ACN accuses SSS director of colluding with PDP

The Action Congress of Nigeria has accused the Director, State Security Service, Osun State, Mr Olusegun Adegboye, of colluding with the Peoples Democratic Party to foment trouble in the state during the oncoming general elections. In another breath, the acting Chairman, Osun PDP, Mr Sunday Ojo-Williams, has accused the ACN of planning to use the police in perpetrating violence during the election. Addressing a news conference in Osogbo, on Tuesday, acting Chairman, Osun ACN, Mr. Adebiyi Adelowo, said the SSS director mistakenly phoned him, on Monday, thinking he was phoning the state chairman of the PDP. He said, “Can you imagine that the State Director of SSS is part and parcel of the grand PDP scheme to unleash terror on the people of Osun State. The PDP has obtained a court order preventing the police or the SSS from arresting any of their members. They want to perpetrate violence and go scot free. “The SSS director called me on Monday, March 28, 2011. After a brisk exchange of pleasantries, the SSS director gleefully said, ‘We have the document and we are in court with it already.’ “I was nonplused as I did not have a prior discussion on any matter with him. When it was obvious that he was talking to the wrong person, the SSS director apologised and dropped off. “The person he wanted to speak with was the PDP acting chairman in the state. The PPD had gone to court on Monday asking the court to bar the police from arresting them before and during the election.” Ojo-Williams accused the state government of recruiting several serving and fake policemen to unleash violence in the state during the election. By Agency Reporter Courtesy Of: Punch

FG names Oyo, Ogun, 10 others as violence prone

Less than 48 hours to the general elections, the Federal Government on Wednesday listed 12 ‘hot spots’ across the country where violence might likely erupt. They are Oyo and Ogun (South-West); Katsina and Kano states (North-West); Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom (South-South); Nasarawa and Benue (North-Central); Borno and Gombe (North-East); and Ebonyi and Anambra (South-East). The government said in a statement by the Head of Public Relations, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Yushau Shuaibu, on Wednesday that the states had “attracted more headlines and public attention to acrimonious activities among the political actors and parties.” It added that the listed states would “require more public consciousness and awareness against untoward attitudes during elections.” The statement explained that list was drawn up after a meeting attended by officers from the Defence Headquarters, Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, NEMA and other security outfits in Abuja. It added that the agencies met under the aegis of the Media and Information Committee on Emergency Management to review the security situation in the country and map out plans for the elections which begin on Saturday. The Independent National Electoral Commission had at a meeting with the Zonal Commanding Officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission on Tuesday said that it had concluded plans with security agencies to beef up security in areas considered as election ‘hot spots’ in the country. But it did not name the areas. The Chairman of the commission also said after his presentations at the National Council of State meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, that INEC had made “arrangements with security agencies to beef up security” in areas identified as ‘hot spots.’ The NCS had during the meeting okayed the deployment of security agencies, including the military nationwide for the elections. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, who also made presentations before the council, had said, “Forty-eight hours or more before the elections, there would be increased deployment of riot policemen, conventional policemen, and other law enforcement agencies as well as the military. “This is with a view to ensuring that no chances or opportunities are allowed for thugs, rogues and vagabonds to make efforts to disrupt the exercise.” NEMA’s statement, which listed the election ‘hot spots,’ also said that its technical and Search and Rescue officers had been barred from going on leave during the election periods. It quoted the agency’s Director-General, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, as having given the directive on Wednesday while receiving members of the Media and Information Committee on Emergency Management, comprising spokespersons of response agencies in Nigeria. Calling on emergency spokespersons to cooperate with journalists in providing ‘timely, accurate and truthful information at all times to minimise the rate of speculations,’ Sani-Sidi urged them to be alert to their responsibilities. He also urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used to disrupt the electoral processes. The NEMA chief assured his visitors that the country would soon have dedicated hotlines that could be accessible to the public in reaching response agencies during emergencies. He said the agency enjoyed massive support and cooperation of other agencies in all its activities and called on members of MICEM to extend similar goodwill towards adequate information dissemination. Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of MICEM, who is also the Director of Defence Information, Col. Mohammed Yerima, had commended NEMA for the successful evacuation of Nigerians from Egypt and Libya and for the timely response to distressed and displaced victims of natural disasters and communal clashes in recent times. By Emeka Madunagu Courtesy Of: Punch

We’ll release polls results in 48 hrs – Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said efforts are being put in place to ensure the release of official results of all elections within 48 hours. Jega said this while addressing editors in his office in Abuja, on Wednesday. He explained that INEC’s plan was to collate and release results of all the three sets of election within two days. The elections are the National Assembly, which will hold on Saturday; presidential on April 9; and governorship and states Houses of Assembly on April 16, 2011. The INEC boss also said as part of its plans to ensure the credibility of the polls, the commission would deploy electronic collation as surveillance methods to trace deployment of election materials, as well as the collation of results. To this end, he disclosed that 400,000 staff /ad hoc staff had been recruited and trained to conduct or perform several roles before, during and after the elections. Jega also said the commission had done all within its powers to insulate members of staff from the process of collation of results. He said, “We are now ready for the conduct of the elections; we are pleased with the state of preparedness. “We have recruited and trained about 400,000, an average of three polling unit staff plus a number of supervisory officials. In terms of logistics, we have tried to improve. “We are targeting, we are doing our best to see that within 48 hours, the results are announced.” “We are targeting 48 hours. But you should remember that Nigeria is a very vast country but we expect the results to be collated and announced in 48 hours.” By John Alechenu, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch

Utomi quits presidential race over failed consensus talks

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party, Prof. Pat Utomi, on Wednesday withdrew from the race over the inability of opposition parties to adopt a single candidate. Utomi, who confirmed his decision to our correspondent on the telephone, said, “Yes, I’ve withdrawn. I withdrew today.” His decision came as a shock to Nigerians, especially as he had on Tuesday participated in the debate organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group in Abuja alongside three other candidates. He stated that over the past few months, he had been in talks with the presidential candidates of the Congress for Progressive Change, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and All Nigeria Peoples Party, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, as well as the national chairmen of their parties on the need to adopt a single presidential candidate. He said that at the various meetings, they discussed the need to harmonise their vision and manifestoes into a workable document. Utomi stated that they formed a committee of eight, comprising each presidential candidate and national chairmen of the four parties to collapse their manifestoes into a single document. He also said the committee headed by the SDMP National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, agreed that they should consult with the national leadership of their respective parties to endorse the quest for a consensus candidate and harmonised manifesto. He said eventually, they adopted a single manifesto, adding, “The only thing remaining was the decision on a consensus candidate.” Utomi, who claimed to have initiated the consultations, said he was driven by the desire for a new Nigeria, “not the ego of who is presidential candidate or vice-presidential candidate.” He said, “We also agreed that the four presidential candidates should go into one room in Lagos and not come out until we adopt one of us as a consensus presidential candidate. The meeting was to have held about three weeks ago. “On the day we scheduled the meeting, one candidate did not show up. Since then, we have been trying to reconvene. Anyone was okay by me as long as the vision was adhered. “Everyone has been travelling on campaign but we all knew that we had a bigger duty to Nigerians to drop our ego and consolidate in order to move Nigeria in a new direction.” He stated that he decided to withdraw “to show others an example that it is possible.” Utomi said he had decided to support Shekarau because of his belief in the ANPP candidate’s acceptability, adding, “If he decides to step down for another candidate, I have no objection.” The SDMP candidate said he would inform the Independent National Electoral Commission about his decision on Thursday (today). He also stated that his campaign team had been ‘technically disbanded.” By Emeka Madunagu Courtesy Of: Punch

Fayemi warns against rigging

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has warned that security agencies have been placed on the alert to deal with anybody caught engaged in electoral violence. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Party Matters, Mr. Tosin Olotu, who spoke on behalf of the governor gave this warning on Wednesday at a workshop organised by the state government to sensitise the people on the need for free and fair elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Hussain Pai, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and Training, Mr. Udat Udodu, the Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties in Ekiti State, Mr. Tunji Ogunlola and representatives of some political parties were also at the workshop. Olotu said on behalf of the government that, “Nigeria has a great future and it is our responsibility to conduct ourselves in a manner that is not inimical to our state or country. Clearly speaking, election is not about war, because war causes chaos, and denial of peace.” By Agency Reporter Courtesy Of: Punch

Court fines EFCC N10m for sealing off Fayose’s residence

A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Wednesday faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for forcibly sealing off the residence of a former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, located in Government Reserved Area, Iyaganku Quarters, Ibadan. The presiding judge, Justice Jonathan Shakarho, held that since no order was made on the former governor to forfeit the property to the Federal Government, the action of the commission’s officials amounted to malicious embarrassment to the applicant. He therefore slammed a N10m damages against the anti-graft body. Operatives of the EFCC had on September 29, 2010 stormed the premises of the former governor and sealed it off. The commission caused the picture of the sealed properties to be published in major national newspapers the following day. The incident forced Fayose to approach the court to enforce his fundamental human rights. Delivering his judgment, Justice Shakarho also restrained the commission, his agents, privies or anyone or organisation acting on its behalf from further issuing what he called “misleading press statements, publishing pictures of the applicant’s residence and or procuring the release of any misleading information in the print media, in any manner.” He further restrained the EFCC from sealing off the property or from engaging in any manner of infringement of the fundamental and constitutional rights of the former governor. The former governor had asked the court, among others, to issue an order confirming and enforcing his fundamental rights to fair hearing, dignity of human person, liberty, private and family life and to own immovable property; an order restraining the respondent from issuing misleading press statements or publishing the picture of the house in the media; N50 million damages and any other order the court may deem fit. His application as supported with an 18-paragraph affidavit wherein he claimed that the officials of the commission intruded in his family’s privacy and caused the picture of the said house to be printed in the media. By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch

Omisore is not popular – Omoworare

Action Congress of Nigeria candidate for Osun-East senatorial district, Mr Jide Omoworare, in this interview with TUNDE ODESOLA, says the ACN will win all elections in the state. Excerpts: It is believed that the Peoples Democratic Party is powerful in Ife, where your major opponent, Senator Iyiola Omisore, hails from. No, the PDP is not popular, it is only notorious and we must not mistake notoriety for popularity. PDP is an ugly blot on the white cotton of the Nigerian nation. The PDP is an albatross, which has become a burden and a shame to its members. If there are employment opportunities in the country, the PDP will witness emasculation and ultimate death because it is full of people, who are desperately in need of rehabilitation. Can you imagine the manner in which the PDP celebrated the release of Chief Bode George, who was imprisoned on corruption charges? The forthcoming elections will show the PDP that money doesn’t solve all problems. The Osun ACN has carried out an independent opinion poll, which revealed that the ACN will win by a landslide. Omisore had long hit the road campaigning to be governor while your party was pursuing its governorship mandate. Don’t you think you’ve left campaigning a bit little too late? The long time Omisore had embarked on campaigning will pale into insignificance when compared with the unprecedented acceptability with which Osun people received the ACN when the Appeal Court panel courageously nullified the illegal government of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola on November 24, 2010. For three and a half years, the PDP bestrode Osun like a drunken sailor, putting every foot wrong and incurring the anger and curses of the masses. The PDP is hated because of the failure of its government at the local, state and federal levels. This is why PDP rallies have been marked by low attendance. Omosore is not popular at all in Ife or any other part of the state. It was in Ife that Samson Olanrewaju was killed on April 14, 2007 and several others maimed and brutalised. All these people and their families still live in Ife; they won’t want a repeat of senseless killings and misgovernment. The PDP are tired of the PDP. I will beat Omisore in the 106 wards in Osun-East. I will defeat him in the 42 wards in Ife and 62 wards in Ijesa Land. What’s your manifesto? If elected, I will canvass true federalism; seek a change in who appoints the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission and Resident Electoral Commissioners. As it is, Prof Attahiru Jega cannot transfer RECs. Only the President of the country can do that. I will network with like minds so that Nigerians in the Diaspora should be able to vote. I will seek a functional rail system and encourage proper funding of INEC – INEC’s funding should not be determined by any of the three arms of government. I have a paradigm I wish to explore in creating employment opportunities for the people of my district. Mining is a critical segment that has been left unexploited by the Oyinlola administration. Timber is an enormous source of wealth in my senatorial district and I have a blueprint designed to explore this natural resource. Many people see you as a Lagos-based politician, who does not know the Osun terrain... It would be mischievous of anybody to say I’m a Lagos-based politician when I was born in Ile-Ife, where I had my primary, secondary and university education. I studied law at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University. I would have gone to Law School in Ile-Ife if there were a Law School there. As a grandson of the late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi – my mother being a daughter of the late monarch – I don’t know who could be more Ife than me. Omisore was based in Lagos before he moved back to Osun for politics. Chief Bisi Akande was in Lagos and Ibadan before he became governor. Former governor Isiaka Adeleke was in the United States before he became governor. Oyinlola was in Lagos and the United Kingdom before he became governor. My governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, was based in Lagos, where he served the Lagos State Government meritoriously. He was a true ambassador of Osun State. I was a Majority Leader in the Lagos State House of Assembly, where I served to the best of my ability. My supporters in Lagos did not want me to come down to Osun to run because they felt they would not have direction if I left. They wondered what I was coming to do in Osun but the dream will be actualised in our presence in a few days. By TUNDE ODESOLA Courtesy Of: Punch

Appeal court adjourns Oni’s application indefinitely

The Court of Appeal in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday adjourned indefinitely, the appeal filed by ousted Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni, seeking a redress over his removal from office. The appellate court also said the report of the five-man panel set up by the National Judicial Council to investigate the allegation of misconduct levelled against the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami, who headed the panel which sacked Oni from office was important to the case. Oni is asking the appellate court to reverse his removal by the Court of Appeal in Ilorin on the grounds that the court did not give him fair hearing. He further claimed that Justice Salami, who headed the appeal panel by Governor Kayode Fayemi ought not to have heard the case on the grounds of his alleged closeness to the Action Congress of Nigeria’s leadership which was a party in the case. But the presiding Justice Raphael Agbo in his ruling, adjourned the case indefinitely pending the outcome of the investigation of the NJC panel. Other justices in the panel were Justices Stanley Alagoa, Nwale Ngwuta, Tijani Abdulai and Uwani Abba-Aji. Lead lawyer to the appellant, Chief Ladi Williams (SAN) had urged the court to allow him move a motion for the setting aside of the October 15, 2010 judgment which removed Oni and prayed for the reconstitution of a new panel to hear the matter afresh. But Chief Anthony Adeniyi, who represented the respondents, told the court that his clients had filed preliminary objections and counter-affidavit. He said he prepared to go on with the case. Fayemi had last week in his objection against Oni’s appeal, asked the court to dismiss the case, saying that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal. The governor, who described Oni as a bad loser, said the Court of Appeal in Ado-Ekiti did not have jurisdiction to hear the case as it has been determined by Court of Appeal in Ilorin. By Femi Makinde, Ado-Ekiti Courtesy Of: Punch

Monitor election with phones – Aregbesola

Contrary to the directive by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, barring people from using mobile phones in monitoring the general elections, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has directed members of the National Youth Service Corps serving in the state to monitor the elections with mobile phones. The governor also charged corps members monitoring the election to post genuine results, pictures and videos of the elections on social networking media such as Twitter and Facebook. Addressing members of the 2011 Batch A of the corps members posted to Osun State at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ede, on Tuesday, Aregbesola said there was no law barring Nigerians from monitoring elections with electronic devices. By Agency reporter Courtesy Of: Punch

Three days to go: Ogun still a Tower of Babel

Various crises in Ogun State remain intractable three days to elections. FRANCIS FALOLA examines possible effects of the crises on the polls. With elections approaching, none of the governorship candidates in Ogun State can confidently say that the battle is over and victory is his. The three leading governorship candidates in the state are Chief Adetunji Olurin (the Peoples Democratic Party); Mr. Gboyega Isiaka (the Peoples Party of Nigeria) and Senator Ibikunle Amosun (the Action Congress of Nigeria). If Olurin, a former military administrator of Oyo State, emerges as the governor, he will be joining the camp of former military administrators like Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Oyo State and Jonah Jang of Plateau State who have been civilian governors. Olurin, who is from the Ogun West Area of the state mostly populated by the Yewa/Awori people, also has the task of leading the area on a mission towards accomplishing a dream that had remained elusive in the last 35 years of existence of Ogun State as the area had never produced a governor in the state. But the army general is facing a battle not only from enemies within but also from outside. The Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, had vowed not to support Olurin’s bid. Daniel, who claimed to remain in the PDP, however, vowed to support members of his faction led by the governorship candidate of the PPN who defected from the PDP. The state governor at every forum condemned the PDP and dissociated himself from the party. As the South-West coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation, he, however, promised to ensure the victory of the President. Though the PDP cried foul over Daniel’s action and accused him of anti-party activities, the governor remained unperturbed in his determination and conviction Besides Daniel, the PDP governorship candidate also has Isiaka, his kinsman from the Ogun West Senatorial District and Amosun to contend with Isiaka, who had earlier challenged the decision of an Abuja High Court to nullify the PDP primaries that produced him and Daniel as governorship candidate and senatorial candidate for Ogun East respectively, lost the battle in court ruling delivered on March 3. His decision to contest the race under PPN had been described in some quarters as capable of splitting the votes of the people of Ogun West and, therefore, dashing the 35 years aspiration of the area to govern. Since Olurin threw his hat into the ring, he has made it clear that he is poised to run an open, disciplined and purposeful government if elected governor of Ogun State on April 16. He has embarked on campaigns throughout the 20 local government areas in the Gateway State, soliciting votes and intimating the people with the policies and programmes of his administration, if elected. He has listed education, qualitative healthcare, agricultural development, infrastructural development and addressing rural-urban migration among others as the major policy thrust of his administration. Olurin, who described bottom to top approach to development as his policy of administration, maintained that once basic amenities such as good roads, electricity among others are provided for the rural areas, the movement of people from the rural areas to the urban centres will be curbed. Besides, he promised to involve all stakeholders – both the high and lowly placed – in the process of governance so that, together, the state can be taken to higher heights. But as Olurin intensifies efforts at selling his candidacy to the voters in the state, the people of Ogun West Senatorial District, an area widely believed to be the least developed among the three zones in the state had out of fear of losing the opportunity of succeeding Daniel in May, also waded in and are considering the possibility of presenting a candidate so as not to split the votes of the area. An association of elders of the community under the aegis of Yewa-Think Tank had last weekend led about eight others associations to a meeting towards ensuring that the area presents a candidate for the poll. At the meeting, various contributors argued that since the PDP had in line with the agitation of the area picked one of its sons, Olurin as its candidate, and the court had affirmed his ambition, Isiaka should forget his ambition and support Olurin. Seven out of the nine groups supported this position and one was against it. But Isiaka in his reaction in an interview with our correspondent vowed not to step down for Olurin. Speaking through his Media Assistant, Mr. Bolaji Adeniji, in Abeokuta, he said, “I will never withdraw from the race. I cannot relinquish my mandate for anybody.” Following Isiaka’s refusal, three different groups from the area, Ogun West Next Level, the Yewa Awori Youth Congress led by Odu Olufemi and Ogun West Democracy Watch, in a statement urged Olurin to withdraw from the race in the interest of the area. The statement, which was signed by Oginni Sunday, Odu and Adewale Ashipa, condemned the call for the withdrawal of Isiaka, adding that Olurin should forget his ambition. Olurin, however, vowed not to ewxchange words with the groups which he described as faceless. He, however, said, ‘We know where those calls are coming from and we are not surprised It is unfortunate that some people because of pecuniary benefits of today are bent on destroying their future and that of their children.” Olurin, who reacted through his Media Consultant, Mr. Dele Agekameh, vowed never to be distracted by the calls from “the faceless groups”. Olurin is not only planning to defeat Isiaka in the electoral contest, he has also gone to court to challenge the emergence of Isiaka as the PPN candidate. He added that Isiaka’s claim of withdrawing from the PDP on February 28 to meet INEC deadline for substitution of candidates could not be true since he could only be said to have validly left the PDP in March. The PDP governorship candidate, described the process of Isiaka’s emergence as PPN candidate as contravening the nation’s Electoral Law. He said that “The PDP is pursuing a legal case, an illegality has been conducted and PDP or any individual or group can point it out. The issue is no one should be deceived that Isiaka or any candidate put forward can contest the next election. They cannot become candidate overnight. Electoral Act No. 6 of August 20, 2010 as amended by the Electoral Act No. 10 of December 29, 2010 is explicit on the issue of nomination or sponsorship of a candidate for an election by any political party. Section 31, sub section 1 of the Electoral Act as amended provides that every political party shall not later than 60 days before the date appointed for general elections under the provision of this Act submit to the commission on the prescribed forms, the list of candidates the parties propose to sponsor at the elections provided that the commission shall not reject or disqualify candidate (s) for any reason whatsoever.’’ Olurin argued that the implication was that the name of the candidate must have been submitted by PPN at the time Isiaka was in court challenging the PDP candidacy. He stated further that the rationale behind it was that Isiaka could not have been contesting for the candidacy of PDP while his name was already submitted by the PPN, adding that, it would logically rob him of the locus standi to vie for the PDP’s ticket. He restated the provision of the Electoral Act (As amended) that a party can substitute its candidate in the event of death or the withdrawal of the candidate earlier submitted. He, however, argued that: “Section 33 provides that ‘a political party cannot be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose names have been submitted pursuant to section 31 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidates’’. He, therefore, maintained that in this particular instance, the death of the governorship candidate of PPN was never announced nor made public in anyway, adding that up till date INEC has not proclaimed such incident. The PDP governorship candidate argued that since no death had been announced by INEC, the simple implication is a claim that Isiaka becomes a candidate because of the withdrawal of the other candidate, adding that under this clause, the right of the candidates to withdraw voluntarily is sacrosanct as section 33 of the Electoral Act is very clear and unambiguous about it. “However a caveat to the exercise of this seeming free will was introduced in the Act. Section 35 of the Electoral Act as amended provides: “A candidate can withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered by himself to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such to the commission not later than 45 days to the election.” The PDP governorship candidate recalled that the final verdict on the case was delivered by the Federal High court on March 3, adding that it was at this point that Isiaka could be said to have validly left the PDP. He also maintained that since the governorship election had been slated for April 16, the candidate of the PPN could not have validly withdrawn his candidature on March 3 or any date after as such is less than 45 days before the governorship election. “Therefore, it is in contravention of Section 35 of the Electoral Act, the simple but incontrovertible point here is that Isiaka cannot be the governorship candidate of the PPN,” Olurin said. The decision of the court on the matter will determine whether Ogun West will at last achieve its aim of presenting a common candidate for the poll by ensuring that bloc vote is given to their kinsman in ensuring victory at the poll. By FRANCIS FALOLA Courtesy Of: Punch

Daniel sacks aides loyal to PDP

Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel has allegedly terminated the appointment of political appointees in the state over their loyalty to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. The affected members are Mr. Femi Ogunsola, Mr. Deji Ogunsola, Mr. Deji Orebiyi and Mr. Taiwo Jimoh. The crisis in the PDP degenerated after the party’s primaries, leading to the defection of members loyal to Daniel to the Peoples Party of Nigeria to contest the forthcoming polls. The former state Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Joju Fadairo, had recently alleged that some political appointees loyal to the PDP in the state were being intimidated by the governor. Investigations by our correspondent revealed that before the letters of termination of appointment were issued to the political appointees, a meeting was held at the Asoludero residence of the governor where it was allegedly agreed that the political appointees must support the PPN. Some of the political appointees in the state, who attended the meeting alleged that the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Adegbemi Onakoya, asked them to support the PPN or resign their appointments. In what appears as a realisation of the threat, four members of Yewa South Local Government in the state, were last Monday sacked and replaced for allegedly refusing to defect to PPN. One of the victims, who was a former Governor’s Liaison Officer, Mr. Bashorun Soyeye, confirmed the development and lamented the termination of his appointment. He said, “I am shocked and surprised to receive the letter. I was loyal to the governor until the morning of Wednesday when I received a letter terminating my appointment as the GLO in Obafemi/Owode Local Government.” A copy of the letter with the headline ‘Termination of Appointment’ dated March 10, 2011 and signed by the SSG, said the termination was as a result of re-organisation of government machinery. The letter reads in part, “In view of the ongoing re-organisation of government machinery, I wish to inform you that your appointment as GLO for Obafemi/Owode Local Government is no longer required with effect form Thursday March 10, 2011.” The SSG directed him to handover government property in his possession to the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Political Affairs and Administration, Governor’s Office, Abeokuta. It was further learnt that the erstwhile Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Mr. Segun Sowunmi; the Special Assistant to the governor attached to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Tokunbo Fakeye; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Niyi Salako; and Dr. Leke Otegbeye, the son of the late elder statesman, were also said to be under pressure to denounce the PDP. Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Sina Kawonise, debunked the claim, saying at no time did Daniel sacked anyone in his cabinet because of his/or her affiliation. Kawonise, who reacted through a text message said, ‘’This is to formally disclaim the falsehood that Governor Gbenga Daniel has sacked members of his cabinet who refused to join the PPN. Governor Daniel did not sack anyone in his cabinet because of his/her political affiliation. Governor Daniel himself remains in PDP and continues to solicit votes for President Goodluck Jonathan in all the PPN’s rallies he attends. “I must also use this opportunity to alert the general public of the evil ploy of some elements in Ogun State who have little or no significant following in the state to peddle falsehood against the government and governor of Ogun State in order to weaken his potent political structure, confused the good people of Ogun State, particularly the voters and subvert the electoral and democratic process,” the commissioner stressed. He claimed that the political appointees were sacked was as a result of dereliction of duty and not because of their political affiliation. By Francis Falola Courtesy Of: Punch

PRESIDENTIAL RACE: Atiku, IBB, Gusau silent

By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & DAPO AKINREFON LAGOS – THE 2011 presidential contest was, last night, enveloped in a game of intrigues over possible alliances by opposition parties against the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The intrigues being laced around plans to build a consensus Northern presidential candidate came against the background of reports that three former presidential aspirants of the PDP from the North had lent their political machines in the Southwest behind the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, one of the three aspirants was, however, non committal on the issue, yesterday, as he affirmed that he was keeping his options on the April 9 presidential contest open. Vanguard learnt that Atiku was carefully avoiding contacts with any of the presidential candidates. Associates of former President Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Aliyu Gusau were, however, divided on the Buhari option. The confusion was further heightened last night after the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, at the end of a meeting kept mute. Atiku, Babangida and Gusau were reportedly present at the meeting, and no communiqué was issued at the end. However, normally reliable sources in the NPLF told Vanguard that Babangida, Atiku and Gusau had already lent their machines in the Southwest to Buhari. One source within the movement said: “We have decided to support Buhari and the structures in the Southwest are now actively working to strengthen Buhari in the region.” Reaction from Buhari’s team Repeated efforts to get a reaction from Buhari’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, on the development were unsuccessful at press time. Atiku’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, flatly denied any collaboration between Atiku and Buhari in the Southwest. He told Vanguard: “It is not true and Atiku has declined to meet with any of the presidential candidates. It is not for nothing that though there have been requests that he has decided to put his distance to all for now.” The intrigues and the silence of the Northern political leaders is coming against the background of the proposed collaboration between the CPC and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the presidential contest. The two parties are expected to meet early next week to take a decision that may entail one of the parties stepping down its presidential candidate in order to allow a united front against the PDP’s Dr. Jonathan. The NPLF at the end of a meeting with South East leaders on March 24 had parried support for the PDP’s Jonathan saying in a communiqué that their followers should support only those candidates in support of zoning. Courtesy Of: Vanguard

Induction training for new govs to begin May 17 – NGF

The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that newly elected and re-elected governors will undergo induction training from May 17 to 19, at a venue yet to be determined. Saraki, who is also the Governor of Kwara State, briefed journalists at the end of the forum’s meeting, which started on Monday night and ended in the early hours of Tuesday. He also said the governors were committed to free elections and were ready to do everything to make sure that the elections were credible. Saraki added that they were ready to lose their seats, as long as the elections were free and fair. He said, “If losing elections is one of the sacrifices the governors will make in order to have free and fair elections, then it would not be too much.” The forum called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct peaceful elections. Saraki added, “At our meeting, we deliberated on a number of issues, which included the forthcoming elections and the security situations in the country. “We want to have credible elections in the country and all the governors are ready to win or lose gallantly. “We also implored the INEC to be alive to its responsibilities by conducting free and fair elections.” The meeting, which was said to be an emergency one, also discussed the minimum wage for workers. Saraki said that the governors would take up the issue together with Personal Income Tax, and the Review of the Revenue with the National Assembly, saying their implementation would have negative implications on the states. The governors, according to him, agreed that a liaison be set up with the National Assembly to tackle some of the issues that could affect the revenue of the states. The Governor of Anambra State, who is also the Vice Chairman of the forum, Mr. Peter Obi, was mandated to take up the challenges of liaising with the National Assembly on some of the issues raised at the meeting. By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch

Why Obasanjo is the problem of Ogun – Daniel

BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor & DAPO AKINREFON Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, weekend, reviewed activities of the government he has led for about eight years. Speaking frankly to a group of stakeholders in his Asoludero Court country home in Sagamu, he assessed the way things are going in the Gateway state especially the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He dropped bombshells. Sampler: At the build up to the crisis, people did not know that Obasanjo had a direct hand in what was going on in Ogun State. Even when we saw his hand, we pretended as if we did not see it. We did not want people to drag the name of the old man into it, but I think for the benefit of hindsight, from what we have seen lately, I think we can confirm and conclude without mincing words that there is one person who is at the center of a large chunk of the political crisis we have witnessed in Ogun State, in the last ten years – that is Obasanjo. Excerpts: Specially, we have had challenges in Ogun State- what I call challenges of right and wrong, but people will say right and wrong is a perception of individuals. Those are the things that we found difficult to live with. There are characters that we try to treat nicely. Now, I understand the meaning of keeping official secrets for ten years because certain things I have seen and known I cannot say because, if I say them, it would create more problems for the polity. And so, maturely, I have to swallow some of these things. Obasanjo, cause of Ogun crisis At the build up to the crisis, people did not know that Obasanjo had a direct hand in what was going on in Ogun State. Even when we saw his hand, we pretended as if we did not see it. We did not want people to drag the name of the old man into it, but I think from the benefit of hindsight, from what we have seen lately, I think we can confirm and conclude without mincing words that a large chunk of the political crisis we have witnessed in Ogun State, in the last ten years, there is one person who is at the center of it all and that is Obasanjo. I’m still at a loss of what the problem is? I still do not know what exactly I have done or have not done since he (Obasanjo) has not told me till now, despite all the re-union and meetings we have had. He has to come and tell the world to say what the problem really is; then he has to give me the chance to tell my side of the story. It is not that we did not know that Obasanjo is a peculiar character We thought that we were managing him properly, but I guess when he came back home, and there was not much to do nationally, he focused himself on Ogun State. He then created, what you can call a centre of opposition; and he was available for everybody and anybody who had anything to say. I asked him what if somebody comes to report me (Daniel) to you (Obasanjo) as chairman of the PDP BOT. My expectation would be that you call me and say “governor, where are you? Meet me at the Hilltop to respond to what somebody has said about you or you make correction”. It is part of the system and there is nothing absolutely wrong about it. But I did not get that opportunity; instead what I got was for him to create an opposition and that is what I have been made to manage for years. We managed it to the extent that, eight years later, I’m particularly proud that there has not been a break down of law and order in Ogun State, despite all the forces against us. We have not had a situation where 147 vehicles were burnt, where somebody was killed or burnt alive. It has not happened in Ogun State. Despite all the verbal warfare that you see, I don’t want to tell you what went into that, but let us give God thanks. I’m hoping we have this election; it will come and go and after these challenges, one can boldly say one was been able to steer the ship for eight years without it not breaking down. As those intrigues were going on – some of them are tribal– but there are a lot of things Obasanjo has to tell the whole world. If he (Obasanjo) does, then I will open up. Petition to EFCC I heard he has written a petition to the EFCC, and we have challenged EFCC to come forward with that petition, but they have not. If Obasanjo feels strong enough to write a petition against a sitting governor, if he is not a coward, he should be able to copy that governor to say: ‘I have written a petition against you and this is a copy of the petition’. I can only believe or assume that it is not true. One newspaper reported it and no other paper said anything about it, but because it was speculative and we heard it in the media, we felt for whatever it is worth, let the Attorney General write to the EFCC so that the copy of the petition can come out. While we are still in government, we can dig out the facts because it is in the public court. It should be brought out for the world to see. As I speak with you, it is still in the speculative and that was why I challenge anybody who had any information about any missing dime of Ogun State to say so publicly. Fraud is fraud and if something has gone wrong, it has gone wrong. What we run in Ogun State, is completely open. I think this is part of the deliberate ploy, because most of the time, what people want to believe about public deterrents is the negative. I don’t want to walk on the street and someone will accuse me of something I know nothing of, because someone has written a petition which he is not bold enough to bring forward. If it’s about the soul of Ogun State, we had a process. In all these, I have faced the opposition for about five to six years, fair enough and in all that, we kept doing our work. This is the beauty of democracy; that even if there are issues, you can battle it. The next judgment day for politicians is election day and part of what I have always maintained is that there can’t be two parallel primaries. It is so unfortunate but if that is what it is all about, there were no two primaries in Ogun State. Somehow, the thing crept into the lexicon of the media, they now started hammering that there were two primaries. There were no two primaries in Ogun State. Each party has its own rules and regulations, the party like ACN did not do elaborate primaries, that is their system and style and nobody quarrels about it. Everybody knows that in terms of primaries, PDP is very strict about it and quite articulate in the way they conduct their primaries. If you can give me, for instance, the delegates list which was used for the presidential primaries, the Ogun State primaries was conducted by people from Abuja. The delegates are not just people you bring from the market and ask them to come and vote at the primaries, we need to educate our people with facts of what is happening in Ogun State. Two kinds of delegates There are two types of delegates: you can be a delegate by two means. What they call statutory delegate and the delegate who emerged through elections. Those are the delegates who emerge through elections. Those are the two types of delegates. The statutory delegates include the President, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, all National Assembly members, the Governor, his deputy and so on and so forth. They are statutory delegates. The other additional delegates were the ones created by the party and it is three per ward, they have to emerge by elections. So, we know the statutory delegates, they were there by virtue of their position. The other three delegates did not emerge through an election; the very first election that was conducted was the delegates’ election. A team came from Abuja and they conducted elections for three delegates per ward. So, the delegates’ list for Ogun State was therefore the completion of those statutory delegates and a booklet for the list was printed. When it was time for senatorial and gubernatorial elections, Abuja constituted the committee. There were no Yoruba in that committee sent from Abuja, as you are aware, the person that conducted the governorship election is Col. Abdul Mummuni (rtd). I don’t know most of them that came here. The only thing we had to do was to provide location and security, and we did not provide any obscure location. MKO Abiola Stadium was the location. The SSS was there, the Police and INEC officials were also there. They came with their delegate list from Abuja and admitted the delegates into the arena one by one. The election was conducted openly without any issue whatsoever. The only thing is that we did not have enough money to air it live, but at least the local television covered it and we have it. The candidates emerged. After the candidates had emerged, some other people now went somewhere else and said they have conducted an election which nobody has any visual of. There were no SSS, no policemen, no INEC, no national representative from Abuja present and they then provided a parallel list.. The people who conducted the elections here, went back to Abuja with the result of the elections that they conducted. The Abuja office of the PDP dutifully submitted the list to INEC and said that is the list. We thought that is the first stage of the moving forward in Ogun State. Let me say that the injunction was obtained by somebody called Kashamu. The day I asked the Director of the State Security whether he had heard the name Kashamu, he said ‘yes’, that he has about seven different names in their security records. That is my SSS director for Ogun State. It is not that they do not know the person or what he stands for; and if they have seven different names, I think that speaks volume and that is why I am finding it difficult to understand. It is actually Kashamu that went to get the injunction. What we were told was that Baba (Obasanjo) just told him (Kasamu) that ‘I’m interested in Olurin to be the next governor and Iyabo to be Senator for Ogun Central, any other thing that you want, you can have it’. Kasamu then wrote the names of all those he wanted on the PDP list and gave it to Kafarati; Justice Kanfarati gave his judgment and said that is the list for the PDP in Ogun State. All of a sudden, Tunde Oladunjoye became deputy governorship candidate. He still stands indicted of the Justice Shomolu Committee. There is a white paper to that effect. Kuye’s best political hand is a Senator Lekan Mustapha. He couldn’t get any room in Kashamu’s list. Senator Mustapha is now flying the banner of Labor Party. All the people that were Baba’s coalition of the opposition against OGD in Ogun State – a large number of them– have moved to other parties. Awosedo is flying the Labour party flag; Akinlade is with the ACN, Remi Hassan, the former Deputy Speaker is flying the ACN flag; Tokunbo Oshin is flying the Labour flag and so and so forth. Those were the coalition that Baba built up to fight OGD. In my Senatorial district, I won my own primaries, and the rest is history. Kashamu is somebody I don’t even know, not to talk of meeting him face to face. I have been governor for eight years. So, beyond Iyabo and Olurin, I don’t know of anybody who is in that original list, but later on, Kashamu started playing his card. He now started changing the list. I was told, for instance, that Hon. Amusan, who originally wanted to contest for senate during the authentic primaries, has found his way into the Kashamu list now. We were told that Kashamu charged him (Amusan) N100 million. I have confirmation of when he (Amusan) paid a deposit of N30 million, that one I know of, but I was told that he finally had to pay N100 million to get that ticket. My own man representing Shagamu, was said to have paid N100 million to the kingpin they call Kashamu. I am told that for the level of House of Assembly, depending on the capacity of your pocket, you pay between N10 to N25 million to get the ticket. It has become something that is regrettable apart from the monetary aspect of it, it has become a game. While that one lasted, for consistency, I began working for Jonathan. I stayed in the PDP, the people got annoyed, they moved to PPN. Of course, I encouraged them at the beginning but later discouraged them because I felt there was need to get the bigger process to a logical conclusion. Since our lawyers had gone to court and assured us that except something fundamentally goes wrong, this is a straight forward case. Whatever injunction that Kafarati gave, they assured us that he would the judge would reverse himself. We had four SANs. Lateef Fagbemi was the one who led the team of lawyers and they were just saying we had a good case. But, lo and behold, they went to court and Kafarati re-confirmed his order based on even much more spurious decisions. I waited in the PDP because the president spoke nicely. I now said alright, if you can make an offer, I can then go and talk to the people to come back to the PDP. No offer came and it just appeared that they were just waiting for the deadline instead of the offer. Rather than make an offer to the people, who have been wronged, no offer came; instead all manner of games were being played so much so that there was really no basis to remain in the party. That is the PPN story. Courtesy Of: Vanguard

Governors restate commitment to violence free elections

In the wake of the spate of electoral violence that recently broke out� in some states in the country, the Nigeria Governors Forum has restated its commitment to ensure that the April polls are free,� fair and violence free. Chairman of the forum and governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, said this after an emergency meeting of the forum in Abuja. Saraki also revealed that the governors also agreed that members contest the elections fairly. Meanwhile, civil society organisations working on the April 2011 general elections have expressed concern that the raging violence across several states of the country poses serious threats to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections across the country. Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the executive director of Committee for the Defence of Democracy, Dr Jibrin Ibrahim who spoke on behalf of the group says the unprecedented level of violence that have seen several people either killed, maimed, kidnapped or intimidated for political reasons poses a significant threat to the general elections. The group under the umbrella of Nigeria Elections Situation Room attributed the increasing violence to the actions of some incumbent governors who prevented opposition parties from equal access to public venues for campaigns. Dr Ibrahim however expressed optimism that a violence-free election can be held if Nigerian youths resist being recruited as thugs by political parties. Courtesy Of: Channels tv

Debate: I didn’t ask for questions in advance – Jonathan

Ahead of the presidential debate slated for today (Tuesday) by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday denied asking for questions in advance, the reason advanced by some candiadtes to boycott the debate. He said he never asked for likely questions as a precondition for his participation in any presidential debate. He spoke through the Deputy Director-General of his Campaign Organisation and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, and former presidential aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe, during a visit to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, venue of the debate to ascertain the preparedness of the organisers. Speaking with journalists, Maduekwe said, “It is unfortunate if anyone could make that kind of suggestion that the President asked for advance questions. “It is my opinion that if you want to be a president, you must respect the office. The office is bigger than whoever occupies it. If it is bigger than who occupies it, then it is even much bigger than those who want to occupy it. “Comments that are intended to denigrate the president denigrate all of us even if we are not in support of Jonathan. To suggest that the president of Nigeria, a university scholar and a don will want to see questions in advance before he engages in debate is the height of vile propaganda masquerading as politics. Can I say categorically there was no such thing.” Scoring the organisers high, Maduekwe said there was no need changing the organisers of an event, who had performed creditably in the past. He also underscored the need for the debate, saying Nigerians “need to make an informed choice. Our democratic journey needs to continually improve and this is an opportunity for us to benchmark that improvement.’’ Maduekwe also urged political parties not to use the debate as an opportunity to get at each other by making inciting and provocative comments. Explaining the Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo’s preference to participate in the BON debate to the one organised by NN24, he said it was due to the capacity of the audience it could reach and the expected impact. He said, “We should be united on the need for Nigeria to have a platform that they are familiar with and has the widest reach because ultimately what this seek to achieve is the widening of democratic space; but we cannot achieve this if the platform that is being used does not have the kind of reach the previous organiser had. We have to be moving forward and not backward”. He said no aide of any sitting president will advise him to go to a debate with a mindset. To him, candidates of other political parties could say things that are not correct and not supported by facts and it will be gloss over adding, but definitely not a sitting president. “Presidents don’t just come and speak without adequate preparation. What a president says can have a serious consequence,” he said. By Friday Olokor, Abuja Courtesy Of: PUnch

PDP’ll win Ogun without Daniel – Bankole

A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State and former National Vice Chairman of the defunct All Peoples Party, Chief Alani Bankole, on Monday vowed that the PDP would defeat other political parties in the state even without the support of the state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Daniel, it will be recalled, had vowed not to support the PDP candidates in the state at the forthcoming polls as a result of the crisis that engulfed the party after its primaries. But, Bankole, who is the father of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, vowed that the PDP would win the elections in the state even without the “so called state governor’s machinery.” He said this in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta on Monday. He said, “The chances of the party are hundred per cent; everybody who was part of the original PDP is now back into the fold. We will not make promises that we will not be able to fulfill. “Our candidate (Chief Adetunji Olurin) is a gentleman and he is a man of his words and honour. I can assure you that whatever promises he makes now will be fulfilled. I have no doubt that people will see the difference in his administration; they will see that he is a man of honour, honesty, integrity and very transparent.’’ Bankole added, “In 2003, we had a sitting governor in a different political party, we brought out our campaign machinery and we over-ran the machinery of the government.” We defeated them square and clear so much that they could not even go to court to contest it. It was a clear and clean victory under a governor like Olusegun Osoba, a fine gentleman of highest esteem.” By Francis Falola, Abeokuta Courtesy Of: Punch

Vice presidential candidate can’t speak English

The vice-presidential candidate of the United National Party Development, Alhaji Galadima Samari, stunned those present at the debate organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group for vice presidential candidates of some political parties, in Abuja on Monday as he used an interpreter to convey his message. Samari was among those slated to speak at the first batch of the debate organised for the vice presidential candidates of four political parties. Others are the vice presidential candidate of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party, Alhaji Rasheed Shitta-Bey; Alhaji Lawal Kasimu Funtua(Social Democratic Mega Party) and Mr. Gabriel Ogbonna of the National Transformation Party. When he arrived, Samari had told the organisers of the event that he would need an interpreter, which they (the organisers) had considered a joke. But when it was time to go on stage, Samari, who spoke only in Hausa language, insisted that he would not go on the stage unless his request was granted. It was at this stage that the organisers knew that the vice-presidential candidate meant business. Before granting him his request, the organisers had to arrange for where the interpreter would sit so as not to affect the sitting arrangement already put in place. By Olusola Fabiyi and Olamileka Lartey, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch

Lagos PDP alleges threat to credible elections

With just four days to the commencement of the April general elections, the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday said the growing spate of violence and crisis allegedly perpetuated by the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria in the state would mar the smooth conduct of the exercise. The party, at a news conference in Lagos, said its members had come under serious intimidation in the last couple of days, saying if the situation was allowed to continue, there might not be meaningful elections. The Lagos PDP also said that the former Minister of State for Interior, Mr. Demola Seriki, the Deputy Chairman of the party, Mr. Tunde Salau and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Wale Ahmed, who defected on Sunday to the ACN were moles in the PDP all along. Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the party’s Campaign in Lagos, Dr. Segun Ogundimu, said the reported cases of security breaches, outbreak of violence and attendant causalities that were experienced in some ACN rallies had been unfortunately linked to the PDP, adding that this had created apprehension among the people. He said, “We have it on good authority that the ACN has concluded plans to sponsor more of such violence to create the negative impression that Lagos State is not secure enough for the conduct of the elections. Violence is to be used by the party to create a general atmosphere of insecurity and scare people away from performing their civic responsibility on election day. Ogundimu pointed out that the party was attacked by ACN loyalists in rallies conducted at Ebute-Metta, Lagos Central District and Orelope in Egbeda area of Alimosho Local Government Area in recent times. On the defection of some of its members to the ACN, the chairman of the party, Mr. Setonji Koshoedo, said their defection was in order because they had been suspected to be moles in the party all along. But in a swift reaction, the former publicity secretary of the party said they (the defectors) did not expect to hear anything positive from the drowning PDP. He, however, said they (the defectors) were committed members of the PDP who did their best to bring the party back on track in the state, adding that they were never at any point moles in their former party. By Mudiaga Affe Courtesy Of: Punch

Ogun PDP crisis: OPC, COSEG protest against judge

A coalition of four groups on Monday visited the premises of the Supreme Court and Federal High Court in Abuja to protest against the alleged conduct of a Judge of Federal High Court in Abuja. The groups also urged the Acting Chief Judge of the FHC, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to re-assign Justice Abdul Kafarati from handling cases arising from the crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party. The protesters also despatched a petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, asking him to intervene in the matter to save the judiciary from ridicule. The petititon was copied to The Presidency; President, the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami; Nigerian Bar Association; Inspector-General of Police; Director-General, the State Security Service; and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN). The organisations, under the aegis of Coalition Against Annulment, included Oodua Peoples Congress, Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Group, Centre for Ethics Development and Democracy and the National Association of Nigerian Students. The protesters, who were led by Executive Director of CEDAD, Ismail Olawale; Kazeem Dauda and Femi Davies, said Justice Kafarati should be removed, claiming that he was partial in handling certain cases before him and his alleged collaboration with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to perpetrate injustice to the people of Ogun State. Some of the placards displayed by the protesters include, ‘UAD demands that for free, fair elections, we need impartial judges,’ ‘NANS demands resignation of Justice Kafarati,’ ‘Nigerian democracy stinks’, ‘Save our democracy, Kafarati must quit now’ and ‘Bassey Ikpeme truncated June 12, Kafarati may truncate 2011.’ The groups further urged the CJN to investigate why all matters involving the PDP always had the special attention of Justice Kafarati. They also want the CJN to investigate for review, the injunction granted by Justice Kafarati which held that the Joju Fadairo led-faction of the PDP in Ogun State should not be recognised as the legitimate executive, and the judgment which declared the Obasanjo’s faction of the party as the authentic faction of the PDP in the state. They are also asking the CJN to reassign the case between the Ogun State PDP and Peoples Party of Nigeria in line with the directive of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court that all election matters be treated in the state from where they originated. Speaking during the protest, the FCT coordinator of OPC, Chief Adedeji Oluwole, warned that there would be a repeat of the popular June 12 impasse if the corruption in the judiciary was not addressed, saying it was a threat to the country’s democracy. By Friday Olokor, Abuja Courtesy Of:Punch

Land acquisition: I’m ready for EFCC – El-Rufai

A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, on Monday, stated that he was determined to defend the land allocation case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2009. A statement by his Media Advisor, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, said, “When he returned to the country last year, el-Rufai had announced that the defence of that case is one of his priorities, and that remains the case. “This robust defence led to the dismissal of the charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja last year, after the court agreed with his preliminary objection that the charges were filed in a wrong court and under a wrong law.” He added that the EFCC’s defeat at the court was greeted with ‘predictable sniping,’ saying he took into account all the protections afforded him by the nation‘s laws and the rules of procedure at the courts. Adekeye said, ‘‘These protections are legal, decent and civilised, and a citizen cannot be expected to ignore them to make the EFCC happy. “The EFCC responded to this defeat by filing the case afresh before an Abuja High Court. El-Rufai filed a preliminary objection anchored on the EFCC‘s attempt to amend the charges after they discovered that they again filed under a wrong law. “Justice Sadiq Umar has ruled against the preliminary objection and granted leave to the EFCC to amend the charges. “He also fixed April 7, 2011 for the arraignment of the defendants on the fresh charges. El Rufai respects the ruling and intends to soldier on, confident in his innocence.” The former minister also denied involvement in any corrupt activities, and urged the EFCC to desist from claims that there was any other prosecution against him other than this land case that is set to commence next month. By Friday Olokor, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch

Court orders el-Rufai, others to be arraigned

Abuja – An Abuja High Court, Monday, insisted that former FCT Minister Nasir el-Rufai, has a case to answer, saying he must make himself available for arraignment. Justice Abubakar Umar, granted the order while ruling on preliminary objections filed by counsel to el-Rufai, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN) challenging the arraignment of the accused persons. Also to be arraigned are Hajiya Altine Jubrin, former Director-General, Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and Malam Ismaila Iro, former General Manager, AGIS. The judge also in his ruling, granted leave to the EFCC to arraign el-Rufai on an eight count charge of fraudulent allocation of land and abuse of public office. Olujimi in the preliminary objections, argued that the charges leveled against his clients had no legal bases, having been filed under a repealed law, the ICPC Act 2003. He said that under the repealed law, the FCT High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter and urged the court to quash the charges and discharge the accused persons. Justice Umar held that the EFCC had filed the fresh charges based on the ICPC Act of 2000. The judge also held that under the Act, the EFCC had the powers to amend the charges against an accused before judgment is delivered. “In this case, the accused have yet to be arraigned to take their plea, so the court can grant the EFCC leave to amend the charge as contained in the provisions of the ICPC Act 2000,” he said. The judge also held that the EFCC, under provisions of section 46 of the act setting it up, had the responsibility to investigate all economic and financial crimes in the country. He also held that the ex-minister’s request to quash the case, lacked merit and threw out the application. Umar fixed April 7 as date for arraignment and ordered the EFCC counsel, Mr Adebayo Adelokun (SAN) to prepare the commission’s charge sheet. Courtesy Of: Vanguard

ACN, CPC back Jega on vote counting at polling units

The Action Congress of Nigeria and the Congress for Progressive Change have expressed their support for the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow voters witness the counting of votes at polling centres. But the ruling Peoples Democratic Party faulted the decision, saying it was not only dangerous, but that it contradicted Section 62 (2) of the amended Electoral Act 2011. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had a week ago told civil society groups in Abuja that voters would be allowed to stay till the end of voting to witness the counting of votes. Jega explained that under the new system, accreditation of voters would start at 8am and end at 12noon. He added that before voting, the actual number of accredited voters would be determined. He stated that the result of a polling unit would be annulled, if the number of votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters. But last Friday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, said voters would only be allowed to “stay at a reasonable distance from the voting centres.” “I want to assure all Nigerians that every vote will count. But we will not allow a situation where people will vote, stay around and cause problems,” Ringim said during his meeting with assistant inspectors- general of police and commissioners of police in Abuja. In the elections conducted since 1999, voters were asked to leave the polling units after casting their votes. Reacting to the development, the CPC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Fashakin, said INEC had the final say on the procedure for the 2011 elections. The party said that it would abide by INEC’s instructions and direct its supporters to act accordingly. voters during the elections. Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said INEC’s latest directive was the best under the present circumstance. He argued that with the decision, the electorate would be able to police votes and reduce electoral fraud. Mohammed said, “This is a welcome decision. Let voters stay and protect their votes. This is the best for the system at the moment. You see, the electorate must know the results and go home with the knowledge of how the result went in their respective polling units. “This again, too should make the Police be on the alert to protect the people. If everybody is waiting to hear the results of the units where they have voted there will be little room for violence. Since voting will start and end at the same time, I think it will create room for better policing of the peoples votes cast.” However, the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Abba Dabo, accused Jega of pandering to the wish of the CPC. He said, “Jega should tell us what Paragraph 62 (2) of the amended Electoral Act 2011 says. What is the provision of that section? Does it say that voters should wait after casting their votes?” Quoting the section, Dabo said, “After the declaration of the close of polls, no voter already inside the polling unit shall be permitted to remain in the polling unit unless otherwise authorised under this Act.” “Clearly, those who vote are supposed to leave the polling unit. Jega is attempting to legalise the slogan of the CPC. That is a very dangerous development . “The CPC has adopted a slogan. It has been asking people to remain at polling units after voting and even cause some actions to be taken. Even the leader of the party has been saying that people should lynch or kill whoever they think is tampering with votes. “If Jega decides to ignore section 62 (2) what he is doing in effect is attempting to adopt the slogan of the CPC as that of INEC. It is quite unfortunate. We are interested in following the rules as agreed to by all. These rules as agreed to by all are in the amended electoral act 2011.” He said that Jega’s position was a recipe for chaos, adding that the PDP was uncomfortable with it. ACN youths had converged on Abuja on Wednesday to map out strategies to prevent rigging during the general elections which commence on April 2. At the meeting, the party said it would not tolerate “incidents of massive vote theft, snatching of ballot boxes and falsification and alteration of election results right from the polling units.” The ACN added that it would not allow what happened in 2007 to repeat itself. The party’s National Youth Leader, Mr. Miriki Ebikibina, explained that the meeting was to strategise ahead of the challenges of the general elections. Ebikibina said it was part of the preparation and demonstration of the ACN’s readiness for the election. “We are going to strategise on how to enthrone a strict compliance for free, fair and credible polls at all levels,” he said. He said the ACN was concerned about the deteriorating political situation ahead of the elections. “With the April elections just by the corner, it is worrisome and disheartening to note the unacceptable level of political violence, killings and unnecessary intimidation of opposition parties by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, especially candidates and members of the ACN across the country. It is condemnable and speaks volume of a failed government.” Ebikibina said. Also at the meeting, the ACN’s Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Wale Oshin, said, “You must know that no candidate, whether councillor or governor, would allow his own children or member of his family to be used as thugs.” The party said it would take the crusade for change to all the nooks and crannies of the country to sensitise and galvanise the support of the people through young people. In a related development, the CPC said it had established voter vigilance groups to protect votes at the all levels of the elections. Spokesman for the CPC presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Buhari, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the idea behind the voter vigilance groups was to ensure that voters were galvanised to defend their votes the way neighborhoods protected their communities against armed robbers. “The voter vigilance is to monitor every stage of voting in every booth, every polling unit up to INEC office, to the national secretariat,” he said. The CPC said it had introduced vote canvassers at the ward level to assist the party build the consciousness that would protect the party’s votes. By Niyi Odebode, Olamilekan Lartey, Courtesy Of: Punch

How I escaped N2.4bn car scandal – Bankole

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has broken his silence over the allegation of N2.4bn car scandal levelled against him by some members of the House. The House of Representatives, between 2009 and 2010, was embroiled in a controversy over N2.4 bn meant for the purchase of 370 cars for the House committee members, but which was allegedly misappropriated by the Speaker. The development gave rise to a plan to remove the speaker by a group called Integrity Group, led by Mr. Dino Melaye Bankole, who spoke as the guest speaker at a lecture, organized by Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, described the allegations by the members as saddening. He said,, ‘I escaped the plot because I did not steal any kobo of the House, If I steal, I will know I have stolen, but I have stolen nothing and I have a good parentage history which I cannot afford to destroy” Bankole alleged that his accusers superimposed the old price list of the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, the company saddled with the supply, on the new price list. “Out of desperation to nail me, they superimposed 2006 price list over 2009 price list but what they did not know was that original prices of PAN have special code on them . I did not know that, until I was told. “The number one exhibit was thrown away following the discovery. They even said that the transaction was made with Zenith Bank cheque. We called Zenith Bank and Zenith Bank said the House did not have any account with the bank , the Speaker or any of the concerned people did not have any account with them, their second exhibit became null and void,” he said. He said he was shocked when the same group after some time later came up with a seven day ultimatum for him to resign or risk impeachment. “I had to come home to report them, let us thank God, the seven-day ultimatum given to me by those people lapsed and something happened seven days after the ultimatum. All the people that gave me the ultimatum were removed from the House,” Bankole said. He stated that the crisis then was over the allocation of members of committees of the House, saying that some members of the group felt aggrieved that they were not made members or heads of “juicy committees”. He charged the youth to see themselves as the leaders of today and not tomorrow, adding that a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, became the Head of State at the age of 29 and former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Murtala Muhammed ruled the country in their early 30s. By Francis Falola, Courtesy Of: Punch

Opposition still holding talks on consensus presidential candidate – Ribadu

The presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said that opposition parties are holding serious talks towards presenting a consensus presidential candidate against President Goodluck Jonathan in April 9 presidential election. Ribadu spoke on Sunday while answering questions from journalists at Minna International Airport, shortly after he arrived in Niger State for his presidential campaign. The campaign was held at Polo Ground after the government allegedly prevented the party from using the Trade Fair Complex and the Bako Kontagora Stadium for the rally. Ribadu revealed that the opposition was planning to present the best candidate for Nigeria, adding that all the progressives were together in the consensus agenda. He said, “We are talking about progressives coming together for at least one individual to confront the Peoples Democratic Party. We are talking about a progressive candidate, someone who is going to come and solve the problems of our people.” He said the issue was beyond a northern consensus project, saying that it was a national project that required support, contribution and commitment of the progressives. “We believe that Nigeria is one and our problem as a nation is the same. The problem that is confronting the North is the same that is confronting the South. We need the best, the most competent president that will come and solve the problem of the country. If he is from Northern Nigeria, so be it; we are looking for the best person to lead this country Ribadu, who arrived Minna together with his running mate, Alhaji Fola Adeola, the party’s National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, and other national leaders of the party, said the broom revolution was ongoing and would sweep away bad governance in the country. “The broom revolution is on and is taking over the country. We are going to effect the change and do what our country deserves. The people are going to see the change when we take over the country. We will be a leadership the people will trust and believe in. we are going to be fair and just.” Earlier, Akande, who was the former governor of Osun State, said that the choice of Ribadu by his party was informed by the need to cede the leadership of the country to younger generation, declaring, “the future belongs to the young ones”. “Since August last year, we were set on pushing forward the youth to rule this country. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a symbol of the youth of this country and by his experience and exposure, combined with Fola Adeola, his running mate, they will move the country forward”, he said. By Mike Odiegwu, Courtesy Of: Punch

George, others challenge conviction at S’Court

HAVING regained their freedom on February 26, following the completion of two years jail terms in Kirikiri Prison for corrupt practices, a convicted former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Olabode George, and five others have approached the Supreme Court for redress. In their Notices of Appeal filed by their lawyers, the ex-convicts are asking the apex court to set aside their conviction and discharge and acquit them accordingly. Apart from George, who was also the former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, other convicts are a former Managing Director of the NPA, Aminu Dabo; Olusegun Abidoye; Abdullahi Tafida; Zanna Maidaribe; and Sule Aliyu. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had prosecuted the convicts just as Justice Joseph Oyewole of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja sentenced them to two years imprisonment without an option of fine for abuse of office, contract splitting and disobedience to lawful order. The convicts later filed an appeal against their conviction before the Court of Appeal in Lagos but the appellate court dismissed their appeal and upheld the judgment of Justice Oyewole. But the convicts are asking the apex court to hold in one of their grounds of appeal that the appellate court justices misdirected themselves when they allegedly lumped the issue of jurisdiction of the Lagos High Court to try them with the issue of the power of the Attorney -General of the Federation to prosecute. The appellants also alleged that the justices of the Court of Appeal, having held that the offences leading to their conviction were those spelt out in the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State, 2003, and that the charge at the lower court was initiated by the AGF, erred in law when they failed to hold that the AGF had no authority in prosecuting them under the state law. They further claimed that the justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they equated the exercise of the authority of the power of delegation of the Lagos State Attorney-General in Amadi’s case with the case under appeal where no delegation of the power was given. According to the appellants, the appellate court justices erred when they held that under Section 174 and 211 of the 1999 Constitution, the power of the AGF is not subject to question by the court or by anybody else. The appellants are further asking the apex court to hold that the appellate court erred in law when it held that the issue of non-competence of the AGF to prosecute the appellants under the Criminal Code of Lagos State was an issue which was overridden by Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Law. The appellants also claimed that the issue with regards to the power of the AGF under Section 174 of the Constitution was a constitutional issue and that a state law i.e. Criminal Procedure Law of Lagos State could not override the provision of the constitution. They alleged that a constitutional point as it related to the exercise of power of the AGF under section 174 of the Constitution vis-à-vis that of the power of the Lagos AG under section 211 could be taken at any point of litigation even at the highest court- Supreme Court. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal. By Ade Adesomoju, Courtesy Of: Punch

I endorse generational change- IBB

The former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and his running mate, Mr. Fola Adeola, describing them as the pair that the country needs to turn her fortune around. The former president made the statement when he hosted ACN's campaign train in his hilltop residence in Minna during the party�s rally in Minna. He said youths need to assume leadership in, adding "I endorse generational change, which Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu and Alhaji Fola Adeola stand for. I have strong faith in them and I believe they can deliver." He said: "the fact is that the country needs people of your age (young) to take over the leadership of the country. I believe we have to allow generational change, which the ACN candidate represents. "I endorsed generational change, because the future is for the youth and we have to support them. That is why; I endorsed and support Alhaji Ribadu and Alhaji Fola. We have faith in them and we have hope in them." Ribadu was accompanied by the national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande and other chieftains of the party to the residence of the former dictator. � Courtesy Of: Channels tv

Demola seriki decamps to ACN

Former minister of defence, Mr. Demola Seriki and five other members of the People's Democratic Party in Lagos have defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN]. The decampees were received at the ACN campaign rally held in Eti-Osa local government area of the state. According to Seriki, "We have been in Lagos politics for awhile, there are lots of difference between Governor Babatunde Fashola and the so called Dosumu. We, the true indigenes of Lagos state, we know ourselves. Don�t let us throw away our votes� "We have worked with the Federal government and now is the time to save Lagos State. They are playing politics with Lekki and its environs. "PDP is dead and after the elections we will do the burial ceremony of PDP. The reason why we are defecting is that PDP is a non people friendly party. They have planned to destabilise Lagos State but we will tell them that Lagos belongs to all of us. The best of Fashola is yet to come." Alhaji Rasaq in his address said, "let us follow good people and not irredeemable debtors. "We don�t want criminals, we will not accept criminals, and will not follow criminals and criminals shall not be in charge of the state in Lagos." ACN chieftain, Senator Bola Tinubu while welcoming the defectors into the fold, expressed confidence in their ability to work hard for the success of ACN in� the coming elections. Tinubu, however warned PDP whom he said were already fomenting troubles in different parts of the state to steer clear or meet their waterloo. "PDP will meet their match in Lagos." While addressing members of ACN at the rally, Governor Babatunde Fashola asked the electorates in the state to prepare adequately for the elections. The decampees assured the party of their commitment to ensure victory for the party in the April elections. Courtesy Of: Channels tv

Fire guts popular events centre in Lagos

A popular events centre in Lagos, The Balmoral, was on Sunday afternoon gutted by fire. THE PUNCH learnt that the fire, which broke out during the 2011 edition of the annual City People Awards, brought the ceremony to an abrupt end. Guests had to flee the venue to safety. The hall was said to have been totally destroyed before fire fighters arrived. Courtesy Of: Punch

Senate as refuge for ex-governors

Oyinlola, Agagu, Fayose, Ngige keep date with fate on April 2, as they seek to revive their fading political career with a seat in the upper legislative chambers, writes Oluwole Josiah. The Senate cuts an image of a mature and hallowed chamber, which attracts very senior citizens in the polity. It confers honour and dignity to any of its members in both public and private arenas. Without doubt, it has justified its acclaimed status with the decorum its members exhibit during periods of political turbulence, in sharp distinction to the free -for- all, which the House of Representatives has been accustomed to. Little wonder that the legislative ambience and power of the upper chamber have become nectar to politicians who have enjoyed high political office, such as governors and ministers since democracy returned in the country in 1999. This perhaps further explains why former state military administrators such as senators David Mark, Tunde Ogbeha, Simeon Uduoye, Ahmed Mana, Joseph Akaagerger and Tanko Ayuba have between 1999 and 2007 made their way into the senate. The attraction became even stronger as the civilian governors served out their tenures in their respective states in 2003 and 2007 making the Senate a vehicle to keep their political career active. After the 2007 general elections, the number of ex-governors in the Senate increased geometrically. Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State, Taminu Turaki of Jigawa, Bukar Ibrahim of Yobe, Kabiru Gaya, Kano; Ahmed Makarfi, Kaduna; George Akume, Benue; Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State, and Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State, found their way to upper legislative chamber. However, the performance of these ex-governors, with the exception of Makarfi, is nothing to write home about. A senator, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, lamented that the contributions of the former governors had remained an issue of concern. According to him, only Ahmed Makarfi, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, has been remarkable among the ex-governors. Incidentally, Turaki and Nnamani are standing trial for charges of corruption filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and they are still going in and out of the courts to defend how they managed their states during their eight years tenure. Despite whatever might have been their performance, they are in the race for the April 2 National Assembly poll under different political platforms. Apart from those already there or seeking to be re-elected, a new crop of ex-governors are in the race for the senatorial elections. For them, it is an avenue for reviving their fading political career. One of the ex-governors in this political train is Dr. Chris Ngige, whose tenure was short-lived. He is of the Action Congress of Nigeria, a platform, from where he contested the 2010 governorship poll in the state against the incumbent, Mr. Peter Obi. Before he was removed from office by the Election Tribunal on accounts of being rigged into office by Peoples Democratic Party, Ngige demystified his former political godfather, Chief Chris Uba, and this brought him to national limelight. But with the governorship poll out of the question in Anambra in April, Ngige has thrown his hat into the ring for the Anambra Central senatorial contest; and will be facing the All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate, Prof. Dora Akunyili among others. Akunyili, resigned her ministerial position to seek election into the Senate, and is seen as a formidable candidate as she enjoys the support of governor Obi. Akunyili is not Ngige’s only headache; he will also have to overcome an incumbent senator, Senator Ani Okonkwo of the Accord Party. In Nasarawa West Senatorial District, former governor of the state, Abdullahi Adamu, is in a struggle of his life to take the seat of his erstwhile political associate, the ranking Senator Abubakar Sondangi, fondly called Dan Maliki by David Mark. Adamu clearly defeated Sodangi during the PDP primaries. Like Nnamani and Turaki, he has a case with the EFCC. A similar scenario is playing itself out in Ondo-South senatorial zone, as Olusegun Agagu, the immediate governor of the state, defeated Senator Hosea Ehinlawo who managed to sail through the wings of the Supreme Court to remain in the Senate in the last PDP primaries. Although it is believed that Agagu is popular and would easily get it by the asking, Hosea’s insistence on the seat by jumping to the Congress for Progressive Change, sustains a rematch scheduled for the next couple of days. However, a major threat to Agagu’s ambition is the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Boluwaji Kunlere. As was the case with Ngige, Agagu was removed by the Election Tribunal and replaced with Dr. Segun Mimiko of the LP. Given this scenario and the fact,that Mimiko and his party would like to use the senatorial election to make a statement — that they are truly in-charge — Agagu’s bid to go to the senate might be as difficult as making a rope out of sand. Kunlere, a former council Chairman, is not new to such contest; he had previously lost the seat to Ehinlawo under the PDP and with LP as the ruling party in the state, it seems that snatching victory away from its candidate will require a political miracle. Other contenders for the seat are Dr. Paul Akintelure of Action Congress and Mr. Sola Jimoh, brother of Jimoh Ibrahim, who is contesting on the platform of the National Transformational Party. Also, in Ekiti State, gregarious Ayo Fayose, a former governor, is back in the fray. He wants to represent Ekiti Central in the Senate in June; an ambition he intends to accomplish on the platform of the LP. Fayose believes that he would upstage the PDP candidate in Kayode Alufa. At the moment, the fault lines in the ACN following a battle between Bode Ola and Babafemi Ojudu over who flies the party flag in the senatorial district may work in Fayose’s favour. Undoubtedly, Fayose remains a grass roots politician, but things have changed significantly in the state since his impeachment inspired by the Federal Government under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. The ACN has taken over the state and might want to use the poll to test its might. He too, has an EFCC charge to contend with. In Osun State, recently ousted former governor, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is the PDP standard-bearer for the senatorial election. He had shoved Senator Simeon Oduoye aside at the last primaries to emerge. According to sources, his ambition to become a senator stems from the fact that he still eyes the governorship seat in 2015. The only way to remain politically relevant is to be in the senate, seems to be his logic. Yet, he has an uphill task in the hurricane called ACN that swept him out of office and ravaging the South-West zone. Besides, the ex-governor has Prof. Sola Adeyeye, a tested political combatant, and former member of the House of Representatives as a challenger. Another senator who has been observing the performance of the former governors in the senate noted that they erroneously thought they would continue to wield the kind of political or executive powers they had while they served as governors. He said, “We can see that, except for Ahmed Makarfi, who is doing so well in the Senate, the rest are just here doing nothing. You don’t even see them often in the Senate doing their legislative work, and when they attend committee meetings, they almost talk as if they are still governors. “I wonder what the next Senate will be like with more of these former governors coming. The situation of the Senate will be worse than what we have now. What experience do they have and would they be able to cope with the situation here in the Senate. That is why some of them don’t even come to the Senate, they stay away.” Mr. Kayode Ajulo is a senatorial candidate of the LP in the Federal Capital Territory. He believes that Nigerians are not getting from senators what they are yearning for. He said, “The majority of our senators perform below our expectation. It has gradually turned into a retirees forum where the qualification is that you must be retired or sacked, and in the absence of the next thing to do, you pick your party’s ticket and move to Senate, this shouldn’t be case. The senate is supposed to be the heartbeat of a dynamic and people’s legislature. Everywhere in the world, the Senate is the totem of parliamentary democracy; that is why it is called upper legislative house.” There is little evidence that the influx into the Senate is for the purpose of service to the people. If the former governors did not serve the people well as executive governors with huge resources at their disposals, it is therefore, wishful thinking that they would have the people in their hearts inside the hallowed chambers of the senate. However, the ultimate choice in deciding their fate rests with the electorate and the next six days will make the difference. By Oluwole Josiah Courtesy Of: Punch