18Nov

APC, PDP AND LP Gubernatorial Candidates Call for Cancellation of Anambra Gubernatorial Polls

The three governorship candidates of PDP, APC and LP, Tony Nwoye, Chris Ngige and Ifeanyi Ubah vowed on Saturday November 16, 2013 night to reject whatever result that would be announced by INEC from Saturday and proposed Sunday gubernatorial elections in Anambra State, Nigeria.

At a joint news conference addressed at 8:00 p.m. at Finotel Hotel, Awka, Senator Ngige presented the official position of the three contestants on the election. The three candidates had earlier in the day expressed their dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election.

Senator Chris Ngige said: “Our stand is that Saturday election was characterized by fraud, malpractices and massive irregularities and we call on INEC to put in place another process to conduct a fresh election to enable the people of Anambra elect their governor that will take over from the present governor on March 17 next year. The irregularities clearly noticed included the omission of the names of many voters in the registers presented for the election in the over 4,000 polling units.”

Continuing, Senator Ngige said: “We were assured that the process will be free and fair during the stake holder’s meeting with the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, but little did we know that they had planned to disenfranchise many of our supporters by deleting their names from the register everywhere in the local government areas. It was so massive and we hereby reject the voters registers used for this election. We were assured by the INEC chairman that the electoral process would be transparent but we experienced was the contrary.”

INEC Declares Anambra Guber Poll Inconclusive

THE Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has declared Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State inconclusive. To this end, a supplementary election is to held in the state before a winner is eventually declared.

The Returning Officer , James Okueke, who released results for the 21 councils of the state, said the front runner and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Willy Obiano could not be pronounced outright winner as the margin between him the first runner-up, Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was less than the total number of registered voters in the areas where voting never took place on Saturday.

According to available results, APGA polled 174,710 votes, PDP has 94,956 votes, APC 92,300 votes and Labour Party 37,446 votes to emerge first, second, third and fourth positions in that order. According to Okueke, a total of 429,554 votes were cast, out of which 113,013 ballots were rejected, noting that the margin between the APGA and PDP candidates was 79,774 votes, thereby making it impossible for anyone to be declared winner at this stage pending when supplementary election holds in the affected wards and units across the state .

Meanwhile, Ubah (LP), Ngige (APC) and Nwoye (PDP) have reiterated calls for the outright cancellation of the entire exercise, alleging gross electoral irregularities and inducement of voters on the election day. They are also asking for the sack of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu.

You Do Not Need Court Order to cancel Anambra Polls – APC Tells INEC Chairman Jega

Meanwhile, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, reminded INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, that about 1.3 million of the 1.7 million registered voters in Anambra were unable to exercise their franchise and could not vote because of the late arrival or non-delivery of voting materials. “In announcing the cancellation of the National Assembly election in 2011, INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega said, among others, that it was to ‘maintain the integrity of the elections and retain effective overall control of the process,” Lai Mohammed said. APC said the situation in Anambra last Saturday was even more serious because in addition to the fact that voting materials were either late or not delivered at all, most voters were disenfranchised by an INEC official who apparently tampered with the 2011 voters’ register for the state. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is therefore wrong to say that only the courts can order the cancellation of last Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State

“Therefore, there are more compelling reasons now to cancel the Anambra governorship election than what led to the cancellation and rescheduling of the National Assembly election in 2011.” It also said since the integrity of the 2011 voters’ register has been compromised by tampering, that register can no longer be relied upon by INEC to organise any election in Nigeria. “The emerging allegations are very serious. First, the voters’ register for Anambra has been allegedly tampered with by an INEC official to disenfranchise a huge number of voters, to such an extent that only 451,826 voters were accredited out of the 1,763,751 registered voters in Anambra State.

“Secondly, the disenfranchisement started from the data capturing stage, when the machine was apparently manipulated not to capture those whose names start with ‘O’ or ‘U’ and that is a whole lot of people. Against this background, it is obvious to all fair-minded people, that INEC ‘s computer data-base must have been fraudulently, irreparably and totally adulterated such that no credible voters’ register can anymore be produced from the 2011 voters’ registration data.” APC therefore calls for not just for the cancellation of the Anambra governorship election, but also insists that a fresh election cannot and must not be conducted on the basis of the 2011 voters’ register.

APC also calls on Prof. Jega not to withhold the names of the main saboteurs in Saturday’s Anambra Gubernatorial poll and to also investigate the level to which the voters’ register has been compromised, fish out all those involved, find out who their sponsors are and make all of them to face justice.

07Nov

Buhari, Tinubu, Akande beg Amaechi to join APC

Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, November 6, 2013

The leaders of All Progressives Congress – Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd., and the National Chairman of the APC Chief Bisi Akande among others – visited Port-Harcourt Rivers State to invite Governor Rotimi Amaechi to cross over and join APC. Asiwaju Bola TinuR-L Gen Mohamadu Buhari, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Former Governor of Lagos State/APC Leader; Engr Tele Ikuru, Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chief Tom Ikimi, Interim National Vice Chairman, APC South South yesterday during a visit of the APC Leadership to Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijiokebu said: “We did not come here to campaign but to see and invite. Amaechi has performed well. This country can’t progress on lies.” In his speech, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande said: “Today, the unstoppable APC train, which has made important stops in Kano, Jigawa and Adamawa, has arrived in Rivers State.”

Chibuike Amaechi, a courageous governor

Bola Tinubu and Governor Amaechi Continuing, Chief Akande said: “This is another important stop, because it allows us, the APC leaders, not only to invite Chibuike Amaechi, the courageous governor of Rivers, to join the growing APC family, but to show our solidarity with a man who has succeeded in battling anti-democratic forces to a standstill…. Our party has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Governor Amaechi since the beginning of his travails. We have been unrelenting in our support because our party stands for justice, fairness and unfettered freedom. We abhor dictatorship clad in fake democratic garments.”
“We believe that the system of government that we operate does not make provision for an imperial presidency, who can neither be criticized nor opposed. That is why we told those who said the APC is crying more than the bereaved on the Rivers State issue, that we are indeed the bereaved anytime the rule of law is supplanted with the rule of the jungle; and we are the bereaved anytime a democratically-elected President thumbs his nose at the Nigerian Constitution. Or how else do we explain a situation in which a duly elected Governor, who is known to the Constitution as the Chief Security Officer of his state, is now being made to run his state side by side with the State Police Commissioner, who has been elevated to the de facto Governor by the presidency?”

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Former Governor of Lagos State/APC Leader and Engr Tele Ikuru, Rivers State Deputy Governor yesterday at the Rivers State Government House during a visit of the APC Leadership to Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke“How do we explain a situation in which a state governor is being prevented from accessing his official residence by the police who should take orders from him? Where is it done that a state governor cannot receive visitors, including fellow state governors, without being tear-gassed and humiliated by the police? Or how does one justify a situation in which armed thugs backed by the police attack lawmakers in the hallowed chambers of the State House of Assembly?

Gov. Amaechi has been enduring these and other indignities, without wilting under fire! His plane has been grounded under flimsy, cooked-up excuses! They felt they have clipped his wings, but he is soaring even higher.

In defense of democracy and the Constitution

What is his offence? Standing up for the defence of democracy and the Constitution, leading his fellow Governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to reject creeping dictatorship. But because he provided good leadership, because he has the support of his colleagues in the NGF and because his cause is just, he has prevailed over his adversaries, and he stands taller than his physique.
Because he stands as a bulwark against those who wanted to annihilate democracy and cripple governance, the plan to extend the anarchy in Rivers State to other states of the Federation has failed. That is why we called him an epitome of courage.

Amaechi, an epitome of courage.

It was Maya Angelou, the African-American author and poet, who said courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. Perhaps that was why another American poet, Robert Frost, said that freedom lies in being bold. Thanks to Gov. Amaechi’s courage, Nigeria’s democracy is stronger, and our country is better. We salute your courage under fire, your tenacity under an endless assault and your commitment to unfettered freedom for all citizens. Since the leaking umbrella can no longer protect you from the vagaries of harsh weather, we ask you to jump on the APC train that will take Nigeria to the promised land!

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Former Governor of Lagos State/APC Leader; Engr Tele Ikuru, Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chief Tom Ikimi, Interim National Vice Chairman, APC South South yesterday during a visit of the APC Leadership to Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

Resist Acts of Impunity.

Amaechi and Gen. BuhariIn his speech, Governor Amaechi who spoke to the crowd at the Government House Port-Harcourt who came to receive the Interim national leadership of the APC. He sang: “There is nobody greater than God, there is no one greater than Jehovah Lord Divine.” He mentioned that his administration has done its best to construct roads, build health centers and schools and empower the youth of the state. Governor Amaechi further called on the people to resist acts of impunity. “I came down to march with you when I heard that they locked the gate at the airport against you. We walked five kilometres to the airport. We forced the gate open and I walked with you. We must prepare ourselves from now on.” Governor Amaechi referred to his unique position among the G-7 Governors in the new PDP since he came from the same South-South zone with President Goodluck Jonathan. “I am peculiar in the group of the seven governors. The President comes from our zone. I will consult our leaders, the President; I will consult you, I will consult all consultables. I will come back to you. The day we shall take a decision it will be at the new stadium that can take 40,000 persons. If we are staying (in PDP), we shall call the President to the stadium to address us, but if we are going we shall call Tinubu and Buhari to come and address us.” When Bola Tinubu moved a motion calling on the governor to cross over to the APC, it was endorsed by the large crowd in front of the Government House, Port-Harcourt. The occasion was witnessed by representatives of the 23 local governments in the state, 26 loyal State House of Assembly lawmakers (out of 33), led by the Speaker, Hon Otelemaba Amachree and Rivers State members of the National Assembly loyal to Governor Amaechi.

08Oct

The Jonathan National Dialogue: Conflict Resolution or Conflict Insemination

By Dr. S. Okechukwu Mezu

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“Fellow Nigerians, our administration has taken cognizance of suggestions over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a national dialogue on the future of our beloved country. When there are issues that constantly stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss. In demonstration of my avowed belief in the positive power of dialogue in charting the way forward, I have decided to set up an advisory committee whose mandate is to establish the modalities for a national dialogue or conference. The committee will also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism of the process. The full membership of the committee will be announced shortly. I expect its report to be ready in one month, following which the nation will be briefed on the nomenclature, structure and modalities of the dialogue.” President Goodluck Jonathan, October 1, 2013

The present Civilian Governments of Nigeria on the Local, State and National levels have failed the people woefully. The hope that Nigeria’s civilian leaders would accomplish for the nation what military rulers hungry for adulation at home and meteoric respect abroad failed to achieve has been dashed…. Nigeria, once again is being buffeted by the very same pressures and centrifugal forces that led to the demise of the regimes of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, General Aguiyi Ironsi, General Gowon, General Murtala Muhamed, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Generals Buhari and Idiagbon, General Babangida and General Sanni Abacha. Any Government that comes to power without the will and concurrence of the people is doomed to failure and for such a Government or collusion of State Governments to aspire unilaterally (outside a national conference) to rewrite the Nigerian constitution, abolish or review the Local Government System, drastically change the fundamental, directive principles of governance and abiding way of life of the Nigerian people, is a dismal exercise in futility doomed to quintessential failure. Dr. S. Okechukwu Mezu, May 19, 2007

After resisting for six years the persistent and unrelenting call for the restructuring of Nigeria to make allowance for its federal character and the diversity of the nationalities that have been “amalgamated in1914” to form the entity called Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan and. we assume, his PDP-led Government of Nigeria, are finally calling for a coming together to debate the future of Nigeria and how to guarantee peaceful coexistence. The curious questions that now arise include the following:

Why should any patriotic Nigerian oppose the implementation of this recurrent demand for a national dialogue?
Who should take part in this dialogue and how will the representatives be chosen? and finally.
How do you ensure that the agreements or the constitution emanating from this dialog represent the will of the people or are endorsed by the constituent nationalities or at least a majority of the nationalities?

Some of these questions were partially raised also when President Jonathan stated that the committee will among other things consult with all relevant stakeholders, make recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the proposed national dialogue, make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the conference will be determined and also advise government on a legal framework for the national conference and any other matters that may be related or incidental to the proposed conference.

The 13-member committee which has one month (now extended to six weeks) within which to complete its assignment, was inaugurated by President Jonathan on October 7 at the State House. The members include Prof Ben Nwabueze (who declined the appointment for health reasons), Dr. Akilu Indabawa, (Secretary), Prof. George Obiozor; Senator Khairat Gwadabe; Senator Timothy Adudu, Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd) and Prof. Funke Adebayo. Others are Dr. Mairo Amshi, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq, Alhaji Dauda Birma, Mallam Buhari Bello and Mr. Tony Uranta. The body is to be chaired by Senator Femi Okurounmu.

(A) WHY SHOULD ANY PATRIOTIC NIGERIAN OPPOSE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RECURRENT DEMAND FOR A NATIONAL DIALOGUE?

Several patriotic Nigerians have serious reasons to doubt the sincerity of the Jonathan administration.

a) Prof. Shedrach Best, Secretary to the Plateau State Government, sees it as an exercise in futility that adds nothing new to the existing body of knowledge about Nigeria. Nigerians should join hands to make the country work. The constitution addresses everything including federal character; the way resources should be harnessed and distributed, the way our development should be pursued. It is all in the constitution. The constitution should be made to work and amended where necessary. If we want a referendum on anything, let us conduct that referendum.”

b)The Ijaw National Congress (INC) President, Senator Tari Sekibo suggests that “the fear that the nation will break up without the designation of no-go area is unfounded and amounts to sheer scaremongering. The various organs of government and the panel itself must trust the patriotism quotient in Nigerians to discuss all issues and arrive at practical and mutually acceptable solutions, terms and agreements of our nationhood.”

c) Some officials of Labor have lamented the various socio-economic ills facing the country and doubt the sincerity and capacity of the Jonathan administration to hold a meaningful dialogue on a national scale. The NLC Vice President, Comrade Issa Aremu, pointed out that the “current twin crises of three-month long strike by the country’s university teachers and Peoples’ Democratic Party’s internal war of attrition sadly, under the watch of President Jonathan put serious doubt on the capacity of the administration to successfully midwife a national conference”. He further insisted that “President Jonathan must come with clean hands on simple conflict resolutions before he can be further entrusted with national conversation of such importance since the President’s record with conflict resolutions through dialogue, either with ASUU, his ruling party or Nigeria Governors’ Forum has not been inspiring for him to engage in a bigger macro-national dialogue of any kind unless we are unwittingly going to fund national diatribe of unimaginable consequences for 165 million people. Continuing, the NLC spokesperson said: “A national conference against a background of unresolved avoidable sector crisis like the university lecturers strike is nothing but a conference of diversion, a cheap flight from good governance and above all a waste of scarce resources needed among others to resolve the education sector crisis.”

d) Others like, Kaigama while welcoming the conference advise that issues to be discussed at the Conference should include “the basis of our unity and existence as a nation, the system of government and the power-sharing formula, our geopolitical and fiscal federalism, citizenship, the electoral and representative system, the cost of governance, security, corruption, boundary adjustment and foreign policy, freedom of faith and other fundamental human rights.”

e) Gani Adams, the national coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), has drawn the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan to a similar effort in 2005 President Olusegun Obasanjo to convoke a national conference which failed because of Obasanjo’s selfish interests and illicit plan to use the conference to achieve his third-term political agenda. President Jonathan is therefore advised to distance his interest in the impending 2015

f) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while expressing his personal opinion, characterized President Jonathan’s proposed national dialogue as deceptive and diversionary and a poison apple just a few months before the 2015 national elections.

g)Governor Sule Lamido was right when he stated that the proposed Jonathan national dialogue lacked constitutional backing and was a fragrant abuse of democratic principles insisting that the only solution to the country’s problems is good governance, due process, the rule of law and ethical leadership.

In sum, the Jonathan administration appears to co-mingle the interests of the nation and that of his administration. For Jonathan, the committee is expected among other things to consult with all relevant stakeholders, make recommendations to government on structure and modalities for the proposed national dialogue, make recommendations to government on how representation of various interest groups at the conference will be determined and also advise government on a legal framework for the national conference and any other matters that may be related or incidental to the proposed conference. By implication, such a committee will report to the Jonathan administration who will then issue a white paper on the nature, composition, terms of reference of the proposed National Confab and ipso facto the proceedings of the Confab will be probably handed over to his government for discussion at the Executive Council level and a white paper (like under previous Military Governments) foisted on the people as the new Constitution for promulgation or for further deliberation at the National Assembly with concurrence of the State Assemblies. This would definitely not be a the Nigerian Constitution we want or deserve.

Furthermore, contrary to the opinion expressed by some, the first step towards the making of a new constitution is not to repeal Decree 24 which brought into being the existing 1999 constitution. That constitution should be the template for the new constitution. All aspects of the constitution should be revisited except the indivisibility and integrity of Nigeria. It is after the promulgation of a new constitution by the people that the 1999 Military Constitution will stand repealed. (more…)

27Sep

Anambra Gubernatorial Election – Four governors in Ngige’s campaign team

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State will lead the Governorship Campaign team of Sen. Chris Ngige in Anambra State. Other co-leaders of the campaign team are Governor of Edo State Adams; Oshiomole, Governor of Osun State; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Governor of Nasarawa State; Alhaji Umaru Al-Makura.

Sen. Osita Izunaso will serve as the Secretary of the Committee, while Chief George Muoghalu will be the Chairman of the campaign team. The National publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Sen. George Akume, Chief Tom Ikimi, Gen. Ahmed Aboki Abdullahi and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai will serve as members.

The APC Interim National Committee will on Tuesday to inaugurate the national campaign committee for the election. Other members of the team are – Dr. AnyimNyerere, Madam Sharon Ikeazor, Abubakar Lado Suleja, Olisaemeka Akamukali, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Abubakar Kari, Hon. Charles Odedo, Chief Uzoma-Igbonwa and Rt. Hon. Donatus Onyemena. Also in the team are members of Interim National Executive Committee from the South -East Zone, Hon. GozieAgbakoba, Barr. C.J Chinwuba, Hon. Chibuzor Obiakor, Eng. (Mrs) Constance Iloh and Dame Dozie Ikedife

05Sep

It is about Nigeria, not about Buhari

By Muhammadu Buhari

THE registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) -which was a merger of the main political parties in the country, has generated a great deal of excitement and rekindled the prospect of strengthening democracy and hope in our country, in place of national despair. By this act alone, the leaderships of the merging opposition parties have demonstrated that Nigeria, its future, progress and prosperity of its citizens are greater than individual ambitions. The APC is therefore a platform for Nigerians to have an alternative to fulfill their aspirations and realize their potential with a party that is strong and nationally based. What is more, it will help to arrest the drift towards oppression and anarchy.

Democracy is not just about free and fair elections, the consequence of which parties alternate to form governments. It also provides opportunities for fresh policies to move the country forward. That is why presidential systems have term limits, such as we have but the failed third term attempt is a clear indication that given the opportunity, some politicians will try and subvert the system. In Parliamentary Systems, where there are no term limits, members of the governing parties remove the head of government, however successful she or he is in government and popular with the voters. That was the fate of two British Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, in recent times. Alternatively, provided there are free and fair elections, the electorate will vote out unpopular governments such as what happened with Mrs. Ghandi in India.

The dangers of one party or an individual remaining in power for too long are two-fold: first is corruption of power. Power, it has been said, corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The second element is the temptation to absolutism, the rule of one party has the tendency to become the rule of a faction of the party and ultimately the rule of one person, a forbidding path to a Stalinist state.
Regrettably, after the euphoria of its registration, public discussion has been more about personalities and less on the benefits of the emergence of a strong alternative to the governing party and the prospects it offers to widening democracy and stemming the drift to impunity, where an elected President can say he doesn’t give a damn about public opinion.

The issue is not just about Buhari, but something greater than Buhari or any individual or parts of its whole, it is about Nigeria – its future, progress and prosperity of its citizens, living in peace, harmony, its evolution and integration.

By joining the army, I had signed up to lay my life for my country. This was what my colleagues and I faced during our tragic civil war to keep our country united. Nigeria has been good to me. I was an orphan but it educated me and trained me and offered me the ultimate prize any citizen can hope for – its leadership.
My involvement in the political process is another call to duty and my desire to give back to Nigeria a little of what it gave me, by joining hands with others to provide viable options to our fellow citizens and evolve social and economic policies that are sustainable and all inclusive, by a caring leadership that is dedicated to the efficient management of the economy, social justice and individual liberty.
Such leadership is not restricted to government alone, we all have roles to play – the National Assembly, the judiciary, the security services, the press and civil society groups, to ensure checks and balances, protection of all under the law, and accountability.

If some politicians find it more convenient to drag public discussion towards the weaknesses of Nigeria, in order to hide their incompetence and divert attention from their theft of public funds, it is the responsibility of the press to steer the debate to policies and programs, notwithstanding the diversionary self-destruct antics of the PDP.

* General Buhari, former military head of State, is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abuja, Nigeria, Thursday, September 5, 2013

05Sep

APC choses Senator Chris Ngige as APC Governorship Candidate for Anambra State

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has chosen Senator Chris Ngige to fly its flag at the November 16 governorship election in Anambra.

This was as a result of the APC governorship primary election in Anambra state on September 2, 2013. There were three contestants, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Deputy National Chairman South APC and Godwin Ezeemo. In a deal brokered by the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, Senator Okonkwo had stepped down for Chief Ngige as a consensus candidate. Because Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not recognize consensus arrangements, APC insisted that there must be primaries for the aspirants running on the platform of the APC in Anambra State.

In the primary elections, Senator Ngige Chris Ngige won the direct primaries election conducted in 21 local council areas of Anambra State for the governorship ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC) with 63,255 votes against 9,564 for Engineer Godwin Ezeemo. Meanwhile, Senator Annie Okonkwo has agreed to lead the APC gubernatorial campaign in Anambra State.