ARE WE FATED TO PDP OR APC?

The spate of defections from one political party to the other, especially from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC, and vice versa, according to many political analysts is said to be good for the politics of Nigeria today, the question also coming to bare is that how will the APC be able to field candidates for various political seats come 2015 noting that there are so many politically desperate gladiators in their arena. Another question is that how will the ruling PDP ensure that they do not lose their seats come 2015. The aggrieved members of the PDP who defected to the APC are alleged to be the same class perpetuating the snag within the PDP; many Nigerians have said that this class of defectors will be the catalyst of crisis in the newly formed APC, it is also likened to the case of a product changing its brand and not its content, the difference is the same.

Many Nigerian have criticized the national  and economic growth under the ruling PDP for about 15 years, the internal democracy and series of open letters by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR to the incumbent revealed the state of disharmony within PDP. Responses to OBJ’s letter unanimously iterated the fact that the writer is guilty of the same allegations stated in his letters, responses from the Presidency and issues between OBJ and PDP big wigs shows that the former president was neither a saint judging from the stench of corruption during his administrations. The removal or subliminally, forced resignation of the erstwhile PDP chairman, Alhajhi Bamaga Tukur is a confirmation that the internal implosion within the PDP is unequivocal, the big question now is “Will APC be the credible alternative? There is seemingly a fresh air of relief for PDP as the new National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu is set to steer the party’s ship through the boisterous wind of defections and reconcile aggrieved party members in an effort to strengthen the party before 2015 elections, this tasks seems to be herculean as 11 Senators have also cross-carpeted to the APC with speculations of more to decamp. PDP Members in House of Representative, lead by Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande Adeola  requested the National Chairman to grant them automatic tickets in 2015 as an incentive for not defecting from the Party, however, the PDP Chairman have stated that there will be no automatic tickets for members as internal democracy will be followed through primaries.  

Mu'Azu

The coming together of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, CPC, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC to form the biggest merger ever in Nigeria, the All Progressive Congress, APC, which was finally registered in July 2013 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is set to be a revolutionary move to salvage Nigeria’s democracy from being a mono-party lead country. The APC is not; however, immune from internal crisis, recent cases in north and south–west of Nigeria over territorial leadership of the party sends the wrong signals to Nigerian electorate. The same set of politicians changing their political togas for another does not seem to have any serious significance to the objective of transforming the lives of the masses rather than seeking political relevance. The issue that bothers Nigerians today is the fact that APC is yet to come out with a clear itemized agenda for Nigerians. Rather they seem to have concentrated more in exhausting media time and spaces to criticize the ruling PDP. The APC should lay a formidable foundation to educate the electorate on their achievable schema for Nigerians come 2015 if given the golden mandate.

There is no doubt the PDP and APC can boast of some of their Governors doing well in their respective states, other minority parties such as Labour Party, LP and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, can also boast of the same as well as. But the major battle line was drawn since the merger plans for the APC began, with the prolonged registration of the APC alleged to be influenced by the PDP in connivance with INEC, sealing off of the provisional APC Secretariat in Abuja, to the mud-spattered fight between PDP Helmsman, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.  This predicted fight between the two major parties took a new dimension when APC directed its members in the National Assembly to frustrate the passage bills initiated by the PDP which includes 2014 Budget, confirmation of the newly appointed service chiefs as well as the screening of prospective ministers until tranquility is restored in Rivers State. Opinions from Nigerians defer on this issue, some stated that such moves will strengthen our democracy as practiced in advanced country which is considered to be healthy rivalry; some claim it is an act of sabotage and an act of insensitivity towards the plight of the people of Nigeria, either way, both parties have their vested interest in directing governance in Nigeria. The questioning of Mallam Nasir El Rufai, an APC chieftain on alleged incendiary statements by the State Security Services, SSS is debatable when considering statements made by some supporters of Mr. President in time past on PDP’s continuation to rule Nigeria .

Many Nigerians have come out to criticize the merger to be parading recycled class of politicians on one hand and also condemn the ruling PDP on the other. It is ironic that Nigerians who called for a strong opposition party are also criticizing it, these leads me to ask Nigerians if we are bound to either vote APC or PDP come 2015?

There are other parties duly registered by INEC, for credible Nigerians progressive in ideology and driven by the passion for a democratic change come 2015, now is the opportunity for such groups and individuals to identify themselves and play an active role in Nigeria’s politics by contesting or forming another merger if they feel the political strength of their party is not strong enough to win the mandate, instead of critiquing the PDP and APC yet complaining being passive in politics.

My hope is that in 2015, we will have to choose the best among the best and not the lesser of the evils for any seat of power in Nigeria as I hope we have a credible and LOVEly election come February 14, 2015 as it coincides with St. Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love.

DON’T EXPECT A PERFECT ELECTION!!!

…Statement emanating from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the new U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James F.  Entwistle, who took over from Ambassador Terence McCulley in October 2013. Although the INEC Chairman may have thought he was being pious and sincere on the notion of not having a perfect election anywhere in the world, I rather believe that the herculean task and responsibly of being the Chairman of the nations electoral body, whose final collation and declaration of result would determine the fate of Nigeria in the next four years is not acceptable. 

Firstly, the statement is not fair to Nigeria’s economy and electorate as elections are pecuniary and proposed to gulp a whooping sum of about N93 billion as proposed by INEC. Mr. Jerry Manwe, Chairman House of Representative Committee on Electoral matters assured that INEC would be properly funded for 2015 elections.  

Secondly, it will not be fair on Political Parties who must have spent billions of Naira and resources campaigning round the clock to win over voters or in some cases “buy voters” with the hope of winning available seats during the elections. 

Thirdly, INEC is vindicating itself of any irregularities come 2015 elections ahead. I believe INEC as a body should take full responsibility of the outcome of an electioneering process, flawless or otherwise. 

Some of the issues we should address as Nigerians and also question our Dear Prof. Jega are:

What are the indices for not having a perfect election?

What can be done to have a perfect election acceptable by all standards to be deemed free, fair and credible come 2015? 

Is HE Really bothered?

A good leader is characterized by the level of pro activeness and decisiveness in responding to issues that affects his or her followers. In Nigeria today, it is becoming worrisome , the seemingly unperturbed disposition of our dear Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, towards the spate of cases bordering on corruption under his administration. 

In fairness to this present administration, the rate of corruption and maladministration in Nigeria under former civilian presidents and military rulers lead to the ranking of Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. The advent of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2011 was welcomed as a new hope for Nigeria as he was the more preferred presidential candidate, most  Nigerian then proposed a political hypothesis in that “they are voting for the Man (Jonathan) and not the party (PDP) which was ironic as I believe a party and its candidate are inseparable.  The then assessment was based on the sincere empathy that our dear Mr. President rose from grace to grace with the punch line of not wearing shoes in his elementary days in Otuoke and knows the ravaging effect of corruption on our economy especially in the Niger-Delta, He would bring in change. However, the fresh air of relief after his swearing-in seems not to be breathed for long given the rate of continuous impunity in corruption cases in the country.

At several occasions, mostly from church pulpits to the holy land of Israel, our dear Mr. President have made speeches iterating the fight against corruption, he stated emphatically his resolve to tackle the evil menace which is the bane of the degradation in our nation, little is yet to be seen of the prosecution of any official found guilty of corrupt charges.

With so many indicators that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC is labelled as a citadel of corruption where gross financial misappropriations thrives as it is the major institution where past governments have collaborated intrinsically to siphon the nation’s oil wealth, the guise of reducing corruption by the removal of oil subsidy in January 2012 was welcomed by a national strike by Nigerians across the country. In tackling the rot in the oil sector, a House of representative Ad hoc Committee on fuel subsidy regime was set up to investigate the issue of subsidy payment to oil marketers, unfortunately the hunter became the hunted as the Chairman of the Committee, was caught on tape collecting money from Mr. Femi Otedola, chairman, Zenon oil, in order to thwart the report of the committee on indicted companies involved in the oil subsidy payment theft over the years. Since then the case have been adjourned from one date to another and presently adjourned till March, 2014. No one was asked to resign or was suspended.

In the same guise to investigate the near collapse of Nigeria Capital market by the house of representative

Ad hoc committee on Capital markets where Ms. Arunma Oteh, DG of the Security and Exchange commission, SEC, was indicted also with the case of the fraudulent financing of the controversial “Project 50” in 2011 to commemorate 50 years of the capital market regulation in Nigeria. In similar streak, the credibility and integrity of House Committee on Capital markets, chaired by Hon. Herman Hembe was questioned by the DG, SEC as she alleged funding of the committee to attend conferences and demanding of extacode monies amounting to about N45 million. The Hunter once again became the hunted, However, Ms. Oteh has since resumed back as the DG, SEC despite protests and allegations.

Another feather to the cap of corruption in this administration was the pilfering of about N32 billion meant for retired police officer’s pension payment.  The Anti graft agency arraigned Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo and five others on a 20-count charge on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. The recent adjournment of the case is scheduled for February 2014, we earnestly wait to the final verdict and prosecution of those to be found guilty. Powerful and influential people apply inappropriately the controversial ‘plea bargain’ in the Nigeria judicial system in crimes like corruption, kidnapping, murder and rape.

The controversial CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, over the non-remittance of $49.8 billion crude oil revenue into the federation account.

The allegation was found incoherent after the meeting between the NNPC , CBN and the Finance Minister and Coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Sanusi later admitted that it was $12 billion that was yet to be remitted, however, the Minister of finance stated that it was only $10.8 billion. After further reconciliation and political ruse, it was stated that no amount was missing and that the money in question is part of the subsidy payment yet to be reconciled.  The irony of the story is the call for the resignation of the CBN governor whose tenure would end in less than 5 months by some quarters in this same Country where a minister indicted over N255 million car scam is still in office!. Is this to say that the CBN governor is immune to the endemic corruption in high places? Is there justification to his largesse of about N20 billion donated to six academic institutions in Nigeria in 2012 and 2013, where Lisabi Grammar School, Ogun State got N500 million through the influence of Mr. Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor ,Operations, CBN?

Dr. Kolade

Nigerians have lost faith in the controversial Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, a further prove of this was the honourable resignation by the Chairman, SURE-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade, in September, 2013 although he stated that his resignation was not influenced by the alleged missing N500 billion  SURE-P fund. Many Nigeria criticized him for accepting the Chairmanship of the SURE-P initially and they predicted that it would lead to a dent in his image as a credible and eminent elder state man in Nigeria. Many Nigerian youths are awaiting the promise of job creation through the scheme.

The last is yet to be heard of the alleged purchase of BMW B7 series bullet proof cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, for the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.  As usual a committee was set up to investigate the matter –The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation’s report is yet to be acted upon by our dear Mr. President after many calls for her to resign. Will Princess Oduah’s latest certificate scam where she claims she had a Masters degree in Business Administration from St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville, Virginia, US be enough for her to be sacked? I certainly think not, as the minimum qualification to be the number one citizen of Nigeria is a secondary School leaving Certificate (SSCE)… 

I sincerely hope our Dear Mr. President would tackle corruption especially among high ranking officers in his administration by enforcing the combination of the prosecution of culprits with his articulated communication of the gospel of his government fighting corruption in the mass media. This will give Nigerians hope and set the right premise for 2015 elections. God save Nigeria.