The Challenge Of Change – A Burden of Choice. By Wole Soyinka

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2015 Elections: Why APC And Tinubu May Lose Lagos State (Part 2) By Ola’ Idowu

As predicted in the first part of this article, "King Tinebuchadnezzar's" anointed candidate Akin Ambode won in the APC's selection called primaries organised in Lagos state on Thursday. I say selection because that's exactly what it was despite the charade of trying to make it look like a fair primary election. The list of delegates to the election were not made known to other contestants except Ambode, neither was it a direct primary like was held in the old Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1999 when Bola "Tinebuchadnezzar" Tinubu narrowly defeated in controversial circumstances the late Funsho Williams. In 1999, the primaries were held across the different wards in the 20 Local Governments (LGAs) in the state, while in this indirect primaries held on Thursday delegates were selected across the 20 LGAs and instructed on who the favoured candidate was hence the obvious selection of Ambode.

It makes it easier for godfather Tinubu and his favourite Ambode, as the delegates were mostly APC LGA and state party executives drawn from the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs, state House of Assembly and National Assembly members representing the state and thus could not freely vote their choice as they could easily be dealt with politically if they do.

Furthermore on Wednesday, when the contestants met at the Airport Hotel in Ikeja with the APC Lagos state primary organising chairman Peter Obadan, Ambode made a Freudian slip to the rest of the candidates that they should accept the indirect primary option as they all know who the winner would be in any case. Ganiyu Solomon (GOS), a serving senator in the state and one of the contestants, insisted he explain to them all what he meant by such boastful statement, but Ambode denied right away he said so. It shows a bit of the character of the APC gubernatorial candidate Ambode, as someone who lacks tact, is proud, insensitive, sly and downright cheeky. If he wins in 2015, my judgement of his character tells me Lagosians would have a pro-elitist government, as someone who would be pro-masses would at least be more sensitive and tactful to his fellow contestants despite the undue leg-up he's been given by his godfather ahead of other candidates.

The travesty and tragedy in the comical race for the APC gubernatorial ticket in Lagos state is not the victory of Ambode, but the defeat for democracy and true progressive values in the state. The fact that the political space has been shut against many qualified and valuable politicians is the alarming danger in it all. There is no genuine politics going on in Lagos state except an empire built for the purpose of one king alone which is Tinubu. Here is how it works, if you are a politician with genuine mass appeal or grass-root following you would never get the godfather's approval. The scam is to talk about electing a technocrat as governor who would not focus on politics while in office, ensuring you have no political structure or machinery to deploy for your political ambition. By the third year in office, should you have performed and begin to have any political following, the godfather instigates the state House of Assembly against you with the threat of impeachment which makes you reach out to him to save you.

The agreement put forward to you is that you don't build any political structure or machinery in the state and must use only the political machinery of the godfather, which ensures that while you may be popular for your performance in the state you have no true political structure on ground. This ensures that Tinubu emasculates the governor and the one person to be the major political force in the state thereby ensuring the continuity of his enterprise and slavery of Lagosians socio-politically.

In his acceptance speech, Ambode linked his emergence to his mass appeal. I find that naive at best, laughable at the worst. Pray, in a genuine democratic environment, what mass appeal would someone with no political experience have over a popular serving senator in GOS, over a long-term serving speaker of the state Assembly in Adeyemi Ikuforiji or over other politicians in the state like Leke Pitan and Tola Kasali?

He maybe happy now to use his godfather's political machinery, resources and supposed clout but the same cycle would repeat itself first in three years' time and later on in eight years' time should he become governor of the state as long as the godfather is still alive. The political contraction goes all the way down to the House of Assembly nomination where for example in Ikeja Constituency 2 a seasoned female politician who has been with the party since 1999 and held various positions in the party and in the Local Government, was restricted in favour of Tinubu's nephew Damola Kasumu who has no political experience.

It was the same with the outgoing state legislator for that constituency Lola Akande (younger sister of Tinubu's wife) who with no political engagement became a legislator for eight years. In Oshodi-Isolo constituency 2 Omowunmi-Edet was imposed in 2007 by Tinubu on the constituents and thus leaving out people with grass-root appeal.

The whole scheme is run in such a way that you go away sequestered in Alausa in your legislative quarters and no engagement with your constituents (since you not from the grass-roots anyway), your only engagement would be with your godfather whose birthday, political rallies, daughters' coronation as Iyaloja (Market-women leader) etc. you keep showing up for to keep you in his memory – should the direct imposition continue – but when the chips are down and it comes to primaries like it was done this time you can't woo enough of your constituents to vote for you and its easy for Henry Ajomale's (APC state chairman) son to defeat such returning legislator as they would be using the godfather's machinery and the cycle gets repeated. Its like a never ending replicating virus Tinubu has planted in the political system in Lagos state that would ensure he alone determines everyone's ambition and it's only given to people with no political structure or machinery.

Muiz Banire, a man not given to frivolous statements, some weeks back maintained that the APC may lose Lagos State and he openly criticised the role Tinubu is playing within the party. He was heavily criticised by some writers who stood in defence of their Emperor Nero, but they failed to see the ominous dangers. First it started with the Badagry division, who have always rejected the Tinubu imposition schemes since 2003 and opened the barn door for them to mostly vote for PDP, it crept to Ikorodu division through the likes of Adeseye Ogunlewe, then came the turn of Epe division with the Ibeju-Lekki axis opening their doors for PDP. Lagos division particularly Eti-Osa followed suit where Babajide Obanikoro won a council election on the opposition party's platform but was denied at the tribunal. Ebute-Metta also under Lagos division had violent protest there when the incumbent legislator lost to a fresher.

Now the danger has moved inland to the Ikeja division (the division of Lagos that produces the most votes). Ikeja constituency 1 and 2 have two freshers in sons and nephews of party chieftains thereby screening out old party faithfuls who are the vote canvassers for the party. Mushin (another high-voting population area) has Banire and Ganiyu Solomon, two dissatisfied party influencers and you know APC has left its barn door open for the PDP. If you go back to Obanikoro son's issue, you wonder why Lai Mohammed or Tinubu's sons and nephews are good enough to be voted for under the so called banner of progressives but Obanikoro's son would be demonised because public opinion has been turned against his father or he is not a "progressive."

Those crying for a break-up of Nigeria (God forbid) should think carefully, say we have a Yoruba Nation is this the kind of politics we would be playing? A politics of servitude and glass-ceiling, where if you studied in the UK or US and your father is well known or you have a godfather then you can be allowed to get into public office. What about those who studied in Unilag, LASU, etc. or those who studied abroad and whose father are not known? It means in Tinubu's republic you can't contribute. When the likes of Obanikoro and Fayose fight for their independence and freedom we call them thugs and anti-progressives, but what exactly is progressive under Tinubu's rule? When the people of Ekiti perform backward feats in their voting choice would it not be because they are fighting for independence and don't want a Tinubu et al. style of politics were only the children of the rich and mighty, the elites get into public position especially in a state like Ekiti where though educated, lots of its indigenes are from humble/poor backgrounds.

Compare the APC in Ondo State to that of Lagos, reports indicate that celebration broke out amongst youths in the state when primary results were announced with police having a hectic time curtailing the peaceful celebrations. Would that not be because Mimiko has delivered the state from Tinubu's clutches and made it impossible for him to dictate candidates for the party in that state because that would have spelt doom for APC's chances in the state? The youths were celebrating against Mimiko and PDP, but I tell you they should be thanking God instead for making it possible to elect their popular candidates unlike in Tinubu's fiefdom in Lagos state.
In Lagos State, PDP would need in the first instance to elect the right candidate. I would go for Jimi Agbaje for his level-headed and matured style almost similar to Fashola, but if Obanikoro gets the nod and removes violence from his campaign (with his thugs killing people indiscriminately at campaigns like it happened in 2007) then even he can defeat Ambode (Tinubu's choice) come 2015.

There is no Tinubu myth in Lagos or South-West its just the forces aligning in his favour in the past. The major bed-rock of APC in Lagos are the foot soldiers (both low-level, medium and high-level) once you deny the middle and high-level foot soldiers a chance to be part of the success they've all worked for in the state or at least give them a level-playing field to play politics and pursue their ambitions, then whilst they may not decamp from the party having being there since 1999, they are not be compelled to work for the party at the polls. They can either adopt passive resistance "siddon look" approach or an active resistance (which I prefer) and watch Tinubu, his nephews, family members, sons of his cronies and friends do the voters mobilisation and canvassing themselves and see how they win the state. PDP needs a candidate that would not run a campaign based  on scaremongering, rumours, calumny, character assassination or violence but one based on facts, figures and evidences.

This article would conclude in its final part on what PDP may capitalise on and needs to do to likely win the state in 2015.

_______________________________________
Ola' Idowu is a management consultant and researcher. He writes in from the UK via frenchcoast2@gmail.com.

Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

_______________________________________________
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Full Text of INEC Chairman Jega’s Statement on Election Postponement [Read]

Below is the full text of address by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, on the postponement of the 2015 general elections.

Introduction

We invited you here today to make known the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the timetable for the 2015 general elections. Let me state from the outset that the Commission's position was reached after carefully weighing the suggestions from briefings held with different stakeholders in the electoral process.

The conduct of elections in a country like Nigeria is invariably a collective venture that involves not just the Election Management Body (EMB), but also a diverse range of stakeholders, notably security agencies, political parties and their candidates, voters, as well as interest groups, such as the civil society organizations and the media.

To guarantee successful conduct of elections, there are things that are wholly the responsibility of the EMB. But there are other things critical for the success of elections, which fall outside the control of the EMB.

In other words, while INEC must work hard to perfect its systems and processes for conducting elections, and take responsibility for any imperfections thereof, whatever the Commission does may not by itself be sufficient to guarantee the success of elections.

There are a number of issues in the preparation and conduct of an election, the most critical of which is security, which is not under the control of INEC.

Current State of INEC's Preparedness

On Thursday, February 5, 2015, I was invited to brief the National Council of State, which is the highest advisory to the President comprising past and present leaders in Nigeria, on the level of preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015 general elections. I made a presentation to the Council titled 'Preparations for the 2015 General Elections: Progress Report,' in which I gave a detailed account of what the Commission has been doing in readiness for the national elections (National Assembly and Presidential) scheduled for February 14th, and the state elections (Governorship and State Assembly) scheduled for February 28th, 2015.

The summary of my presentation to the National Council of State meeting is that, for matters under its control, INEC is substantially ready for the general elections as scheduled, despite discernible challenges being encountered with some of its processes like the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by registered members of the public.

In addition, INEC has been doing everything it can to facilitate the collection of the PVCs by registered members of the public. As at 5thFebruary 2015, the total number of PVCs collected was 45, 829, 808, representing 66.58% of the total number of registered voters.

In the delivery and deployment of electoral materials, INEC is also at a comfort level in its readiness for the general elections as scheduled (see the presentation to the Council of State). The Commission's preparations are not yet perfect or fully accomplished. But our level of preparedness, despite a few challenges, is sufficient to conduct free, fair and credible elections as scheduled on February 14thand February 28th.

Compared with 2011 when, within a short time, we conducted general elections that were universally adjudged free, fair and credible and the best in Nigeria's recent electoral history, our processes are today better refined, more robust and therefore capable of delivering even better elections.

Other Variables

But as I mentioned earlier, there are some other variables equally crucial for successful conduct of the 2015 general elections that are outside the control of INEC. One important variable is security for the elections.

While the Commission has a very good working relationship with all security agencies, especially on the platform of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) since its inception in 2010, it has become pertinent for it to seriously consider the security advisory presented to it by the Security and Intelligence Services.

I would like to reiterate here that INEC is an EMB and not a security agency. It relies on the security services to provide a safe environment for personnel, voters, election observers and election materials to conduct elections wherever it deploys. Where the security services strongly advise otherwise, it would be unconscionable of the Commission to deploy personnel and call voters out in such a situation.

Last Wednesday, which was a day before the Council of State meeting, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) wrote a letter to the Commission, drawing attention to recent developments in four Northeast states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe currently experiencing the challenge of insurgency. The letter stated that security could not be guaranteed during the proposed period in February for the general elections.

This advisory was reinforced at the Council of State meeting on Thursday where the NSA and all the Armed Services and Intelligence Chiefs unanimously reiterated that the safety and security of our operations cannot be guaranteed, and that the Security Services needed at least six weeks within which to conclude a major military operation against the insurgency in the Northeast; and that during this operation, the military will be concentrating its attention in the theatre of operations such that they may not be able to provide the traditional support they render to the Police and other agencies during elections.

INEC's Decision

We have done wide ranging consultation to enable us have as much input as is necessary before taking an informed decision. In the series of consultations that we held with stakeholders, the questions consistently posed to them for consideration are:

*. In view of the latest development, should INEC proceed with the conduct of the general elections as scheduled in spite of this strong advice; and if so, what alternative security arrangements are available to be put in place?

*. Or, should INEC take the advice and adjust the schedules of the general elections within the framework of Constitutional provisions?

The Commission held a meeting after the consultations, and decided to take the advice of the Security Chiefs and adjust the dates of the elections. We have done this relying on Section 26(1) of the Electoral 2010 (As Amended), which states thus: "Where a date has been appointed for the holding of an election, and there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date or it is impossible to conduct the elections as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies, the Commission may postpone the election and shall in respect of the area, or areas concerned, appoint another date for the holding of the postponed election, provided that such reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable".

INEC not being a security agency that could by itself guarantee protection for personnel and materials, as well as voters during elections, the Commission cannot lightly wave off the advice by the nation's Security Chiefs. The Commission is specifically concerned about the security of our ad hoc staff who constitute at least 600,000 young men and women, together with our regular staff, voters, election observers as well as election materials painstakingly acquired over the last one and half years. This concern is limited not just to the areas in the North-eastern part of Nigeria experiencing insurgency; the risk of deploying young men and women and calling people to exercise their democratic rights in a situation where their security cannot be guaranteed is a most onerous responsibility. Under such circumstances, few EMBs across the world, if any, would contemplate proceeding with the elections as scheduled. No matter the extent of INEC's preparedness, therefore, if the security of personnel, voters, election observers and election materials cannot be guaranteed, the life of innocent young men and women as well the prospects of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections would be greatly jeopardised.

Consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the 2015 general elections thus: the national elections (i.e. Presidential and National Assembly) are now to hold on March 28th, 2015; while the state elections (Governorship and State Assembly) are to hold on April 11th, 2015. It should be noted that this rescheduling falls within the constitutional framework for the conduct of the elections, notably, Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2) and 178(2). See also Section 25 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).

For the avoidance of doubt, we will under no circumstances approve an arrangement that is not in line with the provisions of our laws. Our hope is that with this rescheduling, the security services will do their best to ensure that the security environment needed for safe and peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections is rapidly put in place.

We in INEC reassure all Nigerians and indeed the international community of our commitment to do everything within the law and to conduct free, fair, credible and peaceful elections. We call on the security agencies to honour their commitment to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to take place within the period of extension. We also call on Nigerians, political parties, candidates and all other stakeholders to accept this decision in good faith and ensure the maintenance of peace.

As for us in INEC we'll endeavour to use the period of the extension to keep on perfecting our systems and processes for conducting the best elections in Nigeria's history. In particular, we believe that we would resolve all outstanding issues related to non-collection of PVCs, which agitate the minds of many Nigerians.

Finally, we wish to call on all Nigerians to accept our decision, which is taken in good faith and the best interest of deepening democracy ion our country.

Thank you.

Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR
Chairman, INEC

What do you think about this? Share your thought with others in the comment section below.

_______________________________________________
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2015 Elections: Why APC And Tinubu May Lose Lagos State (Part 1) By Ola’ Idowu

The cracks may look papered and the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos after its primaries across the state would believe the party is still united and should coast to victory in the elections in 2015, but they may wake up and find the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Alausa and to be candid I wouldn't be surprised one bit.

Let me admit that some of the candidates in APC whose political ambitions were stonewalled are known to me in one form or the other, but my analysis and opinion here are totally rigorous and devoid of sentiments or malice. Wole Soyinka just described President Goodluck Jonathan as the biblical Nebuchadnezzar, and while I certainly agree with him, I would like to say we have a Nebuchadnezzar and Emperor Nero rolled into one in Lagos state and that man unfortunately is APC chieftain Bola Tinubu.

Nebuchadnezzar in the sense that he has allowed the spirit of grand delusion take over him completely which like the biblical Aramean (present day Syria) King saw him become delusional and began to boast of all his achievements and conquests to the extent of turning himself into a god to be worshipped by the people. God Almighty made him fully insane, losing all of his sanity, dethroned him for seven years before restoring him back to the throne and he then learnt to praise the true God. Emperor Nero on his part is more associated with the term "fiddling while Rome was burning", but his major problem was his tyranny and arrogance towards the people he ruled which led to disobedience and wars against him. The same arrogance you can find on the part of Tinubu and those within his inner circle still enjoying his political clout.

Like Nebuchadnezzar, I wouldn't be shocked if PDP takes over Lagos state at least for the next eight years starting from 2015 so as to humble Tinubu, and make him realise whatever he has become in Lagos and to the Yoruba people is not by any act of perfection of his but just by the mercies of God. Tomorrow APC would all things being equal "select" its gubernatorial candidate and pointers are that the anointed candidate by godfather Tinubu, Akinwunmi Ambode would be selected. I say selected because judging from the outcome of the primaries for the state House of Assembly, preferred candidates from the Tinubu camp scored over 95% of the votes in their constituencies in some cases 100% in what was supposed to be open and fair primaries, thus its clear Ambode would be selected on Thursday December 4th with a large proportion of the votes at the primaries.

The situation report from all the different constituencies where the House of Assembly primaries were held, was that party delegates were instructed to vote in full for any candidate anointed by Tinubu. They were simply told at the election venues that the godfather had asked them all to vote for just one person. It's the same procedure to be adopted for Ambode's victory and some candidates vying, may have zero votes put behind their names if they don't step down before Thursday.

You wonder why should Lagos state with all the talk of progressivism be run that way? What is the essence of attending the US Democratic party's convention and not bringing back any ideas from there? Did Tinubu just attend to have a photo-op and boost his own political status or was he there to learn one or two new things to help move his own party forward? You had the better part of a year for succession planning even if you wanted to have some level of control in the party as a leader in it, together with 'Tunde Fashola why didn't you take the most part of the year to plan the race for his successor? Why all the last minute rush and deception that smacks of the archaic politics still being played in Lagos state?

The APC (all through its metamorphosis in Lagos state) has become a victim of its own success in the last 16 years and you shouldn't be shocked so many people want to share in that success, after-all they all worked for it too. For one man to believe he alone is the architect of the whole success would be stretching it to the level of grand delusion and just like Nebuchadnezzar he would soon be dethroned by God just so he can learn who is the Almighty. In 2007 when Action Congress was not even yet as successful as this, we had lots of candidates who wanted to succeed Tinubu, and luckily I'm sure through divine guidance a man foretold in Fashola was given the ticket and he hasn't disappointed.

His performance over the last eight years (with plenty of work yet to be done in mass populated areas) has further made the party now called APC a victim of its own success and so many more candidates want to succeed him. In an age where even in the United Kingdom, century old parties like the Conservatives are seeing members crying out for open primaries rather than the age long style of selection of candidates that only ensures the elites and private school tutored boys get into government, Lagos state under Tinubu is preserving the Conservative style where only his own cronies. family members, relatives and children whose fathers are known get into position in the state yet we call ourselves progressives, democrats or forward thinking.

What does it cost Tinubu and APC in Lagos state to organise a proper primary and state convention like its done in countries where he has visited and been seen photographed in their own democratic conventions?

Its even worse when you perceive that the same Tinubu looks to be a misogynist and finds it hard to give women opportunities except they are his close family members and relatives. In 1999, he found it hard to work with Kofo Akerele-Bucknor and they parted ways in 2002. Maybe you did blame it on the lady and excuse Tinubu, but he went on to have the same problem with another deputy this time a male. Compare it with Fashola who had Sarah Sosan as his deputy from 2007 and they had a brilliant working relationship. The powers that be which of course is Tinubu decided without explanation that Sosan had to be dropped in 2011 and brought another female in Orelope-Adefulire and yet Fashola had a no issues working with her till date. It leaves one wondering if truly Tinubu isn't the problem considering he couldn't work with a female deputy and if he isn't a misogynist – someone who finds it hard to trust women and their abilities except in his case they are his family members or relations. -

Take a look at the House of Assembly primaries and you find lots of women either not returning as candidates for the party or they were not given a chance at all. In Oshodi-Isolo 2 constituency the female candidate there a current state legislator was routed by a fresher Ladi Ajomale, son of the APC state chairman Henry Ajomale. In Amuwo-Odofin 2 constituency, the female candidate a state legislator was also defeated by a Tinubu favoured candidate. In Ikeja 1 constituency Kenny Saint Brown (KSB, popular musician and younger sister to Kenny Ogungbe) was not even given much of a chance as she lost by a wide margin to another fresher just like her Jimi Mohammed, son of Lai Mohammed the APC National Publicity secretary.

Though KSB is quite new to the political scene one would have thought been a woman (a sector of our society and politics that can be classed as vulnerable people) she should have been given more support and help to achieve her dreams. You may say its politics and the majority wins but compare it with another popular face Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot totally new to politics but defeating an incumbent Kabiru Lawal to win in Surulere Constituency 1 and then you now the APC is possibly a party led by misogynists. Take a look also at Ikeja Constituency 2, the only female candidate in that constituency out of several male contenders was first disqualified by the APC state screening committee citing the fact that she has no political experience. A candidate who has been with the party since 1999 under Alliance for Democracy (AD) attended several meetings of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation (BATCO) those days when its head office was at Aromirein Ikeja.

A candidate who has held political positions within the Local Government (Ikeja LG/Ojodu LCDA) and you say such person has no political experience. In any case even when the folly was rectified and they went to primaries, the godfather brought a certain Damola Kasumu with zero political experience, who is a nephew to Tinubu to be declared the winner. The female candidate was given no chance, the rest of the candidates too no chance in hell just because the godfather wants to compensate his nephew.

The Kasumu according to reports widely written about him in the Nigerian press is said to be the surviving child of the late Abibatu Mogaji (a woman Tinubu related to as his mother) but his known to be a drunkard with slurred speech who mismanaged the businesses he inherited from his late mother and had ran into hard times. While all that is none of my business really, but the emerging trend is that in Lagos state there is now a glass-ceiling on people's political ambitions and only Tinubu can decide what you become in the state. I heard Fashola some months back talking about if having to choose between freedom and development he did choose freedom any day.

The likes of Musiliu Obanikoro who defected from the AD to PDP despite the help he got from Tinubu, as well as Jimi Agbaje who has never teamed up with the so called progressives may be right after all. What's the point calling yourself a progressive and you have to be under one man's group thinking? You not allowed to make your own decisions, pursue your own dreams whether you fail or win, neither are you able to stand out and criticise the man if he is failing.

___________________________________________
Ola' Idowu is a management consultant and researcher. He writes in from the UK via frenchcoast2@gmail.com.

Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

_______________________________________________
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‘Nigerians will re-elect President Jonathan Not Foreign Opinion Writers’ – Reuben Abati Says

We have noted with surprise, The Economist's tongue-in-cheek endorsement of General Muhammadu Buhari in the run-up to Nigeria's general elections and the international magazine's baseless, jaundiced and rather malicious vilification of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who retains the trust and confidence of majority of Nigerians as the outcome of the Presidential elections will undoubtedly show.

We are sure that many Nigerians and other readers of the usually urbane, thoughtful and well-reasoned editorial opinions of the Economist will be shocked that the magazine has taken the very ill-considered decision to throw its weight behind a candidate who, as a former military dictator, curtailed freedom of speech, ordered the kidnapping of opponents and jailing of journalists, and is accused of incitement to violence and grave human rights violations in Nigeria's current democratic dispensation.

The Economist may feign ignorance of President Jonathan's remarkable achievements as leader of his country in the past six years, but Nigerians who, unlike the magazine's opinion writers, will actually vote in the country's forthcoming presidential elections, know that President Jonathan has worked very hard to fulfill all the major promises he made to them on assumption of office. Nigerians know that President Jonathan has developed our economy and created more jobs, they know that he has given policy support to the real sector of the economy, so that Small and Medium Enterprises can thrive, they know that he has encouraged locally owned enterprises to take advantage of our resources in growing the domestic economy and they also know that he has successfully attracted greater foreign direct investment to the country.

Unlike the clearly poorly informed and distant authors of the Economist Opinion titled "The Least Awful", appreciative Nigerians are also aware that President Jonathan has worked tirelessly to improve power supply across the nation, rebuild and expand national infrastructure, improve public transportation and provide greater access to quality education for all Nigerian youth. They know very well too that President Jonathan has significantly improved healthcare services in the country, revolutionized agriculture, promoted gender equality and women empowerment, and done his very best to stem corruption in government. Contrary to the Economist's assertions, Nigeria, under President Jonathan has made very considerable progress.

In spite of the significant challenges of terrorism and insurgency the nation faces today, President Jonathan has ensured that Nigeria has become a more vibrant democracy with free media, an independent judiciary, free, fair and credible elections, and greater respect for human rights.

The Economist is entitled to its erroneous opinion on who represents the best leadership option for Nigeria in the coming elections, but happily for the country, it is not the magazine's lead writers, but more knowledgeable and patriotic Nigerians who actually work and live in the country, that will vote and re-elect President Jonathan for a second term in office. They will do so, because unlike the Economist's opinion writers, they understand that a Buhari Presidency will, for their beloved country, represent a stark setback and retrogression from the tremendous ongoing positive transformation of Nigeria under President Jonathan's leadership.

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Dr. Reuben Abati is the special assistant to President Jonathan on media and publicity.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

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INEC Chairman Admits: Security Chiefs Put Pressure On Me To Shift Polls

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Saturday admitted that the nation's security chiefs played a very pivotal role towards influencing a possible shift in the general elections from February to March and April respectively.

According to prof Jega, the Military was not suggesting or persuading, but "demanding a rescheduling of elections by at least 6wks in the first instance."

Eagleonline.com reports that Jega told representatives of the Civil Societies at a meeting in Abuja that he had received a letter from those at the helms of the country's security agencies that their concerns now is to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency and not to provide security for elections.

The Civil Societies however advised INEC to resist the pressure.

The statement reads:

"The NIGERIA Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) this afternoon, Saturday, 7th February 2015 met with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and with all of its 12 National Commissioners in attendance.

"At the meeting, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, conveyed that he had received a letter from the security services advising that he postpones the general elections on the grounds that the security agencies were engaged in a renewed battle against insurgency in the North-East that would require their full concentration.
In the letter the Military was demanding a rescheduling of elections by at least 6wks in the first instance.

"Situation room conveyed to INEC its disappointment with the letter from the security agencies pointing out that this amounted to the Military's abdication of its constitutional duties to provide security to citizens and to the Commission to enable it conduct elections and appeared contrived to truncate the democratic process in NIGERIA.

"Situation Room is further worried that the Military's position also aims to blackmail and arm-twist the Election Management Body away from its constitutional guaranteed function of conducting elections. Situation Room also condemns this advisory by security agents that they cannot guarantee the security of citizens, election officials and materials during the election.

"The Situation Room calls for the resignation of military chiefs and security heads including the Police on account of their inability to exercise their constitutional responsibility to secure lives and property at all times including during the elections.

"Situation Room also calls on Nigerians to be vigilant and be ready to protect this hard won democracy!

"The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible and transparent elections in NIGERIA and includes such groups as Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Enough is Enough Nigeria, Wangonet, Partners for Electoral Reform and Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA). Others are Development Dynamics, Human Rights Monitor, Election Monitor, Reclaim Naija, Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, CITAD, CISLAC and several other CSOs numbering more than Sixty."

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........2015 Poll: Globally Respected Think-Tank, Brookings Predicts Victory For Jonathan http://bit.ly/1v3WhPo

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Exposed: Nigeria Postponing Elections So Multinational Force Can Secure Boko Haram Areas - AP

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Nigeria's electoral commission will postpone Feb. 14 presidential and legislative elections for six weeks to give a new multinational force time to secure north-eastern areas under the sway of Boko Haram, an official close to the commission told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Millions could be disenfranchised if next week's voting went ahead while the Islamic extremists hold a large swath of the northeast and commit mayhem that has driven 1.5 million people from their homes.

Civil rights groups staged a small protest Saturday against any proposed postponement. Police prevented them from entering the electoral commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. Armed police blocked roads leading to the building.

Electoral officials were meeting with political parties Saturday, asking their views on a postponement requested by the national security adviser, politician Bashir Yusuf told reporters. He said the adviser argued the military will be unable to provide adequate security for the elections because of operations in the northeast.

The Nigerian official, who is knowledgeable of the discussions, said the Independent National Electoral Commission will announce the postponement later Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

A major offensive with warplanes and ground troops from Chad and Nigeria already has forced the insurgents from a dozen towns and villages in the past 10 days. Even greater military strikes by more countries are planned.
African Union officials were ending a three-day meeting Saturday in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital, to finalise details of a 7,500-strong force from Nigeria and its neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger. Details of funding, with the Africans wanting the United Nations and European Union to pay, may delay the mission.

Nigeria's home-grown extremist group has responded with attacks on one town in Cameroon and two in Niger this week. Officials said more than 100 civilians were killed and 500 wounded in Cameroon. Niger said about 100 insurgents and one civilian died in attacks Friday. Several security forces from both countries were killed.

International concern has increased along with the death toll: Some 10,000 killed in the uprising in the past year compared to 2,000 in the four previous years, according to the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.

The United States has been urging Nigeria to press ahead with the voting. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Nigeria two weeks ago and said that "one of the best ways to fight back against Boko Haram" was by holding credible and peaceful elections, on time.
"It's imperative that these elections happen on time as scheduled," Kerry said.

The elections had been called early. Elections in 2011 were postponed until April. May 29 is the deadline for a new government to be installed.
Officials in President Goodluck Jonathan's administration have been calling for a postponement.

Any delay is opposed by an opposition coalition fielding former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari, though the opposition stands to take most votes in the northeast.

Supporters of both sides are threatening violence if their candidate does not win. Some 800 people were killed in riots in the mainly Muslim north after Buhari, a Muslim, lost 2011 elections to Jonathan, a Christian from the south.

Analysts say the vote is too close to call, the most tightly contested election since decades of military dictatorship ended in 1999.
Jonathan's party has won every election since then but the failure of the military to curb the 5-year Islamic uprising, growing corruption and an economy hit by halved oil prices have hurt the president of Africa's biggest oil producer and most populous nation of about 170 million.

A postponement also will give electoral officials more time to deliver some 30 million voter cards. The commission had said the non-delivery of cards to nearly half of the 68.8 million registered voters was not a good reason to delay the vote.

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Source: The Associated Press
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Breaking News: INEC Bows To Pressure, Presidential Election now holds 28th March

Reports reaching us from reliable sources indicate that the Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the date for both the presidential elections and the governorship elections.

The presidential election has been rescheduled from the earlier date of February 14, 2015 to a new date March 28, 2015.

The governorship election will hold two weeks later, on the 11th of April, 2015.

The polity has been heated with series of threats and possible chaos should elections go ahead; and before INEC decided to bow down to pressure from above, a new report came out on Saturday, 7th of February, 2015, highlighting the fact that the National Security Adviser to the presidency will not guarantee security to INEC officials should they go ahead with the elections.

Earlier in the week, an exclusive report from dailytimes.com indicated that the presidency was going to coherce INEC, using every means within its powers, to shift elections by six weeks.

In the same manner, we brought you the story of an INEC official admitting to Reuters News Agency that INEC may be forced to shift the general elections.

The Council of State, which met to rectify the postponement of elections on Thursday, 5th of February, 2015, however endorsed INEC to exercise its mandate of conducting the 2015 general elections.

With this latest twist in the Nigerian polity, it remains to be seen how the opposition reacts to this new development.

_______________________________________________
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........2015 Poll: Globally Respected Think-Tank, Brookings Predicts Victory For Jonathan http://bit.ly/1v3WhPo

........Council of State endorses INEC to perform its constitutional responsibility of conducting the 2015 elections http://bit.ly/18RK1gl

-------Nigeria May Delay Next Saturday's Presidential Elections, INEC admits To Reuters http://shar.es/1ohKb8

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------Jonathan's Performance Will Earn him Re-election, Says Segun Seriki http://bit.ly/1AtfO2O

-------Femi Aribisala: Why President Jonathan Is A Superior Presidential Material To Buhari http://shar.es/1o5AYR

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D-Day: INEC Set To Decide The Fate Of February 14 Presidential Election Today

Nigeria's election commission will on Saturday announce whether or not it will postpone national polls set for February 14, a spokesman said.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, met Nigeria's powerful Council of States on Thursday to discuss the country's readiness for the vote.

Concerns have centred on struggles to distribute voter identity cards to 68.8 million registered voters as well as unrest in the northeast, where hundreds of thousands face disenfranchisement because of Boko Haram violence.

Following Thursday's meeting, "the Commission has scheduled a consultative meeting with chairmen and secretaries of all registered political parties, as well as a meeting with (regional election chiefs on Saturday)," INEC spokesman Kayode Idowu said in a statement.

"Thereafter, the Commission will address a press conference to brief the nation on its decision with regard to whether or not the general elections will hold as currently scheduled," he added.

The closed-door council of states meeting — attended by past presidents, state governors, security chiefs and INEC — lasted more than seven hours and included tense discussion over the February 14 date, multiple sources said.

Jega reportedly sought to assure the council that INEC was ready and pushed back aggressively against calls for a postponement.

National Security Advisor Sambo Dasuki has publicly pushed for a delay to allow more time for voter card distribution.

Separately, the dynamics of the Boko Haram conflict have changed rapidly over the last 10 days.

Neighbouring Chad, which boasts one of the strongest armies in the region, has joined the fight, pounding Islamist targets inside Nigeria and sending in ground troops to pursue insurgent fighters.

Nigeria and Chad have claimed huge successes this week, but Boko Haram's defeat is hardly imminent and voting in the hard-hit northeast may be impossible for several months.

More than one million people have been displaced by the conflict and Nigerian law does not allow people to vote outside the district where they are registered.

The opposition All Progressives Congress is opposed to a postponement and has accused the ruling party of pushing for a delay out of fear that it is heading for a defeat.

President Goodluck Jonathan has described the May 29 inauguration of the vote winner as "sacrosanct" but has made no specific comment on the importance of February 14.
PDP spokesmen have said INEC must make the final decision but stressed the importance of distributing as many voter cards as possible.

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Source: PM News Nigeria
--------------------------------------------------------------

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........2015 Poll: Globally Respected Think-Tank, Brookings Predicts Victory For Jonathan http://bit.ly/1v3WhPo

........Council of State endorses INEC to perform its constitutional responsibility of conducting the 2015 elections http://bit.ly/18RK1gl

-------Nigeria May Delay Next Saturday's Presidential Elections, INEC admits To Reuters http://shar.es/1ohKb8

-------Has Your Life Changed Under President Jonathan's Leadership? Play This Game To Find Out (CLICK) http://shar.es/1o63ZY

------Jonathan's Performance Will Earn him Re-election, Says Segun Seriki http://bit.ly/1AtfO2O

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Football Rumour For Saturday: Dani Alves To Sign For Manchester United, Di Maria To PSG.

The agent of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, 21, believes he will break Cristiano Ronaldo's £80m transfer record if he leaves the Italian club this summer. (Daily Express)

Chelsea are considering a surprise move to bring Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, 23, back to the club. (Sportwereld - in Flemish)

The Blues' 22-year-old winger Mohamed Salah, who is on loan at Italian side Fiorentina, says he has no plans to return to Stamford Bridge. (Talksport)

Barcelona defender Dani Alves, 31, is keen to secure a move to Manchester United with no sign of a new contract at the Nou Camp. (Daily Express)

Paris St-Germain are ready to sell strikers Edinson Cavani, 27, and Ezequiel Lavezzi, 29, to finance a move for Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria, 26. (Daily Star)

Steven Gerrard wants Liverpool to secure attacker Raheem Sterling, 20, and midfielder Jordan Henderson, 24, to longer contracts at Anfield as quickly as possible. (Liverpool Echo)

Manuel Pellegrini has urged striker Stevan Jovetic, 25, to prove his fitness if he wants to remain at Manchester City. (Metro)

Striker Harry Kane, 21, sees no reason why he cannot spend the rest of his professional career at Tottenham. (London Evening Standard)

Tim Sherwood will watch QPR's home game against Southampton from the stands at Loftus Road as he closes in on the manager's job. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho, 24, says he never considered leaving the club, despite his derby day walk-out at Anfield in September. (Guardian)


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