Showing posts with label voters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voters. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Nigerian Elections 2023: GeoPoll Post-Election Survey

Nigeria Elections: what happened?

Nigeria went into General elections on 25 February 2023. GeoPoll conducted a nationwide survey to assess public perception before the election. After the highly charged election, we followed up with yet another survey to learn about people’s voting experiences on election day, as well as their confidence in the election process and results. 


After four days of vote tallying, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria formally declared Bola Tinubu the winner of the country’s highly contested presidential election. The declaration is not without controversy, however, as multiple opposition parties have disputed the legitimacy of the election and promised to challenge the results in court. For his part, president-elect Tinubu has appealed for reconciliation with his rivals and urged all Nigerians to unite behind his administration when he takes office in May.

GeoPoll conducted a survey prior to the election to gauge public sentiment about the state of the country, people’s trust in the electoral process, and their intention to vote. Now that the presidential election is over, GeoPoll implemented a follow-up study to learn about people’s voting experiences on election day, as well as their confidence in the election process and results.

Findings from the post-election survey are detailed in this post. To view the full results, filterable by question, state, gender, and age group, scroll down to the Interactive Data Dashboard.

Voting Experience

See complete analysis with data of the statistics on 

#Nigeria
#presidentialelection
#nigeriadecides2023 
#elections 
#voters
#INEC
#pollingunits
#ballots
#presidentialcandidates
#Tinubu
#Atiku
#Obi
#APC
#PDP
#LP


Monday, February 27, 2023

Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha Reelected for the House of Representatives

HON. PRINCESS MIRIAM ONUOHA DEFEATS OTHER CONTESTANTS TO WIN OKIGWE NORTH HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION

The Electorate in Okigwe North have finally made their choice in Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha through the polls in the just concluded General Elections for the House of Representatives. This portends that the incumbent lawmaker will continue her responsibility as the legislator representing Isiala Mbano, Onuimo and Okigwe Local Government Areas at the Green Chamber till 2027.

The preferred candidate of APC won the election with resounding margin to floor other contestants in a suspense ridden competition that finally gave her Victory.  Hon. Princess Miriam really deserved the victory, having done so well in her first tenure at effecting meaningful changes in the vicinity.

Congratulations 👏👏👏🎉!

© Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha PR/Media Team

Sunday, February 26, 2023

The Youngest Voter in the History of Democracy Discovered in Nigeria

The youngest voter in the history of democracy discovered in Nigeria during the 2023 presidential election on February 25. The Guinness Book of Records will like to celebrate him and interview him on CNN. 



Wow! He is so cute!

#Nigeria

#Democracy
#voters
#NigeriaDecides2023
#NigeriaDecides
#presidentialelection
#elections
#Nigerianelections
#politics
#CNN
#youngest
#Guinness
#book
#worldrecord


Thursday, February 16, 2023

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria : Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance in Nigeria

 


Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)
PRESS RELEASE
Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance in Nigeria
The Catholic Church continues to insist that government has a constitutional and statutory duty of protecting human rights and securing basic justice for all
ABUJA, Nigeria, February 16, 2023/ -- A Communiqué issued at the end of the First Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the CSN Resource Centre, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja, 11 to 17 February 2023.

1. PREAMBLE

We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, held our First Plenary Meeting for the year at the CSN Resource Centre, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja, from 11 to 17 of February 2023. Having prayerfully reflected on issues affecting the Church and the Nigerian State, we now issue this Communiqué:

2. INDICES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

The Catholic Church continues to insist that government has a constitutional and statutory duty of protecting human rights and securing basic justice for all. Society, as a whole, is responsible for building up the common good, and the role of government is to guarantee the minimum conditions that make human rights and justice possible. If the primary purpose of party campaigns is to win elections, then the justifiable end is good governance.

Chapter IV of our Constitution on Fundamental Rights is very clear on what constitutes an aspect of good governance, namely, protection of the rights to life, human dignity, liberty, fair hearing, and so on. Despite the many failures of our leaders to ensure good governance, we still nurture and sustain the hope of a democracy that will usher in a renewed era of social justice, equity, peace, and prosperity. These fundamental rights are further enhanced in the rights that are enshrined in Chapter II of our Constitution, such as the rights to health, education, basic amenities, et cetera. Unfortunately, these rights are not justiciable and cannot be enforced in the law courts, thereby leaving the enjoyment of these rights to the whims and caprices of the people in power. As shepherds, we call for a legislative review of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution, in such a way as to make the provisions justiciable and enforceable. This will go a long way to nurture and sustain good governance.

3. SOME CHALLENGES FACING OUR COUNTRY

i) Worsening Insecurity in our Nation

Increased insecurity has continued to haunt our nation. The Boko Haram insurgents, herdsmen militia, bandits, and the so-called unknown gunmen have continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country. Some communities have been sacked and their inhabitants displaced as a result of the activities of some criminals and some government security agents. Hundreds of lives have been lost in very brutal circumstances and many more have been maimed. Some of our Church personnel have been victims of abduction and killing. Kidnapping for ransom is on the increase such that nowhere seems safe. Highways, homes, and even the sacred precincts of worshipping centres are not spared. We condole with all the bereaved and pray for the eternal repose of the deceased. While we continue to call on governments to stand up to their primary responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians, we enjoin all to strengthen security measures in their homes and institutions. We call on all citizens to be law-abiding, and vigilant, and to shun all forms of violence and criminality.

ii) The Challenging Economy in our Nation and its Effects on the Citizens

Our crumbling national economy has continued to make life difficult and hard for our people. As the value of the Naira continues to decline, the high cost of goods and services, including food items, continues to soar. Still more, the flawed implementation of the cash swap policy, which resulted in a cash crunch, has added to the ordeal, hunger, anger, and frustration of the people. Again, on account of the persisting fuel scarcity, our people spend many hours in long queues under harsh conditions trying to buy fuel at exorbitant prices. As a result of high unemployment and hard-biting economic conditions, many of our brothers and sisters wallow in abject poverty, and many either flee the nation in search of better living conditions or resort to crime and begging to survive. This situation is further compounded by the growing debt burden that is mortgaging our future and that of upcoming generations. We, therefore, urge Federal Government and its relevant agencies to immediately increase the circulation of new Naira notes and make and implement adequate monetary and other relevant policies that will reduce the suffering and hardship experienced by our people. We admonish those who collaborate in hoarding the new currency and petroleum products to desist from such a dastardly act. We laud the citizens for their bravery in the face of the hard situation while we thank the President for approving the extended use of the old N200 notes. Furthermore, governments need to provides enabling environment for the creation of more jobs by both the government and the private sector.

4. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION AND GOOD CHOICES

Participation is at the core of the realization of the common good, which good governance serves. Indeed, citizens’ participation is a key element of a good governance structure. We, the Bishops, have continued to voice out the need for Nigerians to be more involved and be part of the decisions over what happens in our society. As enshrined in various sections of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the right to political participation is a human right. The Church teaches that responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in the political process is a moral obligation (CCC, nos. 1913-1915).

One of the potent instruments of participation in the political life of a country is the choice of its leaders. In the face of the daunting challenges facing our nation, we should not give in to hopelessness and despair, or compromise our values in such a manner as to come up with leaders who are neither intended by God nor truly elected by the people. We, as citizens, must learn to make the right choices for good governance to thrive and be sustained. We, therefore, urge one and all to be more conscious of the kind of choices that they make in their life, especially, as we approach another critical period in our political history.

5.  THE GENERAL ELECTIONS 2023

The 2023 General Elections are around the corner. As we wrote in our recent Pastoral Letter on the 2023 Elections in Nigeria, “these upcoming elections provide us with yet another opportunity in our national history to choose leaders capable of governing for the common good” (p.1). This is now the time to reject evil, greater or lesser, and wisely choose good and capable candidates at all levels. Our votes are precious; we must use them well. We encourage all eligible citizens to come out en masse to vote for God-fearing, honest, vibrant, and transparent leaders for a better Nigeria.

We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its officials to ensure that their conducts in the entire electoral process are transparent, honest, and beyond reproach. We continue to enjoin the Commission to make sure that the newly adopted technologies for accreditation, transmission, and collation, are transparently and sincerely deployed and not manipulated to give false results.  We equally call on the law enforcement agents, whose primary duty is to enforce law and order and ensure the protection of persons and materials during the elections, to efficiently and professionally carry out their responsibilities without fear, favour, or partiality. In the same manner, we advise our youths not to allow themselves to be used as thugs and agents of disruption and violence before, during, and after the elections. We, at the same time, enjoin voters to ensure that proper counting is done before the transmission of the results.

One ugly and unfortunate phenomenon that has characterized the electoral contests in our nation is that of vote buying and selling, aimed at frustrating and compromising the free choice of the people. We vehemently continue to condemn this practice and urge all politicians and the electorate to avoid this unlawful and sinful practice and embrace the values of human dignity, integrity, and decency in order to have free, fair, and credible elections. We acknowledge the important role of both national and international observers in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and the promotion of its greater openness and transparency. We call on all those engaged in this task to eschew every trace of bias and partisanship in discharging their duties.

The Judiciary is an important institution in the settlement of electoral disputes in our nation. The significance of this role has continued to rise to the point that it seems no election is complete and determined without the pronouncement of the courts. Unfortunately, this role sometimes results in the abuse of judicial power and office wherein unconscionable orders are made, which mock the electoral process and the general will of the electorate. No doubt, this not only compromises the essence of democratic competition but also leads to loss of confidence in the Judiciary. We, therefore, encourage all judges and lawyers to, once again see themselves as ministers in the temple of truth and justice, and work to make the Judiciary the ‘last hope of the common man’.

6. THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN GOOD GOVERNANCE

The media have a crucial role to play in entrenching good and democratic governance, by providing the necessary information that empowers the citizens not only to engage the political class in debates on the issues that affect their lives, but also, to exercise their democratic choices and make informed decisions about public issues (Inter Mirifica, nn.3-5; Communio et Progressio, n. 87). The Media also function as watchdog by engaging in investigative journalism, which holds political officials and the citizens accountable in the use of public patrimony (Aetatis Novae, n. 14, par. 2). We call on the Media practitioners and owners, not only to seek but to speak the truth with a clear conscience, desisting from the sensational journalism presently being promoted, largely through fake news, violence, inflammatory and divisive remarks. We also urge all citizens to be very discerning and circumspect about news being peddled in the social media. (Pope Francis, Letter to SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communications, 2022). Furthermore, we call upon Governments at all levels to ensure free and independent media that will help to achieve good governance and responsible citizenship.

7. NEWS FROM THE CHURCH

We thank God for the successful visits of the Holy Father to the Democratic Republic of Congo, (31 January to 3 February 2023) and South Sudan (3 to 5 February 2023). We hope and pray that these visits will have lasting impact not only on these two nations but on the entire African Continent. In the same vein, we pray for an end to the war in Ukraine and other parts of the world.  We equally pray for the victims of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. With gratitude to God for a life well spent, we remember our Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, who passed on 31 December 2022 and was laid to rest on 6 January 2023. May he continue to rest in perfect peace. Amen.

Since our last Plenary Meeting in Orlu, Imo State, in September 2022, the Church in Nigeria has been blessed with two additional Diocesan Bishops, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong, Umuahia Diocese (installed on 2 February 2023) and Most Rev. Anthony Ovayero Ewherido, Warri Diocese (ordained and installed on 9 February 2023). We felicitate with them and pray for the grace to shepherd the flock of God entrusted to their pastoral care. In the same vein, we thank the Holy Father for creating Wukari Diocese on 14 December 2022 and congratulate Msgr. Mark Maigida Nzukwein, appointed as its pioneer Bishop. We look forward to his Episcopal Ordination on 13 April 2023. We equally received with joy, the most recent announcement of the Creation of Aguleri Diocese with Most Reverend Denis Chidi Isizoh as its first Bishop. Furthermore, we rejoice with Most Rev. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo and the entire Faithful of Abeokuta Diocese on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Erection of their Diocese. Likewise, we are grateful to God for Most. Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, and the pioneer Bishop of Abeokuta, who recently clocked 25 years in the Episcopate.

8. CONCLUSION: PRAYING FOR FREE, FAIR, AND PEACEFUL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

Providentially, the General Elections 2023 fall within the Season of Lent, which summons us all to repent of our sins, to retreat from our evil ways, and to amend our personal and corporate lives (Matthew 6:1-8; 16-18).  Prominent in the Season of Lent is the demand for more intense prayer, and fasting not only from food and drink but also from the evils that destroy human and social life.  In the spirit of the season, we continue to pray as we say: God our Father, grant us the wisdom to identify what is good and the courage to make the right choices.  As we keep our eyes open and our minds alert, inspire in us the will to vote solely for the common good of our nation; fill our electoral umpires with the spirit of patriotism, justice, and fairness; enable us to embrace and usher in a new dawn in our country Nigeria, where citizens’ participation becomes the hallmark of institutional accountability and economic emancipation.  We pray God to bless us with leaders with integrity and nobility while we hope and work for a brighter, more peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria.  Mother Mary, Queen of Nigeria, intercede for us. Amen.

Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru UGORJI                   
Archbishop of Owerri                                                                                                                        
President, CBCN         

Most Rev. Donatus A. OGUN, OSA
Bishop of Uromi     
Secretary, CBCN                                                                                                               
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

SOURCE
Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)


Wednesday, October 12, 2022

RESTORING FAITH IN GOVERNANCE:THE UZODINMA STRATEGY

"RESTORING FAITH IN GOVERNANCE:*

*THE UZODINMA STRATEGY*

*TO ALL NDI IMO.*

*OUR VISION*
To galvanise Imo people to aspire and achieve together. To ensure that Imo comes before self-interest as we promote the tenets of one people, one destiny. To support, promote and place Imo State on the horizon of limitless opportunities while telling it as it is without bias, compromise, prejudice, favouritism or partisanship.

*OUR MISSION*
The need for clarity, certainty and accuracy in understanding the workings of the government in Imo State has never been more urgent than now. A lot of issues critical to our people are deliberately twisted, spinned, unreported, underreported and even mangled to create the impression that our state is under siege, failing and therefore should be avoided by all means.

The state has suffered extensive damages occasioned by an intricately contrived de-marketing agenda by agents of destablisation bent on tarring our people and the government with the brush of shame. There is no denying the fact that Imo, like other states in Nigeria faces enormous challenges of insecurity, infrastructural decay, economic stasis, social and cultural upheavals largely occasioned by resource deficits as a result of global economic downturn. The germane question that arises is “what is the government doing to tackle and resolve these challenges”
The need has therefore arisen for us to come together as a people in absolute collaboration for Effective State Engagement so that we can properly interrogate the state of affairs in Imo. How then do we develop a very effective and sustainable approach in the monitoring and evaluation of programmes that contribute to reducing conflicts, crime and violence and ensure that the shared prosperity agenda of the government is commonly available to all Imo citizens? We need to demand and secure explanations from the government on the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts of its programmes and activities of political and economic stakeholders on our people.

This platform which ownership is open to all Imo people is a product of the resolute determination of select Imo citizens across the globe to have conversations, share views, exchange ideas, proffer solutions and encourage implementations, provides an opportunity for all Imolites to tell their stories and advance arguments without varnish or prejudice recognizing that only the truth triumphs.
As we come together to defend the dignity of our people and fight the common enemy of poverty, as we remind the government that the state is the duty bearer
and we the people the right holders, we must deploy adequate metrics to measure the progress or otherwise being made in the state.

Imo must be above all interests because we are one people, one destiny.
Together, we aspire, together we achieve. We are stronger united. Let the conversations begin.

Our evidence based submissions which would be published in multiple series are the result of several diligent, assiduous and conscientious interactions between our members who flew from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa to Imo State and many stakeholders, business people, politicians, the clergy, students, market men and women, traditional rulers, town union presidents, commercial vehicle operators, commuters, several citizens and residents of Imo State.

*OUR VERDICTS:*
*NOTE:* We are neither agents of the Imo State government nor any other interest group. We have never met with the Governor of Imo State as a group and we are not eager to meet him, his representatives or any other person or persons with respect to the work we are doing. We are simply Imo citizens desirous of making our state a better place for all. Every submission made here is the result of our honest and unbiased evaluation.

According to John Adams, facts are stubborn things and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence. Here are the verifiable facts on ground.

*RECOVERY OF MISAPPROPRIATED IMO ASSETS.*
It is common knowledge that Imo State was raped, pillaged, plundered and fleeced by the officials of the administration that came to rescue it before May 2019. The brigandage and banditry against the state by the then Governor, his family and henchmen were so alarming and intolerable that the ability to recover looted state funds and properties became a campaign talking point. How has Governor Hope Uzodinma fared in this task of recovery from the corrupt profligate state actors of that era?
In his maiden broadcast to Imo people in January 2020, Governor Hope Uzodinma had clearly stated that “The New Imo State offers a new paradigm to redress the ripples of those years of maladministration…” To demonstrate that he was not a speech-conscious politician, he promised firm and courageous leadership, accountability, transparency, financial discipline, inclusiveness and anchored his government on the three pillars of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery and a culture of shared prosperity in which the wealth of Imo State would be used for the good of all.
Available and verifiable evidence on ground shows that since 2011 when Governor Uzodinma was elected to the Senate up till today, he has not shown the slightest proclivity or predisposition towards primitive and unconscionable acquisition of private wealth. He lives in the same house in Abuja, he has not appropriated his neighbour’s lands in his village, he has only owned one property in Owerri that he bought from a family. He has publicly stated severally that his mission in Imo is to serve and not to plunder. He therefore has the moral courage to stand up for what is right and has been committed to protecting the assets of the state from the long hands of crass freebooters and oppressors of the poor.
In leadership, it is always courage that continues to count. A courageous leader is one who is willing to listen to unfiltered feedback which may not necessarily be easy to hear and be ready to implement decisions that would bring about desirable outcomes. He understood clearly upon assumption of office that Imo people yearned for the complete recovery of stolen state and private assets by the administration of the man they elected into office on the pretence of philanthropy.

It is said that transparency is the antidote of hypocrisy and Governor Uzodinma being a transparent and non-hypocritical leader showed up at the foyer of courage because he knew what not to fear. With the currency of courage and transparency and daring to be different from past Governors, his administration has recovered the following illegally converted state assets based on the recommendations of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Lands and Related Matters

• N40 billion Naira Eastern Palm University (now renamed K.O. Mbadiwe University) built with state funds but appropriated by Senator Okorocha and his family. The University has since had its courses duly accredited by the National University Commission.
• Nsu Ceramic Industry with the capacity to generate 20,000 direct and indirect jobs illegally acquired by ex-Governor Okorocha and his fronts.
• Royal Palm Spring Hotels and Apartments Owerri built on State Land.
• Imo Broadcasting Corporation Quarters illegally acquired and transferred to Rochas Foundation
• Owerri Magistrate Quarters, Orlu Road Cooperative Office/Girls Guide Office illegally converted to a private business premises: Market Square Supermarket/Kilimanjaro eatery and hundreds of other properties contained in pages 226 to 272 of the said report.

To be continued in part two of our Restoring Faith in Governance: The Uzodinma Strategy series.

Dr. J. Iyke Zy Agu MD PhD
Texas, USA

Ikenna Duru PhD
London, UK

Chukky M. Obioha (MLITT)
Lagos, Nigeria

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Peter Obi and the Demographics of Nigerian Politics

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the dysfunctional Labour Party (LP) and his "Obidients" are currently the most popular Nigerians on the internet and many of the "Obidients" have become cyber bullies on Twitter, Facebook and Nairaland attacking and insulting the presidential candidates of the other political parties in some of the worst derogatory terms of vitriol, including libellous defamation of the character of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Majority of the "Obidients" are ignorant of the nuances of intellectual discourse and ignorant of the intricacies of ethnicity in the demographics of Nigerian politics since the Independence of Nigeria on October 1, 1960 from the colonial rule of the British Empire and the consequences which caused the first Nigerian civil war between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the secessionists Republic of Biafra in the south eastern region of the Igbo tribe from 1967-1970. Majority of the "Obidients" were born after the gruesome war.

The majority of the Igbo youths have become passionate about the restoration of Biafra as an independent sovereignty and joined the vanguard of the secessionist groups of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and IndigenousPeople of Biafra (IPOB), because they believe the Igbo tribe will be better and greater as an independent nation. Since the civil war, nobody of the Igbo tribe has become the Head of State of Nigeria either in the military regimes or civilian administrations. They have accused the political leadership of the country by the Hausas, Fulanis and Yorubas of deliberately disallowing the Igbos from the leadership of the executive arm of the government of Nigeria.  Both the past national ruling party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the present national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) have only chosen Yoruba and Hausa Fulani presidential candidates who became elected Presidents of Nigeria, except only Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who succeeded the late President Umaru Yar'Adua as acting President from  February 9, 2010 –  May 5, 2010 and duly elected President in the 2011 presidential election, the first person from the south-south region to become the President and Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria until he was defeated in the 2015 presidential election by retired Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC.

Majority of the Igbo voters voted for Jonathan, because of their ethnic relationship with his own ethnic group of the Ijaw tribe.

To majority of the Igbos, Peter Obi can become attractive to majority of the voters of Ijaw tribe and the rest of the ethnic groups in the south-south region. But they have Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyichukwu Arthur Okowa who is Ika Igbo as the running mate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP who they will prefer to see as the Vice President of Nigeria if they win the 2023 presidential election. 

The fact is majority of non-Igbos will not vote for Peter Obi to be elected as the President of Nigeria, because due to ingrained ethnic malice and prejudice, they don't like the Igbos who actually maltreated them during the civil war and are their political rivals in the leadership of Nigeria. 

There are over 370 ethnic groups and over 500 languages in the country. The major ethnic groups are: Hausa (25%) Yoruba (21%) Ijaw (1.8%) Igbo (18%) Ibibio (3.5%) Tiv (2.4%) Fulani (6%) Kanuri (3%) Others (19.3%).

Without the support of the majority of the non-Igbo tribes and ethnic groups, Peter Obi cannot win the presidential election in 2023.


Thursday, July 28, 2022

The Political Ignorance of Peter Obi and His "Obidients" on the 2023 Presidential Election

The Political Ignorance of Peter Obi and His "Obidients" on the 2023 Presidential Election

The North East and South East have challenges of widespread insecurity  caused by homegrown terrorists that will prevent majority of them from voting in the presidential election in 2023.

Many of the people shouting "Obidients" don't have and will not have PVCs on the date of the presidential election.

Both Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and his followers are politically ignorant of the fact that the presidential election will be won by political expediency and not by popularity on the internet.

I have already seen several opportunists who want to exploit this popularity in various sharp practices.

Peter Obi has never won any election on self recognizance, but by the tribal hegemony of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the South East region of the Igbos.

The majority of Igbos will most likely vote for him. But outside the region, the Labour Party cannot win any state for Peter Obi even if all the Igbos in these states vote for him. Majority of non-Igbos will not vote for him. And without their votes he cannot win the presidential election.

Majority of the so called "Obidients" on Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp groups and Nairaland are ignorant of horrifying communal wars going on between the Igbos and other tribes. These hostilities will favour Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the incumbent national ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.

The fate of Nigeria in the general elections in 2023 will be decided by existential realities and not by emotional sentiments.


- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: My Eyewitness Account of the 2015 Presidential Election", "In the House of Dogs", "The Prophet Lied", "Scarlet Tears of London" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers worldwide.

#Nigeria
#PeterObi
#Obidients
#Tinubu
#Atiku
#APC
#PDP
#APGA
#LabourParty
#insecurity
#terrorists
#voters
#PVC
#politics
#elections
#2023elections
#2023presidentialelection

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Dr. Chika Abazu and Ideato 2023: A Healer Cometh

Dr. Chika Abazu and Ideato 2023: A Healer Cometh

- By Michael Nnaji 

An Avatar is set to happen on Ideato North and South federal constituency of Imo state.Dr. Chika Abazu is an agent of redemption and has sprang forth from his comfort zone in the civil service to offer to fill a yawning void in political presentation of the constiency.

Round the clock care for patients is consistent with medical practice and as a medical doctor of many years standing, Dr. Abazu is emphatic that his mission in politics and desire to represent the Ideato nation is borne out of the urgent need to pull the federal constituency from the doldrums, to heal it of its myriad of ills.

World all over, medical doctors in politics, bringing to bear on governance and leadership, elements of the Hippocratic Oath they swore to, are known to have performed creditedly well in office.

History is indeed replete with an array of medical doctors who have been politicians and political leaders and offered quality leadership the same way they would give quality care to their patients.Some of the famous ones are the Latin American Revolutionary Leader, Che Guevara, Hastings Kamuzu Banda of Malawi, Agostinho Neto of Angola, Salvador Allende of Chile, Francois Duvalier (Papa Doc) of Haiti, Gor Harlem Brundtland, First Norwegian Female PM, Houphoet Boigny of Ivory Coast, Nain Ramgoolan, PM of Mauritius, as well as the great Mahathir Bin Mohammed of Malaysia, who before his voluntary retirement from politics.

Here in Nigeria Medical doctors who became state governors or occupied other political office in the recent past and showed their mettle include Prof Ambrose Alli, Peter Odili, Bukola Saraki, Chimaoroke Nnamani, Chris Ngige, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was also succeeded by another medical doctor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Olusegun Mimiko.

Also remarkable are former Secretaries to State Governments, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives such as Bisi Odejide, Dalhatu Tafida, Jubril Aminu, Martins Yellowe, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Aminu Safana, Wale Okediran among others, not to talk of Heads of Parastatals, Commissioners and Local Government officers.

From the foregoing, it is evident that medical doctors in politics have always left a trail of quality, people oriented and purposeful leadership.

There is no doubt that as the representative of Ideato people come next year, Dr Abazu will be following on the footsteps of these medical legends turned political icons.   

Sons and daughters of the the Ideato ancient kingdom who rue and grief over almost eight years of vapid representation at the House of Representatives in Abuja can now heave a sigh of relief  for Dr. Abazu is coming to right that which has been messed up and fix that which has been broken.

All he is asking for is to be given the All Progressives, APC House of Reps ticket and for the good people of Ideato to cast their votes for him in next year's election to enable him to usher in a dew of glory, the dawn of freshness and an exhilarating breathe of fresh air to the federal constituency.

If elected into the House of Reps as the representative of Ideato people, Dr. Abazu, pledges, in his words, "Prudent utilisation of Constituency Funds for genuine, people-focused, transparent and verifiable projects and programs".

His focuse, according to him will be social amenities and infrastructures, health care, quality education, economic empowerment, medium size agricultural and settlement  scheme akin to the Isreali Kitbzu system and social welfare for youths.

Dr. Abazu, is clearly the most prepared and focused among the aspirants angling for the Ideato North and South federal constituency seat.

Here is a man imbued with excellent mental, physical and academic qualifications to mount the exalted seat. He is God-fearing, honest, hardworking, dedicated, focused, charismatic and with rare leadership qualities that are tailored towards societal development.

A Public Health Physician of over 22 years experience in Civil Service; Dr. Abazu has risen to the position of a Director at the Federal Civil Service and has served at various levels with merit and distinction.

A consummate professional whose passion is excellence in service delivery for the good of humanity, Dr. Abazu is an alumnus of Abia State University,  Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna, West Virginia University Morgantown USA and Emory University Atlanta USA. He is happily married with Children.

***

Michael writes from
Osina, Ideato North, Imo State.


Friday, August 20, 2021

Re: 100 Private Jets In Kano For Yusuf Buhari's Wedding


100 Private Jets In Kano For Yusuf Buhari's Wedding

https://www.nairaland.com/6712165/100-private-jets-kano-yusuf/5#105012043


The gathering of the wolves and wolves in sheep clothing;

The gathering of the political crooks and rogues and their apologists and beneficiaries.

The political ruling class of Nigeria that has been using the camouflage of false religion and neocolonial power to divide and rule the majority of Nigerians they have been cheating, hoodwinking and exploiting since the political independence of Nigeria from the British Empire on October 1, 1960.

They exploit the gullibility and stupidity of the poor masses ruled by the herd mentality of their religion.

They don't care about the ongoing emergency of the Cholera epidemic in the country.

They don't care about the increasiing cases of the new deadly variants of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

They don't care about the horrifying kidnappings and killings of the poor and powerless people by the bandits and terrorists and other terrifying  occurrences in Nigeria.

Unfortunately for the gullible and intellectually challenged poor masses, they will still troop out as voters in the general elections to vote for the political title chasers of the ruling class who are not nation builders, but political power brokers and their partners in crime and their greedy beneficiaries of the middle class.

The poor masses are always at their beck and call for cheap labour as domestic staff, low income workers and political stooges in the vicious circle of their corrupt and incompetent Machiavellian administrations.

They have destroyed the education system.

They have destroyed the health system.

They have destroyed the security system.

They have destroyed the civil service system.

They have destroyed Nigeria 

What we need in Nigeria is not any election, but a revolution for the reformation and transformation of the country for the nation building of a New NIGERIA of equity and unity for the commonwealth of all Nigerians regardless of class, religion and tribe.

Only this revolution will save Nigeria from total collapse.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor, 
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 
247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter



Thursday, September 15, 2011

International Crisis Group / Lessons from Nigeria's 2011 Elections



15 Sep 2011 09:11 Africa/Lagos

International Crisis Group / Lessons from Nigeria's 2011 Elections

BRUSSELS, September 15, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Nigeria's April elections may have broken somewhat its cycle of deeply flawed polls, but the country still must meet many and daunting challenges to ensure a stable and democratic future.

Lessons from Nigeria's 2011 Elections, the latest briefing from the International Crisis Group, examines the vote that returned President Goodluck Jonathan to office and left the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) weakened but still in control of the national legislature and nearly two thirds of the 36 states. It highlights the steps that are needed to prepare for the next major elections cycle, in 2015, including extensive technical and administrative reforms of and by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in parallel with broad political and economic measures to make the state more relevant to citizens and address the root causes of deadly violence in society.

“Between now and the next general polls in 2015, far-reaching electoral, political and economic reforms are needed to help consolidate the modest gains made in 2011 and launch the country on the path of permanent and sustainable electoral change”, says Kunle Amuwo, Crisis Group's Senior Nigeria Analyst.



After three bad elections – 1999, that heralded the Fourth Republic, 2003 and 2007, the last being marked by widespread electoral malpractice and a staggering scale of falsified results – the 2011 exercise was critical for Nigeria's fledgling democracy and overall political health. There were grounds for pessimism: the upsurge of violence in several states, encouraged by politicians and their supporters who feared defeat; an ambiguous and confusing legal framework for the elections; and a flawed voter registration exercise, with poorly functioning biometric scans, that resulted in an inflated voters' roll.

What resulted was an improvement over past elections, especially the 2007 debacle, but still serious problems, including highly questionable majorities reported for the incumbent president in certain areas, and extensive violence, producing more than 1,000 deaths, mainly in the troubled North, after the presidential results were announced.

The new government should prioritise releasing funds to INEC so it can begin early preparations for 2015. INEC should compile, maintain and update the National Register of Voters on a continual basis, in accordance with the 2010 Nigerian Electoral Act. But major electoral, constitutional and economic initiatives are also needed to make the 2015 polls truly free and fair and to ensure they are not tainted by blood. The proposals in the 2009 Uwais Electoral Reform Committee report should be widely published, and efforts enhanced to make the system more inclusive; there is urgent need to reduce poverty and create jobs for restive young school-leavers and graduates. Constitutional amendment should be done with a more holistic, less piecemeal, approach, with full involvement of the Nigerian people, who have long been demanding it.

“Nigeria has the resources and the capacity to entrench a culture of credible elections, with all that would mean for sustainable democracy”, says Gilles Yabi, Crisis Group's West Africa Project Director. “Otherwise, flawed elections will continue to threaten its fragile democracy and reduce its diplomatic weight on the continental and global scene”.


Source: International Crisis Group

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Thursday, June 23, 2011

A man and a morass: Can Goodluck Jonathan clean up corruption?




NIGERIANS have taken to watching an old film—one of their own—since the presidential election last month. It shows intrigue and thievery at the court of an ancient king in the Niger Delta. Decked out in glittering costumes on an improvised sound stage, the wicked court at last collapses under the weight of its own sins.

When it was released in 1999, “Saworoide” was seen as a commentary on the regime of Sani Abacha, who ruled (or, as some prefer, “dismembered”) Nigeria between 1993 and 1998. Once again, Nigerians are hoping to see the back of their ruling elite. Goodluck Jonathan, the president, wafts along on a wave of personal goodwill and is mostly seen as benign. It is the men and women around him whom voters blame for Nigeria’s woes.

Click here to read the full report

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