As Jonathan hands over to Jonathan

On Sunday May 27th 2011, President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan took the oath of office at a colourful ceremony in the Nation's capital, Abuja.  Whether the name "Azikiwe" is actually in his passport or purely used to win the South Eastern votes during the last general elections is a debate I would really like to have- but definitely not today. Albeit, his demure demeanour has become his greatest asset. GEJ, as he is now fondly referred to, began his ascension to the exalted position of President on December 11th, 2005. On this beautiful Friday, his boss and former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, was impeached, handcuffed and flown to Abuja, thereby paving way for him constitutionally to be sworn in as Governor. While some deputy governors would have thrown parties and held thanksgiving services to celebrate this "good luck", one media house reported that Goodluck locked himself away and broke down in tears. He must have wondered how a man he had served as deputy for seven years was being whisked away while he took over his post. By February 2007, he was picked by Obasanjo to become the vice- presidential candidate to Umaru Yar'Ádua. This singular act paved his emergence as the Vice president, Acting President and thereafter President after the demise of his principal. This perhaps sums what some people have termed Goodluck's mysterious rise to become Nigeria's president.

 

The most striking aspect of Goodluck's rise to power is that of all the presidents before him, he had the modest of all backgrounds. In fact when he declared his assets in 2007, many Nigerians laughed him to scorn. This is a man who according to one "source" travelled to Abuja for the first time in his life in 1998 on a night bus! This is a man who himself acknowledged that he was not born rich. According to him when growing up, he had no shoes, no school bag; no car to take him to school; he sometimes had only one meal for days, trekked many miles to school, his family could not afford to eat rice, and even studied with lanterns as his poor parents could not afford power or generating sets . In spite of these, Goodluck was able to finish secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, holds a doctorate degree from the same University and is now the president of the Nigeria. In the course of his campaigns, he was quoted as saying: "...In my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria..."

 

When Goodluck Jonathan took the oath of office on Sunday, he has signed a path with history. Nigerians are no more interested about him not having shoes or trekking for miles. Such stories should be left to story tellers. He must hit the ground and start running. Nigerians are not interested in talks and promises. They want results. Nigerians need an improvement in the power sector. That sector should be privatised immediately.  The educational sector needs urgent overhauling. He should fix the transportation problem as well. He should leave no stone unturned from railway to road to air. He must fulfil all the promises he made during his campaigns throughout the country. Therefore, there is no time to waste in the next four years, no time for needless courtesy calls by traditional rulers and all kinds of groups that serve no purpose to the overall wellbeing of the country. No time to tour the world, no time for owanbe parties and all what not.

 

Goodluck Jonathan, the ball is in your court! Get to work!!!

 

The Many Evils Of Governor Ikedi Ohakim

On a bright Friday morning, precisely on January 21, 2010, a team of five armed policemen arrived at the residence of one Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha and escorted him into a black Toyota Prado SUV registered to the Imo State government house. His neighbours must have been green with envy thinking that Mr Iwuoha's has been given a cabinet position. Or what else could be the reason for the VIP treatment he was receiving?
Little did they know that this wasn't actually a luxury ride but one that would take Mr Iwuoha to hell. On that day, the governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, took it upon himself to personally flog the 40-year-old father of two. Right inside the governor's office, the governor, armed with a horsewhip, stripped Mr Iwuoha completely unclothed and for almost two hours flogged him like an erring donkey.
On his own account, Mr. Iwuoha had this to say:
"The governor head-butted me, punched me in the face and kicked me before returning to his table to grab a horsewhip. He ordered me to lie on the rug and he flogged me ruthlessly. While he was at it, his younger brother, Emmanuel Ohakim, who doubles as his chief of staff rushed in and shouted, ‘His excellency, his excellency!' The governor looked up and said, ‘Emma, this is Ikenna Samuelson. I will kill him today.'"
Mr Iwuoha has initiated several court cases against the governor which have ended up nowhere, due to the immunity from prosecution the governor enjoys.
It could also be recalled that on Sunday 8th of August 2010 security officials attached to Mr. Ikedi Ohakim arrested a man of God, Rev. Father Eustace Okorie for “allegedly” obstructing the convoy of the governor.
The security details accused the Catholic Priest of deliberately blocking the the governor’s convoy with his car along Orie-Akabo Ikeduru L.G.A. of the state. Rev. Father Eustace Okorie was immediately arrested, and his car impounded. The Priest was taken to the Government house. As soon as they touched down in Government house, they dragged him straight to what is fast turning into the Governor’s torture chambers. And there, his real travails began. He was stripped unclothed to his underpants, interrogated by the Chief security Officer of Governor Ohakim who took several pictures of the clergy before handing him over to the SSS office directly opposite the State House. He was then detained for more than two days alongside with a suspected student cultist when he purportedly refused to sign an implicating statement suggesting he blocked the road consciously.
Mrs Udoudo was driving to church one Sunday morning in with her two kids early February 2008 on Alfred Rewane road ,Lagos when Gov Ohakim's convoy sped down behind her. The Governors aides claimed that the woman had obstructed the convoy, thus posing security risk. The woman was repeatedly slapped, harassed and beaten by the security officers in the convoy. In addition, her car was damaged. Her frightened kids ran out of the car and could just have been run down by on coming vehicles. The most bizarre aspect of the incident was that the governor himself was seated in one of the cars, watching as a hapless woman was assaulted by his security goons. I can only imagine what was going on in the governor’s mind as this woman was brutalised on the road. What kind of a governor would take delight in such a macabre spectacle?
Space will not allow me to recount the story of Precious Efurueze, the 13-year-old boy, accused of allegedly attempting to kill Ikedi Ohakim (and former president Olusegun Obasanjo)in Owerri on 31, March,by stoning their campaign convoy with sachets of pure water! This Juvinile has been remanded in custody.
The chief magistrate explained that her reason for denying the accused bail is that they had been charged with felony which carries a punishment of life imprisonment if found guilty. She said the offence is a serious one and, therefore, should not be treated lightly.
The case was adjourned to May 30, for further hearing.
Today’s election signals the dawn of a new era in Imo state. By May 30th, Ikedi Ohakim will no longer enjoy the “immunity” he had enjoyed in the last four years.
I strongly call on all relevant bodies and associations to see that this man is tried and prosecuted and if found guilty, be sent to Jail!!!

An Open Letter To President-Elect Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan

Mr President,

It is with shock and utter disbelief I received the news that you have so far won 25 per cent in 28 states plus Federal Capital Territory. According to the 1999 constitution, a winner needs the majority of votes and at least 25 per cent of votes in 24 states of the 36 states of the federation. So far you have won 25 per cent in 28 states, leaving your closest rival, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change with victories in only 12 states. I know you and your cronies will be celeberating and popping the proverbial champagne now but here is a word of caution from perhaps one of your worse critics.

Allow me to explain that the presidential victory of April 16th was a victory for yourself and not necessarily for the PDP, which you are a part and parcel of. This should reveal without any equivocation that the elections were not driven by issues, but sentiments about personalities, religion and ethnicity. It is my opinion that as a nation we should grow our democracy to achieve a situation whereby persons win elections on the basis of merit and actual performance not sentiments, and certainly not with the aid of financial inducements, blackmail and violence.
I will not bore you with all the expectations Nigerians (the ones who voted for you, anyway) have-I believe you know all of these and intend to meet all of them.

Nevertheless, I intend to remind you of all the myriad of promises you made during your political campaign throughout the country. In my generosity, I have listed them for you here.

1. You Promised to rule for only one term (reference http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12339017)
As a man of your words or rather as you want to make us believe, PLEASE stick to this plan and pledge.
I sincerly hope we will not have political jobbers, groups like Youths Earnestly Ask for Jona, Dbanj, Lagbaja, Sunny Ade all singing for your second term bid? I sincerly hope also, you will not come out and openly deny you didnt make such promise or statements as you did about the zoning saga.

2. You promised a consitutional role for Traditional Rulers!!! I am short of words but Nigerians are waiting

3. On March 17th 2011, in Dutse the Jigawa statte capital, you promised:"If I win the election, within my four years in office, I will establish domestic airports in all the states without airports, WE ARE WAITING.

4. In Nasarawa, at the flagoff of your campaign you promised at least a university in every state including building specialist almajiri schools to shore up education in the North so as to eradicate illiteracy. The Almajiris are waiting o!

5. On February 8th in Ibadan, the day you called some people "rascals", you promised to create jobs and improve the power sector. The OYO people and indeed all Nigerians are waiting!!!

6. On Feb 9th, you were in Bauchi and you promised to intensify oil and gas exploration in the North-East as part of efforts to harness resources for economic development. Also you pledged to boost agriculture, power and water supply for wealth creation and revenue generation. Then you assured that projects such as the Mambilla hydro-electricity, Jada irrigation project and Kafin Zaki dam in Taraba, Adamawa and Bauchi would be pursued to boost agriculture and industrial development. Then you promised that your administration would establish two universities in the region. The NORTH EAST PEOPLE ARE WAITING,

9. You landed in Portharcourt on Feb 12 where you made alot of promises, maybe to woo your Niger Delta people. Be that as it may, you announced that the NNPC, in partnership with the private sector, would establish a petrochemical plant in the Niger Delta (you didnt state where exactly). You promised the plant will create job opportunities for the Niger Delta youths. Then you went ahead to promise the implementation of Local Content Law and Petroleum Industry Bill. In case you cant remember when you made all these, cast your mind back to the stampede that claimed some lives (where your wife called them martyrs).

10. In Kaduna- You promised massive transformation of the agricultural sector through construction of large dams and distribution of one million metric tonnes of fertilisers for the 2011 farming season (The rains are here already, so fulfil your promises o)
You also pledged to establish Almajiri model schools to address the challenges of the Almajiris.

11. In Benue-You promised to revolutionise agriculture and establish industries in the country through a five-year plan (We need that Plan now so we can keep track, the five years have started counting already)

You also promised to complete the irrigation project in Otukpo. Then you promised that the second Niger Bridge and the Benue Bridge projects will be worked on in the next four years. I think its better to start now so by April 2015, we trust you would have completed it.

12. February 17th, you were in Plateau where you made shocked the entire country with amazing promises. First of all, you pledged to refocus on the solid mineral development of the state and make it one of the key revenue sources in Nigeria. The Plateau people are banking on you.
Mr President, You promised to build more dams and complete ongoing ones, so as to boost agricultural growth.

In addtion you promised to complete the Vom-Manchok-Jos road to boost economic links between Plateau and Kaduna states. Yoy left the state and the Plateau people have been happy ever since and now that you have won, they are waiting

13. Mr President on Feb 21, you were in Kogi. You promised among other things promised that the dredging of the River Niger and Lokoja-Abuja road dualisation would be completed very soon. THE KOGI PEOPLE AND INDEED NIGERIANS ARE HOPING AND WAITING

14. In Kwara State on Feb22, you pledged that the irrigation project in Shonga would be completed soon to boost the commercial farming activities of the New Nigeria Farmers in the area. Mr president, remember you also said the Jebba-Mokwa road and Jebba bridge would be given adequate attention to ease transportation in the area. Kwarians are waiting!

15. On February 24, Mr. President, you pledged to rehabilitate ALL ailing industries in Aba. I believe all Abians are hoping on you to provide the enabling environment to do their businesses, you must keep your promises,

16. Mr.President, on Feb 25th in Anamabra you said there is a plan to build a power station in the state, assuring that within the next four years your administration would construct and rehabilitate ALL federal roads leading to Anambra as well as the South East. You equally to provide potable water to the densely populated Onitsha and Nnewi cities and tackle erosion in the South-East. To tell you the truth, Mr. President, Anambrians are banking on you!

17. In Ebonyi state, you promised to dualise the Enugu-Abakaliki federal highway in addition to establishing a secretariat for ALL Federal government's agencies and parastatals in Ebonyi. Mr. president, The people of Ebonyi has never had it so good since the creation of their state. Now, you have promised them the good life. Please keeep to your words!

18. In Niger state, you promised the more power generation. Perhaps the most important aspect of your promises is that your government would map out a five-year strategic plan for road projects. (Please we are waiting for the Plan NOW!!!!)

19. On Feb 27, you were in Asaba, the Delta state capital, which happens to be my state. On that fateful sunday, you revealed that “The NNPC is developing a new programme that will absorb about 5,000 youths, ”, Mr. President, Deltans are delighted at this REVELATIONS. While that number is a far cry from the number of unemployed youths in the state, at all at all na winch (as we say in Warri), so Deltans are waiting.

20. On March 2nd, you were in Ondo where you pronmised that roads and other basic infrastructure across the states will be developed in four years. In addition you also promised the exploitation of the vast bitumen deposits in the state for national economic development and employment generation. The Ondo people are waiting. Your Four years have started already. You must start now.

21. On the same day, March 2nd, your campaigbn train was in Ekiti state. While there, you promised that more than N50 billion federal intervention projects were ongoing in the state. You can be rest assured that the Fayemi and indeed the entire Ekiti kete are waiting for you.

22. On March 9th, in Sokoto, you promised to rehabilitate the abandoned Shagari irrigation project as well as reviving the nation’s rail system and fight the menace of desertification in the country. Sokoto people have sufffered for too long. This is your time to redeem your pledge, Mr President. The clock is ticking!!!

23.The date was March 12th 2011 and you were in Ogun state.
Remember, the day you rode to Abeokuta through rail?

Yes, That was the day you promised an improved power supply before the end of the year through the Integrated Power Project (IPP) initiative.

You also pledged to build more refineries, encourage downstream activities, resuscitate rail transportation and create jobs. In case you have forgotten, that was the day that Gbenga Daniel (your South West campaign coordinator was booed by the Ogun people).

24.On March 14th, your campaign trained moved to Kebbi where you promised to establish a federal university next year (2012). You also promised to create jobs through science and technology, tackle environmental challenges and boost health care delivery.

25.Katsina, was your port of call on March 15 where you promised to enhance the living standard of Nigerians through implementation of people-oriented programmes that would provide citizens the necessary opportunities to realise their potentials.

In my opinion, this was just mere rhetorics as you did not make any concrete promises. or did you have the premonition, you will lose in Katsina? I might just be right.

26.In Kano, you pledged to resuscitate the nation’s power sector and encourage the development of small and medium scale enterprises in the country while ensuring justice, equity and fair play in the polity.

Mr.President, Space will not allow me to list the deluge of promises in Lagos, Osun, Borno, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Imo, Taraba, Jigawa, Edo, Bayelsa and Zamfara states. If you can accomplish all your promises in the next four years, then you will go down memory lane as the best President ever. Im all honesty, I wish you GoodLuck!!!

Time will tell!!!

Food for thought on the Polity!

I just received a shocking report three three top presidential candidates have pulled out of the
proposed BON televised debate scheduled for March 29 2011. As I read the press statements signed by the representatives of Buhari, Ribadu and Shekarau, I was forced to ask myself the following questions:

1. Who demanded for questions on debates to be issued beforehand?

2. Who shamelessly shifted the NN24 dates( thrice) as mentioned in the report?

3. Who eventually chickened out of the debates without even informing people (or rendering apologies), only to show up on a fraudulently staged kindergarten questionnaire with an equally clueless D'Banj?

4. Who shamelessly chickened out of the YOUTH DEBATE (to be held on Friday 25th March 2011) that could benefit our dying country, only to foolishly stage an upcoming concert for youth to dance away their lives into unemployment, as opposed to bravely facing these people (he claims to care about) and properly stating his proposed solutions.

With a signed press release, the three presidential candidates have decided to prove without any equivocation that they will not honour any debate with the candidate that arrogantly shunned the credible and independent NN24 debate for which they made ourselves available.