum of religion. We can only extend certain rights to women but patriarchy is not negotiable, trust me! Ladies should therefore, learn to deal with the truth! Now it is true that in terms of political and professional headship, women have proven to be more effective and efficient than men, it is still not enough grounds for them to question the age-long fundamental doctrines of religions that clearly stipulate who the head of a home should be! I am aware that there are irresponsible men who are not playing their roles as loving husbands and fathers; and in such cases, women have risen up to the occupation acting as both the mother and father. However, these cases, which are anomalous, should not be presented as an evidence for the abolition of male headship. I know most of you would think I am only writing about this because I am a man but the honest truth is that I would still have written this article this way if I was born as a woman because I will respect the roles of men without belittling my role as a woman!
Some feminists are irritated to hear about a man’s superior achievement; it makes them feel powerless and inferior!  I was talking to a first class graduate of Accounting from the Covenant University some years ago who happens to be a lady. I asked, ‘now that you have won so many awards, where will you put them?’ ‘Hang them on the walls of my home of course’ then I asked a thought-provoking question, ‘Where will your husband hang his?’ I expected her to say, ‘on the same wall’ but she frowned at me as a way of saying, ‘I don’t care where he hangs his’ as inspiring as she may appear, she had a pugnacious attitude! No wonder most radical feminists don’t have husbands or actually go for men with low self-esteem, making it much easier for them to be manipulated. And as expected, feminists dread the guts of highly intellectual men because such men make life difficult for them!
Remember the aphorism, ‘behind every successful man there is a woman’ Women are natural managers and helpers but are not natural home leaders. This is why the children of single mothers often grow up to become unruly and impudent. Most people picture Margaret Thatcher as a typical role model because she wrestled successfully against her male counterparts, becoming Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister. Do you know that when she died some months ago, so many British citizens didn’t want her to get a proper burial? I know this because I live in the UK currently and heard what the people on the streets had to say about her. Her daily strive to be like a man cost her her personality and then she became a radical feminist who was ferocious and officious to the extreme. She didn’t learn to be diplomatic and it cost her a lot.
Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet today has more women represented than any other Nigerian government in history. Even in my University (FUTA) we ensured that all student governments (from the Departmental level to the SUG level) elected female candidates strictly for the positions of vice-president and welfare director in order to preserve some form of gender equality in student politics. Despite the efforts of Governments, NGOs and many male folks round the world to ensure gender equality, women still resort unnecessarily to undue aggression and extremism.  
Many ladies reading this article are guilty of extremism towards the male folks as a result of their cravings for gender superiority! How? You may ask. Well, I will break it down briefly. Sometimes some of you feel the need to frustrate a guy for no reason, thinking this would make him respect and honour you more. When you suddenly ignore online conversations for no real reason without typing the abbreviation, ‘brb’ or ‘ttyl’ and not even apologizing afterward, instead, telling the guy to f**k off that he doesn’t have the right to tell you what to do. By consciously seeking for control, ladies have turned around the order of gender injustice by refusing to apologise each time they offend a male. Some even tell silly lies just to preserve their over-bloated pride! For example, when your phone rings right before you but you refused to pick it up and then later on, telling the innocent guy that you were busy whereas, you weren’t! And many more silly behaviours which you ladies should remember.
Frustrating a man wouldn’t make him regard you more. It will only make him adopt new skills on how best to deal with you. Be yourself; be a woman, as you can only influence a man through love and never through aggression! Be the woman; be soft and tender, slow to anger, approachable, loveable, respectful, kind-hearted and feminine! Never try to be a man; let the man be the man and let the woman be a woman! When you preserve your nature as a woman, you stand a higher chance of sealing all deals on gender equality but extremism in the defense of gender equality will render the cause worthless!
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Article written by Macaulay Babajide Milton

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