Okonjo, Nigeria’s Wahala by... Abba Mahmood

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Most people assume Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is an Economist. Very few people know that she read urban and regional planning which makes her a town planner primarily and not an Economist. She came from the World Bank with the discredited and outmoded theories of the Bretton Woods institutions that have consistently failed every nation where these theories were applied.

 Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala was not satisfied with being Finance Minister, she added a nebulous title called ‘Coordinating Minister of the Economy’ effectively taking over the duties of the president and especially the constitutional duties of the vice president, as well as putting her hands into the affairs of virtually every federal ministry.

No one would have cared if there was good performance. But the tenure of Okonjo – Iweala has seen the greatest plundering of Nigeria’s assets and resources. She dabbled into every aspect of the nation’s life, including going to Chibok to lay the foundation for classroom reconstruction when the community already had a school built by their state government and were only waiting for the federal government, which has the sole responsibility for security constitutionally, to help bring back their abducted girls, now more than a year in the hands of terrorists.


Today, the power sector has been privatised but the government also gave those private companies billions of public sector money in the name of intervention. Power outage is getting worse by the day, meanwhile conclusively proving that the electricity companies were sold to those lacking technical or financial skills to raise efficiency. There are no jobs for thousands coming out of schools annually. And, to make matters worse, while the oil price was very high, there was no saving by the government, instead the savings by the previous governments were depleted very fast, with virtually nothing to show for it.

The hottest place in hell should be reserved for Governors – Ben Murray-Bruce

Bayelsa state, senator-elect, Ben Murray Bruce has stated that the hottest place in hell should be reserved for Nigerian governors who have failed to pay the salaries of their workers.

Murray-Bruce who is chairman of Silverbird Group stated this in a series of tweets against the conduct of governors on his official Twitter page. “The hottest place in hell should be reserved for Governors who live large at public expense while workers with children have not been paid!,” he wrote.
It would be recalled that Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi are some of the governors who fall into this category.
“As far as I’m concerned, until all state workers are paid their salary, no governor, no commissioner, no special adviser should collect salary or allowance,” Murray-Bruce stated.

Murray-Bruce also stated that: “It’s unacceptable for a governor who inherited a surplus from his predecessor to leave debt for the incoming governor and still want pension for life.”
He noted that he would push for the removal of immunity clause when the 8th Assembly gets underway, adding that, he was not in politics for the money.

“I’m not going to the senate to make money. I have much more than I need. I’m going there to serve God by fighting for the good of Nigerians.”
He then said: “Political parties arent your agent of change. These guys breath in PDP and breath out APC. NASS must Remove Immunity Clause for real change.

Jonathan, ministers jittery as May 29 approaches

President Goodluck Jonathan

THE President, ministers and aides seem to be jitery as the May 29 handover approaches.

Dr Goodluck Jonathan told ministers yesterday to brace for “persecution”. He gave no details.

It was all at a thanksgiving and farewell service in his honour at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Cathedral Church of Advent, Life Camp, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

He was relective – he recalled how good the system has been to him – and grateful – for his achievements, which he said ordinary people appreciated.

But Jonathan seemed to betray the nervousness that has gripped his cabinet since it became inevitable that a new administration will mount the saddle on May 29.

He said his ministers would be persecuted, adding: “For ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathise with them; they will be persecuted. And they must be ready for that persecution.”

Jonathan went on: “To my ministers, I wish you what I wish myself. They will have hard times; we will all have hard times. Our ways will be rough.

“But we are happy the ordinary people appreciate what we did and that is most important. It’s not what the elite or the privileged few talk or say about you but what the majority of the Nigerian public think about your actions and inactions that matter.

“We came to Abuja peacefully and we are returning peacefully. I thank the church and Nigerians because they stood by us at our most difficult times.

“Even for election, we had people who supported us all over the country and for the success of the incoming administration.”

Recalling how good the system has been to him as an individual, President Jonathan said he was ready to pay the supreme price for Nigeria.

Dr Jonathan said having received scholarship to study and having been a major player on the nation’s political landscape in the last 16 years, including his six years as President, paying the supreme price would not be out of place.

Oronsaye Report ‘ll save Nigeria N860bn, says Okebukola

Prof Peter Okebukola

Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Peter Okebukola, has urged the Federal Government to implement the Stephen Oronsaye Committee report, noting that it can save Nigeria N860 billion in two years.

Okebukola, who disclosed this during the 2013/2014 University of Lagos, UNILAG, Convocation Lecture held yesterday, described government’s recurrent expenditure as haemorrhage, insisting that there was need for urgent implementation of the Oronsaye report.

Delivering a lecture on Taking Advantage of a Depressing Nigerian Economy to Accelerate Socio-Economic Development, he said: “Inflated contracts cost Nigeria N569 billion at the Federal level and N350 billion at the state and local government levels in seven years.”

Recall that in 2012, the Federal Government set up the Oronsaye Committee to look into measures for streamlining operations of its various organs for efficient service delivery.

The report suggested a reduction of the size of government to a manageable level, considering that over 70 percent of resources were channelled into running a government that is unduly large and cumbersome to manage, leaving less than 30 percent for issues such as debt servicing and execution of capital projects.

According to the report, reducing the size of government has become imperative given that a large government has inevitably led to stunted development and a very high level of poverty in the country.

Suggestion for Buhari

The former NUC scribe, however, suggested that the incoming administration of General Muhammad Buhari(retd) should prune down public spending on governance by 45 percent.

Decrying the level of corruption and wastage in the economy, he suggested a benchmark of $45 per barrel of oil for the next two years.

Source: Vangguard

Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Peter Okebukola, has urged the Federal Government to implement the Stephen Oronsaye Committee report, noting that it can save Nigeria N860 billion in two years.
Okebukola, who disclosed this during the 2013/2014 University of Lagos, UNILAG, Convocation Lecture held yesterday, described government’s recurrent expenditure as haemorrhage, insisting that there was need for urgent implementation of the Oronsaye report.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/oronsaye-report-ll-save-nigeria-n860bn-says-okebukola/#sthash.T9vRCgI2.dpuf

My plea for forgiveness not cowardice –Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said his asking for forgiveness should not be taken for cowardice by his opponents, saying his tenure in office will be determined by God.

He said he took the step to seek a genuine reconciliation with the All Progressives Congress, whose 19 lawmakers in the state House of Assembly were plotting his impeachment.

The governor spoke on Sunday at the thanksgiving service organised for him at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Anglican Communion, Ado Ekiti, to celebrate his electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

Fayose said, “I asked for forgiveness for reconciliation and to pursue genuine peace. Waiving the olive branch does not mean cowardice, it is for peace.

“Conspiracy is against God’s will. What better way could one seek peace other than asking for forgiveness.”

The governor advised the APC to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded defeat and saved Nigeria from disintegrating.

“When I contested for Senate they said I lost and I did not fight anyone. I did not go to the tribunal and I was saying good things about the government then. The opposition should be courageous enough to accept defeat. I follow Jonathan in and out of office. Jonathan gave up for survival of Nigeria. Jonathan prevented the prophecy that Nigeria would break up in 2015.

“I’m enjoying the mandate of God through his people and that cannot be controverted. My sin is because I allowed the common man to breathe the air of hope.

Xenophobic attacks: Nigeria counts losses

Following xenophobic attacks by South Africans against foreigners, particularly those of African descent, Nigerians have been counting their losses with the Nigerian Consul-General, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke saying the loss by Nigerians included looted shops, burnt shops, two burnt mechanic workshops, 11 burnt cars and two stolen cars, among others.

Speaking with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN on phone, Ambassador Ajulu-Okeke said “Nigerians have compiled damages to their property and it is totalling about 1.2 million Rand or N21 million, which will be sent to the Federal Government for further action”

She said that in Durban, two of the three Nigerians who were wounded during attacks had been treated and discharged from the hospital.

The consul-general said that she would go back to Durban to assess the situation on ground and meet with the provincial authority on security of Nigerians in that Province. “The Nigerian mission in South Africa is on top of the situation. We are working hard to protect Nigerians in South Africa.

“Though, the task has not been easy, we are trying our best. In one of the hot spots at Jeppe, near Johannesburg, the mission assisted about 50 stranded Nigerians to re-settle.

“I have also visited the site of the attacks in Johannesburg to assess the damage and it was enormous,” she said.

She said the Nigerian mission would meet with all Nigerian Union chapters in the nine provinces of South Africa to find strategies on how to check the attacks.

“I am bringing all Nigerians together so that we work out a vigilance and alert mechanism; they will also tell me what their challenges and issues are,” she said.

Okeke said the mission and the Nigerian Union had been working cordially to meet the challenges caused by the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

SAFA moves against xenophobia, plan football matches.

Why I’m not proud to call Buhari my president — Aribisala

Dr Femi Aribisala

Dr. Femi Aribisala, a pastor and Vanguard columnist, in this interaction with Vanguard editors, ventilates his passion for President Goodluck Jonathan and explains his position on the person and politics of the president-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari. Excerpts:

What is your perspective on the just concluded presidential election?

This has been the most important political campaign I have witnessed in Nigeria. And the campaign will, to some extent, define the presidency. There were things that needed to be said, emphasized and brought to Buhari’s attention because we needed to remind him that some things would not be acceptable if he becomes the president. Buhari was made to go through a lot of phases. There were some things like the Muslim-Muslim ticket which some of us made so much noise about and they just had to drop it at some point. There were other things that Buhari did which he would not normally do because we made so much noise about his antecedents. Sometimes people simplistically define the process by the result. No! The whole debate is to make him understand that it is not what he had before. It was to make him realize that this is a democratic framework. It was also to sensitize him that certain things would not be acceptable.

How did you come about your claim that INEC rigged the election for Buhari?

There are certain things that are interesting about this election. The first one is that it is one of the most keenly contested elections that we have had in this country. It involved more people. But 10 million less people voted than last time, which gives us some idea as to how true some of the figures we have been having before had been. But the question is: Where did the decline of 10 million come from? I discovered that it came disproportionately in certain areas than it did in others. And to some extent, if you look at the PVC distribution, you can project the election. It is because Buhari could campaign in the South, but the North did not permit same kind of liberty for the president. The president was stoned in Buachi and he was threatened. By the time the pattern of PVC distribution became very known even in war-torn states, it was easy to know that it had been front-loaded. When you then analyze the election result itself, you will discover that some places just had an incredible suppression of voters in spite of high level of interest. Some people had an incredible number of voters. And I am still interested in why more people voted in the governorship election in Katsina than the presidential election.

Why I Conceded Defeat To Buhari – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has defended his decision to concede defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 election, saying he was concerned about allowing his personal ambition scuttle a democratic system he helped nurtured, with the likely consequence of a “collective tragedy”.
Mr. Jonathan said Thursday that he needed to check his ambition, as the consequences of not doing so may have been dire not only for Nigeria, but Africa.

The president made the remarks during separate meetings with the new ambassadors of France, Senegal and Ethiopia. He was responding to commendations for his decision to promptly accept defeat after it became clear Mr. Buhari had won the polls.

“Democracy has to be nurtured to grow. Strong democratic institutions are the backbone and future of our democracy. They must be protected and nurtured. As for me, as a matter of principle, it is always the nation first,” Mr. Jonathan said.
“You need to have a nation before you can have an ambition. It should always be the nation first. You don’t have to scuttle national progress for personal ambition.

Confession Of Wicked Nanny Who Kidnapped Orekoya Boys (MUST WATCH)

Here is the video revealing the confession of the wicked nanny named Mary Akinloye but whose real name is Funmilayo Adeyemi of how she kidnap was carried out. She confessed that the dastard act was masterminded by her family.

Watch and learn from it

Picture of the Evil Nanny Who Kidnapped the Orekoya's Boys

Here is the picture of the notorious nanny that kidnapped the Orekoya's boys. Her name is Mary Akinloye and she kidnapped the boys eight days ago.

Speaking on Channels TV this morning, the Lagos state Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, said she was arrested yesterday night but did not say where she was arrested.

The boys were found naked yesterday in a church close to their home.

Give us FCT ministerial slot – Igbos urge Buhari

Igbo businessmen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to consider the ethnic group for the post of FCT Minister.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the Chairman of Zaudan Pazeri Property Owners Association, Elder Friday Ugoala, said Igbos have massive investments, a factor Buhari should consider.
He recommended that an Igbo man should either be made a minister with an indigene as the minister of state or vice versa.

His words: “It is on record that Igbos are key players in terms ownership of property, merchandise and hospitality outfits in the territory, and can lay a claim to over 70 per cent investment in the FCT.
“We have reasons to demand for the slot of FCT Minister to ensure that our investments are protected. If you consider the outgoing administration of Sen. Bala Mohammed, you will see a lot of litigations that has to do with our investments. We do not want such trend to continue.

We even look forward to a situation whereby those issues in the court would be withdrawn and settled amicably.
“There are two major stakeholders in the FCT, the political and economic stakeholders; the indigenes fall on the political stakeholders because they control over 65 per cent of FCT population. So, it could be justice done to these two stakeholders, if the FCT ministerial slots are given to both of them with due respect to other residents.

Ex-militants among newly elected lawmakers in Rivers Assembly - Premiumtimes

Some of the dreaded Niger Delta militants, who accepted the Federal Government’s Amnesty, have been elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report.
The late President Musa Yar’Adua had in 2009 signed a Proclamation granting Amnesty to Niger Delta militants, who agreed to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

The deal offered an unconditional pardon and cash payments to fighters who surrendered their arms and assembled at screening centers located in many parts of the oil-rich region within 60 days.
It targeted up to 10,000 militants whose attacks in the six Niger Delta states cost the country a third of its oil production and revenue.

The amnesty which came to effect on Thursday, August 6, 2009, saw militant commanders, including Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, Sogboma George, Ateke Tom, Farah Dagogo, Ebikabowei Ben, alias Boyloaf, Kile Selky Torughedie, alias the Young Shall Grow; surrendering their arms and returning to normal life outside the creeks.
But based on the result of last Saturday’s election released by the state Returning Officer, Faraday Orumwense, a professor of Material Engineering, the ex-militants are among the 25 candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, who won the poll.

The ruling All Progressives Congress was only able to win a seat in the 32-members state legislature.
Citing widespread irregularities and violence, Mr. Orumwense declared elections in six state constituencies inconclusive. Among those who will be making laws for the oil-rich state are Farah Dagogo, an ex-general of a dreaded militant group. Mr. Dagogo, an indigene of Tombia community was dragged into the race by the Degema Political Front, a frontline political group and he will be representing Degema State Constituency in the assembly.

Adoki Tonye Smart, who will be representing Port Harcourt 11 State Constituency in the new assembly was a former field commander and second in command to Soboma George.
Late Mr. George was a dreaded militant leader who was shot by a rival gang in the Old Port Harcourt Township, months after he accepted the government’s amnesty. Chisom Promise Dike, who won the Oyigbo State Constituency seat in the assembly, is a strong ally of Ateke Tom, a self-styled General of the erstwhile Niger Delta Vigilante Forces.

Buhari and economy: Which way forward? ...By Henry Boyo

Henry Boyo

Expectedly, goodwill messages have, deservedly, poured in from far and wide to congratulate the clear victor of the 2015 presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari. The President-elect may not be unduly disturbed that President Goodluck Jonathan’s inspirational and totally unexpected early acceptance of defeat, ironically, favourably raised the incumbent’s rating as a statesman beyond the pedestrian perception induced by his performance in governance. 

Indeed, despite the complimentary economic growth rates, regularly, gleefully presented by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, sadly, more Nigerians joined the already bloated poverty ranks. The horrid level of insecurity, apparently instigated by ethnic and religious divide, may in fact find their true origin in the pervading level of unemployment and poverty nationwide.

Consequently, expectations are high that Buhari will provide an antidote to poverty, corruption and unemployment. Clearly, Nigeria’s poverty cannot be blamed on an inhospitable climate or shortage of natural resources. In fact, other nations with considerably less natural endowments may be excused for decrying what they consider to be inexplicable inequity by Providence. Clearly, our inability to galvanise our resources for the greater good is actually caused by the application of fiscal and monetary strategies that are antagonistic to consumer demand, and job creation.

Conversely, nations like Singapore, with little or no resources, succeeded in enhancing mass social welfare with well thought out fiscal and monetary strategies that are people-focused. Consequently, if Buhari must succeed, he must quickly reverse the ratio between capital and recurrent expenditure, such that well over 60 per cent of total annual revenue projections would be dedicated to the enhancement of social infrastructure and human capacity. Thus, we must drastically reduce the prevailing humonguos salaries and allowances of public servants, particularly our legislators, who are reported to be amongst the highest paid in the world.

Certainly, Buhari would need to also reduce the duplication of functions by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies as per the recommendations in the Steve Orosanye report, but government must be careful to minimise the inflow of new entrants into a jobless market. Similarly, the President-elect should be wary of increasing the current debt to GDP ratio, as this is a straight road to another unfolding oppressive debt burden.

Buhari must tackle impunity, says World Bank

The World Bank spoke yesterday on Nigeria’s economic future, saying President-elect Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to tackle corruption will have consequences.
The bank projected a drop in the economic growth rate of Sub-Saharan Africa from 4.5 per cent in 2014 to 4.0 per cent in 2015.

The bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Mr Francisco Ferreira, spoke during a video conference to inaugurate ‘Africa Pulse’, a World Bank Group analysis on issues shaping Africa’s economic prospects. The conference was monitored in Abuja
“I think it is very well spelt because institutions are built in parts on norms; one norm that has to be changed is the norm of impunity.

“I think the decision, hopefully, will have consequences for the future as institutions will be stronger and norms will be cleaner,” Ferreira said.
According to him, the downturn largely reflects the fall in the prices of oil and other commodities.
“The 2015 forecast is below the 4.4 per cent average annual growth rate of the past two decades and well short of Africa’s peak growth rates of 6.4 per cent in 2002 to 2008.
“Excluding South Africa, the average growth forecast for the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa is around 4.7 per cent”, Ferreira said.

Ferreira said an average decline, in terms of trade for Africa is about 18 per cent, a development he said, wouldlead to losses in purchasing power for the region.
He said that the decline in oil and commodity prices were among the challenges undermining the developmental gains made in the Sub-Saharan African.

How elections were rigged, by PDP, APC -Vangaurd

The struggle to win more governorships between the political parties, yesterday, shifted to the media with the two major political parties accusing each other of conspiring with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies to rig the governorship elections against them where they lost out.

The recriminations came as INEC declared governorship contests in Abia, Imo and Taraba States as inconclusive.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of 60 civil society organisations, yesterday urged INEC to clinically scrutinize results from Abia, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. The coalition in a statement, yesterday particularly affirmed that there was sufficient reason to “question the credibility of the elections results in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.”

Echoing the CSOs, the European Union, EU, Election Observation Mission, EU EOM, pointed at Rivers and Akwa Ibom States as the two most outstanding states where the elections were marred by violence and deliberate interference.

How elections were manipulated in Akwa Ibom, Rivers —APC

Briefing newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, on the outcome of the elections, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, painted a picture of how, according to him, the elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom were manipulated by the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He said the party was left with no option than to call for the cancellation of the election conducted in the two states.

Explaining how the elections were manipulated, in the two states, he said: “As you would recollect, our party’s chapter in Rivers had written a petition complaining of the crass partisanship of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police in the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on March 28. Because of this petition, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba posted three Commissioners of Police from the Force Headquarters to oversee the April 11 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State but as soon as the President learnt of this development, he directed the IGP to reverse the decision and instead requested that AIG Tunde Ogunsakin be posted to oversee the April 11 elections in Rivers State.

‘How Buhari can develop economy, inflow of foreign investment’ ... By Mose Nosike

President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari

While congratulating Nigeria and Nigerians for the monumental success of the nation’s presidential election that took place on March 28, 2015, the antecedent of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari as a tough minded leader may be a good thing capable of shaping a better future for Nigeria after-all. Both within and outside Nigeria, it is generally held that “the fear of Buhari is the beginning of wisdom”.

This saying essentially points at those who in one way or the other may have something to hide or protect either in public or private sector activity. Already in certain vital ministries, departments and agencies of govern-ment where unethical practices ran rampage, panic waves have begun to trickle down from top public office holders to low ranking personnel.

With this “fear wave” in motion, and fuelled by the General’s unrepentant distaste for the corruption menace, one can dare say that Nigeria is again on the verge of experiencing a total attitude adjustment and a “positive new order”, capable of setting the desired pace for economic development especially the inflow of foreign invest-ments.

It is worthy to mention that Nigeria, over the years, has suffered a decreasing presence of foreign investment due to enormous corrupt activities and has earned for herself a reputation as one of the most corrupt countries.

As a non-profit business chamber, trade and investment promotion British association working assidu-ously in the past 3 years, we have significantly pushed up trade and investment into Nigeria and the United Kingdom; Nigerian London Business Forum believes that only strict enforcement of laws by the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari can bring about attitudinal change in Nigeria.

Can Some Tell Nigerians Why the First Lady, Patience Jonathan wasn't at Otuoke to vote?

Just saw observed on TV that the first lady Patience Jonathan wasn't with president Goodluck Jonathan to cast vote in Otuoke unlike March 28 presidential election. The President was only with the her mother to cast his vote in his home town.

Can some find out where the first lady was?

Ondo: Election marred with irregularities, REC cancels election in some wards

Following snatching of election materials in some part of Ilaje and Ondo East local government areas of Ondo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Segun Agbaje in the state yesterday cancelled elections in the affected areas.
According to the REC, the affected areas include, Ugbo wards in the state constituency 1, and some units in Ondo East local government.
The Nation had earlier reported that some suspected thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly hijacked elections materials met for Ugba wards in Ayetoro community in Ilaje council when they were bringing them from the riverine.

Agbaje, who confirmed this, said information filtered in that ballot boxes and papers, meant for several units in Ayetoro and Ugbo Ward 2, were snatched by armed men.
One of the presiding officers, who preferred anonymity disclosed that Ilepete community, the collation centre for Ugbo Ward 3, was also reportedly attacked by armed thugs, who engaged in sporadic shooting at Ilowo to scare voters away.
Also at Ute Ward 12, Unit 6 in Ose Constituency, armed thugs launched an attack, snatching electoral materials and disappearing with them.
INEC also confirmed that there was no voting at Itekule, in Ondo East Local Government, as sustained gunshots kept voters indoors throughout the accreditation and voting period.

‎Following snatching of election materials in some part of Ilaje and Ondo East local government areas of Ondo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Segun Agbaje in the state yesterday cancelled elections in the affected areas.
According to the REC, the affected areas include, Ugbo wards in the state constituency 1, and some units in Ondo East local government.

The Nation had earlier reported that some suspected thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly hijacked elections materials met for Ugba wards in Ayetoro community in Ilaje council when they were bringing them from the riverine.
Agbaje, who confirmed this, said information filtered in that ballot boxes and papers, meant for several units in Ayetoro and Ugbo Ward 2, were snatched by armed men.

One of the presiding officers, who preferred anonymity disclosed that Ilepete community, the collation centre for Ugbo Ward 3, was also reportedly attacked by armed thugs, who engaged in sporadic shooting at Ilowo to scare voters away.
Also at Ute Ward 12, Unit 6 in Ose Constituency, armed thugs launched an attack, snatching electoral materials and disappearing with them.

Nigerian Politics: Same Old Wine In A New Bottle ....By Osayimwen Osahon George

A careful research on the members of both dominant parties namely PDP and APC will generate the conclusion that the same people who have plotted the graph of backwardness of the country have only come under a new name to foster their nefarious acts. It’s still the same old story of the PDP being tagged as evil while some of their key members with questionable pasts are adopted by the APC for a new course. The predicted result is the application of the same old values and ideologies to a new political setting which presumably will yield the same outcome as we have had in the past.

There have been a lot of political chants about "change" as well as "transformation" by the members of the All Progressives Congress and the People's Democratic Party respectively. They both form the two dominant political parties of the multiparty system practiced in Nigeria today. Nigerians have aligned themselves consciously as well as unconsciously with both political parties. It’s a welcome development given the history of apathy, distrust and negligence that has marred the electoral system over time. Suddenly, the electorates are becoming so vibrant; they have assumed their constitutional roles of being kingmakers. The recently concluded presidential elections that ushered in General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) is a political warning shot to all public office holders. It restored the power and dignity of the ballot box.

The hopes of Nigerians have been raised with the APC appearing out of the blues as messiahs of the masses. A careful research on the members of both dominant parties namely PDP and APC will generate the conclusion that the same people who have plotted the graph of backwardness of the country have only come under a new name to foster their nefarious acts. It’s still the same old story of the PDP being tagged as evil while some of their key members with questionable pasts are adopted by the APC for a new course. The predicted result is the application of the same old values and ideologies to a new political setting which presumably will yield the same outcome as we have had in the past.

In a developed political setting, political parties are founded on strong values and ideologies. Aspiring leaders that share in the same belief system and perspective will join the party that suits their political ideologies. In America today, the mode of operation of a democrat is different from the tactics and techniques of a republican due to the different foundational values inculcated in them by the political parties they belong to. In Nigeria today, the level of maturity of our politicians can be likened to a playground of kids who at the slightest quarrel or distortion of interests join another group to play with sands, kick balls or probably fiddle with insects.

This is a blatant show of 'politics of reshuffling'. A case of the same old leaders putting the blame on political parties as if the political parties weren't pioneered by human beings. Human beings dictate the course of every organization. The destiny or development of the organization shouldn't be blamed on the organization as a non-living entity but all the members that made it up. The recent trend of constant defection even on the day of the election only shows the level of selfishness and unseriousness on the path of our so called 'leaders' the younger generation look up to. This is an expression of shame, lack of vision as well as conscience. It depicts the fact that our political parties are not bounded by different ideologies and the members can't boast of a single political philosophy that will guide their administrations when they get into office.

 The bitter truth is that defection has been made easier since the political parties and their members in Nigeria share a common dominant political ideology and philosophy which is the desperate will for political power as a gateway to wealth through massive corruption. This is a common endemic nature of man who loves to amass wealth indiscriminately while in a state of nature as painted by Thomas Hobbes before the state became regularized by governance.
The present practice is different from what was obtainable in the First Republic when leaders like late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the founding fathers of the nation, who were guided by ideologies with which they laid the foundation for the development of their regions and Nigeria at large.

 These were intellectual men of dignity that had a cause and formed a movement to pioneer it. Great men with the future of the country in their hearts. An ardent follower of politics in Nigeria who experiences coma in just a week might wake up to the confusion of who is who among the dominant members of the political parties due to the unrestricted madness of defection which should be curtailed. The motives and values of APC seem good but by admitting the 'bag eggs' of PDP to achieve an expectant development result is simply a fallacy. The motive behind defection is a far cry from the change needed by Nigerians at this crucial stage.

My Lagos visit, not to rig for Agbaje – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday faulted a claim by the All Progressives Congress that his Thursday visit to Lagos was to coordinate rigging plans for the Peoples Democratic Party in the Saturday governorship election.
He wondered why he would rig the governorship election for the PDP when he did not rig the March 28 presidential election in which he was a candidate.

Jonathan’s position was contained in a statement made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
Abati insisted that there was nothing unusual in people paying homage to the President when he is on a visit to Lagos or any other part of the country.

He said the APC spokesman lied as usual and was rude to insinuate that Jonathan met with people in Lagos for the purpose of rigging the elections.
The presidential spokesman said Muhammed and his paymasters were only cooking up meaningless tales in order to change the commendation Jonathan had received across the globe for conceding defeat in the presidential election.

He said, “Lai Muhammed is wrong to say that the President came to Lagos to rig the governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, April 11. He is of course lying as usual. And rude.
“President Jonathan visited Lagos. He arrived on Thursday and left on Friday. People visited him. So what? Anytime the President is in Lagos or any part of the country, a lot of people come to pay homage to him.