12072020 - Uzodinma, Ngige, Nnamani others meet, vow Igbo united front

After Buhari, who is next?
Okonjo-iweala (2)
“In the beginning of a
change, the patriot is a scarce
man, and brave, and hated and
scorned. When his cause
succeeds, the timid joins him;
for then it costs nothing to be a
patriot” - Mark Twain, 1835-
1910, in NOTEBOOK, 1935.
Iwas prepared for the
objections which came
through text messages in
response to the first part of this
advocacy for radical change
which was proposed. Three
main objections were clear. The
first said the power elite in
Nigeria will never allow a good
person to rule Nigeria. The
second asked a question: Which
political party will field her? The
third repeated the tiresome
complaint that Nigeria will not
allow an Igbo to be President.
These are powerful objections
which must be acknowledged;
because they have merit. And
since they are very strong, they
must be answered fully; if not
for any other reason than to reassure
those who after reading
are now prepared to join the
campaign early. I will name
groups which should join the
campaign sooner or later. I only
hope it will be sooner.
Having been involved in
some changes considered
impossible in the past, I want to
start with that observation by my
favourite American writer –
Mark Twain. Let readers be
reminded again that when that
series of articles titled, LAGOS
STATE GOVERNORSHIP -
2015 CHRISTIAN AGENDA,
first started in December 2010
and ran to January 2011, calling
for a Christian governor, I was
like the lone voice crying in the
wilderness. I was called a day
dreamer to my face by even
sages and unbelievers. The
earthly powers in Lagos had no
plans for a Christian to succeed
Fashola. The rest is history.
Lagos had Ambode in 2015
after an election in which the two
political parties featured
Christian candidates. Today
Sanwo-Olu is governor. One
with God is always a majority
anytime.
Part one ended with the
statement “You are not God” –
as my answer to those who
declare that something is
impossible. Each time I hear
someone say something new is
impossible, what comes to my
mind is the observation by
Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769-
1821, who said the word
“impossible” does not or should
not exist. I agree with him. Until
all those who desire a particular
change put all their hearts and
souls into the struggle, nobody
knows what is “impossible”. At
any rate, there are other reasons
why the doubters are wrong.
“From factions, APC will
break into pieces” - Buba
Galadima, SUNDAY
VANGUARD, July 4, 2020.
Galadima was one of the
founding fathers of the political
party called All Progressives
Congress, APC. He has since left
the party. That is part of the story.
APC, at its birth, could not have
qualified as a political party
based on the definition by
Edmund Burke, 1729-1797:
“Party is a body of men united
for promoting by their joint
endeavours the national interest,
based upon some particular
principle in which they are all
agreed.” There was no
agreement.
“Alliances are held together by
fear; not by love”, Harold
Macmillan, 1894-1986,
VANGUARD BOOK OF
QUOTATIONS, p 9.
By contrast, the APC was a
mere conspiracy to seize power
based on the hidden ambitions
of two of the founders. First, we
know that the four legacy parties
which fused in April 2013 were:
Action Congress of Nigeria,
CAN; All Nigeria Peoples Party,
ANPP; All Progressive Grand
Alliance, APGA, and the
Congress for Progressive
Change, CPC. They were joined
in November of that year by n-
PDP – a faction of the Peoples
Democratic Party. There is no
need at this point to go into more
details about the formation of
the APC. It was an alliance of
groups which had few, if any,
“principle in which they are all
agreed”. The grand alliance was
formed out of fear that most of
them will spend their days out of
the corridors of Aso Rock.
Nothing more elevating united
them. But they successfully
peddled the lie of a progressive
change to Nigerians and to
themselves. But history never
allows any contraption based on
fraud to last.
“All political parties die at last
of swallowing their own lies” -
Dr John Arbuthnot, 1667-1735,
VBQ p 191.
While the others were busy
working on the “constitution”,
two of the leaders stepped aside
and forged their own separate
agreement – unknown to other
members of the alliance. The
leader of the ACN would support
the leader of the CPC to emerge
the presidential candidate. In
turn, the other party would select
his partner in alliance betrayal
to be the Vice President. But, how
many times have we repeated it.
“Men make history; but not just
as they please (Karl Marx, 1818-
1883, VBQ 93). Thus, right from
its birth, a faction consisting of
The monumental
corruption we now
experience has
demolished Buhari’s
anti-corruption
credentials
two was created in the political
association. It would not be the
last time factions will develop
which now threaten the party’s
existence. Mark my words; the
APC is finished as a formidable
political party. The current
Caretaker Committee charged
with re-constituting the party will
labour in vain. The factions
within the party are so deeply
antagonistic, henceforth any
meeting will resemble that of
Sicilian Mafia which everybody
attends by packing a revolver
under his belt.
“The most common and
durable source of factions has
been the various and unequal
distribution of property.” That
was the verdict of James
Madison, 1751-1836, one of the
founding fathers of America.
While the APC handled
opposition admirably, it was
unable to manage victory as
well. The cracks are now too
deep to paper over. The factions
which will destroy the APC are
here to stay. Buhari, as agreed,
became presidential candidate.
The attempt to present his vice
presidential candidate met stiff
resistance ostensibly on account
of the rejection of a Muslim-
Muslim ticket. One party to the
conspiracy got his wish; the other
failed. That was not part of the
original script – despite all the
attempts to put up a brave face.
It was not the last time the loser’s
party will be treated badly.
The APC won the election –
mostly on the strength of the
funds and media support
provided by the southern
members of the coalition, mostly
ACN, and one major northerner.
Hardly anybody from Katsina
State or Daura was seen among
the frontline warriors
throughout the campaign. 16 of
the first 20 appointments by the
SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 12, 2020, PAGE 17
newly-elected President went to Buhari’s dismal record. Yet, no
the North; and most of the APC candidate can distance
appointees were either from himself from the disasters
Katsina State and Daura or their created in the eight years of
in-laws and associates – starting Buhari rule. That, in a nutshell,
with the all-powerful posts of is the situation with APC.
Chief of Staff and Director Anybody who believes that the
General of DSS. The monkeywork-baboon
chop business was must have a different crystal ball
PDP will return to Aso Rock
the beginning of a lot of monkey than mine. But, bear in mind that
business which formed the mine had been tested for
pattern of “unequal distribution accuracy of prophecy. PDP can
of property” – meaning our only win on one condition; and
national wealth.
it is not my business to tell them.
“All animals are equal; but Just remember that APC did not
some are more equal than exist until two years to the 2015
others” - George Orwell, 1903- elections. The PDP is now just as
1950, in ANIMAL FARM. fractured as the APC.
The President, inadvertently or “Let us not seek the
deliberately, created the biggest Republican answer or the
factions ever in any elected Democratic answer, but the right
government from the start of his answer”- Senator John
tenure – which lasted for the first Kennedy, 1917-1963, in
four years. Some astute Maryland, USA, Feb. 1958.
members of the conspiracy Kennedy became the first
accurately read the hand writing Catholic to be US President two
on the wall. Without waiting for years after delivering that
the party and the President, they address. A lot of his fellow
seized control of the National Catholics told him he had no
Assembly, NASS; and held it chance of winning. But,
successfully for the four years Americans thought differently.
despite all attempts to dislodge Like Kennedy, this is actually not
them. There was an irony in that. a campaign for an Igbo woman
While Jonathan lost control of per se as President for Nigeria.
the NASS towards the end, It is a campaign for the right
Buhari lost it right from the start. candidate who just happened to
That was the first major sign that be both. Further, it is not a partybased
campaign. The most
this coalition would not last long.
Remarkably, it survived to gain important things in life often
power for a second term. But, like have nothing to do with party.
the first term, the only The monumental corruption
beneficiaries have been Buhari we now experience has
and his close associates. The rest demolished Buhari’s anticorruption
credentials. Our
are now in the wilderness. The
dissolution of the National cardinal problem in 2023 will
Working Committee, NWC, by be the debt burden. If anybody
the President has now sent the has any other candidate who
conspiracy back to its beginning can help us better, they should
without a good candidate to rally bring him/her out. Until then, our
round and with the members a future points to Okonjo-Iweala.
lot wiser. None of the legacy “In the end it will not matter
members will again concede the to us whether we fought with
presidency to another without a flails or reeds. It will matter on
serious fight. Buhari has taught which side we fought” - GK
all the other parties, especially Chesterton, 1874-1936, VBQ p
the ACN, a lesson their leader(s) 60
will never forget. Somebody in I am under no illusion that
that group is ruing the day he male politicians will give up
made a deal with Buhari. power easily. Power has to be
Nothing has turned out the way fought for by those desiring real
he envisaged.
transformation of our society.
I went to this great length to Strategies are required; so are
draw the attention of those foot soldiers. Next week, I will
doubting the chances of a fresh close this series by pointing out
candidate to the fact that APC, those I expect will be on the
as a “party”, is finished. Buhari frontline of this struggle. They
will definitely want to choose his must be sick and tired of our
successor in the faction which present crop of politicians who
will still call itself APC. But, only have nothing more to offer.
a desperado will want to run on
APC National Convention: 'Why S/South should retain chairmanship'
head of All
AProgressives Congress (
APC) national convention, a
Non- Governmental
Organization( NGO), Power
Arc Media (PAM), has
drummed up support for the
retention of the position of
national chairman in the
South-South geopolitical
zone.
The Power Arc Media , an
advocate of unity in the
country, is of the view that
retaining the chairmanship of
APC in the zone is the way to
go. Immediate past National
Chairman of the party
,Adams Oshiomhole, and his
predecessor, John Odigie-
Oyegun, are both from the
South-South .
The Power Arc Media in a
statement by its Director of
Operations, Mr. Tedd
Avindigh, said such a move
would create disharmony
and adversely affect the party.
It added that taking the
national chairmanship
position out of South -South
zone, would create a sense of
loss and would ultimately be
counterproductive to the
party.
In the spirit of fairness,
equity, justices and even
development , they stressed
that the position should
remain in the South-South
geopolitical zone.
The organisation said: “ It
was the wisdom of the
stakeholders of the party to
zone the office of the national
chairman of the party to the
South-South geopolitical
zone in particular after the
emergence of President
Muhammadu Buhari and
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“If the agitation by the South-
East geopolitical zone to have
a shot at the number one
position in 2023 is sustained
and the South -West zone
already had the Vice
Presidential slot for eight
years, it is only logical that the
South-South zone retains the
position.
"This would balance the
political equation and give
every section of the country a
sense of belonging .
Ani declares for Uvwie LGA chairmanship position
ajority Leader of
MUvwie Legislative
Arm and two terms councillor,
who is also a chairmanship
aspirant in Uvwie Local
Government Council, Mr Efe
Ani, has confirmed his
intention to contest the
forthcoming local
government election in the
state.
He, therefore, urged his
supporters not to be
intimidated or afraid of
others, assuring that he will
emerge victorious.
Ani, who addressed a
pressure group, TEAM ANI
For Chairman, Uvwie Local
Government Area,
canvassing support for his
ambition, said he was
seriously in the race, adding
that he will be contesting on
the platform of Peoples
Democratic Party. PDP.
He said: “I’m not declaring
my intention formally but I
want to tell you that I’m
seriously in the chairmanship
race and I’m going to win.
They have been using my
father’s name to clear their
way and find themselves in
positions."
He urged the group not to
be intimidated by anybody.
Earlier, Chairman of
Ighwuvie of Uvwie, and his
The South-South would
also be expected to do a further
micro zoning which arguably
favours Cross River State . Edo
State has had two consecutive
chairmen , Rivers State just
had the national chairman ,
Victor Giadom and Delta
State has the incumbent
Deputy President of the
Senate. Akwa Ibom State has
vice, said most Uvwie
politicians are direct and
Shutting down oil operations may
halt gains of dialogue — Otuaro
The shutting down of oil
operations threatened
by the Itsekiri and the
Ijaw in the Warri area of Delta
State may halt already
trickling gains of dialogue
with the Federal Government,
Deputy Governor of Delta
State, Deacon Kingsley
Otuaro, said.
Otuaro, who said the Delta
State government has not
closed dialogue with Federal
Government on behalf of the
communities, stressed that
"result-oriented dialogue was
Value Investing ting Limited ed hosts ts public presentation of a book July 21
By Victor ‘Tunde Oso
n integrated financial
Aand investment advisory
service firm, Value Investing
Limited, will host the Zoom
Presentation of a newly
published book titled,
F I N A N C I A L
INTERMEDIATION:
Operations and Practice. It is
a guide book for financial
the Minister of Niger Delta
Ministry as well as Special
Adviser on the Niger Delta
Affairs while Bayelsa has the
Minister of Petroleum.
Cross River State seems to
be the virgin land to produce
the next national chairman of
APC.''
indirect beneficiaries of the
foundation laid down by the
late Friday Meyawhe Ani.
market operators and
practitioners.
The author of the book is
Seye Adetunmbi, the Chief
Responsibility Officer of Value
Investing Limited and the
convener of Capital Market
Roundtable in Nigeria. The
public presentation of the book
will hold virtually on July 21st,
2020.
Mr. Bola Ajomale, the Chief
Executive Officer of NASD
Hondred Ghost Billionaire signs new artistes
Nthe OTWITHSTANDING
lull in the music
industry as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic,
Hondred Ghost Billionaire
Records has signed two new
artistes to the record label.
Co-owned by biological
brothers, CEO of Stelmat
Nigeria Limited, Mathew
Moses Oluwafemi, popularly
known as Ghost and CEO of
Hondred Ghost Luxury Night
Club, Mathew Peter
Oladipupo, better known as
Hondred, Ghost, the record
label boss said that the signing
of Ikhumhen Jeffery Ehis,
a.k.a Jeff South and Momoh
Paul Oshokie also known as
Alhaji Sweetest is a strategic
move in nurturing and
marketing the amazing
talents to global audience.
Oladipupo said, “The
Nigerian music industry is set
PLC will review the book at the
zoom presentation. Chairman
of the zoom presentation is Dr
Alimi Abdulrazaq, the
Chairman of Forte Oil -
Upstream Services Limited
while Mr Atedo Peterside,
Chairman of ANAP
Foundation and Dr. Uduimo
Justus Itsueli, Chairman of
Dubril Oil Limited are the
Special Guests of Honour.
to witness the finest of talents
from the stables of Hondred
Ghost Billionaire Records.”
Jeff South, singer and
saxophonist hails from Benin
City and his genre of music is
an alternative, with a fine
blend of Afro Pop, while Alhaji
Sweetest is an indigenous rap
artiste from Bauchi, who
effortlessly dishes out lyrics in
Hausa.
Alhaji Sweetest and Jeff South
are set to release a
collaborative single featured
by the record label titled ‘No
Balance’ on the 18th of July,
2020.
a process, not an event". He
appealed to oil bearing areas
of Ijaw of Gbaramatu
Kingdom and the Itsekiri who
had issued ultimatum via
statements by Chief
Godspower Gbenekama and
Mr. Samuel Besidone for Ijaw
of Gbaramatu Kingdom and
Itsekiri respectively, to shelve
the planned shutdown for a
win-win dialogue option.
"I personally appeal that
the oil communities
consider jettisoning the
idea of shutting down oil
operations, as a birthday
gift to our Governor,
Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa,
and to enable his team
more time to deepen
discussions with the
a p p r o p r i a t e
authorities,"Otuaro
pleaded, while
appreciating their peaceful
approach so far.
Holding out a progress
chart which he said
justified need for the
people to "keep the peace
and the faith", Otuaro said
"The federal government
has awarded the
electrification project that
will benefit about 50
communities in the said
Escravos area and work is
ongoing.
"Delta State Government
Committee on the
Modular Floating
Dockyard chaired by
myself, Commissioner of
Finance, as well as Bosin
Ebikeme, and Kelly
Penawou, amongst others,
has not closed discussions
on sending the Modular
Floating Dockyard to
Okerenkoko area for
intended purpose.''