AS THE GOOD MAN STEPS ASIDE AS FORCED BY THE SUPREME COURT RULING AGAINST HIM. HE LEAVES THIS GREAT STATEMENT BEHIND

Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha 

STATEMENT FROM HIS EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. EMEKA IHEDIOHA, CON, ON THE SUPREME COURT RULING ON IMO STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION OF THE MARCH 9, 2019.

JANUARY 15, 2020

My dear good people of Imo State,
I address you today, following recent developments affecting our dear state, and in particular the Supreme Court judgement of 14thJanuary 2020.In my relationship with you as Governor of Imo , I had employed regular consultations and dialogue as a tool of political discourse. This informs this course of action.

2. I am reporting back to you our great Imo people on the fate of the mandate you freely gave to me as Governor and Engr. Gerald Irona as Deputy Governor. This mandate has now been truncated and cut short by the Supreme Court, in contravention of the will of the people.

3. We shall always cherish the tremendous goodwill and support you gave us as we grappled with setting up a new administration to rebuild a state that was devastated by bad governance.

4. In the last seven months we sought to elevate merit, unity of purpose, honesty, transparency and an inclusive approach to governance, as the hallmarks of our administration. We sought to restore once again, the pride and dignity of Imo people. We worked very hard to re-engineer the Imo renaissance. But God knows why he has allowed this current state of affairs.

5. No doubt, yesterday’s Supreme Court verdict, came to us as a rude shock and surprise considering the facts on ground, legal precedence and clear verdict of Imo People on March 9 2019, that returned me as Governor with the highest valid votes of 273,404.

6.  I do not agree with the judgement of the Supreme Court. I think it is unfair, unjust and does not reflect the voting that took place during the elections. It also didn’t take care of the sensibilities of the people of Imo State. But as true democrats, Engr Gerald Irona and I have no option but to respect the outcome of that judgement.

7. Consequently, we have put machinery in motion to hand-over the reins of office to the APC Candidate as the the next governor of Imo State. This will be coordinated by the Secretary to the State Government. I therefore direct all members of Imo State Expanded Executive Council, and all political appointees to write their handing-over notes and to return all government properties in their custody, forthwith. I shall not be party to pilfering of Government property or funds.

8. May we use this opportunity to express our gratitude to God for the opportunity to serve, within the short period he granted us. We sincerely appreciate you for all your solidarity and goodwill. We would forever cherish and treasure your love, your trust and your partnership.  We made our mark. Rebuilding our dear state is neither easy nor personal, but a task undertaken for our today and tomorrow.

9. I thank you all for your support which saw us achieve so much and reversed the negative trajectory of Imo State within a space of seven months. It is significant to note that Imo State was looking good again. We were declared the least corrupt State in the Country, the fastest state growing economy in Nigeria and the most improved, in terms of the deployment of Information Technology in service delivery. Our infrastructure was significantly coming to life, civil servants and pensioners were now being paid as and when due and optimism returned to Imo State. It is on record that we were acclaimed as the most sports and diaspora friendly state. Most importantly we returned life and activities to our local governments. Yes we had good plans to make Imo the centre piece of commerce, industry, technology, tourism by providing good leadership and first class infrastructure. Under our watch, Imo became safe with our systematic approach to securing lives and property.

10. All these were made possible by your prayers, support and sacrifices. I therefore appeal to all Imolites, especially our teeming supporters to remain calm and to shun any action that is capable of resulting in a breach of the peace. We can always have different parties, but we would have only one Imo State. In the same vein, I urge you to extend to my successor, the same support you gave to me. It is my wish that he will continue on the path we had set for the rebuilding of our state as well as consolidate on the progress and milestones we achieved.

11. It is incontrovertible that we ran a good race, fought tough battles, (including, principalities and powers)and governed the state well, with the fear of God, accountability, transparency and entrenched due process. We, however, take solace in the book of Ecclesiastics 3:1, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”.

12. We step aside with implicit faith in the Sovereign Lord who reigns over the affairs of men.

13. Thank you.
Imo bu nke anyi.

Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON.

SENATOR ADESEYE OGUNLEWE FINALLY EATS VOMIT AS HE DUMPS PDP LAGOS FOR APC. NOW TO DINE WITH HIS FORMER ENEMIES AS BUDDIES NOW

Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe

Moyosore Ogunlewe 

Wow. No one would have thought it could happen in a hundred years., let's not overstretch it to a million years. Senator ADESEYE Ogunlewe, the former minister of works under Chief Olusegun Aremo Obasanjo, who was used to fight Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a standstill then, during the then administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Executive Governor of Lagos State.

The former Minister of Works then wore the garb of the unrelenting enemy well then and did all that was possible to make a mess of the then Asiwaju administration. It was federal might at its best, with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo an ex-military General as its arrow head against the wiles, maneuverings and wisdom of Asiwaju, who literally adopted guerrilla tactics to outwit both Ogunlewe then and his ear veteran principal, that the only option left to them was the illegality of seizing the money due to the state then, in a protracted stalemate. Both Ogunlewe and Obasanjo didn't care, it was their way or no way at all. So they didn't mind whose ox was gored. They had thought they had a strangle hold of a kind on Lagos then and would soon paralyze governance and those administering it then, but much as they tried, the ingenuity of those running the affairs of Lagos then, likes of Babatunde Raji Fashola, Wale Edun, Lai Mohammed, Muiz Banire, Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Fowler and Co, made the FG look like a big bullying fool with excreta spattered over their face in shame at the end of it all.

It is the same Senator Ogunlewe whose son was the first to decamp from the PDP after unsuccessfully trying to win elections into the state house, that has now eaten his vomit and returned back home to the so called progressives from his former conservative enclave that he had moved to. What this says seriously and what it gives credence to, is that truism that 'there are never permanent enemies in politics, only permanent interests'. As long as something is going to pay the personality himself or those very close to him, such a person is ready and willing to discard whatever his ideological leaning might be, to then dine with just about anyone, including the devil itself.

So those inconsequential hangers on that takes up battles not necessarily theirs are the losers at the end of the day or would they also go cap in hand to go beg for relevance too?

So after much denial that he wasn't ever jumping ships, he has done just that and was received into the APC ship by Alhaji Tunde Balogun a chieftain of the Lagos APC & other members of the working committee. Ogunlewe didn't actually jump the ship alone, he came in tow with Moyosore his son and other bigwigs of the main opposition. And if their prediction is anything to go by, then it is likely that with this defection, maybe PDP in Lagos State is now on her death knell. 

SEYI MAKINDE OYO STATE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR DECLARES N48B PERSONAL ASSETS

His Excellency, Governor OLUSEYI MAKINDE of Oyo State. 

MAKINDE DECLARES N48BN FIRMS, OTHER ASSETS

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Monday made good his campaign promise to publicly declare his assets.

The governor, who visited the Oyo State office of the Code of Conduct Bureau in Ibadan to receive a copy of the asset declaration form, said his decision to make the assets public was in fulfillment of his electoral promise.

Details of the assets as contained in the CCB 1 with the name Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, was declared at the High Court of Oyo State, on May 28, 2019.

The assets declaration form, marked OYSE/2019/001 contained details of cash at hand, in the bank, landed properties (developed and undeveloped), household items, share and bonds owned by the governor and his wife, Omini Makinde, as well as his companies.

According to a statement containing the details of the asset form made public by the Chief Press Secretary to Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, the governor of Oyo State has cash at hand and in the bank worth N234, 742,296.01, as of May 28, 2019.

In dollar terms, the governor had $30,056.99 as of the same date.

The statement added that properties and household items indicated on the asset forms showed that the governor was worth N2, 624,800,500.

In dollars, the governor declared properties and household items worth $4,400,000.

In South African Rands, the governor declared buildings and household items worth R4,400,057,550,04 .

The statement said, “The houses declared by the governor includes nine buildings in Nigeria, two in the United States of America and one in South Africa.

“One of the properties in the United States is described as ‘jointly owned.’

“The details showed the current value of Makinde’s companies stand at N48,150,736,889, with 33,730,000 units of shares as of May 28, 2019.

“The governor also has existing bonds (Eurobond) worth $3,793,500 as well as shares, debentures and other securities valued at N120,500,000.

“The companies listed by the governor include Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited, Energy Traders and Technical Services Limited, Makon Oil and Gas Limited, Makon Group Limited, Makon Construction Limited and Makon Power System Limited.”

The asset declaration form indicated that Makinde’s four companies had additional assets denominated as loan notes, including Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited(N1.7 bn); Makon Power System Limited(N148.4 m); Makon Oil and Gas Limited(N34m); Energy Traders and Technical Services Limited(N1.159bn) totalling N3.389bn.

(TPM) 

APC'S OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FESTUS KEYAMO PETITIONS THE IG & DG DSS OVER PDP HACKING OF INEC SERVER

Festus KEYAMO, SAN

The PDP had said that they had information from the back end of the INEC server that they won last month's Presidential election. Due to that information, which if true is tantamount to illegal hacking or illegal penetration, the APC has since cried foul and have now have written officially to the law enforcement agencies, the Police and the DSS asking them to invite and interrogate the leadership of the opposition party immediately. Find below the letter as written by the Chief Spokesperson of the ruling party, Mr. Festus KEYAMO.


1. The Inspector-General of Police,
Police Force Headquarters,
Louis Edet House,
Abuja.

2. The Director-General,
Department of State Services,
Aso Drive,
Abuja.

Dear sirs,

PETITION TO INVITE, INTERROGATE AND INVESTIGATE THE PDP LEADERSHIP OVER ITS ADMITTANCE OF ILLEGAL ACCESS TO INEC’S ELECTION SERVER

BACKGROUND

1. It would be recalled that an Electoral (Amendment) Bill containing the provision for electronic transmission of results to INEC’s central computer system (otherwise called “server”) was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by the National Assembly for assent late in the year 2018.

2. Despite the shortness of time before the Presidential/National Assembly Elections, and the lack of time to first simulate the process to ensure its effectiveness in a country like ours with problems of effective networks in many rural areas and constant failure of technological devices, together with its violation of the time frame of such laws as provided for in regional and continental Protocols in terms of the length of time required for the passage of such laws before any major election, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was hell-bent that the President should sign the Bill into law. That was the first indication that the main opposition was up to something sinister regarding the electronic transmission of the results.

3. Upon the last-minute postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/
National Assembly Elections, the nation was shocked to see already prepared presidential elections results floating around in the cyber space just less than 24 hours after the postponed election was originally billed to hold! The fake results had details of the scores of the candidates of the major parties. Of course, the fake results gave victory to the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, even when elections did not hold.

4. The only conclusion one can draw from the above is that the PDP had prepared those results which were to be smuggled into the INEC Server. However, the sudden postponement of the election scuttled that evil plan, but it was too late to restrain the release of the fake results.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

5. The proper elections were held on February 23, 2019 and President Muhammadu Buhari declared the winner. Despite the approval of the elections as credible by nearly all local and international observers (except some few known PDP acolytes masquerading as local observers), the PDP cried foul and made a shocking claim: it claimed that from purported results it obtained from INEC’s server, it has so-called proof that its candidate won the election by about 1.6million votes!

6. Shockingly and coincidentally, this margin was about the same margin by which it also purportedly “won” by the fake results released just hours after the postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential/National Assembly Elections.

7. As if this expensive joke was not enough, the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have gone ahead to file an Election Petition against the clear victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and have repeated the same outlandish claim of having access to INEC’s server which shows that they have some purported results at their disposal giving “victory” to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

8. Sirs, we wish you to note that INEC’s server is the back end of electronic records of INEC. This is not INEC’s website but its server! Although, the purported results have been conclusively shown by public engagements to be false and even ridiculous, especially as the total number of accredited voters is exactly equivalent to the purported votes of the APC and PDP candidates, this criminal claim of the PDP has revealed a few things:

(a) It is now clear that some criminally-minded PDP operatives have access to the INEC server to be able to smuggle in fake results into that server.

(b) The only means by which they could have access to the INEC server is by the criminal hacking of the server or through the criminal conspiracy of some INEC officials.

PRAYERS

The APC Presidential Campaign Council hereby prays that the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services use your good offices to investigate the hacking of and/or illegal tampering with the INEC server by the PDP. The leadership of the PDP must be invited, interrogated and investigated and those identified as perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted.
Opposition is healthy in a democracy but it is not a license for criminality and illegality. A country governed by laws cannot be blackmailed or cowed into indolence by the perceived underdog status of the opposition so as to condone such a blatant criminal claim by the PDP of having illegal access to INEC’s server.
We trust you will act with alacrity.
Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Director, Strategic Communications,
APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Monday, 25th March, 2019.

UNBELIEVABLE MIRACLE IN KANO AS GANDUJE AGAINST ALL ODDS OFFSETS THE DEFICIT & STILL WON BY AS MUCH AS CLOSE TO 9000 VOTES

Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR

One of the greatest electoral miracles in Nigeria might have occurred on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the supplementary election that took place in Kano to finally conclude the formerly inconclusive Gubernatorial election 2019 in Kano.

As at the time that the election was declared as inconclusive the opponent from the opposition party the PDP, by name Eng. Abba Kabir Yusuf was leading and coasting home to victory having polled 1,014,474 votes against the incumbent who had only managed 987,819 votes. So with the number of canceled votes far more than the margin of victory a rerun election in 28 LGAs was called for. Amidst so much tension and fear, the supplementary election finally held on Saturday.

At the end of it, Alhaji Ganduje the incumbent who carried the APC flag is said to have gotten 45,876 votes against Abba K. Yusuf's 10,239 votes, which is quite astonishing! From the records of INEC as stated by the returning officer, there were 131,073 registered voters in that 28 LGAs where the rerun occurred. Out of the number, only 57777 were accreditated, out of this number only 56407 were the total valid votes, with 1100 votes rejected. So total votes casted was 57507.

With the addition of the rerun votes to the former total votes casted, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje got a total votes of 1,033,695 against Abba Kabir Yusuf's 1,024,713 votes meaning APC's Ganduje got victory from the Jaws of defeat with a margin of 8,982 votes in all.

In saner climes how Alhaji Dr. Umar Ganduje, the incumbent, won a 2nd term by snatching victory from the jaws of starring defeat would have become a research project or topic to analyze and evaluate. The fact that the Governor was already behind by a good deficit, which he was able to offset so gallantly and then still went on to win by a good margin was totally outstanding. Many had predicted somewhat jokingly, that Governor Ganduje's in-law, in the person of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State who had lost all the elections in his own state, including the one he ran for himself, might have infested him with the defeating virus, but alas, he was able to find a solution to what had starred him in the face and came out tops at the end of the day.

If Ganduje had lost the election, one of the immediate issues he might have had to face would have been that nuisance bribery scandal that has refused to be swept under the carpet. In fact, it seems like it is one of the factors that nearly made him lose the election. It might not yet by uhuru though for the re-elected Governor as he might yet still face the Osun State's experience where the rerun election that swept in Governor Gboyega Oyetola was declared as illegal, null and void and therefore his opponent who had had more votes prior to the rerun, same like it was in Kano was now declared the Governor! Can thunder strike twice? We are waiting with bated breathe to see,

As it, the PDP are disputing the so called victory of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. 

FINALLY THE INCUMBENT, SIMON LALONG WINS 2ND TERM IN PLATEAU STATE

Simon Bako Lalong, GOVERNOR, Plateau

Thank God that finally the election in Plateau State has finally come to an end as the supplementary election that was to determine the winner finally held and at the end of the day, the ruling party's candidate and incumbent, Simon Lalong was finally declared winner after polling a final sum total of votes of 595,582 against 546,813 for PDP's Jeremiah Useni a retired General in the Army.

The beauty of this supplementary election was that, there was no violence. The election took place in 40 polling units in 9 local government areas of the state. The reason for the supplementary election in the 1st place was because the margin of victory for Lalong which was 44,929 was less than the total nos of canceled votes which was 49,377, hence the need to go for the supplementary so that all avenues for excuses would have been shut down.

At the end of the day, Lalong won in 6 of the LGAs contested for, polling a total of 12,327 while Useni won in the remaining 3 LGAs polling a total votes of 8,487. The final margin of victory came to 48,769. So having fulfilled the requirements of the law, the incumbent was declared the winner of the Plateau state Gubernatorial election 2019. And he would be doing another 4 years term.

The result of the election was announced by the returning officer, Richard Kimbir, who is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State. Total valid votes 1,159,954, total votes cast 1,176,142, total rejected votes 16,188. 

GOVERNOR GANDUJE SEEM UNPERTURBED & IS EVEN BOISTEROUS, EVEN ON THE VERGE OF AN EMBARRASSING DEFEAT

Abdullah  Ganduje

Abba Yusuf

Seems like the current Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje whose 1st term is gradually coming to an end & who might not be getting a 2nd term, who incidentally is also the in-law, to the outgoing Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi who was mercilessly defeated at the very recent elections in Oyo State (one only hopes that both wouldn't be united in disappointment), seem to know something that no one else knows or he might probably be hallucinating uncontrollably.

That's if his recent loud boast is anything to go by, as he seem so cocksure about uoturning the bad results and  gaining victory when the Gubernatorial election in Kano state might have come to a proper conclusion, even as he is on the verge of an embarrassing defeat after March 23, 2019 which is the day for the planned supplementary election to fix the inconclusive exercise. If his words are to come true, the Governor might need to add other titles or sobriquets to what he is already called, like seer or clairvoyant of extraordinary power!

As it were now, everything is somewhat dicey for him, as it can go left or right for the APC Gubernatorial candidate, who is playing 2nd fiddle for now to is his rival from the PDP- Abba Yusuf, who is leading him by at least a margin of 26,655, having gotten the majority of 1,014, 474 votes to Ganduje's 987, 819 votes, with 128,572 votes canceled.

It is because the margin of victory so far for the PDP man, is far less than the number of canceled votes that a supplementary election would now happen in those areas that their votes were voided. So by his boast that "the PDP will receive the shock of its life" in the supplementary election upcoming, the Governor must have a major magic she wants to perform that would dazzle all comers.

If that acyual boast by GANDUJE can be somewhat interpreted loosely, maybe he trying to say that he would get all of the votes at the supplementary election or what? From the results of the 44 LGAs already read, the shock in actual fact has been on GANDUJE. This is the same man that was able to orchestrate a total victory for the President at the 1st election, but couldn't do same for himself outrightly without having to go through a supplementary. Now how he wants to manufacture a special shock from somewhere all of a sudden beats one. Even if the PDP opponent were to get only 50000 of the 126000 plus votes, and GANDUJE gets all of the remaining 76572 votes which impossible, he would still be defeated, at least by the slimmest of margins.

So is the Governor who was caught receiving money before, from a contractor, long before the election ever happened, planning some other type of funny business???? Remember also, that over this same election issue his Deputy was arrested at the weekend.

From our calculations, except only a miracle not supported by the true God can occur, then only then, would GANDUJE retain his seat as the Governor. That bribery allegations, that smear that he had thought he had weathered, might have finally gotten to him and withered down his former massive and unflinching supports. If he is a man of honour, he should just begin to pack his bag. It is obvious that he is not as popular again as he thought he was and no more a well supported Governor like he was before.

He might just be joining his in-law in political retirement albeit temporarily for now. 

NO RESPITE FOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA AS SON-IN-LAW WAS DEFEATED AT GUBER ELECTION.

Owelle Rochas OKOROCHA, Senator Elect? 

Uche Nwosu & wife

It seems like for the outgoing Governor of Imo State, he is fulfilling that saying that says "when it rains it pours". And that just might be the atmosphere or current situation that he is facing right now as it's like in one of the novels by the world famous writer/author James Hadley Chase, where for a particular character, it seems like all his cookies all just began to crumble all at the same, giving him no respite whatsoever!!!

The latest trouble for the gregarious statue builder from Imo State, is that his preferred candidate and son-in-law, Uche Nwosu his former Chief of Staff was declared a loser by the INEC at the just concluded Gubernatorial election in Imo State, that both the later and former were so desperate to win at all cost. So very much was dependent on Uche Nwosu's victory.

Fighting under the Action Alliance (AA) flag, Uche Nwosu was said to have polled 190,364 votes to come 2nd in the election that was won by the PDP candidate, in the person of former Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria between 2011 and 2015, in the person of Sir. Emeka Ihedioha who polled 273,404 votes.

With this loss, the APC has now lost the only South Eastern state under their wings before, to the opposition party, the PDP. So it's a clean sweep for the PDP now except in Anambra where though no election took place, but it's the only Eastern state where the APGA reigns. The loss itself didn't take anyone by surprise as the APC under Owelle Rochas Okorocha in Imo State didn't do anything that was worthy of them getting reelected back into power in the state. Apart from the notoriety the Governor got from building statues as monuments to people, not much is heard about his developmental strides in the state known as the Eastern Heartland or formerly Land of Hope. So the APC candidate, a former PDP stalwart in the person of Senator Hope Uzodinma at this election in representing his party, had an uphill task before him from the get go. But kudos to him though as he still came 4th by polling 96, 458 votes in total. 3rd behind AA's Uche Nwosu, was none other than 'perennial guber aspirant', Senator Ifeanyi Araurume who represented the APGA at this election where he polled 114,676, losing again for the umpteenth time!

Another juggernaut who participated at this election and was summarily demystified and was brought to his senses, was none other than a former Executive Governor of the state, in the person of Ikedi Ohakim who contested under the flag of the Accord Party and got a paltry 6864 votes.

Back to Owelle Rochas OKOROCHA, seems like the pouring rain is not abating any time soon. Even his win or should we better say supposed victory at the February 23, 2019 House of Assembly elections, is under scrutiny as we speak. His name has been omitted from the list of the Senator elects from Imo State by the electoral umpire, the INEC. Reason for that decision is because the returning officer at the time, in the person of Innocent Ibeabuchi had shouted it out for the whole world to know that, he had only released the results of that election and declared Rochas winner under duress! So until that allegation is resolved, Rochas supposed victory is stained and under suspicion then and he might not even be the Senator at the end of the day!

While all of these troubles are on. An aide of the Governor was arrested just how many days ago for the withdrawal of over a billion NAIRA allegedly meant to induce voters! Even if the burden to prove the case of attempted inducement is on the police or the EFCC, that staggering amount of money might already be lost as it would be forfeited! In the midst of the whole unprecedented shenanigans, the Owelle has also been suspended by his party, for anti-party activities.

It's like the Yoruba adage that says, "when big fight would smack one down, pinning one to the floor in a hold, then smaller, insignificant and miniscule fights that normally wouldn't have had the heart, would be encouraged to show face to trample on one too".

What a massive fall from grace for this very loud person? 

MARCH 9, 2019 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA. THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST KEENLY FOUGHT/CONTESTED ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH WEST & KWARA

BOS of APC vs. JK of PDP in Lagos 

Babatunde O. Gbadamosi of the ADP Lagos 

Bayo Adelabu of APC vs. Seyi Makinde of PDP

Abiodun of APC vs. KASHAMU of PDP vs. ISIAKA of ADC vs. Akinlade of APM

Razak ATUNWA of PDP vs. Abdulrahaman AbdulRazaq of APC in Kwara State 

Ayorinde Adedoyin of Accord Party Kwara State

Analysis of how things might pan out, considering the contestants, their parties, their strengths and their weaknesses.

Tomorrow is the D-day! That's when the Gubernatorial elections across the states in Nigeria would take place and the general populace are expected to troop out enmasse to elect those to take charge of their affairs for the next 4 years.

It's not just the Gubernatorial though, elections for the states House Of Assembly would also be going on simultaneously, but we would be concentrating our attention strictly on the Governorship and further, our eyes would be glued strictly to the happenstances in some of the states in the SW, where elections would take place, as the likes of Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States are not participating for obvious reasons.

Lagos, Ogun, Oyo States are the 3 major battlegrounds plus Kwara State in the North Central. In these 4 states it's an outright battle between the 2 most prominent Political parties in the country, that's talking about the APC & the PDP, except in Ogun State where about 2 more parties have gained a bit more of ascendancy and therefore have been added to the mix for particular reasons, those parties are the African Democratic Congress, where Gboyega Nasir Isiaka is the party's aspirant & Allied People's Movement, where the incumbent Governor's favorite boy, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, is the aspirant.

These particular election is most definitely going to be one of the most keenly fought ever in the histories of those states. Many of the opponents are evenly matched and there are factors that have given some candidates and their parties slight edges or advantages.

LAGOS STATE.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

This is where a major battle royale would happen, the state of aquatic excellence. And it is expected that it would be an epic battle that would shake the state to its very marrow. The 3 major contestants that would contend vigorously against each other are none other than Babatunde Olusola Sanwoolu of the ruling APC, his fierce opponent, Jimi Agbaje of the PDP and then to a certain extent, Babatunde Olalere. Gbadamosi of the ADP (Action Democratic Party). Some people might not necessarily consider BOG, but we would like to say to such people that, dismiss him at your own peril. We are of the opinion that he seems to have gained some tractions of recent,  as he is seen by some as a fantastic alternative to both the APC & the PDP. So for many who are in the middle and who don't want any of the 2 major parties again for some reasons best known to them, they see BOG as their rallying point.

The battle between the 2 major parties, that's the APC & the PDP would be totally and unpretentiously fierce. While the APC wants to win again in Lagos at all cost, to rub salt on the injury of the PDP for losing the Presidential election, which they the PDP had been so sure they could win. The PDP on the other hand, are desperate to win Lagos for 2 major reasons, it would mean the destruction of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, both as a person and politically wise. The chieftain of the APC, has bestrode Lagos politically this close to 2 decades like a colossus that oukd not be dislodged, so his total DEMYSTIFICATION would sit well with the PDP, where they to win Lagos. And it would also give them, the PDP some certain value and control.

That the PDP was not pulverized, obliterated or annihilated at the Presidential election of February 23, 2019 has given them the belief that nothing is impossible. Everyone had expected a monumentally scary margin of victory like Yobe State. But imagine that the election was won by just a 130000 plus margin, in a state where the Asiwaju controls?

So after their defeat at the Presidential election, the PDP rallying call became the need to defeat BAT at all cost, no matter what! Let's wrestle the state from him, while giving it all it takes. So the array of gladiators involved in the battle for Lagos is staggering. Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Ayodele Fayose, Olabode George, Jimi Agbaje. Infact there are some who are supposedly progressives joined in the battle too, but who are in the shadows who would love to see the back of the Asiwaju. But can these assemblage, no matter how intimidating pin down and pin fall the cat with the 9 lives? While the PDP have their own array of strong men, the APC too also have theirs, led by the generalismo himself, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, supported faithfully by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, flanked by Cardinal Odumbaku and other grassroots mobilisers of note.

Truth be told, monumental amount of funds, such as never seen or encountered before, have gone out from both sides and have exchanged hands to make sure that it all goes well for both sides and so that things would also go according to scripts also. Asiwaju is seen as a veteran of many battles, who has honed his skills over time and so knows too well, how to go about winning the wars. Deploying his soldiers tactically with strong arsenals. But this particular war has many factors that are not playing strictly to script. The Ibos in Lagos, seem to have a bit of power and they are keeping their ace to their chest and are seen as one of the factors that could swing the vote, either way! Some have even identified them as spoilers. So both parties have been courting them. Reason why the former Governor of Abia State, now a Senator elect, in the person of Sir Orji Uzor Kalu is said to have come to Lagos to tell the Ibos not to disturb the apple cart and to vote for the APC.

While the thrust of PDP's campaign has been about Freedom: freeing Lagos from the supposed clutches of the Asiwaju. Who they have painted as one parasite, that is sapping the life-force of the state. Their claim is that how can one man alone, over a very long period of time,  sit alone and be in charge of the affairs of Lagos in all ramifications, especially as they claim that he is even a non indigene. But the thrust of the APC rather has been about Continuity. Claiming that Lagos was and would never be enslaved by any. But that the Asiwaju actually, conceptualized the blueprint of the better and more modern, more prosperous Lagos, we are supposedly enjoying now. A state that is even somewhat now bigger than the FG and is in fact NOW, the 6th largest economy in Africa. The claim is that, instead of trying to cast aspersions on the Asiwaju and put him in a bad-light, he has rather being a great discoverer of wonderful talents who he has natured and who have helped steered the affairs of the state admirably and exemplarily, and who have all been empowered and have become giants too now.

While the PDP and APC are having a go at each other, BOG of the ADP on the other side, has just been on his own in the position of the best alternative to the 2. One who seem to have dissected the state and her issues very well and has diagnosed what the problems are, who seem to have clear and somewhat fantastic ideas about what he wants to do and solutions and answers to provide: but the issue now is, he doesn't seem to have a great platform to prosecute his dream.

Of the 3, Sanwoolu, has had a great record in the private and public sector put together. In fact his experience in governance when compared to the 3 is staggering. From being former adviser to Governor, to Commissioner over more than one portfolio, boss of an important Government parastatal, policy formulator etc. JK has only always been in the private sector. He owns his own pharmaceutical brand, that truly has not done too well of one would critically access it, especially if you compare with how new brands, who just came yesterday have sprung up in the last few years and the kind of monumental growths they have had, with branches springing up every where, every time. Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi on the other part, has done extremely well for himself in business. He is one person that can be tagged a young czar of the private sector, a self made, bright and quite intelligent or knowledgeable shining star. Born in the UK of Nigerian parentage. He is quick to tell whoever cares to know that though he is a successful businessman/property merchant of note, he doesn't have a degree!

Yes, he actually dropped out after 3 years at the Lagos State University (LASU). He has since grown to be a successful entrepreneur, who is the chairman of Amen Estate in Lagos and also Redbrick Homes International.

So, the Lagos election would be keenly watched to see if it's a continuation or a new dawn or a total total change in all ramifications. Would it be BOS or JK or BOG? We would know quite soon, by Monday or Tuesday next week. But we can tell you categorically though that, more people would come out enmasse to vote this time around, better than they did on February 23, 2019 and one of the 3 would nick it by the skin of his teeth.

OYO STATE.

Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo State

It would have been a whole lot clearer in Oyo State had the APC won in the Presidential election of February 23, 2019. The opposition took the state and that shows things would not be a walk in the park for the APC in Oyo. Part of the reason why the state was lost was also due to how the outgoing government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi is perceived.

Plenty more after the break.

SHUN COURT & GO HOME SAYS APOSTLE JOHNSON SULEIMAN TO ATIKU ABUBAKAR

Controversial man of God, who was in fact one of the major advocates against the return of PMB as the President of Nigeria for a 2nd term, in the person of Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega Fire Ministries has in the aftermath of the loss by PDP's Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the Saturday, February 23, 2019 Presidential election has come out to advise the gallant loser to forget about going to court, but should rather go home for the sake of peace in Nigeria.

In the election where the incumbent polled 15 million plus votes as against 11 million plus votes for Atiku of the PDP, where also PMB won in 19 states and got at least 25% or more in the other states, against Atiku who won in 17 states plus FCT Abuja, with a margin of victory close to 4 million, 3,928,869 to be more precise. The win by PMB totally destroyed the predictions, prophecies and expectations of many of the men of God, who had either sad he would die before the election would happen or might even fail at the election, if he should run, Apostle Suleiman inclusive who had declared doom and defeat in their expectations for PMB.

Now that the Presidential election has been done with and the winner declared, the Apostle has come out to say that instead of the loser, that is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar going to court to try to claim his perceived victory, that he should just go home.

Hear him-

“Nigeria needs peace, when you lose, don’t go to court, go home.”

“Politics is a game. If you lose go home. Don’t go to court. Go home. It’s not your father’s property. If you don’t win today, you may tomorrow.”

We would be reviewing some of the Apostle's predictions after the Nigerian elections have ended. Of particular interest is one where he had said "I saw most eastern states won by the APC at the national level".  

CEECON ENERGY BOSS, DR. CHIMA ANYASO ADDRESSES HIS SUPPORTERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF HIS GALLANT LOSS AT THE LAST ELECTION SAYING "ALL HOPE IS NOT LOST"

After his unexpected but gallant loss at the last House of Assembly election in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, man of the people, who many had thought would effortlessly coast home to a sure victory at the election, by virtue of the support he felt he had gotten from his people, owing to so much he had done for his community over the years, through many great economic interventions and philanthropy, has come out to assure his admirers and supporters who had rooted for him, that all hope is not lost after all, even after his sad loss.

Dr. Chima Anyaso, after he had defeated his well supported incumbent at their party's primary in 2018 to carry the party's flag then, had elicited a lot of hope and confidence, with people generally believing that his victory at the actual election come 2019, was already a foregone conclusion. But alas, after the whole excitement of the election process of February 23, 2019 had died down, the boss of Ceecon Energy, a oil and gas concern amongst his several investments, who is an avowed philanthropist per excellence had lost shockingly and unbelievably to the candidate of the APC, who had had the full backing of the newly elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the person of the former Governor of Abia State, Sir Orji Uzor Kalu. Who incidentally was at a time, a very close elder-friend and father figure to Chima Anyaso, both being indigenes of the same village, Igbere in Bende LGA of Abia State.

There was a time because of how close both families were so (that of the Anyasos & Orji Kalus) close to each other, that it was even speculated that, Chima was going to marry Neya, the 1st daughter of Orji Uzor Kalu then, though nothing evee came out of  the relationship, as it never worked out after all.

Since the relationship between the son and his political father fell apart over what we can not actually pinpoint, it was just time ticking gradually towards when the father would pay back the son, for abandoning him. That time came just only last week at the elections. And like shylock would have have done, Sir Orji Uzor Kalu got his pound of flesh, when through his support his preferred candidate Benjamin Kalu of the APC won by polling 9139 votes against the PDP candidate in the person of Chima Anyaso who could only poll 5591 votes and therefore, Kalu of APC was declared the winner, living his former son Chima, to mourn his loss.

But just so that he could reassure his numerous admirers and supporters that all hope is not actually lost and that maybe the loss could still be remedied some way, Chima has written a message addressed to them all thus-

"My friends, brothers, sisters, and well-wishers,

Dear all;

Please, I want to encourage everyone here to remain calm and prayerful until we uncover the whole truth about what has happened regarding the last election.

Although I am surprised that such amount of electoral fraud can be committed in this time and age, still I am not worried at all, instead, I am rest assured that the needful will be done at the right time.

Trust that I will inform this forum of my decision moving forward. Of course, beyond the stormy politics of Nigeria, my desire is to keep and nurture this forum because I have personally learned a lot from the solid personalities who are here and the kind of debates and broad-minded discussions that happens here daily.

I do not want anyone to give up hope. I have not given up and will never give up hope for a better country.

God bless you all as you keep trusting that our country will be better for all.

Sincerely yours,
Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso (CDA) OFUJI NDI IGBO 1

WOULD THE OTO GE (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) TSUNAMI SWEEP OFF RAZAK ATUNWA'S AMBITION TO RULE KWARA STATE?

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki 

Razak Atunwa

Abdulrahaman AbdulRazaq 

A major whirlwind or better still hurricane Oto ge (it's enough) or should we even call it Tsunami of unprecedented power swept through Kwara State some days back and in the aftermath of her move, the PDP structure in the State, led by its leader, the outgoing Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and others holding Senatorial positions like him and even those that were in the lower house before and those in his party who wanted to go to the lower house were all swept away and dumped on their asses.

The defeat was totally unprecedented and embarrassing. And just because of the manner and way that defeat came, the PDP structure in the state, that had been brimming with over confidence before, have since been suffering from jitters! Now with the upset and removal of Saraki, would the Tsunami momentum continue as the Gubernatorial election in the state beckons?

Prior to the Presidential and Federal house of assembly elections, those who had been watching Kwara politics keenly had thought that both the APC and the PDP had a 50-50 chance of coming tops at the up coming election, to pick who would rule the state for another 4 years. Although prior to the Tsunami that swept through the state and caused a major avalanche, many had given the ruling party a slight chance above the APC of nicking it, maybe because people gave them the strength based on the power of incumbency. With the state Governor being a PDP person to the core and the supposed strongman of Politics in the state, in the person of Senator Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki being a PDP man, many had thought the PDP in the state had a slight advantage above all others. But the supposed advantage came to nought at the last election and the loss has totally demystified whatever hold Saraki and cohorts seem to have on his people. And so the advantage they seemed to have had before which gave them some confidence has since been lost! If the leader couldn't win his own election in a much smaller area, can he then lead his boy to win his in an election that would cover the whole state?

So now that the Gubernatorial election is upcoming in only a week and the PDP aspirant/contestant Atunwa is a known protégé of Dr. Bukola Saraki, how would their well known relationship, affect the chances of Hon. Razak Atunwa, Saraki's political son in whom he is well pleased, especially as the people of the state seem to want to totally cut off and dissociate themselves from anything that has to do with the Saraki political dynasty in Kwara? Is their brotherhood or connection an advantage or a disadvantage now?

So are we expecting a easy ride for the APC Aspirant, Abdulrahaman AbdulRazaq? We doubt it. Though the PDP were dazed before to near comatose level. The 2 weeks interval between the elections has given the PDP, the opportunity to close ranks quickly and to correct their self inflicted mistakes. Saraki himself would be doing all he can in his power now to make sure he isn't totally disgraced out of power. This would be Operation let's at least save face small. So overconfidence on the part of the APC, could become their Achilles heel, if care is not taken. Just like the PDP in Lagos are trying to throw all they can, spanners, screw-driver, nails etc to clog and stop the wheel of progress in Lagos, the PDP in Kwara state, would literally do all that is humanly possible to up turn that Tsunami that has swept through their state. So we should await a very keenly fought election battle, come March 9, 2019.

Who would win though at the end? Looking through our crystal ball, we see a new order being ushered into the state. There's a man for the job and the people of the state already knows who that is...... Major thing is, no one can ever take the state and her people for granted no more!!!! 

IN OGUN STATE, IT'S LOOKING LIKE A TOTAL CHANGE OF BATON AS GNI IS LOOKING LIKE THE NEW KING TO BE!

Still basking the euphoria of his win in the Senatorial election of last week, the outgoing Governor of Ogun State, his excellency Senator Ibikunle Amosun might have gotten more bold now, to want to see to a logical end/conclusion, his experiment at getting his preferred candidate, Hon. Adekunle AKINLADE to win the next Gubernatorial election in Ogun State, so that he could succeed him.

The stress of fighting on 2 fronts at the same time is no more now, especially since he has now won his own battle, so it's now one down and the major one to go. But from all indications the battle is going to be fierce and not easy at all, especially with the Governor's candidate, Hon. Adekunle AKINLADE being a member of another party, APM that is Allied People's Movement. & not supported by the APC at all.

What this intractable division in the ruling party has done to their chance of winning the next Gubernatorial election come March of 2019, is to open them to a seeming defeat and embarrassment and that's because, "a house divided against itself, cannot stand", not to talk of winning an election, especially a close one like this one would be.

What has been a seeming loss for the APC and its candidate in the person of oil and gas multimillionaire Otunba Dapo Abiodun, might have become a great gain for the candidate of the ADC (African Democratic Congress), in the person of Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, GNI for short. And it's not even only in the APC that they haven't been able to close ranks, even the PDP that should have become the strong opposition are even far worse off, with opposing factions claiming to represent party at the election. If they cannot fight the upcoming battle as one, how can they ever win the war!

To say the least, a lot of great advantages have swung the way of the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, in the amiable gentleman known to all as Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka.

A few of the reasons why many have already concluded that he might just be the next executive Governor of Ogun State are as follows. One, GNI even without the troubles bedeviling the 2 major Parties in the state - that is the APC & PDP in Ogun State, was already a force to reckon with in the politics of Ogun State in last decade. He was in the government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel before and he even vied at a point to represent the same PDP as the Gubernatorial candidate of the party at one point, but he wasn't favored hence he resigned from their party. Two, because of the troubles that has bedeviled those 2 parties and which has whittled down their support base, infact dividing it considerably, GNI has since become a bridge and is even considered as a fantastic alternative to the 2. And the loss of support base has been to the good of their arbiter-GNI. Three, GNI himself is well embedded in the politics of Ogun State and infact has immense grassroots support, coupled with the support of the state's elite too. Fourth, the area, Yewa, that GNI actually represents or is actually from, is seen by all to have been marginalized all of this while, so it is somewhat accepted by all, that it is their turn, for someone from that end, to climb up and become the next Governor of the State. So that things would be seen to be fair to all parts of the state. From when the state was established, no person of Yewa extraction, none at all has ever ruled or governed the state before, while the Egbas & Ijebus have on several occasions. Fifth, of all the candidates that are aspiring to become the Governor of the state, none is better qualified in any ramifications than GNI is. Infact his pedigree, that is without any controversy whatsoever speaks for him. And he also has good public and private sectors experience to add to it all. Sixth, from all indications, especially after going through his manifesto, it is quite obvious that he seems to have the best ideas/plans about what he wants to do/achieve for the state

So are we expecting that change of baton, come March 2019 from the APC to another party???? A very pregnant question, it seems! Let's just wait and see how things would pan out. But all pointers, seemingly points to an upset of stratospheric proportion upcoming. 

JIMI AGBAJE & THE TOKUNBO AFIKUYOMI CONNECTION. THAT MULTI-MILLION NAIRA STUPENDOUS LARGESSE & THE PLOT TO TAKE OVER LAGOS BY ANY MEANS Necessary INCLUDING THE NEED TO STAIN BOLA AHMED TINUBU

Jimi Agbaje 

Akinwunmi Ambode 

Tokunbo AFIKUYOMI 

Atiku Abubakar 

Bitter over defeat, Atiku agents hunt for Tinubu, eye Lagos takeover

*Jimi Agbaje meets Afikuyomi at Intercontinental Hotel
*Recuits Agbakoba, Odumakin, CSOs

A forceful takeover of Lagos is the “consolation prize” being contemplated by the camp of Atiku Abubakar after a crushing defeat by President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential polls last Saturday, it has been gathered.
This was one of the resolutions of an emergency strategy meeting held by the Atiku team when it became apparent that President Buhari had won by a wide margin, the first being a formal rejection of APC’s victory as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Buhari polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat Atiku who scored 11,262,978.

Even as the PDP flagbearer is still mulling his legal team to challenge Buhari at the election tribunal, his strategists within the PDP are of the opinion that taking over Lagos, the nation’s commercial nevercentre, will enable the opposition party become an effective countervailing force to APC controlling Abuja, the political headquarters.
Recall that a similar bid was launched for Lagos in April 2015 by then President Goodluck Jonathan with the deployment of jetloads of dollars to induce voters after PDP lost the presidential polls to APC, but to no avail.

To actualize the Lagos takeover plot this time, we can confirm that a huge war-chest has been mobilized by the Atiku camp to finance ahead of the March 9 state elections a vicious smear campaign against the strongman of Lagos politics and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, believed to have coordinated PDP’s defeat as the Co-Chairman of Buhari’s Presidential Campaign Council.
Specifically, Atiku’s hatchetmen are to spread anti-Tinubu messages in the traditional media and social media, deploying any “means necessary”.

The first leg of the strategy meeting, it was reliably gathered, held at highbrow Intercontinental Hotel on Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos Saturday night where the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, met with Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and a few others to perfect the plan to recruit a faction of Afenifere and willing human rights activists to create a facade that the anti-Tinubu campaign is the initiative of civil society organizations (CSOs).

The suppprt of the likes of Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Mr. Yinka Odumakin has been secured in this connection.

In fact, the inaugural press conference is to be addressed by Mr. Agbakoba and Odumakin whose relentless media offensive against Buhari had failed to sway Yoruba votes to Atiku across the South-West last Saturday.
Afikuyomi, described last night as a “Judas” after benefitting politically from Tinubu in APC, was said to have been part of the “Dubai retreat” hosted late last year by the Atiku camp after winning the PDP presidential ticket to draw up a “war plan” against Buhari.
To evade public scrutiny or being accused of “anti-party activity” by APC, Afikuyomi was said to have opted out of the Dubai-Abuja flight and rather adopted a decoy by flying to Lagos through Uganda.

Interestingly, Afikuyomi had been the chief coordinator of the second term bid by the outgoing Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos which crashed in the APC primaries held in October in 2018.

Furthermore, the involvement of another Ambode’s core supporter, Mr. Wale Oluwo, in the latest plot against APC interest in Lagos set tongues wagging again last night.

Oluwo, who resigned as the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy, has been described as one of the “cashiers” in the anti-Tinubu plot, having superintendented over the multi-billion Naira street lights projects exclusively under Ambode and has serially been fingered as the secret “emissary” between Ambode and Agbaje.
On quitting the Lagos cabinet last October, Oluwo declared support for Agbaje’s governorship ambition.

More after the break.

PRIMATE AYODELE DROPS BOMBSHELL PREDICTIONS AGAIN FOR 2019.

PRIMATE Elijah Ayodele 

PMB

Babajide Sanwo-Olu 

Nyesom Wike

Bayo Adelabu

The self-styled religious leader, who goes by the the title PRIMATE, heads the Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, situated in Ejigbo, Lagos. Prophet Elijah Ayodele is very well known as a seer of extraordinary repute and true to type, he has again restated what he said long ago as per the chances of the PDP in the February 2019 Presidential election.

But not only just that, he also gave his predictions too on several of the upcoming Gubernatorial elections in some states of the Federation.

Hear him- the PDP would find it outrightly difficult to unseat PMB in 2019. Reason for the difficulty is because they have refused to do the right things from the very beginning of their pursuit.

According to him "I said it the other time & I still maintain it, if PDP had given the ticket to Bukola Saraki, they would have won because it's only Saraki that can unseat Buhari. But the PDP stakeholders have not done what they were supposed to do.

I said it in 2015 that Jonathan may be the last President from the PDP! I am still standing on it that unless they take a quick step and that is for Atiku & Saraki to do the right thing, that is only when PDP can win. For now I am only seeing Atiku & Saraki playing!

As per the Gubernatorial elections, "For Lagos State, it would be business as usual, but the APC will still win. Oyo State, it's going to be tough. The PDP man there has missed it, it's still going back to APC.

Ogun State is a troubled state. The election should have favoured the APC, but APC may not have it in Ogun State. Don't under estimate Amosun's candidate or the candidate from the GNI. But PDP will never get the ticket in Ogun State.

For Delta State, PDP will take the state. For Rivers, though its a do or die affair, Wike will still come back. Kano & Kaduna is for APC. Then for Imo State, if the PDP man is serious he can take the state, but unfortunately, I don't see him to be serious. And if the APC puts their house in order in that state, then they can win that state.

APC may win Anambra state for the President. Ebonyi & Cross River may go to APC, if the PDP is not careful in those states.

Mr. 'FIX-IT' TONY ANENIH WAS NO PATRIOT, BY SONALA OLUMHENSE 1

Chief Anthony Anenih, one of the most influential chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party from 1999 to 2016 who was widely-known as “Mr. Fix-It,” died last week, aged 85.

A veteran of various political parties since the early 1980s, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him Minister for Works in his first term. He subsequently served twice as the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, and of the Board of the Nigeria Ports Authority.

His passing was followed by a heavy avalanche of tributes as frontline politicians praised the Edo State-born politician. Among others, President Muhammadu Buhari, former Presidents Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar called him a “patriot.”

He was a political colossus and a PDP hero and legend. But he was not a patriot by any stretch of the imagination.

But Buhari extolled him as a “frontline figure” in Nigeria’s political history.

Obasanjo called him “…a national icon and authentic role model…a patriot and a nationalist of no mean order…” Jonathan said Anenih’s name “would continue to appear in gold whenever the history of this country is being rewritten.”

As a culture, we do not speak ill of the dead. Well, we ought never to speak blatant falsehood before God either or betray the living through flagrant hypocrisy. Anenih was clearly and particularly a PDP figure. He was a cold-blooded PDP-partisan who saw Nigeria through the eyes of his party; he never saw PDP through the eyes of Nigeria.

A patriot loves, asserts and defends his or her country passionately; Anenih’s passion was the PDP, right or wrong. To pronounce him a patriot insults both the term and Nigeria.

Did Anenih advocate an overriding public vision of Nigeria; if so, when, and what was it? What was his passion concerning uplifting Nigeria? What moved him to tears and what did he do about it?

Whom did he offend publicly in affirming right over wrong, ours over mine, day over night? Did he champion the cause of clean drinking water for every Nigerian…free and fair elections, free education or healthcare? Did he advocate libraries in towns and villages or opportunities for the gifted?

Was his combat in connection with maternal and child deaths nationwide?

More after the break.

GAME ON AS JIMI AGBAJE UNVEILS FORMIDABLE DEPUTY ASPIRANT

Oluwayemisi Haleemat Busari

It is quite obvious that come 2019, as it concerns the Gubernatorial election in Lagos State, the state also known to the world as the State of Aquatic excellence, the state many often refers to as "Eko for show", come that election, it ain't gonna be a walk-over as some have already contemplated!!!

It is like suddenly, the battle cry "awake O sleeping giant", has resonated very well and has gotten to the major opposition and they have awoken somewhat, and are gradually bringing out the bird steadily from their pocket at their own pace without being bamboozled!

It is obvious now by all indications that the opposition, especially the main opposition, which is the PDP, are getting set for a major battle with the APC. And to downplay them, or to belittle them would be at the peril of the ruling party, the APC. What is now most obvious is that they seem to have taken their time to study the terrain very well and may be willing to give it all that it takes to wrest power from the APC, in what would be considered as the biggest upset in the history of Nigeria so far!!!

For now, things seem to be gelling for them too. From the little feelers that we have begun to get, they seem to be crossing their t's and dotting their i's and wants to unleash on the state, what she has never known nor experienced before. In fact in a way that the state has never expected before. So every one had better sit up tight!

For Jimi Agbaje aka JK, who we all had thought and felt was comatose and slow before, just with a few actions of him now, it's now gradually becoming apparent that he might have deliberately taken the position of the proverbial ram, who deliberately took many steps backward that the opponent misunderstood and misinterpreted as steps of fear, only to suddenly realize that the ram had actually done the reverse, just to go gain massive momentum for the massive charge to annihilate the opponent, who had miscalculated because of a false sense of entitlement and also because the Ram had actually also being in disguise all the while.

In the choice of the Deputy Governorship Aspirant, Jimi Agbaje might have applied an outstanding masterstroke of unimaginable proportion. First his choice in the person of 'Oluwayemisi Haleemat Busari' is spot on. Then also, her profile is intimidating by all standards. Then again that he picked a woman and such a one as he picked, really counts for a lot, unlike the male-male candidacy of the APC. And he was also very careful to also pick a Christian/Moslem ticket also too.

The fact is that, not only is Mrs. Oluwayemisi Busari brilliant, she could have stood for the Governorship itself herself, had she wanted or of she was a politician, but instead she is a technocrat in all facets. In fact we know her one-on-one and can attest to the fact that she's not a pushover by any means.

According to the information at our disposal, we heard that she didn't in any way or manner lobby at all to be nominated, but she was actually headhunted to find the most suitable, most perfect person to balance the equation JK and OB. Oluwayemisi Haleemat Busari, was born on September 24, 1964, making her 54 of illustrious heritage. Her late dad, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Shehu Giwa from Isale Agoro Epe, was a successful businessman and the Vice-President of 'Jamatul Islammiya of Nigeria', while her mom Alhaja Muyibat Abeni Mopelola Giwa (nee Shonibare) also a very successful businesswoman, was a princess from the "Kosoko Royal family of Isale Eko, on the Lagos Island. The Epe & Isale Eko, Lagos Island factor means, Oluwayemisi Busari is a "native Lagosian true and true" and in some quarters, that actually means a whole lot,

Please peruse her impressive profile below---

'Oluwayemisi Haleemat Busari is an accomplished legal practitioner with almost three decades of extensive experience in the areas of company secretarial, corporate governance, litigation and commercial law practices. She started her career in legal practice at the prestigious Irving and Bonnar/ Bentley Edu law firm in Lagos. She joined the firm in 1992 and rose to the position of a senior associate before she left in 1999 to join the Honeywell Group, (one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous conglomerates) as Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser.

More after the break.