In recent weeks, floods have taken over major states in Nigeria, displacing homeowners and businesses The impact so far has been devastating and many have in recent days been rendered homeless in states like Anambra, Kogi states and more Interestingly, the farmers are not left out as farmlands have also been affected by the unfortunate development, which many say would affect the cost price of produce in the coming months
Here is the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon causing devastating flooding in Nigeria, with over 300 dead, Rivers Mirror noted. Communities in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Anambra, Rivers, Bayelsa, Nasarawa and other states have also been devastated by the flooding that has destroyed many homes and lives in Kogi state.
In 1977, construction of the Lagdo Dam, located in Northern Cameroon began and was completed in 1982.
The deal Nigeria struck with the Cameroonian Government but breached it Initially, the Cameroonian and Nigerian Government had agreed to build two dams so that when excess water is released from the Cameronian Dam, it will be contained by the Nigerian dam which would be two and a half times bigger and won’t result in flooding.
However, the Nigerian Government agreed to construct the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa state to lessen the impact of any potential flooding from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon. But regrettably, the Dasin Hausa dam has not been completed since 1982 and this has led to the yearly flooding in Nigeria.
The truth about human history shows that history repeats itself more often that we are willing to admit. The sudden and dramatic acquittal of Nnamdi Kanu and his impending release from detention is a chilling repeat of history. It exposes in the purest form the personal political motivations behind the agitation for Biafra and the very core of human nature.
President Buhari, like President Shagari, as typical politician would make any deal to ensure that his party wins the majority of Igbo votes even against all odds. In 1982, President Shagari’s NPN party needed to win in Igboland in the 1983 elections. But that was impossible because a veteran politician and man with strong appeal to the Igbos, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik), and his NPP party dominated the Eastern part of Nigeria. The only way for NPN to achieve the inroad it desired into the Igboland was to find any Igbo man who could rival Zik in popularity among the Igbo voters.
It happened that the only Igbo man with the kind of popularity that would beat Zik in the East was Emeka Ojukwu, who had been in exile in Ivory Coast for 13 years, and who was eager and desperate to be allowed back to his home country. Ojukwu was then very pained by the fact, as he perceived it then, that he fought and suffered in the war where he believed that he was fighting for the Igbos, only for other Igbos who didn’t suffer as much to have become great as Igbo politicians during the second republic. How could the “true leader” of the Igbos be suffering in exile, while the “fake leaders” of the Igbos would become successful politicians. And, according to Ojukwu, these Igbo politicians were not even seeking his return. So, you had in Ojukwu a popular Igbo leader eager to make a deal to come home, and you had Shagari-led NPN ready to trade on the opportunity so-created.
The stage was then set for NPN to pardon Ojukwu and permit him to return to Nigeria, but on one condition, which was that Ojukwu would join NPN and turn the Igbos into NPN states. That meant that Ojukwu understood that he was coming back to Nigeria to dislodge Zik’s (NPP) control over the Igbo political space. After all, Zik did not support him during the time he fought for Biafra. And Ojukwu did a fine job. The first thing he did upon returning to Nigeria, with the support of NPN government in the center, was to set up the IKEMBA FRONT, a semi-militant political group, to fight for him and for NPN for the political heart and soul of Igboland. That was the first time since the war that the Nigerian Government sanctioned a violent thuggery group in the East. It doesn’t matter that Shagari did not actually trust Ojukwu and would rig elections against Ojukwu and cause Ojukwu to lose the senatorial election to a relatively unknown medical doctor from Onitsha (Dr. Edwin Onwudiwe). (Ojukwu was assured that if Shagari won the 1983 election and Ojukwu his senatorial seat, Ojukwu would become the President of the Senate, which would have made his number three in the hierarchy of political leadership of Nigeria. But in fact, nobody near Shagari actually intended Ojukwu to be that close to power. So, they rigged the elections against Ojukwu, causing him to lose a Senatorial seat and indirectly suggesting to him that he was not as relevant or as popular as he thought).
Fast-forward forty years later; President Buhari’s ACP has little chances of winning the votes of the people of the Eastern part of Nigeria. As Shagari saw Zik as an insurmountable opponent in the East, Buhari and Tinubu see Peter Obi as too strong to defeat in the East. And without the East, the APC candidate will not win the election in 2023. Again, the votes of the Biafrans will make all the difference in the outcome of 2023 presidential election. Before his rendition, Nnamdi Kanu normally compared his agitation for Biafra with the civil war and he referred to Ojukwu-led movement as the “Class of 1967”, while referring to the IPOB-led movement as the “Class of 2020/21”. As eerie as that might have sounded, he was right in some ways. The pardon of Ojukwu could be called the Release/Pardon of 1982, while the judgment of the Court of Appeal yesterday is the equivalent Event of 2022. What a difference forty years has made!
APC sees that with the rise of Peter Obi nationwide, Obi could take the vote of 80% of the Igbo youths, which is Nnamdi Kanu’s constituency. That spells a defeat for APC. The only way out for APC is to find an Igbo man who is presumed more popular in the East than Obi. And no man could foot that bill better than the man who could cause millions of the hardworking tireless Igbo people to sit at home on a working day, and to repeat it for more than a year. The popularity of Nnamdi Kanu is believed to be the golden bullet that would change the game for APC come 2023. If APC could field a Muslem-Muslem ticket as a tactical calculation to win votes, APC will have no hesitation to engineer the end of prosecution for Nnamdi Kanu if that would help the APC in the 2023 elections. Such calculation would be a small thing, in fact a smart thing, for APC.
Ojukwu was not pardoned unconditionally, and Nnamdi Kanu is not being released unconditionally. Each of them came as a heavy political asset to the party in power that wants to retain power at all cost. Somebody can rightly argue that with the popularity of Nnamdi Kanu among the Igbos, it would have been a terrible mistake for APC government to have him in detention and hope to win elections in the East. Tinubu must have been screaming against that. He would have no chance of impressing the Igbo voters if their new Ojukwu had remained in detention during election. But either way, the whole thing would make sense for APC only if Nnamdi Kanu would undertake to at least not oppose them if released. So, again, his release must have been laden with all manner of conditionalities.
Someone may be quick to argue that the pardoning of Ojukwu was an act of the Nigerian Executive, while the acquittal of Nnamdi Kanu is an act of judicial decision. But that makes no difference, except that it makes the politically engineered acquittal more sinister in that it amounted to involving the courts in politics. Also, one must stand reminded that Nigeria is still a country where the President could remove a sitting Chief Justice without losing anything. It implies that the Nigerian courts are really mailable by political forces. Clearly, there is every reason to believe that the sudden acquittal of Nnamdi Kanu is a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. It is the executive acting through the courts, which is dangerous irrespective of the euphoria over the release of Kanu.
Also, it is clear that Nnamdi Kanu sees the rise of Peter Obi as “baboon de work, monkey de chop” metaphor. Arguably, Kanu thinks that his IPOB raised awareness of the Igbo exclusion from Nigeria, which Peter Obi is now riding on to fame. Again, as Ojukwu saw Zik ripping the benefit of his fight for the Igbos, Kanu sees Obi as ripping the benefits of his IPOB’s agitation for Igbo emancipating, not minding the fact that IPOB wanted secession of the Igbos, not their inclusion in Nigerian politics. In fact, IPOB opposed what Obi standards for. Yet, Nnamdi Kanu entertains the belief that Obi is ripping the fruits of the crop sowed by the IPOB.
Whichever way we look at it, if Nnamdi Kanu joins or supports the APC in the coming election; in fact, if he keeps quiet after his release, it confirms that his release came with heavy political conditionalities. It also means that Biafra has been traded off again for the political benefits of individuals. It finally confirms the truth about all these agitations, which truth has been known to me all along. Anybody losing his life for Biafran agitation is merely being used as a pun in another man’s political chess game. Adieu Biafra, see you again in in the next forty years.
Former president Goodluck Jonathan has openly shown support for PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Ifeanyi Okowa, ahead of the 2023 general election.
Addressing a delegation of PDP stalwarts led by Bauchi governor Bala Mohammed and Mr Okowa at his residence on Thursday in Abuja, Mr Jonathan wished “more success for all of us, especially those who want to represent us from next year.”
Mr Jonathan also referred to Mr Okowa as “Our incoming vice president.”
A video clip from the event, which has now gone viral, also showed the former president praying for the success of all the party’s flag bearers.
Mr Jonathan’s endorsement of PDP’s candidate is his first partisan-political comment since the commencement of the 2023 electioneering.
Since 2015 when he was ousted from power by APC’s Muhammadu Buhari, the former president has kept a glaring distance away from the PDP, the party he rode to power as president in 2015.
In the run up to party primaries, the rumour mill was agog with tales of Mr Jonathan running for office on the platform of the APC which removed him from power. The suggestions were strengthened by Mr Jonathan’s closeness to President Buhari and his camaraderie with some governors of the ruling party. The rumour was however not to be though a presidential nomination form was acquired in his name.
For a man who had hitherto maintained a non-partisan stance, it is not immediately clear if Mr Jonathan’s ‘endorsement’ is a mere political speech or an actual show of support.
Nonetheless, the elder statesman has recently opened his doors to receive major presidential candidates including APCs Bola Tinubu and LPs Peter Obi.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called off its eight-month strike.
The PUNCH reports that the decision was taken at the end of the National Executive Council meeting which was held at the ASUU secretariat in Abuja.
“Yes, it has been called off,” the newspaper said, quoting a highly placed source at the meeting.
When asked for more details, the source said, “the president will release an official circular in the morning”.
The academic union embarked on a strike action on Monday, February 14, 2022.
Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and employment had filed a lawsuit against ASUU at the National Industrial Court which ordered the union to call off the strike.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, ASUU appealed the matter at the Court of Appeal but the appellate court upheld the decision of the industrial court, asserting the lecturers must resume work before filing an appeal.
Thursday made it exactly eight months since the academic union embarked on strike.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has reacted to the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday quashing the terrorism charges against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, saying that Kanu was only discharged by the court but not acquitted.
In a statement signed and released Thursday night by Malami’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Gwandu, the AGF the court’s decision was on a single issue that borders on rendition.
The statement added that there were other issues predating Kanu’s rendition “on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail” which remained “valid issues for judicial determination.”
It further stated that the FG would continue to pursue determination of pre-rendition issues while considering all available options on the judgement on rendition.
The statement read, “The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted.
“Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public.
“The decision handed down by the court of appeal was on a single issue that borders on rendition.
“Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predates rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination.
“The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”
The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has discharged the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu
Kanu is being prosecuted by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja for 15 count charges bordering, including treasonable felony and terrorism, offences he allegedly committed in the course of his separatist campaigns.
A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal said the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to try him in view of his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in flagrant violation of the OAU convention and protocol on extradition.
The court held that the 15-count charge preferred against Kanu did not disclose the place, date, time and nature of the alleged offences before being unlawfully extradited to Nigeria in clear violation of international treaties.
The court further held that the Federal Government failed to disclose where Nnamdi Kanu was arrested despite the grave allegations against him.
Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, one of Kanu’s lawyers confirmed the development on Thursday evening.
The court ruled that the “extraordinary rendition” of Kanu from Kenya is declared illegal and consequently constitutes a bar to further trial.
“Appeal allowed , Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU, discharged and acquitted.
The Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation has unveiled a 1,234-member strong National Campaign Council, NCC, for Labour Party, headed by Mohammed Zarewa as chairman, and Comrade Clement Ojukwu as secretary.
Director-General of the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, retained his position as DG of the NCC.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko was also appointed as the chief spokesman of the campaign on a day that the party raised a 27-man Presidential Advisory Council which also has Prof. Pat Utomi.
This was made public by the National Organising Secretary, Mr. Clement Ojukwu, at a Pre-Campaign Press Conference, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He also named the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, as Chairman of the Advisory Council of the NCC while Oseloka Obaze was named General Manager.
Ojukwu explained that they “carefully compiled this list. The six geo-political zones, youths, people living with disabilities and women were all involved.”
Members of the NCC include Comrade Ayuba Waba, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi, Senator Victor Lar, Hajia Ireti Kingibe, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, Mr. Gbenga Daramola, Mrs Dud Manuga, Alhaji Saleh Lawal, Dr Ken Robinson, Chief Sola Ebiseni, Dr Bitrus Boutrou, Dr Olorunfemi Ayo, Chief Godwin Agbasimelo, Amb Moses Oriri, Gen. Harrison Adoga, retd, James Apam, Dr Bako Zazing, and Professor Haruna Dabin.
Also listed are Professor Joseph Golwa, Mr. Bitrus Kaze, Chief Peter Ameh, Gen Yakubu Usman, retd, Mr Danladi Bako, Sen. Joel Danladi, Alhaji Yusuf Jajere, Sen Nenadi Usman, Dr Alex Oti, Senator Victor Umeh, Dr Tony Nwoye, Dr Obinna Uzor, Afam Ogene, Mr. Val Ozigbo, Chijioke Edeoga, Professor Barth Nnaji, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Professor Nnamdo Obiareri, Pastor Iniobong Udo, Capt. Augustine Okon, Chief Patrick Okomiso and Yussuf Lasun.
The rest include Dr Tanko Yunusa, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, Nnamdi Okosieme, , Paul Mumeh, Tunde Odanye, Professor Remi Sonaiya, Chief Chris Asoluka, Chief Ajaegbo, Mr Kanayo O. Kanayo, Gen Chris Eze, retd, Senator Sola Akinyede, Senator Joel Danmusa, Professor Femi Shaka, Senator Femi Okunronmu, Kayode Ajulo, Valentine Obieyem, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, and Gen Segun Ojo, retd, among others.
‘NCC transcends ethnic, religious bias’
Earlier, the D-G of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said the Obidient Movement, which currently drives the Presidential campaign of the Labour Party, and Peter Obi transcends ethnicity and religious bias.
Okupe said if each of the presidential candidates were to be pre-qualified the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would have since been disqualified.
Okupe predicted that PDP’s internal crisis will continue to fester because its candidate, Atiku Abubakar emerged after “a skewed party primary,” which jettisoned the time-tested respect for zoning and rotation of power as enshrined in its constitution.
For the APC, the LP campaign DG noted that the party shot itself on the foot with its unjustifiable and indefensible Muslim-Muslim ticket, which he said is a clear indication that the party lacks respect for Nigeria’s religious diversity.
His words: “On May 30, 2022, Mr. Peter Obi was entrusted by the membership of our great Labour Party as its Presidential Candidate for the 2023 election , after the PDP had failed in courage to live up to the due process. In the dramatic sequence of these events, our candidate’s entry into this political race has resulted in an explosion of excitement across the vastness of Nigeria, in the Diaspora, and indeed the global community.
“This has been lovingly and organically expressed in his overwhelming acceptance by the people of Nigeria, through the robust and endearing presentation of his record, personality, vision, policies and promise.
“There is no doubt that this ascendancy of our presidential ticket, to prime position in the hearts and minds of the Nigerian people, has been fuelled by the patriotic zeal, vibrancy, creativity and shining example, in discipline, character and decency of the Obidient movement.
“Unknown to many, a significant number of the youths and drivers of this movement are active members and supporters of the other political parties such as the APC and PDP, who could not ignore the overbearing superiority in leadership quality, personal disposition, national appeal, private and public service record, and the clear-cut expression of vision and governance solutions, which Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed have come to represent, for all true lovers of progress and national rebirth.”
The campaign D-G noted that the renewed zeal among Nigerians to change the narrative positively was largely inspired by the catalogue of failed promises and missed opportunities by successive regimes.
He said: “The truth is that the errors of the past, have done painful incalculable damage, to the psyche of our people, the economy of our country, the peaceful existence and security of every citizen, and to the quality of our public services and our private lives. President Buhari has just presented the 2022/23 budget to the National Assembly, and in that document, it can be seen that of the 20.5 trillion naira budgeted, actual revenue available to fund the budget is 9.73 trillion naira, leaving a deficit of almost 11 trillion naira, with fuel subsidy alone, gulping 3.6 trillion naira, in the first six months of next year.
“In effect, this means that the present economic situation, as it affects the common people, is not likely to abate, and I say this not in exaggeration or to heighten fears, but in vivid and responsible assessment of the stark reality.
“So, at this time in our history, there can be no middle ground, in the requirement for informed, effective and firm leadership, to begin the hard work of turning around our national story and cloudy outlook.”
Appeal to security forces, judiciary, others
While appealing to security forces to be professional in their duties as Nigerians go to the polls, he said: “Our appeal to the security agencies, judiciary, our retired military and police officers, the middle class, civil servants, professional bodies and pensioners, is that this is no time for complacency or conspiracy. You must position as a strong vanguard against evil, contributing your patriotic voices and inputs, firmly in defense of Nigeria’s corporate existence.
“We charge you to stand tall against all nefarious political practices, and vile tendencies, that may want to sabotage the peace and progressive march of our dear country. To all our religious torchbearers and revered traditional leaders, we request that you intensify prayers and coordinated community efforts against miscreants and rascals that may want to truncate the destiny of our dear country.”
INEC’s biggest test
To the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, he said: “We say, this is the your biggest test in recent history, and you have no choice, but to act as a fair, impartial, fearless and patriotic umpire, in the coming elections. We have noted with extreme concern and worry the revelations by the Congress of Political Parties, CUPP, as to how presumed agents of the ruling party have infiltrated and compromised the INEC voter registration portals in 18 states.
“We have also noted, painfully, the concerns expressed by various NGOs about how the ruling APC has smuggled card-carrying members of the party into the INEC officials appointment process, setting them up as RECs, and other key operational personnel.
“We have also seen citizens in various parts of the country recovering thousands of voters’ cards, dumped in drainages and refuse dumps.
“It is also instructive that these patriotic concerns, have been largely ignored by the government of the day.
“What all these convey is that efforts are already afoot to compromise INEC as a way of sabotaging the country’s democratic election process, and the will of the people to freely choose the leaders they want in a free, fair and credible election.
“What we are sure of, however, is that, in the fullness of time, no criminal manipulation will succeed in these elections, whether they be computer or electronically conceived or manually and martially enforced.
“It is our hope and expectation that INEC and its leadership will choose to write their name in gold, and give their conscience a dose of good health, by doing what is right, noble and patriotic.”
The federal executive council (FEC) has approved the takeover of the construction work on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway by MTN Nigeria at about N202.8 billion, under the road infrastructure tax credit (RITC) scheme.
Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, said this on Wednesday while speaking with journalists after the council’s meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the approval was in line with the executive order 7 signed by Buhari in January 2019.
In 2019, January 25, specifically, you might recall that President Buhari approved executive order 7, which was the road infrastructure tax credit scheme, to allow the private sector to invest tax liabilities in advance in infrastructure, and that policy has helped us to finance roads like or by Obajana to Kaba, Apapa-Oshodi, Oshoki-Ojota Expressway, the Bodo-Bonni expressway in Port Harcourt, about a 1000 kilometres covering 21 roads under the NNPC investment. So, there is increased optic for that policy. So, today we have two more,” he said.
He said the telecoms giant will complete the dualisation of the 110-kilometre road.
The RITC scheme grants income tax credit to companies and individuals that provide funding for the refurbishment and rehabilitation of roads.
The scheme is a public-private partnership (PPP) intervention that enables the Nigerian government to leverage private sector capital and efficiency for the construction, repair, and maintenance of critical road infrastructure in key economic areas in Nigeria.
Participants will be entitled to utilise the total cost (project cost), incurred in the construction or refurbishment of an eligible road as a tax credit against their future Companies Income Tax (CIT) liability, until full cost recovery is achieved.
In August 2021, MTN announced plans to reconstruct the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, under the RITC.
A year later, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said it issued a N37.28 billion tax credit certificate to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited for the construction of the Bonny-Bodo road in Rivers state.
Meanwhile, the FEC also approved the award of contract by the Police Trust Fund for the supply of vehicles as well as insurance cover for several other vehicles at a total cost of N4.54 billion.
The vehicles consist of eight Land Cruisers, eight Toyota Prado, 2021 model and 44 Toyota Camry.
The vehicles intended for tactical operations are at a total cost of N4.5 billion.
1. Let me start by registering my profound gratitude to all Nigerians who have enthusiastically embraced our message, and our Presidential candidate, and in particular to the millions who identify with the OBIdient movement nationwide , organising selflessly and relentlessly pursuing their hope in a New Nigeria.
2. When on 30th May 2022, Mr Peter Obi was entrusted by the membership of our great Labour Party as its Presidential Candidate for the 2023 elections , after the PDP had failed in courage to live up to the due process,
3. He was always clear, in thought and conviction, of his calling and capability to seek and win the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This aspiration and conviction was farther reinforced by his choice Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed an astute educator, businessman, Former legislator and new breed politician, on the 8th July 2022 as his Vice Presidential Candidate , to very loud acclaim.
4. However, in the dramatic sequence of these events , our candidate’s entry into this political race has resulted in an explosion of excitement across the vastness of Nigeria, in the diaspora, and indeed the global community,
5. This has been lovingly and organically expressed in his overwhelming acceptance by the people of Nigeria, through the robust and endearing presentation of his record, personality, vision, policies and promise.
6. There is no doubt that this ascendancy of our Presidential Ticket, to prime position in the hearts and minds of the Nigerian people, has been fuelled by the patriotic zeal, vibrancy , creativity and shining example, in discipline, character and decency of the Obidient movement ,
7. which has today rapidly evolved into the biggest voluntary political movement in Nigeria history.
8. In just about four months, this organic and massively structured movement, consisting of Nigerians from all walks of life , from varying backgrounds and circumstances of life, from the young and not so young, from professions, vocations and occupations of all variations, and from every region, nook and corner of the country, have set a record in political mobilisation , organisation and loyalty , not experienced in recent Nigerian History .
9. Unknown to many , a significant number of the youth and drivers of this movement, are active members and supporters of the other political parties such as the APC and PDP, who could not ignore the overbearing superiority in leadership quality , personal disposition , national appeal, private and public service record, and the clear cut expression of vision and governance solutions, which Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed have come to represent, for all true lovers of progress and national rebirth.
10. So, it is significant to observe and also to underline, that the Obidient movement, has today risen above religion, ethnicity , political affiliation and all narrow sentiment, to become a truly national movement of Nigerians, prepared for full participation , in this universal mission of national reconstruction.
11. I am personally a firm believer in the philosophy of the Obidient movement, and in the emerging reality, that Nigerians will only remain divided, as long as they allow it, and will only permit national degradation , as long as they do nothing about it.
12. The truth is that the errors of the past, have done painful incalculable damage, to the psyche of our people, the economy of our country , the peaceful existence and security of every citizen, and to the quality of our public services and our private lives.
13. President Buhari has just presented the 2022/23 budget to the National assembly , and in that document, it can be seen that of the 20.5 trillion naira, totally budgeted, actual revenue available to fund the budget is 9.73 trillion naira , leaving a deficit of almost 11 trillion naira , with fuel subsidy alone, gulping 3.6 trillion naira, in the first six months of next year.
14. In effect, this means that the present economic situation, as it affects the common people, is not likely to abate , and I say this not in exaggeration or to heighten fears , but in vivid and responsible assessment of the stark reality.
15. So ,at this time in our history , there can be no middle ground, in the requirement for informed, effective and firm leadership, to begin the hard work, of turning around our national story and our cloudy outlook.
16. My dear Nigerians, astute OBIdients and people of goodwill , in recent weeks, all political permutations , empirical polls and honest true reflection, from the hearts and minds of even those who are publicly on the opposing side, have placed Peter Obi, clearly and far ahead, of the pack , as the right man for the transformational leadership Nigeria needs , at this august juncture .
17. I personally have no doubt, putting all sentiment aside, that if there were a strict prequalification process , discredited parties such as the APC and the PDP will have been disqualified, from the start of this Presidential race ,
18. And I am not talking here, about the dubious nature of educational records, nor even allegations of foreign court certified criminal narcotic records , nor any basis of poor health, and not even of falsified or advanced age ,
19. but I refer to the fundamental parameters of competence and character, where none of these other known candidates, measure up, in any way, to the sterling qualities of Mr Peter Obi and Dr Yusuf Datti-Ahmed.
20. Similarly, on the considerations of true nationalism, geographical equity and fairness of ticket, none of them comes close.
21. The PDP candidate is a product of an unjust and dishonourable process, that clearly violates the equitable rights of the entire southern Nigeria, and the desire for balance in Presidential power , already enshrined in the constitution and history of that party, which was shamelessly subverted by subterfuge, and indeed anything built on injustice , ungodliness and evil conspiracy, can never stand.
22. As for the APC, the presidential candidacy is fundamentally flawed , through the adoption of a skewed and insensitive muslim-muslim ticket ,despite all objections across religious lines, in a highly religiously sensitive country like Nigeria , at a time where all reason, calls for maturity , fairness , equity, justice and balance, for the good of the country.
23. In all honesty, these errors of selfish and opportunistic political manipulation, are not only short sighted and dangerous , but strike at the very heart of Nigeria’s peaceful coexistence, and in fact the very survival of the nation as an entity.
24. And that is why, in response to this affront to good judgement , more than at any time in our history, our country is today witnessing her hottest, fiercest and most dynamic citizen-led political experience, spearheaded largely by the youth population.
25. This dynamism is worth reflecting upon, because it is not only novel in our history, but also lies at the crux of our country’s direction and ultimate destination, in the nearest future.
26. Today, as we commence the campaigns for the 2023 round of elections, the registered voter population figure has tripled, since 2019, and Over 60% of the nearly 100 million registered voters today, consists of the youth population.
27. And again, the most remarkable, organic, self-funded movement, at the vanguard of the political temperature in present time :the New Nigeria movement, is made up of this youth population.
28. It is a fact , beyond contest, that this movement has taken on a life of its own, and today has become an unprecedented and formidable force in our national equation, beyond all imagination.
29. Its continued growth, smart networking and unceasing expansion across all regions of the country, and its strong resilience against all attempts to stifle and underplay its strength , by the corrupt people who are now facing the pressure of change, is firm confirmation, that what we are seeing today is no child’s play.
30. I make bold to say , while the reality is becoming clearer to everyone, that these are the people who will decide the immediate future of this country.
31. The key message of the New Nigeria Movement , also known as the Take Back Nigeria Movement and more popularly as The Obidient Movement, signposts what all key stakeholders in the Nigerian project, and all well-meaning friends and partners of Nigeria, across the world , must give serious thought, and attention to.
32. The Nigerian youth, by this new, unprecedented demonstration of political vibrancy, have signalled to the failing and fading established political order, and transactional political class, that they are tired of the leadership failure that has brought Nigeria, the giant of Africa, to her knees today.
33. The arrogant, corrupt and clearly selfish practices of this old order politicians and their parties, who believe they can always buy their way into power, and always compromise every institution, have now been spotlighted, and stand totally rejected, by this new class of Nigerian voters.
34. The large crowds of highly disciplined ,self organised, self-funded, self-motivated and clearly trans-ethnic-politico-religious groups, and vocal associations of youths, simultaneously calling for a new political culture and new leadership personae, across all the country’s political regions, in a sustained, orderly, but insistent manner, is a clear call and warning to us, as a country – to sit up, shape up and do what is right, before it becomes too late.
35. While those who want to remain wilfully or self deceitfully ignorant, may continue to taunt or tar this renaissance with bigoted, ethnic and amoral paint, it is important to deeply reflect on the evolution of political epochs, and the foundational histories of citizen revolts, in different parts of the world,
36. And not fail, in our duty of ensuring, that we do not fall at cross purposes with the message of this rising army of young, angry but patriotic young Nigerians , at this time in our national history.
37. It is common knowledge, that the bedrock of democracy, is the peoples’ power; and the most resourceful and powerful manifestation of this, in any society, is the youth segment,
38. Any society that ignores the energies, frustrations, protestations and legitimate aspirations of the youth, may just be a step away, from anarchy.
39. At this juncture, for the avoidance of doubt, let me state here clearly that our Party, the Labour Party, as well as the Obi-Datti Presidential ticket of the party, have not spent a kobo to organise, influence, or secure the massive following and support, we have been getting from the Obidient Movement, to date.
40. But yet, this movement has grown bigger than any political party in the land today… and indeed ,Nigeria, since inception, has never ever witnessed such a phenomenon.
41. We in the Obi-Datti Presidential Organisation and the Labour Party, are totally and graciously humbled by this massive adoption of our candidate, as the preferred candidate of the overwhelming number of the Nigerian youth and also, the middle age class, for the forthcoming election.
42. We have come to learn, that the faith and belief of this overwhelming majority of Nigerians, particularly from the youth and middle age population segments, is founded on the perception and trust in our Presidential Team, as sincere, capable, visionary and prudent.
43. In addition , our policy options canvassed as solutions, for salvaging our country, are also understood and generally accepted, as sensible, workable and desirable.
44. We can also not discountenance the fact that credible socio-political organisation’s, and regional associations across the country, have equally expressed their trust and ,thrown their weight behind our party, and its presidential candidates, for practically the same reasons, as the Obidient groups.
45. We are extremely proud, to tell the whole world, that this unprecedented political acceptance of Mr. Peter Obi and his running mate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba -Ahmed, now burns like a raging flame in the minds of Nigerians, who are overwhelmingly yearning for a new class of leadership, to rescue the country from its present inadequacies.
46. This organic movement , the patriotic platform known as the Obidient Movement, now represents the potency and altruism at the very foundation of the Labour Party and the Obi-Datti national Structure.
47. Our meeting of minds with this movement, is based on our shared ideals of Credibility, Character, Competence and Commitment, which must henceforth be the key ingredients of leadership, that we must never, as a people and as a nation, compromise, in the birth of a new dispensation.
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48. However, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, In all of this, we will be failing in our responsibility if we do not , in all sincerity, point all Nigerians to the clear danger signs ahead, as we move steadily towards the polls.
49. The current political renaissance and re-energised patriotism of our youths, now means voter apathy is giving way, and the citizens’ are now firmly embracing their patriotic political responsibility.
50. While this is a good development, it comes with a challenge and a warning, to all connected with conducting elections in the country, to play by the rules, and be as transparent, professional and non-partisan as possible, if we do not want to instigate the same energies of the youths to turn against all, in calamitous manifestation, that is better imagined… than allowed to crystallize.
51. In the light of the above, our appeal to the Security agencies, the Judiciary, our retired military and police officers, the middle class, Civil servants, professional bodies and pensioners, is that this is no time for complacency or conspiracy.
52. You must position as a strong vanguard against evil , contributing your patriotic voices and inputs, firmly, in defence of Nigeria’s corporate existence.
53. We charge you to stand tall against all nefarious political practices, and vile tendencies, that may want to sabotage the peace and progressive march of our dear country.
54. To all our religious torchbearers and revered traditional leaders , we request that you intensify prayers and coordinated community efforts against miscreants and rascals, that may want to truncate the destiny of our dear country.
55. To the academia and the intelligentsia, our charge is that you rise up to protect our democracy, by refusing to be compromised in your ad-hoc and advisory roles.
56. To INEC we say, this is the your biggest test in recent history, and you have no choice, but to act as a fair, impartial, fearless and patriotic umpire, in the coming elections.
57. We have noted with extreme concern and worry, the revelations by the Congress of Political Parties (CUPP), as to how presumed agents of the ruling party have infiltrated and compromised the INEC voter registration portals in 18 states.
58. We have also noted, painfully, the concerns expressed by various NGOs, about how the ruling party has smuggled card carrying members of the party, into the INEC officials appointment process, setting them up as Recs, and other key operational personnel.
59. We have also seen citizens in various parts of the country, recovering thousands of voter cards, dumped in drainages and refuse dumps.
60. It is also instructive that these patriotic concerns, have been largely ignored by the government of the day.
61. What all these convey, is that efforts are already afoot to compromise INEC as a way of sabotaging the country’s democratic election process, and the will of the people, to freely choose the leaders they want, in a free, fair and credible election.
62. What we are sure of, however, is that , in the fullness of time, no criminal manipulation will suceed in these elections, whether they be computer or electronically conceived .. or manually and martially enforced.
63. It is our hope and expectation that INEC and its leadership will choose to write their name in gold, and give their conscience, a dose of good health, by doing what is right, noble and patriotic.
64. We are watching and taking notes. We know, and we remind INEC, that the whole world too, is watching and taking notes.
65. In view of the undercurrents we have highlighted above, we call on the international community, to express more than routine interest in this election of 2023.
66. Nigeria occupies a most strategic place in our continental sub-region. With a population of over 200 million people, it cannot be overemphasised, that the peace, tranquillity, stability and political well-being of Nigeria, should be of great interest to the world community,
67. You are no doubt well informed, of the heightening signals in our country, and the fact that any crisis in this biggest black nation on earth, would have untold consequences, on the entire world, in many ramifications.
68. To all political parties and players on the scene, let us be guided that the tide has changed. It is no longer business as usual.
69. The notorious practice of compromising the system with corrupt inducement and money politics, and by the manipulation of the regulatory and security agencies, is no longer the norm, and will be hard to fly in these elections.
70. Already, we have seen, earlier this year, in this very dispensation, how corrupt money politics and evil political conspiracies, have destroyed unity, peace and cohesion, and stifled healthy democratic determination, in the internal structures of political parties, leading to heightened tensions and political disaffection.
71. But we cannot allow these unhealthy practices, to continue to truncate the destiny of our nation. As leaders who profess love for the country and the people we aspire to lead, we must resolve to put a stop to these practices, this time, and commit to playing fairly, by the rules.
72. To the vast Nigerian majority who are wallowing in the unmerited poverty and sordid deprivations that decades of poor leadership has foisted on our country, the coming 2023 election, offers you a great chance to use your vote to turn around the situation.
73. As the overall protectors and custodians of real democracy, your vote is your power and Your PVC is the ticket, to install a responsible government that will be fair , capable, honest and attentive.
74. This is your time….
75. Our Great party, the Labour Party of Nigeria, is fully committed and totally reenergised, to making Nigeria work, and progressively develop… and you can hold us to our word, that The Labour Party presidency of Peter Obi, will cut wastage, and take bold steps to move Nigeria from Consumption..to Production.
76. Within 4 years , the Obi-Datti administration will embark on an aggressive investment drive in practicable smart agriculture outlays, that will see the entire Northern part of the country, become an agricultural mass production and export hub, with the same maximisation of potential , in each and every region of the country.
77. To the Labour Unions and working people, this is our joint undertaking, and we must resist anyone who attempts to break our ranks. The people have mandated us to action, and we cannot pander to those who seek to shamelessly manipulate and retain themselves in power, despite their glaring rejection.
78. To the Obidient Movement, we say, we have shown our zeal and strength in preparation , but now we must show our dexterity and courage, in operation.
79. We must make sure that no PVC is left uncollected, and that everyone comes out to discharge his vote, according to his conscience….and we must apply all legal means, to resist those, who plan to corrupt, circumvent, manipulate or disrupt the process,
80. And by tacit engagement and thinking ahead of all machinations, see this election to fair and logical conclusion, no matter how the system may introduce turns and tricks.
81. This is the time we have prepared for, we cannot afford to fail.
82. Finally, I cannot but thank the Nigerian media for your tremendous sacrifice and great role, as guardians of our democracy.
83. Along with election observers and civil society, the country will owe a great debt of gratitude, for your professional advocacy and watchdog responsibility, which you have applied at times, under most excruciating conditions.
84. As institutional allies and strong partners of the popular will , the true majority and the common peoples, we thank you and salute your courage.
85. Nigerians are counting on you, and the world shall be looking to you, to unearth and express the truth -for you shall be the eyes and ears of the world, in this most important elections.
86. Let me assure all Nigerians, that as we commence the campaign for the 2023 election, in earnest, our party and our candidates, will remain committed to honest, clean and issue-based engagements, with the Nigerian people, whose mandate we seek, in order to turn around the fortunes of this our great, but badly misgoverned country.
87. But let it be also known to the world , that we shall not shy away from legally and robustly engaging any evil attempt, to compromise due process, equity, transparency and fairness.
Barely four months to the 2023 general elections, a plot to remove the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is being hatched by top political actors in the country, Daily Trust has gathered.
Top politicians and persons close to the seat of power in Abuja are said to be firming up the plot as a last ditch plan should the INEC chairman fails to accede to their demands regarding the conduct of the elections.
Preparations for the conduct of the elections are in top gear following the lift of ban on campaign activities by the INEC on September 28.
The INEC, on its part, said it had reached an advanced stage with the process including procurement of materials. The commission has also advertised for the temporary election
The INEC chair, in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust penultimate week, had reiterated that the commission would deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as done during recent off-season elections.
Yesterday, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) addressed a press conference in Abuja and raised the alarm over the plot to remove the INEC chairman.
CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who spoke on behalf of the opposition parties, said the coalition had also uncovered fresh plots to deactivate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) from being used in the election and ultimately stop electronic transmission of results.
Prior to the CUPP’s press conference, sources had told Daily Trust that political actors believed the elections would be difficult to manipulate under the current circumstances.
The three “unwanted” elements about the elections which the politicians wanted expunged, Daily Trust gathered, include the use of BVAS for accreditation of voters, cancelation of the use of incident forms and electronic transmission of election results.
Two governors–one from the South East and another from North East–are said to be in the forefront of the plot to kick out the INEC chairman. Also, a leader in the National Assembly, who allegedly felt betrayed by the INEC chairman, is said to have joined the prey “to get back at the chairman”.
The fear over BVAS
BVAS, introduced by INEC to replace the smart card reader used in the 2019 elections, is a biometric system that recognises voters based on their finger prints or faces.
An INEC insider said politicians are now wary of the use of BVAS and cancellation of the use of incidence form for voters not recognised by the BVAS device.
“The BVAS is very advanced. It’s different from the smart card reader in many ways. If it cannot capture your fingers, it can capture your face, and there is no excuse for not using it.”
According to the source, the agitations that that the INEC brings back the incident form and cancel the use of BVAS and the IREV platforms have thickened since the Anambra State governorship election.
A governor from the South East was said to have made frantic efforts to have the election swayed but was made impossible because of the adamant nature of the INEC top leadership and the electronic transmission of results.
“They had results from 10 local governments which they wanted the INEC to accept but they were told it was impossible with the current system. It was frustrating for the governor who had already told one of the candidates he woukd be declared as the winner,” said the source.
According to another insider in the commission, rather than work with the party, the governor later discovered that three senior INEC officials, including one in charge of the electronic systems had “compromised” to pave way for another party to win the election.
“They obtained security reports about the three of them, showing the transactions they had. This was how they pushed the person in IT out of his seat and blocked the reappointment of another senior commissioner,” said the source who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Aside the political pressure being exerted on INEC, there were reports of a lawsuit instituted before the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo state, seeking to stop INEC from using BVAS for the 2023 elections.
Yakubu in the eye of the storm
Some politicians are said to be uncomfortable with the INEC chairman’s rigid posture and unwillingness to help them during critical periods.
Yakubu was also lately embroiled in allegations around his assets declaration.
In late September, a Federal High Court in Abuja okayed hearing in a suit asking to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to release the assets declaration forms of the INEC chairman.
The plaintiff in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/33/2021, is one Emmanuel Agonsi.
Daily Trust gathered that this was not the first suit of this nature against the INEC chairman.
“There was another suit in Abakaliki. It went up to the Court of Appeal, they wanted to stop his renomination for second term. They nearly succeeded both at the level of Presidency and the National Assembly.
“He was there thinking his name would be submitted for reappointment when he was told that they had tabled the name of one professor, who was later appointed a national commissioner. When it came to the screening there was move to also block him but a presiding officer gave him a smooth sail, it is for that reason that the man now feel pained for INEC to have rejected him as candidate of his party,” one of our sources said.
Use of BVAS irreversible– INEC
INEC yesterday dismissed the call for the re-introduction of the incidence form and the suspension of the use of BVAS for the 2023 general elections.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a chat with Daily Trust yesterday, said: “The decision of the commission to introduce and use the BVAS is final and irreversible. It is backed up by the law and a substantial number of the BVAS for the 2023 elections have been delivered. The BVAS is the game changer and has buried the incident forms.
“Those engaged in identity theft should not near the polling units. Those that have stolen or bought over PVCs are out of business and should not attempt to access the PUs. The commission is focused on delivering on its mandate.
“The commission is not and will not pay attention to the negatives or the antics of those that will want to delegitimize the electoral process and the commission. The commission has reached the critical stage of the electoral process and all Nigerians, and all the critical stakeholders should join the commission in delivering a clean election.”
CSOs react
Executive Director Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, told Daily Trust that,
“I won’t be surprised if there are plans to blackmail INEC to suspend the use of the BVAS. Nigerians have endorsed the use of BVAS, and that is what matters. Any attempt to stop the use of the BVAS should be considered an assault on the sovereignty of Nigerians and an effort to subvert the popular will of the people.
“INEC should continue to resist the attempt to capture the institution by all means possible. It is within INEC’s constitutional powers to undertake, organize and supervise elections. Its powers cannot be subjected to any authority. The commission has insisted that the use of the BVAS for election has come to stay. Stakeholders should respect the commission’s powers.”
Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said:
“We know there’s a vast array of political and partisan interests who may want to subvert the electoral process for their own self-serving ends. It’s however important to note that the will of these elements should not be allowed to prevail over the will of the Nigerian electorate.
“The key to ensuring desperate elements don’t undermine the process is to ensure there is vigilance.”
Also, Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said:
“In elections, numbers that have no relationship with the votes cast are routinely written up all over the country. This is what we call rigging. In 2015 INEC used a technology solution in the form of Card Reader to verify the PVC and close the gap between the voting tallies and achieve over 50% in using the device to accredit voters in the presidential election.
“The result was that for the first time in Nigeria’s presidential election history, the loser declined to sue and, overall, the percentage of elections ending in the courts fell to about 43%. In 2007, 86.25% of all offices contested ended in court while in 2011, it was just about 51%.”
