Nigeria: As Obasanjo Renews Allegations of Corruption

27 November 2014
Lagos — Again, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused President Jonathan of encouraging corruption.

Obasanjo spoke Wednesday in Abuja at the public presentation of two books: ‘The Story of My Two Worlds: Challenges, Experiences,’ (an autobiography of a former President of the Court of Appeal and pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi) and ‘A life of Service and Grace: Shared Perspectives,” (a collection of essays by scholars.)”

The former president said every aspect of Nigeria’s national life is riddled with corruption, even as he also said that the National Assembly is largely an assemblage of looters and thieves.

He said: “Apart from shrouding the remunerations of the National Assembly in opaqueness and without transparency, they indulge in extorting money from departments, contractors and ministries in two ways.

“They do so during visits to their projects and programmes and in the process of budget approval when they build up budgets for ministries and departments, who agree to give it back to them in contracts that they do not execute. They do similar things during their inquiries.”

Former President Obasanjo also said that under the President Jonathan-led administration, corruption has been elevated through the huge sums of money being paid to the National Assembly to stop investigating the administration’s corrupt acts.

“Corruption in the National Assembly also includes what they call constituency projects, which they give to their agents to execute but invariably, full payment is made with little or no job done.”

Obasanjo therefore urged the reversal of the trend if the nation is to experience meaningful growth. This is not the first time the former President would be accusing the current administration of corruption.

As a matter of analysts who argue that corruption is the bane of Nigeria’s development have severally called on the government to intensify its anti-corruption war. Incidentally, the Transparency International (TI) has also continued to rate Nigeria low on its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

Stakeholders agree that a lot needed to be done in the war against corruption for the nation to move forward and the citizens to benefit the dividends of democracy.

However, the Coalition against corrupt Leaders (CACOL) says that while former President Obasanjo’s view on increasing rates of corruption are correct, his own administration was also guilty.

Debo Adeniran, the executive chairman of the Coalition said former President Obasanjo needed to apologies to Nigerians for his administration’s own acts of corruption.

“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s views are no-doubt correct with regards to the level of unchecked corruption, bad management of the economy, poor handling of the insurgency in the North Eastern part of Nigeria and so on. It is not only true that all these issues are happening but also correct that we must all stand up and put things in right track.

“However, Obasanjo needs to apologise to Nigerians for the roles he played in all these. Frankly speaking, he single-handedly imposed the Yar’Adua-Jonathan administration on us, and so should take part of, if not, all the blames.

“And talking about corruption, Obasanjo is a case of pot calling kettle black. It is on record that many of the international scandals occurred place under him. The Halliburton bribery scandal, the Pentascope, Siemens, Wibross Scandal, Power Project Scandal, etc all happened during Obasanjo’s regime.”

Nevertheless, analysts argue that corruption thrives because the country’s leaders do not see political offices as a call to national duty. They contend that until politicians begin to see political office as a call to service and begin to apply the resources of the offices serving the people corruption will continue.

Former Head of State and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari also agrees that corruption has decimated Nigeria. He is quoted as telling an online news portal TheCable that “Nigeria has abundant resources. God has endowed us with petroleum and some mineral resources, a lot of land for farming but the problem with Nigeria is massive corruption and if we don’t kill corruption in Nigeria, corruption will kill us.

SOURCE: Daily Independent.

 

 

Confab Backs Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre Bill, Others

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As efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework against corruption gathers momentum, civil society organisations in Nigeria have thrown their weight behind the Proceeds of Crime (POCA) , Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) Bills being considered by the present National Assembly.

In a 14-page Communique, issued after a Civil Society Roundtable organised by the Media Initiative Against Injustice, Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC), in Abuja, the activists expressed confidence that the POCA and MLA bills are necessary legislations that would enhance the country’s anti-graft war.

The communique, signed by the chairman, Okechukwu Nwanguma, of Network on Police Reforms (NOPRIN) and Secretary, Debo Adeniran, of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) reviewed the recently passed Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) Bill and described it as a step in the right direction.

The activists reiterated their preference for a truly independent Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) for Nigeria and warned that it would resist any attempt to hijack the NFIC about being created.

They commended the National Assembly for passing the NFIC Bill and urged it to make haste to pass the Proceeds of Crime and Mutual Legal Assistance Bills making steady progress at the National Assembly.

They also commended the President Jonathan-led government for his commitment to the passage of the Bills and urged the President to make haste to sign the NFIC Bill into law in the interest of the country’s anti-graft, anti-money laundering and counter terrorism war.

“Civil society stakeholders from all parts of Nigeria assembled at the country’s capital, Abuja, to review the state of anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.

“Stakeholders commended the present National Assembly for the passage of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) Bill and urged the lawmakers to hasten to pass other related and complimentary anti-corruption bills- the Proceeds of Crime (POCA) and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Bills. Stakeholders however urged the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to give speedy assent to the NFIC Bill, in order allow the Centre take off immediately.

“Stakeholders critically reviewed the recently-passed NFIC bill and reiterated that the bill is a step in the right direction in the anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and anti-terrorism campaign in Nigeria.

“Stakeholders reiterated confidence in the administrative type-FIU, which Nigeria opted for and threw their weight behind its being domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as passed by the National Assembly.”

SOURCE: Leadership.

Confab Backs Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre Bill, Others

| Leave a comment

As efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework against corruption gathers momentum, civil society organisations in Nigeria have thrown their weight behind the Proceeds of Crime (POCA) , Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) Bills being considered by the present National Assembly.

In a 14-page Communique, issued after a Civil Society Roundtable organised by the Media Initiative Against Injustice, Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC), in Abuja, the activists expressed confidence that the POCA and MLA bills are necessary legislations that would enhance the country’s anti-graft war.

The communique, signed by the chairman, Okechukwu Nwanguma, of Network on Police Reforms (NOPRIN) and Secretary, Debo Adeniran, of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) reviewed the recently passed Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) Bill and described it as a step in the right direction.

The activists reiterated their preference for a truly independent Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) for Nigeria and warned that it would resist any attempt to hijack the NFIC about being created.

They commended the National Assembly for passing the NFIC Bill and urged it to make haste to pass the Proceeds of Crime and Mutual Legal Assistance Bills making steady progress at the National Assembly.

They also commended the President Jonathan-led government for his commitment to the passage of the Bills and urged the President to make haste to sign the NFIC Bill into law in the interest of the country’s anti-graft, anti-money laundering and counter terrorism war.

“Civil society stakeholders from all parts of Nigeria assembled at the country’s capital, Abuja, to review the state of anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.

“Stakeholders commended the present National Assembly for the passage of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) Bill and urged the lawmakers to hasten to pass other related and complimentary anti-corruption bills- the Proceeds of Crime (POCA) and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Bills. Stakeholders however urged the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to give speedy assent to the NFIC Bill, in order allow the Centre take off immediately.

“Stakeholders critically reviewed the recently-passed NFIC bill and reiterated that the bill is a step in the right direction in the anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and anti-terrorism campaign in Nigeria.

“Stakeholders reiterated confidence in the administrative type-FIU, which Nigeria opted for and threw their weight behind its being domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as passed by the National Assembly.”

SOURCE: Leadership.

CACOL faults Fashola’s administration

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has frowned at the alleged awkward view Fashola led administration painted to the Lagos state populace, citing abject neglect of most populated areas with respect to development.
In a recent statement titled ‘The Lagos Fashola Has not Built’, CACOL make bold to say that Fashola had barely given Lagos a mere window dressing form of governance at the expense of the densely populated hinterlands, where chunk of the internally genrated funds came from.

Debo Adeniran CACOL’s executive chairman in reaction to a recent publication of a centerspread advert in The Punch yesterday, pages 32 and 33, purportedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, APC to showcase the achievement of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, describes it as highly deceptive and misleading. Continue reading “CACOL faults Fashola’s administration”

PDP Leaders Accuse Dapo Abiodun Of Funding APC With Subsidy Fraud Money

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There appears to be more trouble in the horizon for an oil marketer, Mr Dapo Abiodun as a group of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP leaders in Ogun state has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan asking for his assistance in recovering over N594 million, being proceeds of an alleged oil subsidy fraud committed by Heyden Petroleum solely owned by Abiodun.

This is coming barely a week after an NGO, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL dragged the oil marketer to the Police Special Fraud Unit over the same scam. The  group, Jonathan Fans In South West, in a statement mailed signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Iniola Bello said “As leaders of PDP in Ogun and supporters of President Jonathan’s re-election, our attention has been drawn to a recent petition to the police which claimed to be investigating Mr Abiodun over a N594m oil subsidy fraud. Mr President, we wish to seek your urgent intervention to quicken the process of recovering this huge public fund which Dapo Abiodun is now using to fund the campaign activities of APC against our party, the PDP in Ogun state.”

“Your Excellency, it is on record that this same man(Abiodun) has been with our party, the PDP from 1999 and made his money from the PDP-led government only to desert us about four weeks ago and since then, he has been using this huge public fund fraudulently obtained under the fuel subsidy regime to bankroll the APC under the pretext of a Senatorial ambition. This appeal has become necessary following our investigations that Mr Dapo Abiodun has not been cleared of the fraud by either the EFCC or the Police as he fraudulently claimed in a recent media report”, the statement written out of the PDP leaders’ petition to the president stated.

The PDP group which attached a copy of a recent photograph taken by Abiodun with PDP stalwart, Buruji Kashamu at a PDP function in Ogun state told President Jonathan “this photograph is to show Your Excellency how close Abiodun is to us and as such cannot change camp overnight without surrendering public funds in his custody. He should not be allowed to use our party’s empowerment to fight the fingers that fed him.” A copy of the picture also mailed to iReports-ng.com is posted above.

The Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) has last week declared a manhunt for the Chief Executive of Heyden Petroleum, Mr Dapo Abiodun over the N594 million fraud allegedly committed by the oil marketer as part of on-going investigations into the controversial fuel subsidy payments.

Spokeswoman of the Police Fraud unit, Mrs Ngozi Agu-Isintume who confirmed the probe when contacted on the phone then explained that the investigation was based on a petition submitted against the oil marketer by a civil society group, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL. “We have received a petition in that regard and we will look into it”, she disclosed when called to confirm the probe.

According to our report last week, our findings had revealed that the ruling PDP government may be after Mr Abiodun for using the platform of the party to partake in the fuel subsidy bazaar only to dump same recently for the APC on which platform he is now seeking to contest the Ogun East senatorial seat election against a former governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel who is favoured to pick the PDP ticket for the race.

Briefing journalists on the petition, Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr Debo Adeniran said “our group which is a civil-society, community-based non-governmental organization with the objective of fighting corruption and corrupt persons by any means possible at all levels in Nigeria has monitored the fuel subsidy fraud saga from 2012 till date and we have discovered that out of about 25 oil marketers indicted by the federal government, only Mr Dapo Abiodun of Heyden Petroleum has not been made to refund the N594 million he fraudulently received from government, hence the need to get the police to visit the case and unravel how he has been able to escape from the searchlight of our law enforcement agencies.”

While commending the Commissioner of Police in charge of the PSFU “for your modest achievements since you assumed office as the CP in charge of SFU”, the group said “it is particularly happy that a few corrupt public officials and fraudsters who hitherto saw themselves as untouchables have not only been touched but prosecuted through the efforts of your unit. We are sure more could still be done to record monumental achievements if you will partner with other organizations like ours, which are committed to the same goal of ridding our society of bad eggs.”

The petitioner further said “It is against this backdrop that we draw your attention to and call for your urgent investigation of a fraud of N594 million allegedly perpetrated by one Mr Dapo Abiodun who is the Chief Executive Officer of Heyden Petroleum. From the information available to us, Mr Abiodun committed the fraud under the controversial fuel subsidy regime of the present federal government.

“It is on record that the federal government through the federal ministry of finance indicted 25 oil marketing firms for defrauding the government of a whooping N408 billion in fictitious subsidy claims. The indictment was contained in a statement by the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala through her Senior Special Assistant (Communications), Mr Paul Nwabuikwu on Wednesday August 22, 2012.

“Surprisingly, from our findings, virtually all the indicted companies have either been made to make refunds or are being prosecuted by the law enforcement agencies, yet no one has deemed it fit to question Mr Abiodun and his Heyden Petroleum.

“As a result, we are compelled by patriotic zeal to urge you to deploy your team of professional investigators to unravel how the huge sum of N594 million would have gone to an individual’s pocket and the same person is still walking the streets free despite a documented public indictment by the federal government. We are counting on you to do the needful in this regard in the interest of Nigeria’s economy and the suffering poor masses.”

SOURCE: The Paradigm.

The Lagos Fashola Has Not Built By Debo Adeniran

The Lagos Fashola Has Not Built By Debo Adeniran

The attention of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has been drawn to a centerspread advert in today’s The Punch, pages 32 and 33, purportedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, APC to showcase the achievement of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, which we found highly deceptive and misleading.

It is no gainsaying that Lagos has been running a government of grandstanding imbued by propaganda and bare-faced deception. The government only does project in the media with little or nothing to show for such advertised projects at the point of inspection. The government tells Lagosians perpetual lies on the import of its governance and executed projects; even when the opposite is starring at us in face and many are groaning under the weight of collapse or absence of such projects.

Most primary and secondary schools in the state are decrepit. Those supposedly decorated school buildings, especially those along major roads, are mere façade just to cover up the stinking rots that are harboured inside. Most basic facilities, equipment as well as materials required for effective teaching and learning, are grossly inadequate or totally lacking, whereas huge sums are always appropriated for the maintenance and supplies for these schools in every of the state’s annual budgets.

Most of the roads are still bumpy or riddled with potholes. Most drainage channels are either too shallow or too narrow to accommodate the volume of flood expected to flow through them, and everywhere in Lagos, without exception is affected. But worse affected are some areas in the outskirts like Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe axis and within the mainland, Alimosho especially Aboru, Ikotun, Ayobo, Ipaja axis. These areas are like jungles within the metropolis.

Granted that the government cannot possibly cover everywhere in terms of providing every need of the people at any point in time, in the face of the multi-faceted demands confronting it, it is expected to, at least, strive to demonstrate its earnest concern for the welfare of generality of its people with utmost sense of responsibility and responsiveness and of course, with a balanced, impartial and unselective posture. Taking a look at the deplorable state of major access roads in areas like Somolu-Bariga-Pedro Road axis, Ipaja-Ayobo-Ayetoro axis which road that has been under construction for years is yet to be completed, thus constituting a nuisance particularly during rainy seasons, year-in, year-out, Meiran-Ajasa-Command, Agbado-Tollgate end, Odongunyan-Spintex road, Badagry-Okokomaiko section, to mention just a few. These few ones are mentioned because of the density of population they enjoy. For example, the Alimosho Local Government Area, which accommodates Ipaja and Ayobo, alone contributes a population of over 5 million to Lagos State. Many of these areas are still begging for drainages and canals to save them from the menace of flooding, during the rainy seasons.

Furthermore, the people of Agboyi-Odo community had had to contend with the use of canoe as the only means of transportation. They have since been crying out to the government to no avail for the construction of a bridge to link them with the rest of the city of Lagos.

It is another version with the people of Ayobo-Igando axis of Ayobo who have to depend solely on the individual initiative of an investor who had constructed a wooden bridge of about 70 meters long, to facilitate connectivity between the two neighbouring communities.

It has also been discovered that even when government manages to execute some developmental projects, it does so at a great cost for the rightful beneficiaries, i.e. the masses. For instance, when a portion of Lekki-Ajah roads was constructed, several tollgates were erected. This means that those who have the misfortune of living in those areas have to pay through their noses when they move from their homes to other parts of their state. The newly constructed N29bn Cable Bridge is not exempted as the beneficiaries are being exploited and forced to pay toll on the bridge that was said to have been constructed from the taxpayers’ money. This is also applicable to markets and housing estates, even tertiary education, which the government takes beyond the reach of the masses.

When Lagos government takes interest in a property, it creates calamity on it, confiscates it, develops it and sells it to its cronies. To be sure, Tejuosho, Oyingbo markets and a few others got burnt mysteriously only to be reconstructed and their rent taken beyond the reach of the original owners. These are ordinary services expected to be rendered at no extra cost, to the people.

Another aspect of concern to us is the pillaging of the state debt with little or nothing to show for it. Investigation has shown that our dear Lagos State owes 33.86 per cent of Nigeria’s total sub-national external debts (debts owed by state governments).

Statistics released by the Debt Management Office in Abuja as at June 30, 2014, as quoted in today’s The Punch, page 2, showed that out of the total external debt of $3.01bn, Lagos State owed $1.02bn, leaving the remaining 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory with $1.99bn.

So far, the achievement of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has been overbloated. The government, by its performance, so far, has betrayed the loyalty and trust reposed in it by the people. The present government must therefore submit itself or be forced to the scrutiny of the anti-graft agencies as soon as it tenure ends as it is safe to say that many of the monies Lagosians hear about might have landed in some private coffers.

We want to advise the All Progressives Congress party to isolate their elected officials that rubbish their name; though we must confess that the party still has some of their governors that have performed superlatively well. We also urge them to be careful in the selection of their candidates for the forthcoming elections.

Debo Adeniran is Executive Chairman, CACOL

 

Lagos: All Governorship Aspirants Reveal their Manifestos

In the bid to attain good governance and the right candidate for the country some groups have brought all the governorship aspirants from all political parties in Lagos state to a town hall meeting to make their manifestos known to the public and how they intend to implement these promises.

The town hall meeting was organised by Coalition against corrupt leaders (CACOL) in collaboration with people’s action for democracy (PAD) at Lagos open parliament, LOP, theme: Lagos Budget 2015-2019, what impact is expected on Lagos? Continue reading “Lagos: All Governorship Aspirants Reveal their Manifestos”

Nigerians need genuine SNC or prepare for revolution -Debo Adeniran

Debo Adeniran is the Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL. In this interview with GBOYEGA ADEOYE, the human rights activist and social commentator spoke on national issues ranging from the security situation in the country, the seemingly incompetence of government to curtail it to lack of a vibrant opposition party to challenge the status quo. Excerpts:

What is your assessment of the problems of insurgency in North-East of the country?

What is happening recently is a clear indication that military presence in that zone is no longer of any effect. Honestly it is disheartening that up till now, the insurgents have been operating, seemingly unperturbed in recent time. Don’t forget that these states where the insurgents operate have been under state of emergency over time, and you will agree with me that we have been hearing of the activities of the local vigilante taking their destinies into their own hands by challenging the sect and on accessions winning the battle. So, it is a situation where we see clearly that the state of emergency cannot prevent the infiltration of the insurgents and we can also see that the victims have no confidence in the military hence their forming vigilance groups to save their souls.

Now, President Goodluck Jonathan has finally declared to run for a second time. But to many, this is coming at a time Nigerians are mourning the recent bomb attack in Potiskum, Yobe State, coupled with the unsavoury security situation in the nation as a whole. What is your take on this?

There are dialectical implications to such thing. I mean, the declaration to rerun by the president when there is a national calamity that bothers on security which falls under the primary responsibility of government. Morally, as Africans, we believe there should not be celebration when people are mourning. By this I mean that we have to make whatever we are doing low key to show concern for the bereaved. Even this applies to the religious people, particularly, the Christians. In the other way round, we have the essentialists who believe that what has happened has happened and life has to go on; after all, canceling the event would not reverse the situation.

But in all of these, my own take in a situation we have in our hands, when you have irreversible destruction of lives and property and the victims are defenseless and have no way to defend themselves as a result of negligence of the state. I see what is happening as a way of fast tracking Nigeria into a state of anarchy. The ceremony that held in Abuja points at the insensibility of government to the plight of the people because it is the role of government to protect lives and property.

The stance of the government of the day that it is the opposition that is causing violence across the country is further descent to the abyss of anomy because even at that, they should be able to curtail it. By leaving the so called opposition to hold sway while Nigerians are dying in droves is a pointer to a systemic failure. The Army is set up to safeguard territorial integrity and the President is the head of the Armed Forces. So, now that it is crystal clear that the Boko Haram insurgents are gaining upper hands over our Army, then government must just own up to its inability to deliver on its responsibilities.

But we are hearing that these insurgents have more sophisticated weapons than our military men?

That is to tell you that something very fundamental is wrong somewhere. How can terrorists who buy their ammunition behind closed doors have more weapons than a government that buys its own openly and legitimately? How do you explain that a Boko Haram terrorist who trains secretly would outwit a regular Army that trains in the open both locally and internationally? We no longer can deny that the insurgents are steps higher than our Army today. Before, they attack and take cover but what we see today is that they capture a city, hoist their flag and even rename the town under their control.

So, not to deviate from your question, the declaration of Mr. President supposed to have been low keyed or without any ceremony at all. Many politicians before him have picked their nomination forms without making noise about it. Dancing and making merry for picking nomination form to recontest as president when things are obviously going wrong in the country means to me that he does not care about what is happening to Nigerians.

I am sure that ceremony wouldn’t have taken that form if he (the president) lost his children in the Yola bomb blast. You should also remember that there was an helicopter crash a day before where we lost resources even if there was no life lost. That alone is for the president to make the rally low key.

But why is it that almost each time the president wants to do something significant, there is always a national calamity?

Whichever way we look at it, there have been precedents to show that the president would do otherwise when he is genuinely concerned about issues. Remember when the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, lost his younger brother, the president put off the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which is far more crucial than picking up nomination forms because it is in the FEC meeting that issues that affect the entire nation are discussed. So, I stand on my point that what happened was a sign of moral bankruptcy on the part of the ruling party and the president himself. I see the declaration as a sign of political exuberance on the part of government.

So, what is your own suggestion on how the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents could be curbed?

As the Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, the president, to me, has not taken adequate measures to curb their incursion into Nigeria’s territory. I think there are some people who speak with the terrorists. And you know that initially they were not taking over territories but were only demanding for some specific ways to lead their lives. So, we need to ask ourselves: What really led to this? How do they get the people they use for their operations? If it is because of the palpable poverty in the region where they have been operating and their low level of education, these can be tackled. Also, I don’t know why government keep fraternising with our neighbouring country when you don’t even know if it is through them the terrorists get their ammunitions and power. Fraternising with them when you ought to take decisive steps is step in the wrong direction. By now we are supposed to have known the source through which they get their ammunition. How do they get the food they eat and all that? As far as I am concerned, I think what the president ought to do at this juncture, is to resign because it is obvious that government now engages in lies when it is obvious that the insurgents are having upper hands.

What is the way forward from here?

I think we should go for a genuine, people-oriented Sovereign National Conference ( SNC) and probably invite Boko Haram so that they come and tell us what they really want.

But do you see the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), making any difference?

I don’t really see a vibrant opposition in the APC. They make more noise than providing alternative strategy that can bring us out of the problem. The problem is that those in politics who are known combatant soldiers, like Olusegun Obasanjo, who is no longer talking, Buhari and even David Mark, who should have shed their current civilian toga and moved to action are not doing so, probably because the system is not encouraging them. To me, there is a way you can make impact even when not in power. When you ask these people in opposition, what they tell you is that they are not the one in power.

What are the chances of APC and the PDP in Lagos State?

One cannot predict accurately until they finally present their candidates. To me, they both have experienced aspirants and people who have distinguished themselves in their various businesses. Aspirants like Jimi Agbaje and Musiliu Obanikoro fall into the category in the PDP while the APC has the likes of Dr. Leke Pitan, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon among others. So, as far as Lagos State is concerned, there are hordes of quality candidates. It now depends on whom the parties settle for as candidates. That will largely determine where the pendulum would swing because governance is all about the people. They are the one that will determine who should lead them. And from the feelers I am getting, it is like the roles are determined, more than ever before, to ensure that their wish counts this time.

SOURCE: National Mirror

 

Lagos gov aspirants set for town hall meeting

By Chukwudi Nweje –  Acting Features Editor

 

As part of efforts to ensure the emergence of the best governor in Lagos State come 2015, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), in collaboration with People’s Action for Democracy (PAD), will organise a town hall meeting for all governorship aspirants in Lagos State, regardless of their political party.

Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman of CACOL, who spoke on behalf of the two groups in Lagos on Monday, said the meeting is “an apolitical forum aimed at bringing the various aspirants from across the political parties face-to-face with relevant stakeholders in Lagos.” Continue reading “Lagos gov aspirants set for town hall meeting”

Lagos gov aspirants set for town hall meeting

Lagos Governorship aspirants Lagos Governorship aspirants

As part of efforts to ensure the emergence of the best governor in Lagos State come 2015, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), in collaboration with People’s Action for Democracy (PAD), will organise a town hall meeting for all governorship aspirants in Lagos State, regardless of their political party.

Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman of CACOL, who spoke on behalf of the two groups in Lagos on Monday, said the meeting is “an apolitical forum aimed at bringing the various aspirants from across the political parties face-to-face with relevant stakeholders in Lagos.”

Adeniran said the town hall meeting is not a debate but a discussion, where the governorship aspirants, stakeholders and other professional groups in Lagos State would meet and discuss how to usher in a new Lagos that would be to the benefit of every resident.

He said: “The town hall meeting is an apolitical, open parliament that will discuss the course of Lagos State and Lagosians.

“During the discussion, Lagosians will ask the political aspirants questions on the policies and programmes they intend to pursue and the timeframe within which to execute such programmes.

“It will provide the people of Lagos State, professional groups and relevant stakeholders the opportunity to interrogate the aspirants on the programmes and policies they intend to pursue or execute in government and the timeframe within which to execute such programmes, if they secure their party ticket and are eventually elected when the governorship election holds on February 14, 2015.

“It is not a debate and it is not the voice of any political party or any political aspirant. Any candidate that will not do Lagosians the kind of good that will be satisfactory will not be supported.”

Adeniran said that the town hall meeting became imperative because, unless the various political parties put forward a tested and trusted candidate as their standard-bearer, the people would not have a good candidate to choose from on election day. He also said that more than 500 of residents, representing the different local government areas, would be in attendance to raise questions about the aspirants’ histories.

“The aspirants would be shown the faults in their submissions and each aspirant would be allowed to make amendments on the earlier submissions. If they made a mistake, they would admit it and if they have not, they would be told point-blank that this is not what the people want.

“There and then, Lagosians will be able to make up their minds and they will be urged to constitute themselves into a body that will champion the course of Lagos State, not of any candidate.”

Governorship aspirants who have indicated interest in attending the town hall meeting, holding at Yard 158, The Events Arena, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos, on Thursday, include the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and Tayo Ayinde, aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Jimi Agbaje and Akintoye Branco-Rhodes, both aspiring to become governor on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The discussion with the aspirants would be preceded by a keynote address by Tunji Braithwaite on what governance in Lagos State should be, while Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, Executive Director, Women’s Consortium of Nigeria, would moderate the meeting. (Daily Independent)
Source: http://www.ereporter.com.ng/index.php/political-news/item/1461-lagos-gov-aspirants-set-for-town-hall-meeting

SOURCE: Ereporter.