Mu'azu Says PDP Won't Have Landslide Victory But Will Win

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nkDr5u8Pj-u2xxuT7gYiDA3UmcnOF2YBGdiR22EKQvJYhYYbNBoqelLhKKcZiwVPdtmw03tPumMlLZr-0s9IRfFHv64u495R7m5wKT3lWekMviAwNJZoOz_NfG6HP6ZP6h1BQhihVft_/s1600/Muazu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nkDr5u8Pj-u2xxuT7gYiDA3UmcnOF2YBGdiR22EKQvJYhYYbNBoqelLhKKcZiwVPdtmw03tPumMlLZr-0s9IRfFHv64u495R7m5wKT3lWekMviAwNJZoOz_NfG6HP6ZP6h1BQhihVft_/s1600/Muazu.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has said he is not expecting a landslide victory for the party in the general election, but he is convinced that the PDP will emerge victorious in the election.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to Muazu, “While I do not see a landslide victory coming, I am convinced that our party will perform creditably in the South-west and the North of Nigeria and elsewhere in all the elections this year because the evidence is clear that despite our travails at the beginning, we have done very well over the past 16 years of our nascent democracy since 1999 to record a victory. Those who disbelieve our resilience will be surprised for victory is ours.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tony Amadi, on Thursday, Mu’azu also promised that President Goodluck Jonathan will declare a  marshall plan to rebuild the North-east geo-political zone affected by the war if he is reelected.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Our party has this programme on the top of our agenda in the next four years. That will be the right way to wipe away the scars of war among the people of that area,” Mu’azu stated.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to the national chairman, PDP would  win South-west and the North despite “our travails at the beginning.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He added that after three weeks of town hall meetings, PDP was inching its way to victory in the 2015 presidential election.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We shall continue this interactive engagement with Nigerians until  March 26 when campaigns officially end before the March 28 presidential elections, presenting our scorecard in government, our programmes in the next four years to 2019, using the town hall format and meeting our revered traditional rulers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The PDP has a special plan that will see them play more roles in government in the near future via the instrument of the constitution. We believe that the traditional institution is crucially important to the peace, harmony and progress of our father land,” Mu’azu added.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He blamed the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) for the media report that he had problems with President Jonathan.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We are going around the country in search of undecided voters, who are the final battle ground where the election will be won or lost. The APC can continue to stir the rumour mills into believing that Mr. President and myself are in dispute, but we are very serious about winning a fourth presidential election and Insha Allah, we shall make it,” he said.</div>

Mu'azu Says PDP Won't Have Landslide Victory But Will Win

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has said he is not expecting a landslide victory for ...

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Time To Say Our Lord's Prayer - By Dele Momodu | ThisDay

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALbqVviX5LEhyEZF4fuuHmrKeWKxL4AbAkaCOL0hdhbF3daNIHWfvqWGGrFyxK6I2Gqqjx3uW0CQewQ9kIqBIm7UVC6UlCvk7Ur1RXZHBl27DcIDyLHMI292TGh9R9c06lF5QOjj6mD-a/s1600/Dele-Momodu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALbqVviX5LEhyEZF4fuuHmrKeWKxL4AbAkaCOL0hdhbF3daNIHWfvqWGGrFyxK6I2Gqqjx3uW0CQewQ9kIqBIm7UVC6UlCvk7Ur1RXZHBl27DcIDyLHMI292TGh9R9c06lF5QOjj6mD-a/s1600/Dele-Momodu1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Fellow Nigerians, please I have no intention of scaring anyone today but to paint a realistic scenario of what may likely happen soon. Experience has taught me not to dismiss anything as mere rumour these days. I vividly recollect the damage even unfounded rumour can cause in a country so prone to malicious gossips as Nigeria.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Permit me to take you down memory lane especially those who were yet to be born, or old enough to experience first-hand certain events, in 1989 that culminated in what was dubbed the SAP Riots. It so happened that an evil genius somewhere had released a bazooka of a rumour about General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and his family. The tale-bearer had mentioned that there was a story in <i>Ebony</i>, an American magazine, which purportedly listed the stupendous wealth of the Babangidas, including coded accounts in Switzerland, a sprawling boutique in Paris, choice properties in a few world capitals and so on.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The rumour ignited like bush-fire in harmattan just as some livid and obviously rabid Nigerians went wild and took to the streets. I don’t remember the exact date of this conflagration but it was on a particular Wednesday in May 1989. I was a reporter working for the <i>Weekend Concord</i> at the time and was out of Lagos when the demonstrators unleashed mayhem in different parts of Nigeria, most especially in Lagos and Benin City. I had returned on a Friday to my desk while the first edition of our wave-making and audacious newspaper had already gone out. And the cover read: <i>Black Wednesday in Lagos</i>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I immediately approached my Editor, Mr Mike Awoyinfa, a man with an uncanny nose for news and scoops, and challenged him about the lack of adequate bite in the reportage of that important story. My Editor threw the challenge back at me and instructed me to write another version for the second edition. The story I was about to pen was so dangerously precarious under a military regime but I challenged fate and broke down the eventful riots into pieces and took the readers back into its original source. Every newspaper had celebrated the story but they were just too timid to situate the reasons for the total breakdown of law and order apparently for fear of a backlash from the petulant military rulers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> What I found preposterous was the fact that no one had made sufficient effort to look for the original publication that supposedly printed the satanic story. Even the famous social crusader, Dr Tai Solarin, who led a chunky part of the rebellion, said he had not seen an original copy of the magazine. Everything was thus based on rumours upon rumours and hearsay upon hearsay. Fortunately for me, as I sat down to write one of my most difficult stories ever, our Managing Director, Dr Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola, received some current editions of <i>Ebony</i> magazine from our Chairman, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who had just flown in from one of his marathon trips abroad. Dr Abiola, as if in spirit, had urgently dispatched the copies of <i>Ebony</i> to my Editor who in turn sent them to me, and that confirmed our worst fears that there was no such story and it was all a mere fabrication to smear the government.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I must have written one of my best stories ever that night. I traced the origin of the rumours and painted a vivid picture of the allegations. I mentioned authoritatively that we had combed several issues of <i>Ebony</i> and there was no such story ever published. For extra effect, we made a bromide of the latest <i>Ebony</i> cover and plastered it on the cover of <i>Weekend Concord</i>. As I sweated over the story, I uncharacteristically sent for a bottle of beer to calm down my nerves. The Publisher of <i>Classique</i> magazine, May Ellen Ezekiel, had walked in to submit her <i>MEE column</i> which I had the privilege of editing, and asked why I was looking so tense. I told her about my delicate story and she was wowed by my bravery. That very night, she started working on how to poach me to her magazine. What was more, our Lagos edition of <i>Weekend Concord</i> sold 80,000 copies that Saturday.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> My mind raced back to this experience about four weeks ago as I ran into a Nigerian lady in Madrid who told me she had left Nigeria in order to escape election violence but was returning because it was postponed. As I write this, I know of many families running away from Nigeria between now and next week. If you doubt the veracity of my gist, please call or try to book flights on any of the major airlines and tell me your experience later. Election has become a war and a matter of life and death in our country. I was hoping things would be different after watching the peace accord document that was voluntarily signed by our political gladiators in Abuja, before man and God. I was particularly encouraged by the loud banter exchanged between President Jonathan and Major General Muhammadu Buhari. It is tragic that the accord broke down almost as soon as it was signed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I won’t make you more miserable by regurgitating some of the nonsense campaigning we’ve been subjected to by adults and supposed nationalists who should know much better and act decorously. But the situation has so degenerated that no one can predict what would happen next. Now the scaremongering has reached a crescendo. The biggest rumour in town is that the ruling party has decided that it will never hand over power to the opposition no matter the outcome of the election. And these rumours are emanating from some of those very close to the corridors of power. The First Lady, in particular, has not hidden her disdain for her husband’s main challenger. I’ve taken time to watch most of her campaigns after my well-circulated open letter to her hoping to see a mellowing down in tone and tempo but she seems to have charged back with a vengeance thus spiralling out of control. The hate speeches have shown clearly that our nation is on tenterhooks and we need loads of prayers to have this cup pass over us.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The doomsday prediction should therefore be taken seriously since nothing can be ruled out in our dear beloved country. The power-mongers are never tired of trying new stunts. Who would have believed in 1993 that Chief Abiola would win the election and a few people would sit in a room and cancel what had the potential of unifying Nigerians forever! But it happened before our very eyes. Unfortunately, Nigeria has known no peace since then. We have become more divided and stupidly disunited since then.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The actors and characters currently in power seem to want to try their own June 12 fiasco. They have been going round taking lessons and tutorials in how to hold a whole country to ransom and by the jugular just because they must hang on to power. They do not mind wielding guns and cudgels in broad daylight on the streets of a megacity, with security agents in tow. They have reduced the issues of performance and under-performance to ethnicity and religion. I thought it should be obvious that elections are not won by force but through deliverables and persuasion. Rather than encourage Professor Attahiru Jega to do a better job this time, I’ve watched all manner of hirelings on television cooking some hocus-pocus in order to discredit the man and hopefully boot him out. Someone high up even assured me Jega will be removed by today because he would never be permitted to conduct the forthcoming election and it just didn’t make sense to me.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If I was going to dismiss the Interim Government rumour out of hand I was immediately jolted back to reality after the latest warning by no less personages than Professor Wole Soyinka and Lt. General Alani Ipoola Akinrinade both of whom have access to very solid and credible intelligence. General Olusegun Obasanjo had also spoken copiously against it and must have had good cause for doing so. In case some of the present warriors have lost their memory of the June 12 crisis, let me remind them about what happened to each of the dramatis personae one by one.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> General Babangida was the President who supervised that election which Professor Humphrey Nwosu conducted efficiently. After the annulment, Babangida, who went by the moniker <i>Maradona</i>, was forced to step aside and he never succeeded in coming back as he seemed to have planned and designed. He lost to boot what would have been his most glorious moment. Chief Ernest Degunle Shonekan was forced on the nation as Head of Interim Government but he hardly settled in before some soldiers put guns to his head and forced him to relinquish power in a jiffy. Chief Moshood Abiola was deceived into believing that General Sani Abacha would hand over to him after a coup that would flush out the Babangida renegades but it turned out to be a grand scam. Abacha took power and decided to sit pretty and the owner of the mandate was left out in the chilly cold.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Abacha wasted no time in arresting Chief Abiola and kept him for most part incommunicado and in solitary confinement. Abacha must also researched those likely to have voluble ambition to checkmate him and he discovered two influential Generals, Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and promptly hurled both into detention after arranging some felonious charges against them. The latter died in prison. Both Abacha and Abiola would later die in mysterious circumstances, just one month apart in 1998. Nigeria itself went into a coma. Over two decades after, we are still grappling with lack of basic necessities of life and we’ve never had things so bad minus the civil war era which some of our brethren in the East also appear to have forgotten by playing race card above potentials.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The danger of plotting against your people is you never know the punishment that awaits you and yours. I’m sure many of those who brought crisis upon us these past decades must be gnashing their teeth by now. Had they concocted a better Nigeria, things would probably have turned out differently today even for them. Our country would have been rescued from the vermin now plaguing our land. Only God gives power and HE is the one who can take it back.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I will give my last example. In 2010, everything was done by the so-called cabal to stop the then Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, from assuming power. The custodian of the power himself was too sick and totally oblivious to the power-game around him. Yet a few people commandeered Nigeria in his name. At the height of the higgledy-piggledy it was even suggested that power was going to be transferred to his wife. We were all afraid that Nigeria may collapse in the process but nothing of the sort happened because God the ALMIGHTY, as always, sorted Nigeria out. Without anyone firing a bullet those playing God ate the humble pie and left power without as much as a whimper.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This is why I’m flabbergasted that President Jonathan is allowing some rascals to mislead and drive him down that same evil alley. A man who was rescued and raised up by God should never play God. There is nothing more to gain by our President. He is the luckiest man I know, dead or alive. What more can he ever ask for? My advice as usual is simple and straight-forward.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr President has one week to make history and the only way to achieve that is not to end his career in unproductive acrimony. All those prodding him on, including his wife, have nothing to lose but he has everything to forfeit. I’m sure most of those who worked for the world’s most notorious dictators are still around to enjoy their loot while the despots have all been consigned to the dustbin of history. That is the tragedy that befalls those who listen to similarly wrong people that litter our political landscape and I see so many more of them along the corridors of Abuja.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There is a thin line between success and failure. What Nigeria needs is a visibly free and credible election. We need it now more than ever. If the President wins, so be it. And if the opposition candidate creates an upset, I expect the President to ring him up and concede defeat like other digital leaders such as him. The world shall rise up and give him a standing ovation. But if he plays for broke by deciding to fight dirty as pre-ordained by the hawks that appear to have enchanted and engulfed him, the rest of us shall take solace in the Lord’s Prayer:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Our Father, who art in heaven</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Hallowed be thy Name</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Thy will be done on earth,</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> As it is in heaven.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Give us this day our daily bread.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> And forgive us our trespasses,</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> As we forgive them who trespass against us.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> And lead us not into temptation,</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But deliver us from evil.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For thine is the kingdom,</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The power, and the glory,</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For ever and ever.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Amen.”</div>

Time To Say Our Lord's Prayer - By Dele Momodu | ThisDay

Fellow Nigerians, please I have no intention of scaring anyone today but to paint a realistic scenario of what may likely happen soon. ...

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Igbo Leaders To Buhari: Rescue Nigeria From Another Civil War

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpgxGIV8O6nNZr0_ehdOSgZI2yGjy-gIllJj0CGOwDti-M_79Bs3jJx7vyaC8dz_C49FFkgjZbgxbs5dVzSuZYGP2dobdmMj6vSnQlnFGbp3ArrQyqDjAQste5AYx6z0sOnenCf0cYncD/s1600/GMB+Igbo+Elders.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpgxGIV8O6nNZr0_ehdOSgZI2yGjy-gIllJj0CGOwDti-M_79Bs3jJx7vyaC8dz_C49FFkgjZbgxbs5dVzSuZYGP2dobdmMj6vSnQlnFGbp3ArrQyqDjAQste5AYx6z0sOnenCf0cYncD/s1600/GMB+Igbo+Elders.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Ahead of next week presidential election, Igbo leaders in the 19 northern States yesterday declared support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Mohammadu Buhari, urging him to rescue the country from being run aground by President Goodluck Jonathan.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The leaders who paid a courtesy visit to Buhari at his presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja noted that impunity and indiscipline had become a common phenomenon in today’s Nigeria.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Coming under the umbrella of <i><b>Igbo Delegates Assembly</b></i>, IDA, the group which was led by its President-General, Chief Sam Demian Enyama also had the <i><b>Eze Udo</b></i>, its traditional arm made up of the traditional rulers of Igbo communities both in the north and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Speaking at the occasion, the president-General, Chief Eyama described Buhari as a man of impeccable character who is disciplined and result-oriented.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dispelling religious sentiments against Buhari, Eyama urged <i>Ndi Igbo</i> nationwide to rally round Buhari and vote for him on March 28, saying that he would address most pressing needs of the regions in the country.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Speaking on behalf of <b><i>Eze Udo</i></b>, Eze Uche Egenti said that Nigerians especially the Igbo would not want to experience another civil war.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Observing that the country was heading to the brink of collapse under president Goodluck Jonathan, Egenti asked Buhari to come to its rescue.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said: “We are here to support your aspiration to become the president of this country. We know that it is easier to work with you because of what you stand for. We are not ready to be plunged into another civil war and we are pleading with you to help us organize Nigeria again. We want discipline to reign again.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We want to plead with you to help galvanize Nigeria once more. Let discipline reign again in Nigeria. Let the polity be sanitized. A lot of people have complained that the issue about you is religion but we know you are not a religious bigot. You are a very firm articulate officer of the Nigerian Army. In 1983 when Nigeria was at the verge of collapse, you came in and rescued it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We are here to affirm our support on the use of the permanent voters card, because it will bring credibility to the election. We are here to tell you that the Igbos are behind you.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A notable Igbo leader and chieftain of APC, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu who also spoke at the event that attracted the presence of the party’s national chairman, Chief John Oyegun and other senior party officials said that the essence of the meeting was to reassure Buhari of the support of Igbo people.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to him, the train of APC was in motion and could not continue without the input of the Igbo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Onu also dismissed the insinuations that Buhari was a religious bigot whose interest was to Islamize the country if elected president.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Affirming Buhari’s forthrightness, Onu who was a former governor of Abia State stated that the APC presidential candidate has distinguished himself with his track record in offices so far held.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Meanwhile, in a manner seen by many as unusual, Buhari, while responding to the plea of the visiting Igbo leaders took time to explain what the meeting meant to him.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He also, perhaps for the first time, revealed why he joined politics and as such the opposition.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The former military Head of State who went memory lane revealed how the military government saved a fortune for the country only to be squandered by the ruling People’s Democratic Party.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Buhari who also preached peace and unity among the tribes in the country recalled how property and shops of the Igbo communities in the north were secured during the civil war, also dismissed the speculations that he was a religious bigot.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Below were his responses on most of the issues raised at the meeting:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>How the meeting was brokered</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “This meeting is an act of God because we had agreed on our programmes since but Chief Ogbonnaya Onu came to me and said that this meeting must take place. I tried to get out of it by going through the programmes with him and telling him that I have visited 35 states excluding Yobe and because of the additional unsolicited six weeks grace granted, another programme was drawn to conduct some town hall meetings.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I told him that, we were scheduled to go to Owerri and Onitisha to meet the Igbo leadership and business community. So, why not let us merge the two events? He said no, these are Igbos from the 19 Northern states and eventually, I gave up and said let it be done at the expense of our break.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I have no regrets holding this meeting because he educated me about this organization in the respective states which I was unaware of. He told me the details and I appreciate this organization because of your experiences especially when crisis happened in this country.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>North/south relationship during the war</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I could recall the good old days. When it was Christmas and new year, virtually, all businesses closed up in the north especially in Kano. Business would not resume until the Igbos return to their businesses. After the interruption of the civil war, I must admit that the elements of the first republic civil service were good because to the best of my knowledge, wherever Igbos had property in town, there were committees in the respective towns.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The properties were repaired, given for rent, an account opened for them. After the war, the Igbos came back and claimed their property and the savings made. I thank the civil servants of those good old days because the committees were developed with very clear and firm terms of reference and the properties of the Igbos were looked after and they claimed them back. I think they did well. I think that I am the only Army officer to command three of the four Nigerian Army divisions. Again, from 2nd Lieutenant, all the Command and Staff appointments I don’t think I missed any.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> My colleagues were Col. Ugokwe, GC. Ojukwu and they can bear testimony to that. On the political side, I became governor of the north-east which is now six states and spent three and half years in Ministry of Petroleum, twenty months as Head of State and 40 months in detention eventually. I think I have seen quite a lot in Nigeria.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Why I joined politics</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> After going top and sliding down, why did I join politics? There were two reasons which I have mentioned on several occasions. I have to bore you with this because I don’t want you to slow down on whatever you are doing. Keep on trying, God will repay you one way or the other. I was sitting at home after I got out of detention and thought people would leave me alone. I didn't even build a filling station, not to talk of owning an oil bloc and so I thought I had lost their sympathy.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But they kept coming to me and there was nothing I could do and then I speculated that maybe when I get into partisan politics, I would get into a position to be heard and then something happened in 1991 and the Soviet Union collapsed. They were the first to go into space and in terms of nuclear war heads and conventional forces, they were superior to NATO .</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It just collapsed and people just went home and now, there are 18 Republics in the old Soviet Union. That was when I decided that the best form of governance is multi-party democratic system with a big proviso that elections must be free and fair. Otherwise, the whole thing will be a sham and it is in pursuit of that, that I am on my fourth attempt to get the highest office.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>I am not a religious bigot</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In the fist three attempts, I ended up at the Supreme Court because I believe in the system. There is no point believing in a system and conducting yourself haphazardly. I am telling you that I am fulfilled because when I decided to join politics in April 2002, I joined APP even though there was PDP and they were in government.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But I went into the opposition even though there were governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives in the party, but the following year, they gave me the ticket and what did I do with the ticket? I got the late Chuba Okadigbo to be my running mate and by that, I blew the mind of people about my tribal or religious position. In 2007, I picked Chief Ume Ezeoke and again, he was Igbo.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> So, I dispel any question about my being a religious bigot or a tribalist. Later I picked Pastor Bakare and now, I am running with a Pastor, Prof. Osinbajo. The issue of religion has been taken into account in this country.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Why we insist on free and fair polls</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I am very grateful to Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu for organizing this meeting. I am even more grateful that the leadership of the Igbo community in the north decided to turn up. It is important that we continue to make sure that we are broadminded. The beauty of this system is what I have mentioned already.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Let the government respect Nigerians and individuals and allow them to choose and elect those they want to lead them. If that is done, Nigerians will be surprised about how peaceful this country will be. I think that in every human being there is an element of rebellion. If you try to force a human being to do something he doesn't like, he will develop a way of resisting it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But if you develop a system and persuade him to accept the system, then, justice must be done and you will be surprised how peaceful you will live. But if you try to force it, I am afraid that you will keep on suffering.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>PDP has destroyed Nigeria</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Look at what we have suffered in the last 16 years. Most of you are business people and always out there. Maybe you don’t even need computers because your head is just like a recorder. You import and know the exchange rate. Where were we 16 years ago when PDP took over this country and where are we now?</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> How much was the Naira to the Dollar then and how much is it now? Does it mean that you will not sell the things that you have in your shop now because people cannot afford them because the Naira is now about ₦230 to the dollar? I think that as a community, you are more affected in Nigeria than anyone else. You are the ones that go from Singapore to China and all over the world to make the contacts and order things.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> You don’t order them in Naira, but in Dollar or Pounds Sterling or Yen. Now, you need trailer load of Naira to maintain your businesses. Remember what we earned from 1999 till now. But then, where is the Nigeria Railways that we have been talking about? Where is the Nigeria Airways? Where is the Nigeria Shipping line? Where are the roads and where is the money we earned? There are States now that haven’t paid salaries for months. Corrupt PDP governors cannot even pay salaries. I don’t think you can support this type of government anymore. It will be impossible because the worse has almost happened. If everybody is impoverished, what do we do? Do we eat grass?</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Three things APC government must do</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> What we identified in APC are three fundamental things that are relevant. We hope, God willing, if we get into government, having campaigned on those three fundamental issues, we will deliver on those three fundamental issues so that you can physically see. I think that those who are really poor and live in the rural areas hardly have anything to lose, but you who criss-cross the world using your resources, when you are grounded, you feel it harder. It is a fact of life.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> What are the three things we identified? First, security, then the death of the economy as a result of which there is mass unemployment and; third one is corruption.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Throughout my visit to 35 states, I mentioned these three things and nobody ever challenged me on them. We cannot continue like this because this is our country. No sentiment and nothing should make us change our mind. We just have to get rid of PDP and start building Nigeria again.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>How military saved economy</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In 1983, when we came in, we felt that change had to take place because I was involved in the military government that handed over to the second republic and as Minister of Petroleum, I was holding one of the most important appointments. The military handed over a relatively, materially and physically secured country to the second republic.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In four years, three months, if anybody told you that he knew how much debt Nigeria incurred after spending what the military left, he was telling you a lie because when we came, because of the debt Nigeria had incurred, we had to put in place two committees, one local and one foreign to help find out how we incurred the debt and how we were going to pay for it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Together we will rescue Nigeria</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> So really, the question of patriotism is a very serious issue. The damage has been done. You are in a position under the system to make a difference and I am appealing to you to make sure that this difference is made. We are not doing anybody any favour. We are doing a favour to ourselves because we have no other country than Nigeria.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I am very happy with your kindness in coming to Abuja to see me and to support the APC. I assure you that you will not regret it. We are patriotic. Nigeria is our country. We have no other country, but Nigeria. Together, we will salvage it.”</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.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/rescue-nigeria-save-us-from-another-civil-war-igbo-leaders-tells-buhari/">Vanguard</a></b></div>

Igbo Leaders To Buhari: Rescue Nigeria From Another Civil War

Ahead of next week presidential election, Igbo leaders in the 19 northern States yesterday declared support for the presidential candid...

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VIDEO: Watch ANGRY President Jonathan Talks To BBC

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSmVU1SUuX_esVbYmrCg6bHcHuk_qlsnxco3VSiT2AUk-zayRbk47Kj7jcWLp0UFIAFMoaxDUrilPLPunicjk7EZQARN9cphJ-221QSUy3ivI2QNu9zoYC9T2f9NV_3-4UC025t5xxJus/s1600/Goodluck+Jonathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSmVU1SUuX_esVbYmrCg6bHcHuk_qlsnxco3VSiT2AUk-zayRbk47Kj7jcWLp0UFIAFMoaxDUrilPLPunicjk7EZQARN9cphJ-221QSUy3ivI2QNu9zoYC9T2f9NV_3-4UC025t5xxJus/s1600/Goodluck+Jonathan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan seems to have been frustrated and he responded angrily in this BBC’s interview conducted by Will Ross.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The president lost his cool at some point during the interview suggests that Mr Jonathan may just be tired of it all.</div> <br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ejWQTKkC16c" width="640"></iframe><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>Video Credit: BBC</b>

VIDEO: Watch ANGRY President Jonathan Talks To BBC

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan seems to have been frustrated and he responded angrily in this BBC’s interview conducted by Will R...

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We'll Recapture Remaining Lost Territories In One Month - Jonathan

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSCyq69XBrOLK5bdC1Rg5k6YzwZjUNyMRgHIg52_TM0PLksYDXUteTQQCdpW5gkeBuK7ZPzBcdL93ME6oTyFOun4udL4t9-90tRixkJ78kv6NU2o629NptIvMVSx3nBN0P148xww4Uuzn/s1600/Goodluck+Jonathan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSCyq69XBrOLK5bdC1Rg5k6YzwZjUNyMRgHIg52_TM0PLksYDXUteTQQCdpW5gkeBuK7ZPzBcdL93ME6oTyFOun4udL4t9-90tRixkJ78kv6NU2o629NptIvMVSx3nBN0P148xww4Uuzn/s1600/Goodluck+Jonathan2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he hopes that all territory seized by Islamist militant group Boko Haram will be retaken within a month.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "They are getting weaker and weaker by the day," he told the BBC.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But the president - who faces elections in a week - admitted the response to the insurgents' initial advance in north-east Nigeria had been too slow.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The army has claimed recent victories over Boko Haram in a conflict that has killed thousands since 2012.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Backed by neighbouring countries Chad, Niger and Cameroon, Nigeria's army has recaptured many towns and villages from the militants.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> President Jonathan's government has been heavily criticised for its failure to end the insurgency.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The government has made similar claims in the past about defeating or driving back Boko Haram within a specific period - but these have not been borne out by events.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The president postponed February's election by six weeks, saying the armed forces needed more time to secure the country.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Abducted girls 'alive'</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Will Ross in the capital Abuja, President Jonathan said: "I'm very hopeful that it will not take us more than a month to recover the old territories that hitherto have been in their [Boko Haram's] hands."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Nigerian government troops recently recaptures several towns, the military says.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Earlier this week, the Nigerian army said the militants no longer controlled any urban centres in Yobe and Adamawa - two of the three worst-affected states in the north-east.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Recently, the military also pledged that Borno state, the birthplace of Boko Haram, would soon be freed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However, President Jonathan admitted in the interview that the authorities had "under-estimated" the militants and had initially lacked the resources to fight them.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Analysis: Will Ross, BBC News, Abuja</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> President Jonathan may have faced huge criticism at home and abroad for his handling of the insecurity in the north-east but he seems unwilling to concede any mistakes have been made.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr Jonathan clearly inherited a military beset by corruption and one which for decades has demonstrated an extraordinary inability to build up a decent array of weaponry - hence the recent scramble for military hardware including helicopters and tanks as well as the involvement of troops from neighbouring countries.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> His assessment of the Boko Haram crisis is perhaps a little closer to the mark than the euphoric PR statements that are sent out on behalf of Nigeria's military suggesting this is a won war.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Yes, some jihadists have been killed in battle, he told me, but many have fled - either over the borders or into Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains, whilst some he says have melted back into towns.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> They may no longer control much territory but the Boko Haram crisis grew too deep to disappear in a hurry.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Ashes and death in recaptured town</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr Jonathan said that newly acquired military equipment, as well as co-operation with neighbouring countries, had helped push the jihadists out of towns and villages.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The president also said the authorities would continue the search for the 219 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok by Boko Haram last year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The interview comes just days before Nigerians vote in presidential elections. Despite many analysts predicting the most fiercely contested poll since the end of military rule in 1999, Mr Jonathan said: "I'll surely win."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31979524">BBC</a></b></div>

We'll Recapture Remaining Lost Territories In One Month - Jonathan

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he hopes that all territory seized by Islamist militant group Boko Haram will be retaken ...

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Indian Parents Climb School Walls To Hand Their Kids Cheat Sheets

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdwXC-1ihHpySBkOkcxNrmk8656thksNZZIs5RwFX9ooW2Sj3owDwPS3SVqgzX-vp8V_53FD3Qi1mUghXfHPAqegfGSE7AGAXH9hkHbmzxouHq02CK6nOAUkxaCai3Ow3_fyMgP2TTO87/s1600/India+Cheats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdwXC-1ihHpySBkOkcxNrmk8656thksNZZIs5RwFX9ooW2Sj3owDwPS3SVqgzX-vp8V_53FD3Qi1mUghXfHPAqegfGSE7AGAXH9hkHbmzxouHq02CK6nOAUkxaCai3Ow3_fyMgP2TTO87/s1600/India+Cheats.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cheating in school tests is an old Indian problem.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But the malpractice literally scaled new heights this week in the eastern state of Bihar when relatives of 10th-grade students climbed the wall of a school building and perched precariously from windows of classrooms as they handed cheat sheets to children writing the tests inside.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Videos also showed school inspectors slapping young girls as they pulled out cheat sheets from under their tables.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cheating is common in schools in remote rural areas in India, where jobs and seats in college courses are few but competition is fierce. But the sight of parents risking their life and limbs to climb the walls shocked many Indians.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Under Bihar's anti-cheating law, dozens of 12th-grade students were expelled and their parents detained last month in cases of cheating in tests.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Many students in India drop out of school because they fail to pass the tough standardized tests in their 10th and 12th grades.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Education experts say that cheating is just a symptom of the deeper problems that plague India's education system, such as teacher absenteeism, emphasis on rote learning and inadequate school infrastructure.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A recent study by the Pratham Education Foundation showed that only 48 percent of fifth-grade students could read a second-grade textbook.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Authorities expelled nearly 500 students from the tests, according to local media reports.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-indian-parents-help-students-cheat-20150319-story.html">Chicago Tribune</a></b></div>

Indian Parents Climb School Walls To Hand Their Kids Cheat Sheets

Cheating in school tests is an old Indian problem. But the malpractice literally scaled new heights this week in the eastern state ...

Read more »