TNN.ng

Politicians Turn To Celebrities To Woo Voters | IOL News

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwV9YmQCP00m-Wvvn0OVXe6jyyuwXLEKqDjMUPir2Q0g6-8grNZ_ToXHBxoDUymwcSvMmQhfAVps_YLp8UYcK4GCo-N0RW7F4IqP5t4eTpp_fTbFdu8S5sO2VwCuxGDmrD9eas9BYsv9hm/s1600/APC+Campaign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwV9YmQCP00m-Wvvn0OVXe6jyyuwXLEKqDjMUPir2Q0g6-8grNZ_ToXHBxoDUymwcSvMmQhfAVps_YLp8UYcK4GCo-N0RW7F4IqP5t4eTpp_fTbFdu8S5sO2VwCuxGDmrD9eas9BYsv9hm/s1600/APC+Campaign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Nigeria's politicians are turning to Nollywood film stars, popular musicians and former international footballers to win next month's election, in a campaign increasingly fought online.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Africa's most populous country and biggest economy goes to the polls for presidential and parliamentary elections on March 28, with gubernatorial and state house assembly polls two weeks later.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dozens of parties will contest the vote but the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is seen as mounting the first serious challenge to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
An Afrobarometer poll published on January 27 before the initial February 14 election date was pushed back six weeks on security grounds put the two parties neck-and-neck at 42 percent each.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The stakes are high,” said Muyiwa Akintunde, of Leap Communications, a Lagos public relations and advertising firm.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The PDP and APC are not taking chances. They are using every available platform to woo the electorate,” he told AFP.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Both main parties are still making use of traditional media such as radio, television, newspapers, billboards and posters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But they have also taken to social media in a big way, with Nigeria witnessing an explosion in mobile phone subscriptions, including smartphones.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last month in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria's former national football team captain Joseph Yobo was on hand to canvass votes for President Goodluck Jonathan.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the APC and its candidate, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, the popular traditional musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall has been a regular at campaign rallies in the south-west.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On radio and television, specially composed songs and jingles extolling the virtues of political candidates are rarely off the airwaves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Lagos, APC governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode is fighting his PDP rival Jimi Agbaje as much for airtime as on the campaign trail.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Omolara Olaosebikan of Quadrant Communications, a public relations firm involved in some of the campaigns, said technology was changing the face of political advertisements in Nigeria.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It's digital revolution at play. There is no doubt that this year's election will remain the most competitive in history and the parties do not want to be beaten to the game,” she said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the first time, politicians - particularly those from the ruling party - have realised they can no longer take the electorate for granted, she said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Everybody is leveraging on digital advertisements to woo the electorate,” Olaosebikan added.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It's no longer enough to rely on insertions in newspapers or buy prime time for commercials. Who has the time to read newspapers or listen to radio and watch television anyway?”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Olaosebikan said advertisers now prefer online and social media to conventional media because of its low cost and immediacy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“All you need do is click on a button,” she said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“For a few seconds commercial on (state television channel) NTA, I will have to cough out 1.5 million naira ($7,400 or Euro 6.500).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“But it's not the case with the social media.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nigeria, where noisy discussion about current affairs is commonplace, not surprisingly has an enthusiastic and vocal community of Facebook and Twitter users.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The BBC said in an online article last September that politicians have even recruited unemployed young people who ordinarily would have been used to physically intimidate voters for a cyberwar.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Armed with laptops and smartphones, they bombard online articles with positive comments for their political sponsor and criticise his opponents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“In Nigeria, about 40 million people are said to be on social media,” said Olaosebikan.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“This is a huge population that can be of huge electoral value to politicians.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But with just over a third of Nigeria's 178 million people illiterate, parties still have to rely on visual and aural cues to get their message across.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As a result, the PDP's umbrella and the APC's wicker broom are printed everywhere, from T-shirts and caps to consumer items such as rice and salt which are distributed as gifts to supporters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Given the personal nature of Nigerian politics, where patronage is paramount, and this year's closely fought election race, smear campaigns are widespread, particularly against Buhari.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Communications specialist Olatunji Dare, however, believes that newspapers, which are currently stuffed with political propaganda adverts every day, should not be part of the campaign.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The front page is a newspaper's chief asset,” Dare wrote recently in <i>The Nation</i>, an APC-backed newspaper.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They should not be used to peddle “transparent falsehoods or hate or religious bigotry to anyone who can pay for it”, he added.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Credit: <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/politicians-turn-to-celebrities-to-woo-voters-1.1823695#.VO4iLnyUc4J">IOL News</a></b></div>

Politicians Turn To Celebrities To Woo Voters | IOL News

Nigeria's politicians are turning to Nollywood film stars, popular musicians and former international footballers to win next month...

APC Goofed, But Jonathan Remains Clueless - By Wale Adedayo

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBlMB644WUstySD04GdFlmRCl0w7r1B4eqajE-BfGvVOVZGeTwg491QBxyHmPWYtckAfIgDA4crT9GQxNqWhU9Xh8zFXN6Zy31BADoedGABfyR4bDj9E84FEKLuMrh9cuSx_FiCuPbM6d/s1600/Wale+Adedayo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBlMB644WUstySD04GdFlmRCl0w7r1B4eqajE-BfGvVOVZGeTwg491QBxyHmPWYtckAfIgDA4crT9GQxNqWhU9Xh8zFXN6Zy31BADoedGABfyR4bDj9E84FEKLuMrh9cuSx_FiCuPbM6d/s1600/Wale+Adedayo.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) committed a blunder with its statement about the possibility of President Goodluck Jonathan presenting a fake leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, as proof that Nigeria has won the war against the militant Islamic group. It does not make any sense at all. It is as if they are happy the scourge is continuing instead of abating. What is the business of APC raising the alarm about a false Shekau? Do they have links to the ‘real’ one? The media managers of APC need to check themselves, unless of course their leadership knows something the rest of Nigeria does not know.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jonathan and his handlers have proclaimed the death of Shekau several times. The APC should have left it at that. We can only know Shekau is dead when the mad man does not make a fresh broadcast again. We can also know through a reduction in the group’s activities. So, APC goofed badly on that score. Right now, what one expects of the APC leadership is to go ahead of Jonathan in using formal and informal media to fight against Boko Haram. Jonathan has proved beyond reasonable doubt that with the enormous resources at his disposal, he is incapable of containing the scourge that is Boko Haram. APC is not in control of the country, thus, its armed forces yet. What the party has as its most potent weapon is a man considered by the Northern grassroots as their own Obafemi Awolowo.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Whether anyone likes it or not, it appears the leadership of Boko Haram respects Buhari. The only good thing that should have come out of that is for the retired General to regularly come out and speak against the evil deeds of the group. Apart from demoralizing Boko Haram’s leadership, it will also reduce their power of recruitment. Young men and women, who naively believe they are getting involved in a genuine Jihad will have a rethink and stop going over to the murderous group. That should have been Buhari’s major assignment on a weekly basis till this election is over. Sadly, we have not seen any of that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some of us would not have supported Buhari, if Jonathan had done the needful about the menace of Boko Haram more than two years ago. From denial to pretense and an attitude that bothers on culpability, Jonathan from one misstep to another has been presenting a picture of someone who should never have occupied the seat of Nigeria’s number one citizen. Of course many are shouting from the rooftops today that it is the new equipment bought for the military that appears to be rolling back the nefarious activities of Boko Haram. These are people living in self-denial or persons without a deep knowledge of security issues, who could be easily misled by the primary school explanations being given by Jonathan’s handlers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first rule in guerrilla warfare for any serious government is to cut the supply route of the militants. Biafra would have lasted more if the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, had not advised concerning the needful. Food and arms supply along with the routes of doing such should have been tackled long ago by our clueless president. No matter the amount of food and arms in the possession of a guerilla group, it is on a daily basis they use it up. Besides, they hardly stay in a location for too long. Thus, it is very easy to track and cut off their supply routes without firing a single shot. Why have we not been able to do this till date?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is very doubtful Boko Haram gets its arms and food supply through any of the sea ports in Lagos or Port Harcourt. The easiest and most obvious points for supplying these items to the militants remain our Northern neighbours. And one cannot blame them much – their economy is weak, and they have weak armed forces too. As long as Boko Haram is not disturbing them, why bother with the illicit traffic of arms and food to Nigeria? It is also not impossible that there are sympathizers of Boko Haram in the topmost hierarchy of both Niger and Chad, to the extent that these persons believe they are doing the group a favour by allowing ‘Islam’ to make further inroads into a country with a nominal Muslim majority, which in actual fact has more Christians than Muslims. Only a Nigerian president with a no-nonsense attitude can send a clear signal to these neighbours that their countries would suffer if they allow Boko Haram passage through their land.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Closing our borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon would have been an effective check against the influx of weapons and food supply among other logistics to the satanic group. Once supply routes are blocked, you can accurately predict, with up to 80% assurance, when Boko Haram or any other group like that, should be rendered incapable of launching attacks on our soil. There is even the option of complete state of emergency. Jonathan for once never exploited this. If Borno State had been put in a total state of emergency with a Military Administrator in charge, it would have checked the spread of the terror group’s activities. Instead what we had was a slap on the wrist kind of emergency, where politicians who inspired and gave life to Boko Haram still had and are still having a free day. In the process, lives and properties continued to be lost on a horrendous scale with the president of a country that should be the most powerful in Africa wringing his hands in a grand display of cluelessness. Pray, what has the governors of the three affected states been using their allocations for? Who have they been governing?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Psychological warfare (Psy Ops) is also a major ingredient in the arsenal of the American military - not nuclear weapons. Subtle interference, using the media (formal and informal), churches, NGOs, mosques and the likes have greatly assisted the United States to weaken rogues states and others they consider as enemies. ‘Crusades’ in the name of evangelism have been encouraged in different parts of the world along with a generous dosage of ‘democratic process’ seminars in Washington for key political actors from a lot of countries without these persons and groups realizing they were being induced to think the American way and indirectly do the biddings of the United States. Not a single shot fired. No bullet wasted. Such persons go back to their countries to either foment trouble or stay calm to support oppressive regimes favourable to the Americans in the name of not going against the ‘Will of God’ by looking the other way when such persons pillage the treasury as Mobutu Sese Seko did in Congo. Active opposition by way of arms struggle or street protests is discouraged. How many Psy-Ops have the Jonathan Administration commissioned against Boko Haram - either from our military or the SSS? And it is not just to push Boko Haram back. In the communities affected by Boko Haram, without a well-planned system of Psychological re-orientation, things may never be the same for them in the next 50 years. So, Jonathan also failed on the Mass Communication front.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But the biggest blunder today has been committed by the APC. The talk about fake or genuine Shekau should stop. If the APC really feels it is concerned about the Boko Haram scourge, the best thing to do is for Buhari to use his influence to go against them in a moral manner. A guerilla group without local support is as good as dead. Buhari has what it takes to render Boko Haram impotent, morally, across its area of operation. The man commands enormous respect across the North, especially among the lower classes and the Islamically inclined. It is not enough to commend the military. Let the change begin from a man we want to become president proclaiming from the rooftops the evil that Boko Haram represents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wale.adedayo">Wale Adedayo</a> is an accomplished journalist cum politician. He is the publisher/editor-in-chief of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Uhurutimes?ref=br_rs">Uhuru Times</a>, an online news website. <a class="g-profile" href="https://plus.google.com/111022829120949827039" target="_blank">+Wale Adedayo</a> @waleadedayo on twitter</b></div>

APC Goofed, But Jonathan Remains Clueless - By Wale Adedayo

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) committed a blunder with its statement about the possibility of President Goodluc...

Bamidele Cautions Fayose Over Attacks On Buhari

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fhr28zwlFkEbRyVik5E9m0v9r2ZspxoDV05zXpVL9PEzMqsApYhBBLvnBlcL1Dez8tHt76XwFJo0m85H-MWUrQz5jhDnGlXN7RB37wK6Eq-0VYWxLIvCKyQFg7-M5SVvMKyDdbt5EcLV/s1600/Opeyemi-Bamidele+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fhr28zwlFkEbRyVik5E9m0v9r2ZspxoDV05zXpVL9PEzMqsApYhBBLvnBlcL1Dez8tHt76XwFJo0m85H-MWUrQz5jhDnGlXN7RB37wK6Eq-0VYWxLIvCKyQFg7-M5SVvMKyDdbt5EcLV/s1600/Opeyemi-Bamidele+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>A member of House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, has warned Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop embarrassing the state by his consistent attack against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The governor has consistently claimed that Buhari is too ill to be President of the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fayose also claimed that the recent trip of the former Head of State was to enable him get medical attention, contrary to the position of the APC that he was in United Kingdom on a working visit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Bamidele said Fayose by his constant abuse of elders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Buhari, was rude.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to him, the statements credited to the governor constituted a rude invasion of Buhari’s privacy and a roughneck tactic.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “Even if, according to Governor Fayose, General Buhari had visited a hospital during his foreign trip, the reasonable question to ask, I would think, is whether or not General Buhari deserves rest or even a medical checkup after a full-fledged and most rigorous (over 30 days) campaign during which he did not miss a single rally?”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<b>Credit <a href="http://www.punchng.com/politics/bamidele-cautions-fayose-against-attacking-buhari-2/">PUNCH</a></b>

Bamidele Cautions Fayose Over Attacks On Buhari

A member of House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, has warned Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop embarrassing the state by his consis...

Former Leaders Celebrate Shehu Shagari As He Clocks 90

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7-eVUbZlRPtuB9zuLWPZPRU22yl5a0Q-nN45GJnIrTvSY75VgVR_ZMKJmfSNJojdBWWHjKkfga9VYz-57lsAFyyExCIoVCFEpgKH-LOD3BMW-UfaIlpP6yIM25QLpEve7_zN78Zb_ZOR/s1600/Shagari@90e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7-eVUbZlRPtuB9zuLWPZPRU22yl5a0Q-nN45GJnIrTvSY75VgVR_ZMKJmfSNJojdBWWHjKkfga9VYz-57lsAFyyExCIoVCFEpgKH-LOD3BMW-UfaIlpP6yIM25QLpEve7_zN78Zb_ZOR/s1600/Shagari@90e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Former president Shehu Shagari turned 90 years today and all Nigerian living former Heads of State except General Muhammadu Buhari traveled to Sokoto to celebrate with him. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, was unavoidably absent as he is presently on a working visit to the UK.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6ko_YepwLq8hUAiPyzK0W8sYOp2DKE87qQMWv_LJGK6DUZ1zUY6iErqeR3XlcoPj7SWuCXG0RhFnbN3aOiQXy5DTHY81gtpljJGlIcVsezu2b8UsOqsqQ29cKJM1eHxhXAf2K2siT7Uk/s1600/Shagari@90a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6ko_YepwLq8hUAiPyzK0W8sYOp2DKE87qQMWv_LJGK6DUZ1zUY6iErqeR3XlcoPj7SWuCXG0RhFnbN3aOiQXy5DTHY81gtpljJGlIcVsezu2b8UsOqsqQ29cKJM1eHxhXAf2K2siT7Uk/s1600/Shagari@90a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJdcgFl_0WohrX3zNzu2xMmvc3nWY-mdYFnyCOaBZyL7C8tUquDdhH06ohD4FMz8ivEq6hrW4Hj6CLOHk63sj8qkgFRluC1y82Bio5-0B8QdkxR3_bZ_JKo7ubYFAPt9eBHH-2DYJBddb/s1600/Shagari@90b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJdcgFl_0WohrX3zNzu2xMmvc3nWY-mdYFnyCOaBZyL7C8tUquDdhH06ohD4FMz8ivEq6hrW4Hj6CLOHk63sj8qkgFRluC1y82Bio5-0B8QdkxR3_bZ_JKo7ubYFAPt9eBHH-2DYJBddb/s1600/Shagari@90b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVqIV-OIgMxicXVllpYa7A_Eb02b5LFiLcQOtU3oAAxEnNmzbrTU9EbIfg0qohH-X91i5mJ2hoVg1QV4T2XibXuc_wgRzI2GoyAAxJG3iwLqKIUQPpsTWFx28HgMPr4a2fQD8ozSJa1H3/s1600/Shagari@90c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVqIV-OIgMxicXVllpYa7A_Eb02b5LFiLcQOtU3oAAxEnNmzbrTU9EbIfg0qohH-X91i5mJ2hoVg1QV4T2XibXuc_wgRzI2GoyAAxJG3iwLqKIUQPpsTWFx28HgMPr4a2fQD8ozSJa1H3/s1600/Shagari@90c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oUJhqkzL0sVjDUSx-BENy5ELiRAUWMkqEFnjfOiMplAYdZ5dFvKrEFLrkmKIwhipcmfZOLkvXzIuv881ghyErQeFB2uNlzyM_vfTXH6af29BljiRT4k6O_we2spc9C-FOxHOQdcZYItq/s1600/Shagari@90d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oUJhqkzL0sVjDUSx-BENy5ELiRAUWMkqEFnjfOiMplAYdZ5dFvKrEFLrkmKIwhipcmfZOLkvXzIuv881ghyErQeFB2uNlzyM_vfTXH6af29BljiRT4k6O_we2spc9C-FOxHOQdcZYItq/s1600/Shagari@90d.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Former Leaders Celebrate Shehu Shagari As He Clocks 90

Former president Shehu Shagari turned 90 years today and all Nigerian living former Heads of State except General Muhammadu Buhari trav...

Fayose Needs Urgent Psychiatric Test - APC

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPO65FjIckkjmmqdt7oLfxgOlHoziSEziPcI5WWFsegYAg46aUJPWQmdulidSW_1tAcomsePH4pdivZKX5ZrScXBOa_JtH5rjjXyYTdp9_n5SsE_LKY_b09-eQUbOCimglhnnKmuz1mE8/s1600/Fayose2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPO65FjIckkjmmqdt7oLfxgOlHoziSEziPcI5WWFsegYAg46aUJPWQmdulidSW_1tAcomsePH4pdivZKX5ZrScXBOa_JtH5rjjXyYTdp9_n5SsE_LKY_b09-eQUbOCimglhnnKmuz1mE8/s1600/Fayose2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said Governor Ayodele Fayose needs psychiatric test with the way he has been spending millions on adverts to run down its presidential candidate, Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The party accused Fayose of engaging in diversionary tactics to cover up his alleged involvement in the fraudulent practices during the June 21 poll as contained in the Capt Sagir Koli’s secretly recorded audio tape .</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
APC declared that the revelations in the tape would not be eclipsed by his anti-Buhari campaign antics, stressing that the money the governor.is spending in his hate campaign could have been channeled towards productive activities for the benefit of Ekiti people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Meanwhile, an ex-member of the Senate, Mr Ayo Arise, has said President Goodluck Jonathan cannot be accused of having been solely responsible for the crises bedeviling the country, particularly the insurgency and dwindling fortunes of the economy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Arise, ex-Chairman Senate Committee on Privatization, also disagreed with the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, over his consistent ‘death-wish’ adverts against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari.</div>

Fayose Needs Urgent Psychiatric Test - APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said Governor Ayodele Fayose needs psychiatric test with the way he has been spe...

APC Manifesto Unrealistic, Deceitful - PDP

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffatYB0Darjk5cgdgp6oLvAv8-FmesSpg6FGTq5tgHH_jbpxnkHzPROC7iGjog0gd9w0Jh5tMWTUdaoYpCBGeOgnDxgjg8BJW6jmrODyuR98p4kSURsYT9BE5KwczmsRDIAIXieBVNI3u/s1600/Olisa-Metuh-412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffatYB0Darjk5cgdgp6oLvAv8-FmesSpg6FGTq5tgHH_jbpxnkHzPROC7iGjog0gd9w0Jh5tMWTUdaoYpCBGeOgnDxgjg8BJW6jmrODyuR98p4kSURsYT9BE5KwczmsRDIAIXieBVNI3u/s1600/Olisa-Metuh-412.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has said the electoral promises made to Nigerians by the main opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress are not realistic.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It, therefore, urged Nigerians to discard them, saying there was no way the APC Presidential Candidate, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) would fulfill such promises if elected.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It also accused the APC of deceiving Nigerians in a bid to win votes, saying the APC had formed the habit of "one day, one lie".</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the PDP had performed well with its present programmes for the nation, and that the APC can never match what the PDP had done for the country in the last 16 years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Metuh insisted that the promise of monthly stipend to unemployed youths by the APC in relation to its cost on the finances of the nation, was unrealistic and unrealisable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “The APC in one of its phantom promises said it would pay a stipend of ₦5,000 each to 25 million poor Nigerians monthly. This gives a total of ₦125 billion each month and ₦1.5 trillion every year.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“What is baffling is that the APC knows full well that this is not only unrealistic but also impracticable in a nation with an estimated budget of ₦4.69 trillion comprising recurrent and capital expenditures yet they continue to dish it out to unsuspecting citizens in a clear bid to mislead.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Also, the deceitful tendency of the APC came to light in its promise to create 740,000 direct jobs in each of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT within one year while on the other hand promising to create one million jobs for Igbo youths also within the same period. We ask, which do we believe?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The APC has also promised to provide free education, daily free meals for millions of Nigerian school children, free tertiary education, free health care and free houses to Nigerians.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The opposition knows too well that this is unrealistic yet they prefer to brandish falsehood.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He challenged the APC to explain to Nigerians how it would fulfill such promises with the prevailing 40 percent  drop in national income and dwindling oil price in the international market.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Metuh said, “These promises are therefore either bogus or part of their plot to subject the citizens to a harsh tax regime ostensibly to finance Bourdilon Drive and other personal interests, the real reason they desperately seek power.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We therefore challenge the APC to come forward and admit before Nigerians that these promises are false and merely deceitful if not they should be bold enough to tell Nigerians that they are planning to skyrocket our personal income and company taxes if they ever get to power.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to the <b><a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/apc-manifesto-unrealistic-pdp/">PUNCH</a></b>, Metuh insisted that the PDP government is workers and investors-friendly as the tax regime under its leadership is good for an average Nigerian while insisting that the APC will impose terrible tax regime on the people to achieve a minute of its numerous promises, even if it will give it a try at all.</div>

APC Manifesto Unrealistic, Deceitful - PDP

The national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has said the electoral promises made to Nigerians by the main opposition...

N'Delta Militants Softpedal, Plead For Jonathan's Re-election

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6jZoQSYhRLmwU2GjKWXYJEp2f6d2R6zmUiHDrsrVhIzfFZ0JEx3fvE26Zfk7HqmYSLwUchg9s0IJ2HlU5sNJbob1gtvJufSr1UVHqiRZCyGX2kfx9ysh4EwBec-isPd4dhdIAwbPMOwu/s1600/Niger-Delta-militants_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6jZoQSYhRLmwU2GjKWXYJEp2f6d2R6zmUiHDrsrVhIzfFZ0JEx3fvE26Zfk7HqmYSLwUchg9s0IJ2HlU5sNJbob1gtvJufSr1UVHqiRZCyGX2kfx9ysh4EwBec-isPd4dhdIAwbPMOwu/s1600/Niger-Delta-militants_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>In a remarkable change of tone, ex-militant leaders from the Niger Delta zone who had threatened mayhem if President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated in the forthcoming presidential election, yesterday pleaded with Nigerians to vote to re-elect the incumbent president. They suggested that Mr. Jonathan be returned to office based on what they described as the noticeable achievements of his administration, noting that the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) had waged a campaign of hate against the president.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Speaking as members of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiatives (LPCDI), the ex-militant figures stated that, though the media campaign against President Jonathan was filled with hatred and deceit, the Nigerian voters should support the president’s re-election based on the achievements of his administration in the areas of education, power, infrastructural development and security.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The ex-militants issued their new toned-down endorsement of Mr. Jonathan at the end of a meeting presided over by the group’s national coordinator, Reuben Wilson, popularly known as <i>General Pastor Reuben</i>. The meeting was held yesterday in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. The group called on voters to focus on Mr. Jonathan’s performance instead of the rhetoric of hate against his administration.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Briefing reporters on the outcome of their meeting, Mr. Wilson said, “we resolved to call on Nigerians, particularly eligible voters, to rate the candidates for the presidential election based on performance and eligibility. President Goodluck Jonathan has done well and he should be voted in by Nigerians for [a] second term. They should assess him based on performance and not the region he comes from.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
His tone differed from a previous stance when the group warned that they would not countenance any attempt to vote out the president, with some of their members threatening that they would shut down oil production should the president be defeated, <b><a href="http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/24/ex-militants-make-u-turn-beg-nigerians-vote-jonathan">SaharaReporters</a></b> says.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In their latest softened statement, Mr. Wilson told reporters, “Jonathan has done well. Why are people opposing him? Is it because he comes from the Niger Delta? Would they have shown so much hatred and insincerity if he had come from the northern part of the country? The people of the South-South and the Niger Delta are feeling bad over the rising insults and poor rating in spite of the huge achievement of the present administration. We advised the opposition party and General Buhari to come out [openly] and declare that President Goodluck Jonathan has done well.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He added: “Nigerians should check the achievements in the areas of security, peace and development. The amnesty program under the capable hands of Honorable Kingsley Kuku has ensured that over 3,000 youths are trained on scholarship and skill acquisition. Aside from showing readiness in the battle against insurgency with the proper procurement of arms and ammunition for the military, President Jonathan has ensured the recovery of over N300 billion of stolen funds and blocked any corrupt loopholes in the system. He has done well also in the area of roads and infrastructures with the judicious use of Sure-P funds.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The ex-militants accused state governors who defected from the PDP to APC of playing to the gallery without differentiating their achievements in office under the PDP and the APC. “These governors are deceitful. They should tell Nigerians what they have been able to achieve under the APC. They should call their people together and tell them why they should vote for their stooges in the next governorship elections under the APC. All they have achieved in the states under their control was achieved under the PDP,” the group stated.</div>

N'Delta Militants Softpedal, Plead For Jonathan's Re-election

In a remarkable change of tone, ex-militant leaders from the Niger Delta zone who had threatened mayhem if President Goodluck Jonathan ...

80% Of My Advisers Give Me No Good Advice

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS_is7k7-jgeDjUjfpGVYj2ISXy9e05xjADRwOetwP_Gb5iK1oLGozDmGeA9Y9a9U2NrbIljH31Lf6GkHMv2bOLiHEIybBtexJD9OeNeJRN1aZq7nesFVBZ3LR8d7zFVR3HR5hzCm5VuE/s1600/Goodluck+Jonathan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglS_is7k7-jgeDjUjfpGVYj2ISXy9e05xjADRwOetwP_Gb5iK1oLGozDmGeA9Y9a9U2NrbIljH31Lf6GkHMv2bOLiHEIybBtexJD9OeNeJRN1aZq7nesFVBZ3LR8d7zFVR3HR5hzCm5VuE/s1600/Goodluck+Jonathan3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that more than 80 per cent of his advisers have nothing to say.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The President who spoke in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, at a special funeral service for eight female politicians and their driver who died in a road accident on February 14, said this has been happening to him since his days as Deputy Governor of the State.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He stated this in reaction to Governor Seriake Dickson’s disclosure that he was advised against organising a state burial for the deceased.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jonathan said, “I was surprised when the Governor (of Bayelsa) said some people asked why state burial. I told the Governor that more than 80 per cent of people who come to advise you have nothing to say, but just listen to them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“From my experience as a Deputy Governor till today, more than 80 per cent (of advisers) have nothing to say, but you listen to everybody and do what is right for our people”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Describing the day of the accident as a black day which coloured the landscape of Bayelsa with the worst colour, the president said, “We are here today because of the sad event of February 14. Of course, we lost eight of our best.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“To me, it is not just that people have died, not just that Bayelsans have died. But these are people I know too well. These nine caskets contain the remains of people who were dear to me, people that touched me in one way or the other.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Whenever I remember February 14, which was supposed to be a Valentine’s Day, but a black day that coloured the landscape of Bayelsa State with the worst colour we could ever imagine. My ADC gave me the information and my PA showed me the flaming bus on a handset. I asked myself ‘how could these people be in this flame?’ And I asked God why?”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jonathan continued: “When I saw that flame and imagined that these women were being burnt and roasted, I just couldn’t imagine. Till today, it gives me migraine. I lack words to console the direct family members.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The world is a stage where we have all come to play our part and go. I believe they have played their own part. I plead we reason they died in this circumstance probably so that we learn to be a little more careful”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The president asked people to be conscious of what would be said about them when they die.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “In every nation, when so many people die at a time, it is taken as a national calamity, not to talk about a state. Members of the bereaved families, let me express my condolences to you. Your daughters and brothers have though passed on, but we remember them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“And the most important thing is that at the day of your death, people will say positive things about you. Not the office you occupy. There are people that have occupied almost the biggest offices in the land, but people dance when they hear that they are gone”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In her tribute, First Lady, Patience Jonathan who described the late female politicians as her faithful followers, lamented that she had lost her strong pillars of support.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Calling for calm in the state, she said, “Bayelsa State is a small state. I want everybody to live in peace. We should love one another. Let us put politics aside and live in peace and unity”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In his own tribute, Dickson said February 14, 2015 would for ever remain dark in the minds of the people of Bayelsa State.</div>

80% Of My Advisers Give Me No Good Advice

President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that more than 80 per cent of his advisers have nothing to say. The President who spoke ...

Guardian Apologizes, Regrets Error On Venue Of Buhari Interview

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6I9kQ3377Uu_l1rjVbNdZmsUmcGEH6rNGzT3M9bC1b98Q6yMyu7qIX4pcNBddsVz4j1JsONa-4sXtZ4O2QCgjZpRhwrRbI_Pn8GimYl0WET-P3hJOwKfukXhyvHE2_0Fw1fUOmdt8X8At/s1600/GuardianError1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6I9kQ3377Uu_l1rjVbNdZmsUmcGEH6rNGzT3M9bC1b98Q6yMyu7qIX4pcNBddsVz4j1JsONa-4sXtZ4O2QCgjZpRhwrRbI_Pn8GimYl0WET-P3hJOwKfukXhyvHE2_0Fw1fUOmdt8X8At/s1600/GuardianError1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Guardian Newspaper has apologized, regretted its error and retracted the story on the purported Buhari interview with the CEO of <i>All Eyes On Africa</i>, Mrs Fadojutimi. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While reporting the story about the interview, Guardian had erroneously reported that the interview was held in London during Gen Muhammadu Buhari's on-going working visit to the UK. However, the interview was discovered to have been pre-recorded at a suite in the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. This discovery generated so much heated arguments and exchange of venoms among supporters of the APC and supporters of the PDP with the latter referring to the former as people who thrive on falsehood and deceit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Having discovered their error, Guardian Newspaper Limited did a retraction yesterday and regretted the error.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Read them:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>"Our Error:</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>The front page picture of yesterday in The Guardian on Sunday was not taken during the visit of Maj. Gen. Buhari (rtd) to London as was erronously stated.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>The picture was actually taken in an Abuja hotel when he was being interviewed by a journalist.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>The error is regretted."</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z69g_w5tG7lza2wzM33-cBvVx9W0Gyh9YvAZuij5NHtZXpRodPd_FwQxs_MIH1K6xY9ckdcZofzTVpYYfRLQBYAROtymswHHwPa7RsXadK3yJCAWHgvK4z51TZZqHQMFUERyZy2F4uRV/s1600/GuardianError.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z69g_w5tG7lza2wzM33-cBvVx9W0Gyh9YvAZuij5NHtZXpRodPd_FwQxs_MIH1K6xY9ckdcZofzTVpYYfRLQBYAROtymswHHwPa7RsXadK3yJCAWHgvK4z51TZZqHQMFUERyZy2F4uRV/s1600/GuardianError.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<br />

Guardian Apologizes, Regrets Error On Venue Of Buhari Interview

Guardian Newspaper has apologized, regretted its error and retracted the story on the purported Buhari interview with the CEO of All Ey...

I'm A Confirmed Betrayer, Says Gov Sule Lamido

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lBqVP6Npoa5ll_MwzVPpLVhRRT618paVxaStQNVjdXaj3xtp3l1_Y38OpmKoXb1b4UyVxpGe1Yzj-lwJHIg9fSfc6JpKPVkO-7zNyU7FxoOKw1l39uiPEdxsNn5rWZekv-MQvxbE1mHo/s1600/Sule-Lamido.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lBqVP6Npoa5ll_MwzVPpLVhRRT618paVxaStQNVjdXaj3xtp3l1_Y38OpmKoXb1b4UyVxpGe1Yzj-lwJHIg9fSfc6JpKPVkO-7zNyU7FxoOKw1l39uiPEdxsNn5rWZekv-MQvxbE1mHo/s1600/Sule-Lamido.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, on Tuesday admitted that he betrayed his fellow Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors who later decamped to the All Progressives Congress in November 2013.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr. Lamido said this after holding a closed-door meeting with the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, at the party’s secretariat, Abuja‎.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The five governors, called G-5, who decamped consist of Rivers State Governor, Roti‎mi Ameachi; Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wammako; Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwanso; and the impeached Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Originally G-7, consisting of the aforementioned and then ‎Mr. Lamido and Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida, the governors staged a walk-out from an August 2013 Special National Convention of PDP, alongside other party stalwarts, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former party Secretary, Sam Jaja and former Kwara Governor, Bukola Saraki.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The group formed the “new PDP” immediately. But the five Governors, Messrs Ameachi, Wammako, Ahmed, Nyako and Kwankwanso defected to opposition APC while Messrs Lamido and Babangida, surprisingly, chose to remain in the PDP.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This caused bad blood leading the Kano State Governor, Mr. Kwankwanso, to accuse Messrs Lamido and Babangida of betraying the other five governors.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said all seven governors had an agreement to leave PDP, following a disagreement they had with the party hierarchy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Everyone knows ‎Governor Lamido was part of us, he was the leader of the group. He took us to a certain height before choosing otherwise and we were all surprised by his final decision", Governor Kwankwaso said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr. Lamido corroborated Mr. Kwakwanso’s submission saying, “Yes, I betrayed them. I am a betrayer. Confirmed.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When asked why he betrayed the group, he simply responded, “I align myself with what he (Kwankwanso) said.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
‎The Jigawa State governor said his recent meeting with Mr. Amaechi had nothing to do with party politics. He said the Rivers Governor remains his friend and colleague and above all fellow compatriot with whom he meets occasionally to review issues.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mr. Lamido said he would not join the APC.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“How would I join APC? If wishes were horses, there won’t be APC,” he said.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Credit: <a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/177472-i-betrayed-kwankwaso-amaechi-others-gov-lamido.html">Premium Times</a></b></div>

I'm A Confirmed Betrayer, Says Gov Sule Lamido

The Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, on Tuesday admitted that he betrayed his fellow Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors who la...