Bomb Explosion in Suleja!

I woke up this morning to hear the sad news about the explosion that rocked the INEC office in Suleja. This horrid act has claimed 11 lives including some NYSC members!

For more on this sad story, please visit 234next.com.

Source: 234next.com

What? This quest for power is getting too much. To win an election should not be a do or die affair o! So far, over 900 people lost their lives during the so called campaigns and other political rallies! What is all this?

God Bless Nigeria! I believe that no matter what happens, the will of God will be done in Nigeria! God Bless Nigeria!

Elections 2011!

Election 2011 commence today 02/04/2011!

All over the Nation, Nigerians would go out to cast their VOTES in favour of their chosen candidates.

During the past few weeks, particularly during campaigns and political rallies, there had been various degrees of violence recorded as a result of clashes between rival political parties. Some major party stalwarts have decamped to rival political parties. I wonder why they had to wait till the last minute to make this move.

The candidates made SEVERAL promises. One common promise made by all candidates is that they would revamp the power sector! We have to hold them up to their promises! We have to leave a better Nigeria for our children and their generation.

Nigerians, please go to your polling center with your Voters Registration card and vote for the candidate of your choice! No matter how long it take to get accredited, please be patient and vote.

Today, Saturday 2 April, 2011 we shall be electing people to represent us in the Senate and House of Representatives. Please vote for credible representatives. Not fighters!

On Saturday 9 April, 2011, Nigerians would go out to elect a President for our great Nation. Finally, the  Governorship and State Assembly Elections would be held on Saturday 16 April, 2011.

I heard in the News that between the hours of 8am to 12pm, eligible voters are expected to be at the Polling Centers for accreditation on each election day. The voting exercise would commence by 12.30pm.

Contrary to what the Inspector General of Police purportedly said, the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) announced that voters are allowed to take their cell phones to the Polls for the purpose sending text messages to report any fraud, violence or election tampering.

Please do not engage in any form of violence at the polling centers. However, if you notice any foul play send your text messages to any of the following numbers:
0816-666-2222
0812-000-6622
0809-666-2221

Vote Right! Vote Wisely!

God bless Nigeria!

Rascals?!

Recently, at the PDP campaign in Oyo State, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was reported to have said:
“We must take over all the States in the Southwest. The zone is too important to be left in the hands of rascals.”

Rascals? That is a very HARSH word. The first thing that came to my mind was maybe Mr. President was quoted out of context. I waited for a rebuttal, but I got none! Did he actually say that? If he did, well the guy fall my hand big time! I suggest that ALL politicians, particularly those vying for elective positions should focus on positive objectives and watch their utterances. They should deter from using abusive or derogating words on their opponents!

God bless Nigeria!

INEC Registration!

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Registration of voters took off with some hiccups on the 15th of  January 2011.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk

Prospective voters complained that they spent hours waiting to be registered and this discouraged others who chose to come back at a later date. One man told me when he went to register, the INEC official gave him a number and asked him to come back to following day! The reason for that, according to the man, was that the registration process takes as much as 30 minutes for one person, so in order not to keep people waiting in the sun
 for too long, they are advised to come back the following day.

Another person who attempted registering was informed that the DDC Machines have been rejecting peoples finger prints! This even happened to the former President Obasanjo, whose finger prints where rejected by the DDC machine several times while he was registering. The Senate President, Mr.David Mark also experienced some difficulty in registering.

News have it that in Oyo State, 4 out of the 32 DDC machines needed for the registration exercise were declared missing. When these machines resurfaced, it was discovered that about 2,000 fictitious names had been fed into the machines! How far would these bad elements would go to have their way! Hmmmm!

No matter what, I WILL register, so I can vote. I know my vote will count!

Nigerians, please lets all go out and register. Vote for the Candidates of your choice. Do not sell your votes.

God Bless Nigeria!

Register to Vote!

With the new Election timetable, registration of prospective and eligible voters will commence on the 15th day of January 2011 and end on the 29th day of January 2011. Please go out and register!

Nigerians have been praying for good leaders in all ramifications. Politicians have commenced mapping out various winning strategies. In an attempt to get the support from people, some politicians/aspirants are distributing gift items, such as phone recharge cards, food stuff, money etc.

Meanwhile, the latest news now is that, the ruling PDP is hoping that they would win the gubernatorial elections in Lagos State! This is a statement credited to Mr. President, GEJ.

I do not like it when politicians make such statements. No. This is a MULTI PARTY Nation and not a single party Nation. There are over 60 registered political parties in Nigeria today.

Nigerians, please lets all REGISTER TO VOTE!

Merry Christmas!

NGF Elections!

This weekend, Mr, Gabriel Suswam, the Governor of Benue State, informed the general public that Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State is the new Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF). This (according to the report) became necessary because the Mr. Bukola Saraki intends to contest as President of Nigeria in the 2011 election. Mr. Suswam added that Saraki is distracted and he has not been able tocomment on National issues such as the bomb blast that rocked Abuja during the Independence Celebration on October 1, 2010.

Mr. Suswam said Gbenga Daniel was unanimously elected by consensus by all the members of the group.

Meanwhile, from the reactions of some other Governors who are also members of the NGF, there was no meeting or election properly so called! In his words, Mr. Shekaru of Kano State said “To the best of my knowledge, there was never a meeting where a decision to appoint a new chairman of the forum was reached.” Mr. Shekaru added that the NGF is not entirely a PDP affair.

Another dissenting voice was Commrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. Oshiomole dismissed the claim that any meeting was held where the decision was taken to appoint/elect Mr. Daniel as Chairman. Oshiomole explained that some PDP Governors (not all Governors) met at Mr. Gbenga Daniel’s lodge and these Governors purportedly elected Mr. Daniel as its new Chairman.

Mr. Osiomole however added that a meeting of the NGF would be held on Wednesday November 3, 2010. At this meeting, a new Chairman would be elected.

As a concerned citizen of this great Nation Nigeria, I feel it is rather unfortunate that these Governors would start to bicker amongst themselves. If the NGF cannot conduct a free and fair election to choose a Chairman, how can they be found preaching "free and fair" elections for the Nation in 2011?

Campaign Strategies!

I have heard of Politicians using money to woo electorates to vote. I have also heard of Politicians using food to score cheap campaign points. Now, another strategy has been added to that list - RECHARGE CARDS!

The Oyo State Governor, Mr. C. A. Alao-Akala, who is aspiring to be re-elected as Governor for a second term, has chosen to distribute recharge cards to the people thereby boost his campaign. Recharge Cards! Is that how cheap our votes are? NO WAY! Read more here.

We should all appreciate the fact that OUR VOTES ARE WORTH MUCH MORE THAN MONETARY GIFTS!

Our votes are VERY PRECIOUS! We should guard our votes jealously!

Nigerians, please Registerto vote. Select the right candidate to Vote for. Do not attach any sentiments when voting. Do not vote for a Political Party. Vote for the PERSON you know is right. Finally, Protect your votes!

We have the civic obligation to vote WISELY!

God bless NIGERIA!
NIGERIA o no baje o!

Iwu is OUT!

Professor Maurice Iwu is no longer the Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). I call him Maurice Law because "Iwu" means Law in the Ibo Language!

Yesterday, the news had it that Dr. Goodluck Johnathan, the acting President of the federal Republic of Nigeria, sacked the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). Prof. Maurice Iwu was asked to commence a "pre-disengament" leave. This must have come as a rude shock to Maurice Law whose tenor as INEC Chairman was due to terminate at the end of June 2010.

Before his removal, Prof. Maurice Iwu presided over the last election in 2007. This election was regarded as one filled with all forms of fradulent activities. That election was not 'free and fair'. Nigerians had been calling for his removal. Well now he is out!

I pray that the next INEC Chairman lives up to expentation and conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria come 2011!

Obama! Obama! Obama!

Barack Hussein Obama II has emerged the 44th President of the United States of America! After the most expensive and longest campaign, the most historic election ever, BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA has emerged as the 1st black President of the greatest Nation on earth, the United States of America! Obama has realized the dream of Martin Luther King.

In the spirit of sportsmanship, John McCain called Obama and conceded the race to the White House.

Obama's speech was very moving and at the same time very powerful. He acknowledged everybody. In his words, "it's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."

For those who still had doubts, he said "if there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." "We are and will always the be the United States of America . . .because of what we did on this day, change has come to America."

Obama also acknowledged that "the road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there."

As we all congratulate the President elect, we also mourn with him in his loss. His Grand mother, who had always been there for him passed on to eternal glory after a long battle with cancer. She died in the early hours of Monday. May her gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.

Congratulations Senator Obama!