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2011: (9)

IBB 2011: Dokpesi Heads Babangida Campaign by Oláshùpò Mábinúorí

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on August 27, 2010 at 9:30pm

BOYCOTT AIT NOW ! In the early 1990’s, as a result of the historic National Broadcasting Commission decree, according to Muyiwa Oyinlola (2004) Nigerian media was dominated by the government only.Information was only made possible from government owned broadcasting firms. However, the Head of State then General Babangida, issued another decree which allowed private broadcasting in Nigeria. After this decree came the first private television network in Nigeria, Africa Independent Television (AIT). AIT was pioneered by High Chief, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, and was also Africa’s first satellite T.V. station.[1] Today Dokpesi is regarded as the media guru of Nigeria. Some also refer to him as the Ted Turner of Nigeria. Dokpesi not only pioneered the first satellite TV but also the first privately owned radio station in Nigeria. According to the journalist Kolapo (2006), Raymond claims that AIT set the standard for salary structure in the media industry in which Nigerian Television Authority imitated),[2].

dopesi.jpg


THE race for 2011 presidency gathered momentum Thursday, with ex-President Ibrahim Babangida raising a 10-man campaign organisation.

The ex-President is expected to make a formal declaration of his plan to run on September 14 and 15, which had earlier been set aside by the strategists of President Goodluck Jonathan for the same purpose.

It was also learnt that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have decided to keep their game-plan on a consensus presidential candidate under wraps.

A statement by the Director, Media and Communications, of Babangida Presidential Campaign Organisation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the ex-military president would unveil his blueprint during the declaration.

The statement said: “In furtherance of the presidential aspiration of His Excellency, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, the following persons have been appointed and accepted to serve in the Presidential
Campaign Organisation in the various categories of the campaign.

“They are High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi,OFR (Director General); Senator Kanti Bello (Deputy Director General); Alhaji Sada Ilu (Director, Security &Intelligence), ex-Minister of Health, Prof.
A.B.C Nwosu (Director, Research &Planning); a former Minister of
Information, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire (Director, Policy &
Strategy);Prince Kassim Afegbua (Director, Media and communications);
Mrs. Remi Adiukwu-Bakare (Director, Women Affairs); Alhaji Farouk
Bibi-Farouk(Director, Youths Affairs); Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam
(Director, Contact & Mobilisation); and a former Minister of
Justice, Hon Musa Elayo (Director, Legal Services).

“The comprehensive list of the Zonal and States’ Coordinators will be announced in due course. The temporary Campaign Office is located at 77B, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja.

“The formal presidential declaration ceremony will come up on the 14th and 15th September, 2010 at the Eagle Square, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The event will avail Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida,
the opportunity to unveil his blueprint to members of the public.”

As of press time, it was learnt that the Campaign Organisation of President Goodluck Jonathan might change the date of his declaration to avert any clash.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “With Babangida’s camp choosing the same dates proposed by our team, we may either ask the President to declare on or before September 12 or a day after
theirs.“All I can tell you is that we will coordinate our campaign in a
manner that the nation will not be heated up unnecessarily.”

There were strong indications yesterday that PDP governors are keeping their game-plan on a consensus candidate for 2011 presidential poll to their chest.

According to findings, five Northern governors were considered as leading candidates on Tuesday.

The governors are Dr. Bukola Saraki (Kwara); Alhaji Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Admiral Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

A source said: “It is not as if the governors do not have a mindset on where they are going but they have kept their game-plan secret because of certain political developments, especially consultations with
some stakeholders.

“At the right time, the governors will come up with a position on a common candidate. Just wait and see.”

Read more…

2011: Obasanjo may dump Jonathan

Posted by arimah patrick ifeanyi on August 29, 2010 at 10:41pm
The relationship between the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and President
Goodluck Jonathan may have come under severe threat.

Saturday Punch gathered from authoritative sources on Thursday that Obasanjo, a former President of the country who had hitherto supported Jonathan to
run for the presidency next year, was considering a change of
allegiance in favour of another presidential aspirant from the northern
part of the country.


Photo:From Yaradua to Jonathan to Who ? The Fox called OBJ rules
It was learnt that Obasanjo had started yielding to pressure from the camp of the presidential aspirant who before now had persistently mounted pressure on him for his
support.

A reliable source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said that Obasanjo had decided to shift his allegiance to the presidential candidate from the North,
contrary to the impression he has been creating in the public lately.
It was further learnt that the former President has held three secret
meetings with the presidential aspirant who is also pursuing his
ambition on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The source said the relationship between Obasanjo and Jonathan came under threat after some appointments the President made recently.

The former president, who is widely believed to have some influence on Jonathan, was said to be uncomfortable with some of the
appointments,including that of Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd) who
was appointed as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee.

The relationship between the two retired generals had fallen apart when Obasanjo revoked one of the oil wells allocated to Danjuma by the
regime of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha.

It was further gathered that Obasanjo introduced some companies to Jonathan for some high profile jobs in the oil sector, which were not honoured.

Saturday Punch gathered that for some undisclosed reasons, the President did not accede to the demand of the PDP BOT Chairman who was said to be unhappy
with the development.

It was learnt that an angered Obasanjo had commenced discreet discussions with the candidate.

Obasanjo was said to have told his close confidants that he was making a U-turn on Jonathan because the President was not listening to him. The source
added that the new beneficiary of Obasanjo’s support had continually
reminded him of the relationship between them and how his efforts had
culminated in his emergence as the President in 1999.

It was gathered that Obasanjo was reconsidering the aspirant’s plea on the premise that he owed him a lot and would not lose anything if he threw
his weight behind him.

However, this turn of event was said to have created a big rift among key players in the Obasanjo camp.

It was learnt that while people like Dr. Doyin Okupe are seriously opposed to a deal with Obasanjo’s new favourite candidate, politicians like the
Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, are irrevocably
committed to the aspirant’s agenda.

President Jonathan’s Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters and Co-ordinator of his presidential campaign, Senator Muhammed Aba-Aji,
however, said he doubted the claim that Obasanjo could sway his support
for Jonathan in favour of another presidential aspirant.

He said, “I doubt it very much. Obasanjo is supporting us 100 per cent. He is 100 per cent pro-Jonathan. He is committed to the Jonathan project.
In fact, we are relying on him to deliver the five states in the
South-West and other states to us. He is our leader; we also rely on
his influence in some other states. He is more than committed. It is
mischief makers who are at work. We should discountenance false rumour.
It is baseless. In fact, our opponents are already jittery because of
the level of acceptance that the President has garnered across the
country and beyond.”

But speaking with one of our correspondents shortly after returning from Kenya on Friday night, Obasanjo said it would be inappropriate

for him as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP to support any of the presidential aspirants of the party before

the party’s primaries.

He said he would only

be able to lend his open support for the party’s candidate after the

party’s primaries.

The former president, who spoke through his Media Consultant, Mr.

Adeoba Ojekunle, said, “The BOT chairman is the father of all party members and

aspirants in the party. It is inappropriate for the BOT chairman to

support any of the contestants in the party. The issue is not who he

supports but who the party chooses. He can only begin to support the

party’s candidate after the party’s primaries. By the way, the party

has not elected its candidate and so, how can we begin to speculate

who the BOT chairman is supporting? “In any case, the leaders of the South-West zone have not spoken on

their stand on who to support for the PDP presidential candidate. The

BOT Chairman is the father of everybody in the party.”

Read more…

Naked Protest: Gbemi Saraki must contest 2011 or we walk naked•Female group threatens

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on August 4, 2010 at 10:30pm
shuo na by force abeg make i go get my camera joo !

2011: Gbemi Saraki must contest or we walk naked•Female group threatens

AS the issue of who takes over from Dr. Bukola Saraki as the next governor of Kwara State gathers momentum, a female group, comprising students from various higher institutions of learning in the state, has vowed to walk the streets of Ilorin naked if Senator Gbemisola Saraki failed to contest for governorship in 2011.Photo Ekiti women in recent Naked protest

The group also said that it would go on exile if the senator refused to contest.

The group, under the aegis of distinct Ladies of Gbemisola Saraki Forum (DLGSF), while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, on Sunday evening, stated that the senator should come out and declare her intention to contest for the position.

According to the Coordinator of the group, Miss Bola Babs, whether the senator is from the family of Saraki or not is immaterial to her political ambition, “after all Dr Olusola Saraki, who is the father of both, has the final say over the matter of who becomes the governor of Kwara.”

Her words: “For sometime now, we have been drumming it to the ears of Senator Gbemisola Saraki to go out and represent the women folk come 2011 but she has not answered us. We want her consent to become the next governor of this state yet she has refused to answer us.
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2011: Nigerians in Diaspora Can’t Vote, Says Jonathan

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on July 28, 2010 at 3:21am

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that Nigerians living in the Diaspora will not be able to participate in the 2011 general election until a particular provision on general elections in the constitution is amended.

Jonathan, who was responding to an appeal made by Nigerians in Diaspora for the extension of their voting rights to their places of residence to ensure that they exercise their franchise in the 2011 general elections, said it was not feasible since the general election is a few months away.
He stated that time is too short to include Nigerians in the Diaspora in the voting exercise, adding that Nigerians are determined to get it right this time, therefore the process of registering which is yet to be done in the country cannot be extended to them if it has to be concluded before the elections..

The President who was represented by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed made the disclosure at the 4th National Diaspora Conference with the theme Nigeria at 50: the Role of the Diaspora in National Development yesterday in Minna.
Jonathan assured the Nigerians in Diaspora that despite that the National Assembly is yet to resolve the issue of their inclusion in the voting exercise of 2011, he promised that everything will be done to make it possible for them to exercise their franchise if not in 2011, the next general elections.

“I note with sadness that Nigerians in Diaspora have not been exercising their fundamental rights as Nigerians. This is essentially a constitutional issue but as a responsible Government, we shall do everything to promote the fundamental rights of Nigerians wherever they are”.
 Speaking to the 288 Nigerians in Diaspora from about 20 countries who converged in Minna to discuss on issues that affect the development of the country, Jonathan encouraged them to continue to be ambassadors of the country wherever they find themselves, adding that the attitude of Nigerians living abroad will prove to the world that the country is serious with its re-branding
campaign.

According to the president, the conference was held with the purpose of pooling resources and focus of the development challenges facing the country and to proffer solution to them, especially the area of turning the brain drain syndrome to brain gain for the country.
 
Speaking earlier, Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said it was imperative for the organisation of the conference to enable Nigerians in Diaspora to contribute their wealth of knowledge to national development.
 
Aliyu encouraged them to invest in Nigeria , adding that their commitment and investment in Nigeria will encourage foreign direct investment into the country.

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Wimbledon 2011: Nadal & Serena Champions on Grass .Serena breaks Billie Jean kings Record !

Posted by Choochoo Sports Book on July 4, 2010 at 8:45pm

A spellbinding display of brutal hitting and raw speed from Rafa Nadal secured the Spaniard his second Wimbledon title on Sunday with a 6-3 7-5 6-4 victory over 12th seed Tomas Berdych.

Nadal, who has not lost here since the 2007 final after victory in 2008 and injury prevented his defense last year, completely nullified the 1.95m Czech’s biggest weapons to storm to an eighth career grand slam and open up a cavernous lead at the top of the world rankings.

The win, which completed a second French Open-Wimbledon double in three years for Nadal, came after two hours and 13 minutes when his 20th forehand winner left Berdych stranded at the net on his first championship point.

He celebrated by slumping on to his back on the baseline, holding his face in his hands before embracing Berdych at the net and performing an impromptu roly poly and double fist pump toward his entourage.

“More than a dream for me, always a dream to play in this final,” Nadal said in an on-court interview.

“To have this trophy in my hands, amazing. You’re (Berdych) doing an amazing season, sorry for today but I wish you luck for the rest of the season.” From the moment Nadal bounced, weaved and stretched his way down the corridors of the All England Club to Center Court like a fired-up prize fighter, there was a sense nothing could derail the 24-year-old..

The Game

Both held their opening service games to love on a bright and breezy day, and neither was under early pressure, and even a male fan bellowing “I love you Rafa” could not throw the Spaniard’s focus.

Game seven turned the tone of the match though, as Nadal stepped up a gear and Berdych’s first serve deserted him.

Nadal’s forehand was starting to eat up the Berdych serve, and the Mallorcan brought the crowd to life with a searing forehand pass down the line to bring up three break points.

A cutting backhand return had the Czech stretching and Nadal clenched his fist with stern-faced determination when Berdych’s forehand skewed out.

The pre-match build-up had focused on the Berdych forehand, which had dismantled six-times champion Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the last two rounds, but Nadal reminded everyone that his is the most potent weapon in the game.


Serena Williams Wins at Wimbledon, Tops King With 13th Grand Slam Title

Summers used to be difficult for Serena Williams, whose dad made her and elder sister Venus practice twice daily on the public tennis courts of the Los Angeles suburb of Compton.

Williams raised 13 fingers yesterday to her father, Richard, on the Centre Court of Wimbledon after beating Russia’s Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 for her fourth trophy on the London grass courts. Her 13th Grand Slam singles title moved her one ahead of mentor Billie Jean King, who applauded the American from the Royal Box.

“I hated the summers, because I think we had two practices a day,” Williams said after the match in an interview with a small group of reporters.

“We would always go in the morning, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and then we would have lunch at the park and then right after lunch we’d go back to practice. It was tough. But when you’re that young, you don’t really think about it. At the time, my dad would go sometimes next door to the liquor store to buy us the latest sports drink. It’s all those memories and all that hard work that you just never forget. And, eventually, it pays off.”

At least one of the sisters has appeared in 10 of the last 11 Wimbledon finals.

Serena also won in 2002, 2003 and 2009. Venus won her fifth title in 2008, beating her younger sister. In the past decade, only Russia’s Maria Sharapova in 2004 and Amelie Mauresmo of France in 2006 have broken the Williams’s domination.

Read more…

Obesere,others to sing for IBB as Evil Genius romances top artistes

Posted by NollywoodMohits on May 28, 2010 at 1:09am
Reminiscent of the one-million-man march staged by the Youth EarnestlyAsk (YEAA) for Abacha in 1994, some Nigerian musicians may, once again,converge to sing for former President Ibrahim Babangida who may becontesting for president in 2011..

And as part of efforts torealize his presidential ambition, Babangida, popularly known as IBB,is said to be recruiting some popular Nigerian musicians to help himreach out to the youths as well as members of the grassroots. Nigeriafilms.comgathered that the artistes would hold grand concerts in some parts ofthe country including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Port-Harcout afterhis campaign will have officially commenced.

The source alsotold Weekend Showbiz that some of these artistes would record campaignsongs that would be aired on radio and television stations across thefederation.

According to the source, some of the artistes thathave been contacted by the Niger State- born retired soldier includeHip-hop music star, D’Banj whose song was used by the ruling PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) in the 2007 general elections; Peter and PaulOkoye, otherwise known as PSquare; the Yahoozee crooner, Olu maintain;Banky W; Gongo Aso crooner, 9ice; Abass Akande Obesere; Sule AdioAtawewe and many others.

Obesere, who enjoyed great patronage from the former president duringhis last presidential campaign in 2007, said, “I remain the onlyartiste on the bill of the Babangida campaign. I am still in goodcontact with members of the campaign group and I know that no othermusician has been approached for this purpose. In fact, I have beengiven the mandate to negotiate with any artiste that I know will dothem good. I am the official musician for the Ibrahim Babangidacampaign in 2011.”

Also, in a separate interview with OluMaintain, he denied being approached by Babangida or any of hisloyalists. “I also heard that they are talking to some musicians forhis campaign, but I have not been approached yet. If they come, I willaccept. Why won’t I? I’m a musician and I will sing for anybody who isready to pay my bill.”
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Politicians invade banks for loans as Jonathan's men plot campaign strategies

Posted by 9jabook.com on May 25, 2010 at 4:26am
2011: Politicians invade banks for loans *Jonathan's men plot campaign strategies *Hold meetings in Abuja, Kaduna, Asaba *Pressure mounts on president to declare interest
Written by Odidison Omankhanlen, Idowu Samuel, Taiwo Adisa and Leon Usigbe
Monday, May 24, 2010

IN preparation for the 2011 elections, politicians have now invaded banks for credit facilities in various banks to actualise their ambitions, Nigerian Tribune has gathered.



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The development, it was gathered, may not be unconnected with the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN's) directives on credit facilities to politicians.

A top bank executive, who pleaded anonymity, told the Nigerian Tribune at the weekend that CBN directing banks to resume lending to politicians was unfortunate.

According to him, politicians are well known not to keep promises, stating that the current directive can lead to another era of non-performing loans in the sector.

In his contribution, a financial analyst and Chief Operating Officer, Twinsronk Consulting, Mr. Okechukwu Amadi, said for the apex bank to have reversed itself was highly regrettable.

He observed that though there were stringent conditions for accessing credit facilities in the various banks, the politicians would always want to circumvent such rules..

He submitted that though the apex bank had no right to bar banks from issuing credits to any group of people, it must ensure the conditions were strictly followed.

"The fact is that the CBN cannot debar banks from lending to a set of people. What they should do is to ensure politicians meet the stipulated conditions or else the proposed AMC meant to take care of bad debts in the financial system will be of no effect," he warned.

As a result, confusion has enveloped the banking industry following CBN's current directive to banks to resume lending to politicians.

Investigations by Nigerian Tribune revealed that the apex bank had initially instructed banks to be wary of politicians thronging various banks for credit facilities in preparation for 2011 elections, stressing that they were capable of throwing the sector back to crisis.

It was in view of this that the apex bank earlier threatened to sanction banks that failed to comply with its directive on the use of credit information from credit bureaus before granting any loans.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that following sustained pressure mounted on the CBN governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, especially in the light of the recent political developments in the country, the apex bank had to retrace its steps by issuing directive to banks to start lending to politicians, denying that it ever instructed banks not to lend to them.

Only last week, the CBN, in a statement signed by its Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, entitled 'No Directive To Banks Against Lending To Politically Exposed Persons', stated that it had never directed Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to stop granting credit facilities to PEPs, stressing that such would amount to the CBN meddling in the internal credit administration processes and procedures of banks.

According to the apex bank, "For the avoidance of doubt, banks and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) are at liberty to grant credit facilities to any individual and/or a corporate entity in line with the institution's Credit Policy and in consonance with extant rules and regulations."

In a circular to banks and financial institutions signed by the Director, Banking Supervision, Mr. Samuel Oni, which was earlier sent to banks, the CBN pointed out that "In its effort to provide a platform for financial institutions to strengthen their credit appraisal procedures with a view to enhancing credit quality and responsive credit behaviour in the nation's financial system, the CBN recently licensed three private credit bureaux to provide credit history on borrowers.

"Following the release of the Guidelines on Licensing, Operations and Regulations of Credit Bureau issued by CBN in October 2008, it has become imperative to issue this circular directing bank and other financial institutions to partner with the licensed credit bureaux in order to enhance the performance of their operations."

Consequently, the apex bank said it was now mandatory for banks and other financial institutions under the purview of the CBN to comply with sections 5.4.3 and 5.4.5 of the Guidelines on Licensing, Operations and Regulations of Credit Bureaus in Nigeria as follows: Have data exchange agreement with at least two credit bureaus; obtain credit report from at least two credit bureaus before granting any facility to their customers; and obtain quarterly credit report from at least two credit bureaus for all previous loans/facilities granted to enable the determination of the borrowers current exposure to the financial system, adding that banks and other financial institutions were advised to comply with this circular with immediate effect as failure to do so would attract appropriate sanctions.

Meanwhile, supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan have set machinery in motion to ensure his entry into the 2011 presidential contest ahead of the next national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Till now, the president had not formally indicated his interest in the 2011 presidential election, just as some people have advised him not to run.

Indications that more forces are rooting for Jonathan emerged at the weekend, with a series of meetings holding in Abuja, Kaduna and Asaba, Delta State, by Jonathan's supporters who attempted to preview the 2011 elections with the possibility of drafting him into the presidential race.

Two of such meetings which took place at Sheraton and Bolingo hotels, the Nigerian Tribune learnt, considered all options available to Jonathan on the 2011 polls, with a resolve to conduct an independent survey to ascertain the level of his acceptability across the geo-political zones of the federation.

A senator was said to be coordinating the Kaduna caucus, most of who were said to be working on the PDP structures to make them to accommodate the desire of Jonathan to contest the presidential election.

A member of the caucus, Mallam Umar Farouk, told the Nigerian Tribune that Jonathan might not have much trouble in convincing the North about wanting to win a full four-year term, as the people from the region were already familiar with him.

He said the recent remarks by some Northern elite urging Jonathan to contest were a reflection of grass roots politicians from the region, who believe that Jonathan could make them feel more of government presence which they lacked when the late President Umaru Yar'Adua was in the saddle.

Also, Jonathan's supporters in Delta State had been perfecting strategies on how to raise the ante for his interest in the next presidential election, having mapped out a series of sensitisation events for the purpose.

The group, known as Goodluck Jonathan Support Group, had scheduled a book launch as the first in the series of events planned to prepare the ground for the president to enter the contest and had also planned a rally to be held in Asaba and Port Harcourt for same purpose before the end of July.

The national coordinator of the group, Honour-able Aneke Ifemeni, told the Nigerian Tribune that members of his group had written a book comprising 101 reasons they felt should propel Jonathan to contest in 2011.

Aneke said the group had supported the late President Yar'Adua for second term, adding that his death did not mean governance had changed.

He said since he had paired with Jonathan for his presidency, it would be incumbent on Nigerians to allow the administration to remain in order to continue with the programmes it had inaugurated for the sustenance of rule of law and democracy in the country.

"Government is a continuum and our belief is that if Jonathan who started the programme with Yar'Adua is allowed to remain in power, he would have the right frame of mind to pilot government's affairs in line with the goals set by the late Yar'Adua," he said.

However, plots by some aspirants and their supporters for the post of the national chairman of the PDP notwithstanding, President Jonathan is said to have kept all stakeholders guessing on his clear direction on the decision.

It was gathered in Abuja, at the weekend, that the president had refused to open up to any of the contending groups on the matter.

A number of projections are coming up in the process of the emergence of the new PDP chairman.

While the South-East believed that it should be allowed to produce a replacement for Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, some forces were already angling for the emergence of the new chairman from the North, in line with the reversed zoning arrangement.

The belief in the South-East was that whoever was appointed would complete Ogbulafor's tenure, which should lapse in 2012, but a fresh thinking was indicating that the new chairman should still emerge on the basis of the existing zoning arrangement, which would see the post retained in the South-East.

Sources in the administration said President Jonathan had not opened up to any of the contending forces on the choice of the new chairman.

While some sources said the president was behind the push to install the former national secretary of the party, Chief Benard Eze, as the new chairman, others indicated that the president's camp was in favour of Chief Okwe-zelezie Nwodo.

Other sources close to the government said Jonathan was considering the Senior Special Assistant on Political Affairs, Senator Polycarp Nwite, as a way of pacifying the camp the late President Yar'Adua.

Nwite was the Nigerian Ambassador to Botswana before he was recalled by Yar'Adua and appointed political adviser.

He is regarded as one of the core supporters of the late General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, founder of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

It was gathered that the intervention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the selection process had not forced Jonathan to change

his posture and the president had not confirmed a particular choice to any of the stakeholders.

"The president is bidding his time on the choice of the national chairman of the PDP. He wants the best for the party and I won't be surprised if any of those so-called frontline candidates loses out," a source said.

Chief Obasanjo was said to be backing a former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, for the top job, while some people had also linked him with the support for the former national vice chairman of the party in the South-East, Chief Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu.

The PDP Governors' Forum and some members of the PDP Reform Group were said to be backing the former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, while other forces were said to be queuing behind the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Ike Nwachukwu.

But a source said of Jonathan's thinking: "the president is keeping issues around the new chairman close to his chest. So far, we can say that he has kept the stakeholders guessing. He wants all the segments of the party to come up with suggestions before he gives the final nod."

Meanwhile, the National Interest Group (NIG) in the Senate is set to contribute a voice to the ongoing debate on the choice of the new PDP chairman.

It was gathered that the group had scheduled a meeting for Tuesday in Abuja to finalise talks on the preferred choice of candidate for the PDP top job.

The group, which spearheaded the confirmation of Jonathan as acting president in February, had continue to bond together since its formation in January. The NIG is closely working with the House of Representatives version, the Nigeria First Forum (NFF).

Sources said the two groups were working towards presenting a common candidate for the post of the national chairman of the party.
Read more…

2011: Babangida IBORI Ticket : The PLOT by Justice Katsina Alu

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on March 5, 2010 at 8:23pm

Aloysius Katsina-Alu

The Supreme Court led by Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, a notorious wheeler dealer, today took a first step in several sources within the judiciary and political circles described as a broad effort to thwart any meaningful political change in Nigeria and, in the short term, a plot to pave the way for former President Ibrahim Babangida and former Governor James Ibori to steal power.
This morning, a seven-man panel of the apex court unanimously ruled that Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo, presidential candidate of the People's Mandate Party (PMP) and his running mate, Muhammad Abdullahi, had a valid case in challenging the election of Umaru Yar’adua in April 2007. The legal challenge, brought by way of appeal against the election of Umaru Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan, received what a senior advocate characterized as “a surprise and unusual boost from the Supreme Court.” .

The case had earlier been thrown out by the presidential election petition tribunal headed by Justice James Ogebe on September 3rd 2007 for lacking in competence.

A highly knowledgeable source told Saharareporters that the apex court’s decision to overturn Justice Ogebe’s ruling must be seen in the context of the grave power play that has paralyzed Nigeria’s governance and cast presidential leadership in a serious crisis. Loyalists to both Yar’adua and Jonathan are currently engaged in a grim brinkmanship over which faction is to exercise power – even as Yar’adua remains bedridden and has not been seen or heard from by Nigerians ten days after his purported discharge from a Saudi hospital.

Today’s judgment, which was delivered with five justices in attendance while two were absent, concluded that Mr. Nwankwo’s appeal was meritorious, ruling that it set aside the September 2007 judgment for being null and void. The Supreme Court subsequently remitted the case to the lower court to be adjudicated by a fresh panel to be constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal.

Three sources, two legal authorities and the third a top PDP politician, told Saharareporters that the case could prove tricky especially at the time when the country badly needed a way out of its present political logjam.

“I can tell you that today’s judgment represents a move by the Supreme Court leadership in conjunction with some political operatives on the Yar’adua side of the political equation to use the court to ease out Dr. Goodluck Jonathan from office by annulling the election at the reconstituted Court of Appeal,” said one of the sources.

Our informants stated that, once the election is annulled, the PDP would decide not to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court. “Instead, the party would welcome the chance to present another set of candidates to replace Yar’adua and Jonathan – claiming that its original presidential candidate is incapacitated,” said one source. He added that the ruling party would most likely hand its ticket to Babangida, with Ibori as the vice presidential candidate. “The duo would then be positioned to steal victory in early elections that might be ordered by the Court of Appeal,” said one of our sources.

Our political sources said the apex court’s judgment is part of the ruling party’s covert designs to shut out new candidates that are likely to emerge to challenge a weakened PDP in elections scheduled for 2011.

A legal expert told Saharareporters that the apex court’s decision is also suspicious since a majority of the same court had ruled last year that Yar’adua’s election was in order – despite detailed evidence of substantial violations of the electoral act.

“I am highly disturbed by this ruling,” said a Port Harcourt-based senior advocate, adding that the verdict “smacked of political adventurism of the worst kind.”

Since January, Justice Aloysius Katsina–Alu has led the apex court. Known for his close ties to serial criminal Ibori as well as former Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa, both prominent members of the Yar’adua “kitchen cabinet,” Katsina-Alu is notorious in legal circles for his penchant for corruption and meddling in cases to derail justice.

Last week, Justice Katsina-Alu pulled one of his suspicious moves when he intervened to halt the scheduled ruling of the Court of Appeal to decide the gubernatorial election in Sokoto State. One lawyer told us that the Chief Justice’s intrusive maneuver in that case, exclusively exposed by Saharareporters, was unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian judiciary.

One of our sources said that the new Chief Justice appeared to be positioning the courts to help the Ibori faction of the PDP to reestablish control both of the party and Nigeria.

But in a short interview with us, the lead lawyer to the plaintiffs, Nnabuike Edechime, explained that his clients actually wanted the Supreme Court to annul the 2007 election by invoking Section 37 (1) of the 2006 Electoral Act. The act states: “If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election.” Mr. Edechime explained that the electoral commission should have rescheduled the 2007 election when Adebayo Adefarati, the presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, died on March 29, 2007, just before the election. He said it was proper for the courts to nullify the presidential election on account of Adefarati’s death.

Asked if he was aware that the ruling might have interesting political implications at this time, Edechime said he thought the annulment of the election would be the best way out of the political logjam besetting Nigeria at the moment.

Today’s ruling took place in the presence of James Ogebe and John Fabiyi, two justices who played a role in upholding the legitimacy of Yar’adua’s election at the lower tribunal. After Ogebe and Fabiyi handed victory to Yar’adua, they were hastily elevated to the Supreme Court.

Today’s case was presided over by Justice George Oguntade, who was absent from court. Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was also absent, wrote the ruling. Other justices on the panel are Olufunmilayo Adekeye, Mahmud Mohammed, Francis Tabai, Ikechi Ogbuagu and Muhammed Muntaka Coomasie.

Wole Olanipekun and Damina Dodo, both senior advocates of Nigeria, represented Yar’adua/Jonathan while Kanu Agabi (SAN) represented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 40 others.

Edechime, Mirabel Edozie and Uba Chukwuka represented the plaintiffs, Arthur Nwankwo and the Peoples Mandate Party.
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Lagos Guber Elections 2011: Fashola vs the REST ! Banire,Pedro,Agbaje,obanikoro

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on January 16, 2010 at 9:00am
The 2011 governorship election is just one year away, if a provision that elections should be conducted, six months before swearing-in as canvassed in the electoral bill is finally passed. However, the race for governorship election is becoming more interesting in Lagos State, given the emerging forces and issues in the politics of the state. Gboyega Akinsanmi profiles some of the aspirants The political climate in Lagos State is already charged like other states of the federation. One major reason is responsible for the charged political climate in Africa’s most populous metropolis. This simply zeroes in on who rules Lagos Mega-City from May 29, 2011, a political entity which is not just Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, but has a teeming population of about 18 million. Given the multifaceted challenges of the metropolis, public debates have started at different levels on who clutches the political leverage of the state after the 2011 general elections. The debates have polarised interests and groups in the state. For the elite, the incumbent Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) deserves another four-year term to enable him consolidates his programmes of socio-economic transformation and infrastructural renewal, which the administration of former governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu commenced. For the political interests even in the ranks of Action Congress (AC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) among others, the move to clinch Fashola’s job has already commenced even when it is apparent that the incumbent has made history in transforming Lagos metropolis in the last two and half years that he has been in the office. And lastly, the masses, largely low-income earners, ally with the political interests due to Fashola’s harsher tax regime and massive demolition. Being the largest electorate in the state, this particular class is worst hit by the reform programmes of the Fashola administration. However, the political game in the state is also open for players in other political parties, such as the Action Congress (AC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA), All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), Labour Party (LP) and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). But beyond the strength of the political parties, other factors like proven leadership qualities, past records in public offices and political programmes among others will determine who will rule the metropolis next in 2011. Babatunde Raji Fashola Often called BRF in the elite circle, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is the incumbent governor of the state. He won the governorship primaries of the Action Congress in 2007 amid controversies, which culminated in the defection of major actors to other political parties. His political godfather single-handedly secured victory for him in the primaries, despite his skeletal political credentials, before he joined the Tinubu administration in 2003 as the Chief of Staff. Fashola won the 2007 governorship election, despite all the desperate moves of the ruling party to wrestle the political power of the state from the AC, which emerged on the crumbling rubbles of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Since his assumption of office, the incumbent governor has been paddling the canoe of the state amid socio-economic challenges and life-transforming outcomes of his 11-point agenda, which have elicited sound public rating. Even though his reform programmes have pitched him against the masses in the state, Fashola has made history, taking cognisance of massive infrastructural development, construction of network roads, building ultra-modern health care centres, provision of modern health care facilities, free education and accessible health services. His programmes have brought crime rate down by 70 percent, beautified critical areas in the state, turned around transportation sector and provided relatively enabling environment for investors. Most of his projects are on-going in different parts. The need to consolidate his performance must have compelled some enlightened interests in the state to ask him questions in public functions whether he will seek second term. Fashola has indicated interest in second term, but his party will determine if he will run the 2011 governorship race on the platform of the Action Congress. His re-election may have pitched him against his political father, who was said to hold the view that Fashola’s re-election will affect his political plan for the state. But there have been several denials of frosty relationship between the duo. Jimi Agbaje Popularly known as Jay Kay, Mr. Jimi Agbaje’s political career and fame rose to prominence in 2007, when he contested the gubernatorial elections in Lagos State. He started the race on the platform of the Action Congress. But when Fashola clinched the AC governorship ticket, Agbaje defected to Democratic Peoples Party (DPA) and brought innovations into politicking in the state, thus using text messaging, YouTube and e-mail to campaign. Agbaje took off from ‘Idile’, a group of promising minds bubbling with innovative programmes. But he served as a treasurer of Afenifere, the umbrella Yoruba socio-political group. His activities earned him a cabinet position in the Tinubu Administration after the 2003 general elections, but declined the offer, apparently strategising how to occupy the Lagos seat of political power in 2007. His plan was foiled because Agbaje parted with the political forces through which he could easily realise his gubernatorial ambition in the state. His dream was to become the governor on the platform of AC. The governorship primaries did not favour him, a reason he defected to the DPA in 2006. But Agbaje could not win the 2007 gubernatorial race while alleging that the process was not credible, free and fair enough. Yet, Agbaje still remains a major player in the 2011 political game given his popular acceptance, proven leadership qualities and political programmes for the state. He has not rested his gubernatorial oars, though remained silent in the recent time. But his appearance in the last AC congress has fuelled speculations that Agbaje is still a relevant force not just in the DPA, but also in the ranks of the AC leadership. There are insinuations that Agbaje may replace Fashola in 2011. But THISDAY learnt that Agbaje, being a principled man has remained neutral, not wanting to come between Tinubu and Fashola. Musiliu Obanikoro Senator Musiliu Obanikoro remains a key player in the political game of Lagos. Currently Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Obanikoro keenly contested the 2007 governorship race with the incumbent governor on the platform of the ruling PDP. Nevertheless, the envoy is still eyeing the governor’s seat of Lagos State, despite intra-party challenges facing PDP in the state. He has a two-decade political experience, starting from when he returned to the shore of Nigeria in 1989 after his tertiary education and short service in the United States. Obanikoro was once appointed Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Surulere Local Government and later elected Chairman, Lagos Island Local Government before a new democratic order began in 1999. He was appointed State Commissioner for Home Affairs & Culture in 1999 during the administration of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In 2003, he was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD). He defected to the ruling PDP in 2006, when he could not clinch the gubernatorial ticket of the AC, a political party which emerged from the dying AD in 2006. Femi Pedro Before his appointment as the Deputy Governor of Lagos State in 2003 during the administration of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Pedro was Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of former First Atlantic Bank (now Fin Bank Plc). In 2006, the former deputy governor indicated interest to run the 2007 governorship election on the platform of the Action Congress. Precisely on December 13, 2006, Pedro dumped the AC to realise his dream to clutch the political leverage of Lagos State under the Labour Party. His defection was premised on what he described as gross manipulation of the AC governorship primaries. He resigned his position as deputy governor after citing electoral malpractices in the gubernatorial elections in which he participated and lost. But, Tinubu administration rejected his letter of resignation, and the Lagos State House of Assembly commenced an impeachment process against him. He was finally impeached in 2007 at the tail end of his tenure. Since 2007, Pedro has been playing the role of opposition in the state, indicating his plan to contest the 2011 election to realise his governorship ambition. After the last election, Pedro defected to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) where he is currently rooting deep to contest the next election. Compared with other political actors in the state, Pedro is not a popular candidate, and his political party is not strong enough in the state. He has a strong personality and required leadership qualities to lead the state successfully. But the former deputy governor has such stronger personalities as Alhaji Demola Seriki, who is the current Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Adegboyega Dosunmu, who is the favourite candidate of the Chief Bode George political group and Obanikoro who is now Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana to contend with in the primaries of the ruling party. Muiz Banire Unlike the contenders earlier stated, Dr. Muiz Banire has not tested his popularity in any electoral contest, but has held different political offices at the cabinet level. Currently Commissioner for Environment in the state, Banire has an ambition to contest the 2011 governorship race. He has been said to be the favoured candidate of the Tinubu political group. Banire has not declared his ambition publicly, though has been making underground moves to realise his dream. Aside that, he has been holding public offices at the level of cabinet in the state since 1999; Banire has sound academic background, but low political profile. With a doctoral degree in Law and vast experience in Governance and Public Administration, Banire stands out among other contenders. The question remains: Can he garner enough support that will definitely earn him governorship ticket of the AC? This is a hurdle many sceptics believe Banire cannot scale. For his critics, Banire cannot garner the support of the party leaders to clinch the gubernatorial ticket of the AC. Even with his celebrated ties with Tinubu, major actors in the party have said Banire cannot win the primaries. Some said that, the party leadership has an entirely different political plan on which the mantle of leadership falls in the state. Besides, Banire has some powerful actors to contend with, and the working of the actors may cripple his governorship plan. However, investigation revealed in the recent time that the leadership of his political party are looking beyond the party to pick its gubernatorial candidate. Adegboyega Dosunmu Dosunmu, a former Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is believed to have been substantially adopted by a good number of the major interest groups in the Lagos PDP. His belief, according to one of his close aides, is that every programme of government must carry a human face and not destroy the people’s means of livelihood. Dosunmu had recently declared his intention to run the 2011 gubernatorial race in the state. Dosunmu depends on the support of the Chief Bode George camp to actualise his gubernatorial ambition. It appears that Dosunmu is politically strong enough to wrestle the PDP governorship ticket from either Obanikoro or Pedro. Tokunbo Afikuyomi Unlike Mrs. Remi Adikwu-Bakare who had shelved her ambition to rule the Lagos for now, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi has lived a low-political life since 2007. In 2007, Afikuyomi got the ANPP governorship ticket in the state, though returned to the AC shortly before the April 14, 2007 Election and was later appointed Commissioner for Tourism. The race for the 2011 governorship election is becoming more interesting by the day as more contenders are working underground, testing their popularity and political weight to determine their chances of winning the race. But like 2007, there will be surprises, as some actors will fall out of the scheme of party decision makers and others form alliance with a view to frustrating the power of political dragons. While the incumbent has an edge, his political rivals, especially in the ranks of his political affiliation, may not sheathe swords in thwarting his re-election bid.
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