Jonathan’s re-election campaign amid worsening insecurity callous, insensitive – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as utterly callous and insensitive the ongoing campaign by the so-called GEJites, a pro-Jonathan group, for the President’s re-election right at the same spot where the ‘bring back our girls’ campaigners have been staging daily protests demanding the safe return of the over 200 girls

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the message being conveyed to all Nigerians is that the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan takes priority over anything else, including the security and welfare of the citizens.GEJITE

”Were this not to be so, no responsible group will choose this time, when over 200 school girls have been missing for over 80 days and the terror group Boko Haram is daily killing and maiming Nigerians, to launch a misguided re-election campaign for the President. If their daughters were among the missing school girls, will they be launching a political campaign for re-election rather than pushing for the girls’ release?

”To show their contempt for decency and as if they were intent on inflicting more pain on the parents and guardians of the missing girls, they decided to position their campaign instrument, wheel-mounted electronic billboards, right at the Unity Fountain in Abuja where  committed and patriotic Nigerians have been holding their own daily campaign for the safe return of the girls,” it said.

APC said much as it may deny, it is clear that the Jonathan Administration, that has surpassed itself in sheer cluelessness in providing purposeful leadership to stop the daily carnage in the country and ensuring the return of the missing girls, has apparently been secretly funding different groups to campaign for it.

”First there is the Protectors of Nigerian Posterity, then the Goodluck Initiative for Transformation 2015 and now the GEJites. With the expensive newspaper, television and Social Media adverts that these nebulous groups are running, it is clear they are being financed from a bottomless war chest, to which taxpayers have been unwilling contributors.

”It is sad that a government that apparently cannot adequately fund the war on terror, a government that has lost the initiative to terrorists, a government that cannot provide jobs for its teeming army of unemployed, a government that is running Nigeria aground has suddenly found huge funds to engage in a re-election campaign that is going nowhere, touting tokenism as achievements,” the party said.

It said if the Administration does not endorse the callousness and insensitivity of the groups, it should publicly dissociate itself from them and then call them to order.

Meanwhile, APC has raised the alarm that the Federal Government is losing the war on terror, which has progressively gotten worse since the abduction of the Chibok girls over 80 days ago.

”Almost on a daily basis now, these terrorists have been striking at places and times of their own choosing, even as they are becoming more emboldened to carry their terror campaign right into the heart of the nation’s capital, Abuja. Innocent Nigerians are being killed and maimed in high numbers across several states

”Instead of cashing in on the global outcry that followed the abduction of the over 200 Chibok girls to galvanize national and international action, not just support, the Jonathan Administration has been chasing shadows, pointing accusing fingers at innocent groups and people; harassing the media and curtailing individual freedoms

”One misguided pro-Jonathan commentator even said the attacks are occurring in states under the control of the APC, as if Bauchi and Kaduna are APC states. We have said it before and we will repeat it here: Boko Haram is a clear and present danger to all Nigerians: Christians and Muslims; Men, women and children; The rich and the poor as well as People of all political leanings and of all ethnic groups.

”When they want to throw their bombs, they do not ask if supporters or opponents of Jonathan are there. They do not ask if supporters of PDP or APC are there. They just kill, maim and destroy indiscriminately,” the party said.

It therefore reiterated its earlier call for a non-partisan approach to solving the Boko Haram crisis, an approach that will not factor in the 2015 political calculations, an approach that will not demonize a people of certain religion or ethnicity, an approach that will not divide Nigerians along primordial lines.

”This is why we have offered our hand of cooperation that has yet to be accepted by the Federal Government. This is why we have called for a National Security Summit of all stakeholders to proffer solutions to the Boko Haram crisis. This is why we have reminded the FG that Boko Haram is not just a security issue, but also a social, economic and political crisis that must be tackled holistically,” APC said.

The party said the Jonathan Administration should have the humility to admit that whatever tactics it has been using against Boko Haram are not working and then reach out to all stakeholders to find a way out of the national quagmire.

”The state of emergency, which has been renewed twice, has not stemmed the tide of attacks. Chibok, where school girls were abducted, is not any more secured now as more attacks and abductions have taken place there. The terrorists, who used to strike on the outskirts of Abuja, have now taken their battle into the city. It is time for new thinking, new direction and new purpose in the fight against terror,” it said.

The beginning of the end of Aribisala’s fiction

The Special Adviser Media to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in this rejoinder, dismisses Dr. Femi Aribisala’s latest column entitled The beginning of the end of Bola Tinubu

DR. Femi Aribisala’s recent article “The beginning of the end of the Bola Tinubu Dynasty” should not have appeared in The Vanguard or in any newspaper for that matter. What this piece represented was a contribution to fiction writing, not responsible journalism.

Even there, it was bad fiction. Aribisala is so obsessed with his animus toward Asiwaju Tinubu that Aribisala cannot see or think straight. Thus, his writing is crooked. If one did not know better, one would think Aribisala does not hate Tinubu as much as he envies the man. Aribisala wishes he were Tinubu. Instead, Aribisala is relegated to being the Asiwaju of his own imagination.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

The article is presented as an objective news analysis and commentary.  In doing so, the writer does injury to the newspaper, the truth and to the reading public.  The piece begins with a purported quotation from Bola Tinubu himself used to paint him in an unsavory light. The problem is that this quotation never occurred. It was figment of the author’s dire, envious imagination.

What was presented as   fact is fantasy. The man has the freedom to write whatever he pleases be it fact or fiction. However, it is unethical for him to portray as incisive journalism what are nothing but the fruits of personal hatred translated into  paper and ink.  When the truth does not prove the point he wants to make, Aribisala invents his own truth. While this might be an asset for a fiction writer, for a public commentator, it is a serious trespass against the tenets of responsible journalism.

Responsiblejournalism

Aribisala may well be jumping through these unethical hoops to currying the favor of the monarch of Aso Villa. But he should not be so hypocritical as to try to confuse us that his efforts are done as a public service.

The man actually criticizes Asiwaju for being a successful political leader as if doing so were some type of sin when , in fact, Nigeria is in great need of more far-sighted politician leaders not fewer. Aribisala claims Asiwaju wants to be another Awolowo. Here, why did not he quote Tinubu who has rebuked this charge many times? Repeatedly, he has stated there can only be Awolowo and to try to fit into his shoes is to lace yourself to failure.

We must learn from the great one and the principles he espoused so that we meet the challenges of our time as our legendary mentor and leader would have us do.  This Tinubu’s position regarding Awo. If you want to accuse Tinubu of believing that Awolowo is the father of progressive politics in Nigeria, he would plead guilty. But Aribisala accuses him of trying to supplant Awolowo.  The accusation is wrong and mean-spirited.

Again, at one point, Aribisala invents a Tinubu quote to as proof for his lies. Then at this point, the writer ignores Tinubu’s public statements because those statements rebuff the lie Aribisala seeks to perpetrate in the public mind. This comes to the meat of the matter.  This hack writer asserts that Tinubu seeks a dynasty. He cannot be more incorrect. Tinubu is a leader of a political reform movement along with other patriotic Nigerians.

When Tinubu held fast against the tyranny of the PDP and its attempt to capture all states by any means necessary that was the work of a man committed to democracy. If he had not stood against the great odds against him and his party, the PDP would likely have turned Nigeria into a one-party state by now.

Instead, the APC has come about and now challenges the PDP in an unprecedented manner. Any objective person would conclude that this competition is beneficial for the public and for the growth of Nigerian democracy.  It begs the question why Aribisala seems not to see this enormous contribution. He does not see it because those whose favor he seeks do not want him to expose this truth to the wider public.

Take a look at the men Tinubu has helped in their quest for public office. Fashola, Fayemi, Aregbesola, Oshiohmole, Ajimobi, Amosun, etc.  These men are not non performing “yes men”. They are all dynamic and outstanding performers in their own right. Each is different than the other and each state government excels in its own unique way.

Dynasticpretence

This means that Tinubu is not orchestrating them into some limited uniformity but stands out of the way for them to lead as they believe.  No major politician in Nigeria has a track record as good as Tinubu’s when it comes to supporting able people for office then leaving them to perform as they believe. Nowhere in the PDP does this happen.

If Aribisala wants to see and criticize something with dynastic pretence, he should do an expose on the PDP. In barking at Tinubu, he is barking at the wrong house.

This brings us to the Ekiti election. The vote count is in and the PDP has been named the winner.  Because there were few overt instances of violence, people have lauded the election as free and fair. I caution you not to be too hasty in drawing that conclusion.

Slowly, the truth is coming out about how the military blanketed the state and intimidated APC members and office holders, including the governor himself.  A new, subtler form of voter and opposition intimidation took place.

We have taken note and shall be prepared to outwit it the next time.On a larger note, Bola Tinubu is one of the leaders of a reformist national opposition party contesting against a behemoth, immoral ruling party that will use any all measures to keep power. This is a long marathon we run. There will be obstacles and pitfalls along the way. Ekiti was one but we are not deterred. Our objective is good and right. We seek democratic good governance for the people. We are not ashamed about that.

If seeking to make the people’s vote count and to make government care for the people is wrong, then let us be wrong. For we know that we will only be in the wrong to people with jaded vision such as Aribisala. History shall prove us right. Long after Aribisala’s efforts find their way to the bottom of the wastebasket, the APC shall stand as having pulled Nigeria from the precipice.   And history will score Tinubu with high marks for ever remaining the one man standing.

Sunday Dare, former General Editor of The News/Tempo magazine and former Supervisor at the Voice of America, Washington D.C. is the Special Adviser Media to Asiwaju  Bola Tinubu

Fani-Kayode’s return to his vomit, repudiate everything he said he stood for – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode not only lied but distorted facts to reach a prepossessed conclusion on the party’s comments concerning the proscription of Boko Haram by the Federal Government

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said Mr. Fani-Kayode’s emotional response to an earlier statement by the party failed to wash off the thick mud he splashed on himself when he returned to his vomit, repudiated everything he ever said he stood for and made himself available to be used to castigate the opposition on the altar of glaring exigency.

Femi Fani-Kayode and Alhaji Lai Mohammed

It said, however, that in the true spirit of the party’s belief in dwelling on issues rather than pettiness, it has decided not to engage Mr. Fani-Kayode in brickbats but to simply set the record straight for the sake of posterity, thus exposing Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode for who he truly is: a Janus-faced, brassy personality who stands for nothing and will fall for anything.

”On June 9th 2013, the ACN issued a statement in which it said in the opening paragraph ‘The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said that the recent proscription order against Boko Haram and Ansaru, desirable

as it may be in tackling the terrorist organisations, violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by stifling the press and tampering with the fundamental human rights of Nigerians’.”

”Any person, especially one who supposedly had the benefit of a sound education, who interprets this statement as a condemnation of the proscription itself is either acting out of deliberate mischief or has failed to take advantage of his good education, perhaps in a desperation to escape justice at all cost.

”What the statement means is that in as much as the FG may have done a desirable thing in proscribing the terrorist groups, a section of the proscription Order violates the constitution by stifling the press and tampering with the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.

”We then went ahead to quote that offensive section of the Proscription Order as Section 5 (1), which prescribes a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years ‘for any person who knowingly, in any manner, directly or indirectly, solicits or renders support for the commission of an act of terrorism or to a terrorist group’.

”We said ‘support, as defined by the Order, includes ‘incitement to commit a terrorist act through the Internet, or any electronic means OR THROUGH THE USE OF PRINTED MATERIALS OR THROUGH THE DISSEMINATION OF TERRORIST INFORMATION (emphasis ours). We said this section is in conflict with Chapter II Section 22 of the Nigeria constitution which says ‘The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media, shall AT ALL TIMES BE FREE (emphasis ours) to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people’.

”We said by stifling the press, the Order is abridging a part of the fundamental human rights guaranteed every citizen under Chapter Four of the Nigerian Constitution in Section 39 (1), which states thus:

‘Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information WITHOUT INTERFERENCE?’ (emphasis ours), and warned that this section could be used against journalists and the opposition,” APC said.

In order not to be misunderstood or to have our stand distorted by mischief makers seeking to feather their own nest at the expense of the truth, we then said ”Against the background of insinuations in government circles, let us be clear that we do not condone the activities of these sects that have killed and maimed innocent Nigerians and turned a section of the country into a battle field. Terrorism in all its ramifications is condemnable, and no responsible

government will allow any group, no matter its name, grievances or ideology, to carry out terrorist acts unchecked.”

The party said its intervention was deemed sufficiently weighty enough to warrant instant clarifications from both the Presidency and the PDP.

It quoted a Presidency statement as saying: ”For the avoidance of doubt, the Order is not meant to stop journalists from carrying out their duties or function of news gathering or reporting as they differ from terrorist activities. Rather, the Order is out to criminalize acts of incitement by anyone, group of persons or institutions to commit terrorist acts through dissemination of terrorist information’.

And the PDP said in its own statement: ”For the avoidance of doubt, no section of the Order stifled the press; violated or seeks to violate any provision of the constitution. Instead the Order reinforced the provisions of the constitution guaranteeing the security and welfare of all Nigerians.”

APC said it is therefore baffling, to say the least, that anyone would still take this statement to mean that APC is against the proscription of Boko Haram.

The party said the Mr. Fani-Kayode’s attempt to back away from his earlier statement that Boko Haram is the armed wing of the APC will not excuse him from tendering whatever evidence he has to support his irresponsible, malicious and libellous claim in court.

”In line with his shifty and deceitful style, Mr. Fani-Kayode, in his rambling response, tried to tone down his earlier statement by saying ‘I believe strongly that the APC comprises of at least a handful of Boko Haram sympathisers and questionable individuals who have at various times expressed a certain degree of support for Boko Haram’.

”But our response to this toned-down version of what he said on television is that it is too late in the day for him to back away from his earlier statement, for which he must apologize or face a court action,” it said.

APC reminded Mr. Fani-Kayode, who prides himself as a man of good breeding, that there is no better indication of good breeding than for a man to have integrity and principles that cannot be mortgaged, even with the dangling of a dangerous carrot that could pervert the course of justice to his benefit.

Foreign coaches scramble for Super Eagles job

The scramble for who takes over the position of Super Eagles coach has started after France kicked Eagles out of the Brazil World Cup.
Keshi had delivered a valedictory speech to his players at the dressing room in Brasilia after they were bundled out 2-0 by France to signal the rush for applications by many coaches who admire the glut of talents that abound in the Super Eagles.
But an official of the NFF who pleaded anonymity confirmed that they have been besieged by many interests from foreigners but said that it was too early for them to disclose the identities of such coaches since Keshi had not tendered his resignation letter to the body.
‘’Everything we have heard about his resignation is from the press. He has not informed us formally and as such, we still consider him as our coach.
Many coaches have expressed their interests in the job but  we need to meet and review our performance in the World Cup and sundry issues. If he insists on resigning, definitely,  his position will be taken over by someone else. But for now, he is still our coach”, one of the influential officials of the football house told Sports Vanguard here in Brazil.
Keshi yet again gave a hint that he was done with the Eagles job in an interview he granted TheCable and was asked if he has resigned; ‘’ Yes. I have done my bit. I am tired of all the intrigues and backbiting and insinuations I get”.
When asked  ifPresident Goodluck Jonathan intervenes and sort things out like he did after the Africa Cup of Nations, Keshi said: ‘’As much as I respect and appreciate the number one citizen of the country I am afraid that this time it is going to be difficult. I am totally done with some of these people”.

Nothing ‘ll make me change my mind to coach Eagles again – Keshi

Former Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi has confirmed breaking news on his parting of ways with the Nigeria Football Federation.
We also told you more than three months ago that Nigeria Football Federation was not interested in renewing Keshi’s contract. Keshi has confirmed all our exclusives in this  interview  below.
Nigeriacoach Stephen Keshi talks about ‘resignation’Stephen Keshi has parted ways with the Nigeria Football Federation. This is the true situation and not that the Nigerian coach has resigned. His contract with the federation ended with the World Cup and the Federation is not planning, as we exclusively reported more than three months ago, to renew the contract.
Keshi is likely to pick the job he has been offered by South Africa.
Q: Knowing what you know now, what would you have done as regards the preparations of the team before this World Cup?
A: I would have loved to have had them in camp a lot earlier. The European season made a little bit difficult as I did not want to have only one half of the squad in camp before the others joined.
We had less than two weeks to perfect our plans and it showed as it was only when we got to the tournament that we started picking up our rhythm. We had only three friendly matches which are really not enough to get ready for a tournament like this. So, those are what I would have liked to change.
Have you really quit your post?
Yes. I have done my bit. I am tired of all the intrigues and backbiting and insinuations I get. The criticisms are nothing really because even siblings criticise each other. In this job sometimes it goes overboard and my family and those of my players get called names.
I have had to tell the players many times to ignore those criticisms and just focus on the tasks at hand.
There are many Nigerians who support you. Many who would like to see you continue the work you started with the team. Can you not change your mind for them?
The same ones who were calling for my head after the Iran match? That “the World Cup is too big for Keshi”? I know there are many who truly support what we have been trying to do over these past months but I just cannot continue in this job anymore.
To start with, my contract ended with the last match and the Federation never approached me for a renewal. What does that say? It says to me I’m not wanted. I am going to go and rest, spend some time with my family and then hopefully get another job where I am wanted.
After the Afcon win, President Goodluck Jonathan intervened and sorted things out. What if he does this time?
As much as I respect and appreciate the number one citizen of the country I am afraid that this time it is going to be difficult. I am totally done with some of these people.
If you were the Sports Minister of Nigeria what is it you will do or try and put in place to make the job of the national team coach a lot easier?
Make the Federation pay his salaries on time and those of his assistants. Build a training centre and facility for the national team to train. We never had anywhere decent to train. The Abuja National Stadium is filled with sand and the worst kind of sand. That means when someone goes to ground he will have skin wounds.
I and my assistants spend our own money to buy training cones and some of the things we use for training sessions. In most countries of the world when a coach is hired he brings in his own coaching team. Well for two years now I have been told to pay the salary of my assistant Valery Houandinou, someone who has been with me from Togo through to Mali – where those countries paid his salary alongside paying mine.
In two and half years, I had no official residence. I stayed in a hotel. I had no official car. I thank God for Chief Mike Adenuga for those two cars he gave to me after the Afcon win. However, these federation officials will continue to trumpet that “they gave Keshi everything to succeed.
Mali is one of the poorest countries in Africa but I was given my place of residence and an official car within three days of me taking on the job. I also had a house in Togo and was never owed salaries.
What will happen to the young players you have built up into internationals as it means that Nigeria is losing out on the continuity that you staying on would have brought on?
Well, there is a nucleus of a team to work with there so a new coach will have the players there. In my mind I could set out two equally strong squads with the players available to me.
However, the new coach might come in and say that these players would not fit into his style and so it will be. Not going to be my problem again (smiles).
Clearly your experience with Togo and Mali has helped you at this job?
Oh, without a shadow of doubt. God took me to those countries to give me the experience of dealing with people. It is far more difficult to work in your own country I have just found out. When I qualified Togo for the Afcon and the World Cup I got their national honour and diplomatic passport.
Such was their gratitude. They make you comfortable and of course results followed. God was awesome in taking me through that route.
Did you take a risk with the squad you took to the tournament?
I did not take a risk. From the training camp and from the friendly matches I chose the players I believed would give me what I wanted on the field. People say I took players to sell them and I laugh.
Michael Babatunde has not even started playing. Ramon Azeez will be a top player and he has a big heart. It is unfortunate for Reuben Gabriel that he has suffered a lot with injuries because he has every attribute to be a super player. Many Nigerians who are sincere know his qualities. I trust that he will come through.
But would you be his or their coaches then?
No. My job with Nigeria is done. I just hope who comes in will give them the opportunity to showcase their talents. When I took over there was no standing team and I had to build from scratch really but am gone.
I have loved serving my country but I believe I am done.
An interview Keshi granted  thecable.ng after the defeat by France in Brasilia

Babayaro: Keshi is confused

Atlanta 96 Olympic Gold medalist, Emmanuel Babayaro has reacted to Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi’s denial about his resignation from his role.

Keshi was widely reported to have resigned from his role after Nigeria’s loss to France in the round of 16 after a meeting with his players.

However, Keshi denied he has resigned yesterday saying he bid his players farewell because his contract will expire after the World cup and he hasn’t been offered a new one.

Babayaro known for his fearless stand on issues described his denial as that of a confused man.

“When I read about his denial, I felt disappointed because he failed to convince me with his side of the story” He said.

“To start with he didn’t deny he wished his players bye, if he truly have hopes of continuing he won’t address his players so fast, at least let the pain of crashing out subside a little, and maybe hear from the NFF bigwigs before telling his players he might not continue like he claimed.

“To me he is looking for attention and maybe he is at cross roads over to stay or leave, he appears confused a bit as he loves Nigeria and his job.”

The owner of Pioneer football club also urge the NFF hierarchy to address the issue of Keshi’s stay or departure with all urgency as the 2015 Africa Nations cup is around the corner.

“Our first qualifier for the Nations cup in 2015 is less than two months away,we should be concern with players invitations not who will handle the team?”

“The NFF most move quickly,make a decision on his future to avoid panics when the qualifiers are close or begin. “

Africa champions, Nigeria are grouped with Sudan, South Africa and a yet to be known team after the third round of qualifiers is decided.

Man docked over kidnap of neighbour’s daughter

A 32-year-old bus conductor, Sunday Thomas, has been arraigned before a Lagos chief magistrate’s court, sitting at Ebute-Meta for allegedly kidnapping his neighbour’s four-year-old daughter.
The bus conductor and others, now at large, were said to have conspired to abduct his neighbour’s daughter, Favour Anani.
The defendant, arraigned before Magistrate A. Demi-Ajayi, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnap, preferred against him by the Police.
Thomas, an Ibibio from Akwa Ibom State, was alleged to have committed the offence May 26 at about 4 a.m., at their residence, 8, Yahaya Street, Shasha, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Etim Nkankuk,  told the court that the mother of the girl, Joy Anani, a Togolese, had informed the Police that she suspected the defendant because he had been telling her that he liked the girl and that one day he would take her away.
He said she had also informed the Police that on the day that her daughter got missing, the defendant came home with his friend, named Daniel, who gave the missing girl, alongside other children in the house N20 to buy biscuits, only to wake up at about the time of the incident to discover that the window net had been cut while the little girl could not be traced.
Nkankuk further added that she later reported the matter at a police station in the area, which resulted in the arrest of the defendant while his friend, Daniel, could not be found.
According to the prosecutor, the offences are punishable under Sections 231 and 275 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
The conductor, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Demi-Ajayi admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
The sureties, according to the magistrate, must show  evidence of three-year tax payment to the Lagos State Government, have their addresses verified and deposit N25,000 to the designated account of the Chief Registrar of the court.
She adjourned the matter till August 4 for mention.