Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond the Election, by Charles Soludo

I need to preface this article with a few clarifications. I have taken a long sabbatical leave from partisan politics, and it is real fun watching the drama from the balcony.  Having had my own share of public service (I do not need a job from government), I now devote my time and energy in pursuit of other passions, especially abroad.

A few days ago, I read an article in Thisday entitled “Where is Charles Soludo?”, and my answer is that I am still there, only that I have been too busy with extensive international travels to participate in or comment on our national politics and economy. But I occasionally follow events at home. Since the survival and prosperity of Nigeria are at stake, the least some of us (albeit, non-partisan) must do is to engage in public debate. As the elections approach, I owe a duty to share some of my concerns.

In September 2010, I wrote a piece entitled “2011 Elections: Let the Real Debate Begin” and published by Thisday. I understand the Federal Executive Council discussed it, and the Minister of Information rained personal attacks on me during the press briefing. I noted more than six newspaper editorials in support of the issues we raised.

Full Transcript of Leaked Tape Exposing Rigging of Ekiti Election

The gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, Nigeria, took place on the 21st June, 2014. The
two main contenders were Ayo Fayose and Kayode Fayemi from the PDP and APC respectively. Below is a transcript of a recording of a secret meeting that took place on the night before the
election.

Context
All those present are upset by the failings of the military to execute their plan of
intimidation and electoral fraud in line with what was agreed/ordered by the President of
Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chief of Army Staff of the Federation. All those present
are expressing their disapproval of the job done to date to the to the Brg General in
charge of the operations.
Those present in the room were:

DON’T VOTE FOR JONATHAN, SOYINKA LISTS REASONS

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, declared on Thursday that no one should vote for the continuation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, saying that there has been a total failure in leadership.
He said he has sixty reasons not to vote for the Jonathan regime.
“I will not vote and I will not encourage anyone to vote for the continuation of this government, simply because your colleagues numbering over two hundred were kidnapped, “ Soyinka told students at the 2015 edition of Vision of the Child (VOTC), a yearly programme inaugurated in 2012.
He said the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped on 14 April last year were sent on a mission to acquire an education, but ended up being kidnapped.
“And the government of this nation failed to show leadership. So anyone who says after that event that I will vote or cast my vote or encourage anyone to vote for this regime must be living in Sambisa forest,” Soyinka said, referring to a forest in Borno State where the Chibok girls are believed to be held by Boko Haram.

16,600 children lost parents to Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leon – UNICEF

UNICEF says no fewer than 16,600 children are registered as having lost one or both parents, or primary care-givers to Ebola in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone so far.
It said less than three per cent of this population has had to be placed outside family or community care.
This is contained in a statement issued by UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mr Manuel Fontaine in New York on Friday.
“Since overcoming their initial fears and misconceptions about Ebola virus, families have been showing incredible support, providing care and protection for children whose parents have died.
“This shows the strength of kinship ties and the extraordinary resilience of communities at a time of great hardship’’, added the statement.

PDP raises alarm over sponsored protests

 

 NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Friday, warned that it would no longer condone what it termed, opposition sponsored protests against the federal government.
In a statement, Friday, by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said, “Our attention has been drawn to a text message being circulated by a nebulous group under the name, Save Democracy Youth Movement, calling on the Minister of Petroleum and the Minister of Finance to tender their resignations before the 11th of February 2015, citing unfounded allegations as reason.
” We have information that this unwarranted attack is sponsored by the opposition who also has plans to follow up the text messages with sponsored protests in Abuja and Lagos to further heat-up the system ahead of the February 14, 2015 general elections.

INEC to meet parties leaders on elections schedules

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled a consultative meeting with leadership of the political parties for Saturday, Feb. 7, on the conduct of the 2015 general election.
A statement signed by Mr Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, in Abuja on Friday said that the meeting was a follow up to Thursday’s meeting of the National Council of States (NCS).

Zimbabwean opposition steps up calls for Mugabe to resign after he falls at airport

ZIMBABWEAN president and African Union (AU) chairman Robert Mugabe recently tripped and fell at the Harare International Airport renewing calls that he is too old to run the affairs of state and should stand down. President Mugabe, 90, has ruled Zimbabwe since it became independent in 1980 and has shunned repeated calls for him to stand down. Defying his critics, President Mugabe took over the AU chairmanship this month at its recent summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. It was on his way back from the summit that he missed a step and hit the canvas while making his way to his Mercedes Benz limousine. Minutes after the pictures were relayed by international media, members of President Mugabe’s party, Zanu PF’s’ communication department launched a campaign defending their leader. Presidential spokesperson George Charamba, said: “Please don’t allow

I’d Rather Resign Than Postpone Elections – Prof. Attahiru Jega

 

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega has threatened to rather resign his appointment than postpone the scheduled February general elections. He said nobody’s demand, including that of the National Council of States (NCS), or any other institution, will make INEC to postpone the February general elections as scheduled. The source further said that Jega confided in them that he will appeal even a court order on this issue, and that only a Supreme Court order will make him shift ground. A highly reliable source close to the INEC Chairman who pleaded anonymity told Universal Reporters that Prof. Jega told a group of close

Proponents of election shift have not given up – APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC,  has said that in spite of the commendable and patriot decision by the National Council of State that the 2015 general elections must go on as scheduled, proponents of election shift have not given up on their desperation to scuttle the elections.
In a statement, Friday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said, however, that the desperadoes will always fail in their evil machinations, because no power is strong enough to defeat a determined people.
It said the provocative call by the bogus Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly for the postponement of the elections and the arrest of INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega is one of the new antics of the election postponement campaigners.

Osun Election: Tribunal upholds Aregbesola’s victory

The Osun state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, Friday, upheld the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9 election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had pronounced Aregbesola winner of the election with 374, 684 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore who polled 292, 747.
Senator Omisore challenged the declaration of Governor Aregbesola before the three-man Tribunal led by Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime.
In the about eight hours judgement read by Justice Ikpejime, the Tribunal dismissed the Omisore’s petition for lacking in merit.
It also held that the petitioners failed to prove most of the allegations raised in their petition before the Tribunal.