APC Rivers lists the 25 sins of President Jonathan

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party yesterday issued a press statement via their State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya on the gross sins President Goodluck Jonathan has committed against the state.

Ikanya said: “These, amongst other wicked acts against Rivers State for
reasons only to be explained by President Jonathan and his managers explain why we will do everything humanly possible to ensure that this man who has run aground our economy will never continue in office beyond May 29, 2015.
He continued “For the record, President Jonathan is from Bayelsa, a sister State to Rivers. He is married to Dame Patience Jonathan, who is from Rivers State and having schooled in UNIPORT and lectured in the State before joining politics; one would have expected him to be a key factor in any election in Rivers State after the State gave him the highest number of votes in the 2011 presidential election but, shockingly, he will be the greatest undoing of his party in the 2015 general election.”
The 25 sins
1. President Jonathan failed to muster the courage and political will in a PDP-controlled National Assembly to see to the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in the over six years of his administration to demonstrate his hatred for the Niger Delta region knowing that communities in Rivers State will benefit from the bill.

2. The East/West Road, especially Eleme-Onne axis in Rivers State, has not only been abandoned but is a nightmare to travellers and commuters.

3. Bodo-Bonny Federal Road is completely abandoned just because it is situated in Rivers State.

4. Refusal to refund to the State Government over 90 billion naira used in the dualisation of Ikwerre-Owerri Road approved by late President Yar’Adua and other Federal Roads in the State executed by the State to ease the sufferings of the people of Rivers State.
5. Wickedly stopped Train 7 at NLNG Bonny and the loss of jobs to our people and revenue to Government.

6. Non-implementation of UNEP Report on the clean-up of Ogoni land despite
all the pleas by our people and the International Community – just to punish the Ogonis and Rivers State irrespective of their overwhelming support for him during the 2011 elections.
7. Lack of any visible Federal Government project in Rivers State throughout his over six years as President of Nigeria. Instructively, of all the states President Jonathan has visited in the course of his re-election campaign, it was only in Rivers that he could not name a single development project he initiated, not to talk of executing.
8. Ceding of oil wells belonging to Rivers to Bayelsa and Abia states to ensure that the revenue accruing to the State is reduced to nothing.
9. Abandoned construction of the Port Harcourt International Airport after completing other airports started at the same time with it. The airport has thus become an eyesore. Pictures of the current state of the Airport attached explain the level of hatred President Jonathan has for Rivers State and her people.
10. Turning the Port Harcourt axis of Enugu-Port Harcourt Express Road into a death trap. The pictures attached of the bad state of the road explain everything.

11. Posting and encouraging the excesses of the tyrannical Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu during his inglorious days in the State.
12. Supporting the impunity of daily killing, maiming of members of Rivers APC by the Police under the watch of Dan Barure

13. Supporting every imaginable act of impunity in the State, including the plot by five State Assembly members to impeach the Speaker in a House of 31 members.
14. Seizing and grounding the planes of the State for no just cause.
15. Harassing and intimidating the duly elected Governor of Rivers State for no just cause and even supporting the splitting of the Governors Forum into two just to ensure that Governor Amaechi, who was duly elected by his colleagues, does not have an easy reign as the Chairman of the Forum.

16. Refusal to allow the Governor to construct the Federal Road that leads to the Kalabari Kingdom just to ensure that during the rainy season the Kalabaris will not have a road to their place.

17. Forcefully taking over the 50,000-seater Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
Incidentally, his party could not mobilise enough supporters to fill the stadium during his rally even after hiring supporters from Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
18. Refusal to refund the State the money used to construct the smooth, beautiful dual carriageway from Omerelu to Port Harcourt–particularly up to the Airport Junction from Owerri in Imo State, which the Federal Government abandoned just because Rivers State people ply that road.
19. Refusal to refund the money used by Rivers State to construct the Ahoada/Elele Alimini Federal Road and the interchange (Flyover) at Obiri Ikwerre.

20. Refusal to attend to the poor state of the Onne – Port Harcourt component of the East/West Road. This is the road that services the Port Harcourt Refinery from where petroleum products are supplied to the South East and parts of the South South. That is the road that leads to the Onne Free Zone and to Okrika, the home Local Government of Dame Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s First Lady.
21. Turning a blind eye while his party continues to kill, bomb and disrupt our rallies.

22. Against the spirit of equity, unity, justice and fair play, President Jonathan imposed Chief Nyesome Wike from the Ikwerre tribe as PDP candidate, knowing very well that the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is also of Ikwerre extraction and that if Chief Wike wins the next election – but God forbid! – Ikwerre tribe would have governed Rivers State for 16 years to the detriment of other tribes and sections of the State. This shows that President Jonathan and his unjust party do not wish Rivers State any good.

23. President Jonathan released all the N25 Billion that accrued from the principle of derivation from the five Soku Oil Wells that rightly belong to Rivers State kept in reserve for Rivers State and Bayelsa State were all paid to Bayelsa State his home State to prove his hatred for Rivers State
24. As a President, President Jonathan has continued to under fund the NDDC to ensure that Rivers State and in extension the Niger Delta region is not developed, till date, N500B owed by the Federal Government is yet to be paid to the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC)
25. Refused to empower and fund the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs initiated by the Yar-Adua’s administration. The Minister of Niger Delta recently stated that the N41.7B due to the Ministry is not paid and it is affecting the 90 percent of the projects initiated by the Ministry just to ensure that projects to be executed by the Ministry in Rivers State and other Niger Delta States are not executed

APC floats new radio station.

The All Progressive Congress party has launched Radio Chanji, a new international radio station for the Hausa-speaking people of Northern Nigeria. It has powerful 500kw transmitters on test transmission from 7:00am-7:30am on 11720khz on the 25 meter band shortwave.
The station which was created in support of the APC Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, Kaduna state governorship candidate, Nasir el-Rufai, and other party chieftains will for the main time broadcast APC musicals in Hausa language.
The transmission started over the weekend and it was received and monitored in Kano, Adamawa Ibadan, Maiduguru, Port Harcourt, Birnin-Kebbi, Niamey, to mention a few.
The station will soon commence a 24-hour transmission to cover pre and post-election activities of the party, phone-in programmes, interviews and many more.

Photos from APC's rally/interactive session in the UK

Members of the All Progressive Congress party, UK Chapter held a rally today 14th March 2015 to show their support for it’s Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo in the forthcoming elections.
The walk which took place from the Nigerian Embassy to Downey street saw APC members carrying placards/ banners and imploring Nigerians to vote for their candidates and also say No to further postponement of elections.
An interactive session between the leadership of the party and members was also held.
Photo Credit: APCUKingdom

NIS victims compensation: Antics of a desperate President – APC

The All Progressives Congress has condemned President Goodluck Jonathan for compensating families that lost relatives in the 2014 Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise stampede a whole year after the incident happened.
The party in a statement slammed the President for taking advantage of the situation to canvass for votes adding that but for the forthcoming elections, he would have reneged on his promises.
“The truth is that this President was forced to act because of the elections. Otherwise, why has it taken one year for the President to redeem his promise to the bereaved families? Why has his Administration not sanctioned those who sent innocent job seekers to their early graves after extorting them?
Why is the Interior Minister, Mr. Abba Moro, who presided over the deaths, still in office, virtually dancing on the graves of those innocent youths?
“Sunday, March 15th, will mark one year since those vibrant youths were lured to their deaths by a callous federal government that failed them in all ramifications, including the security of their lives and the assurance of their welfare, the raison d’etre of any government.
It is therefore utterly reprehensible, immoral and wicked for the same administration to seek to make political gains out of the needless tragedy,” it said
“After refusing to even visit the families of those school children in Buni Yadi and Chibok, the President suddenly woke up and started sending delegations to meet with them, all this because he needs votes.
As a parent himself, how will the President feel if he had been so treated? Why must the President put his re-election over and above everything else, including the welfare and security of Nigerians? Is there no limit to desperation.”
“No one is fooled by the antics of a desperate President, and in the fullness of time, Nigerians will show President Jonathan and his cohorts that they are not impressed by his pretend governance.” APC affirmed.

APC condemns Musiliu Obanikoro's ministerial nomination

The Lagos Chapter of the All Progressive Congress has condemned the Senate for confirming the ministerial nomination of Musiliu Obanikoro despite overwhelming evidence of his role in the Ekiti State Election scandal. The party conveyed it’s displeasure in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe.


“It is obvious that the PDP presidency that nominated Obanikoro and the PDP members of the Senate that forced through decency and protests of Nigerians to approve his nomination are hell bent on corrupting both the laws and institutions of the Nigerian State by that howling act of rewarding criminality,” the party said.


“It was obvious that the ministerial nomination and the controversial
confirmation are means by which a corrupt and senseless party wants to
mock Nigerians, mock its laws and mock decency to reward a character that should be docked for crimes against the state. It is just too absurd that a party should visit these illegalities on a nation.


“The country is once again, assailed by the lawless inclination of the PDP as a party that thrives in such criminality as election rigging and which uses same to reward perpetrators who should be jailed for high crime which the Ekitigate scandal amounts to.


What the Senate and its PDP members forced through in confirming Obanikoro is the audacious reign of illegality and impunity and Nigerians have a golden chance to throw the PDP to the dustbin of history on March 28.


“We note that the outgoing President, who was alleged to have set up the Ekiti rigging plot has bluntly refused to investigate the Ekiti scandal but had rather nominated Obanikoro for ministerial position when he should be docked.

It is also important to note that the PDP members of the Senate practically forced Obanikoro’s confirmation through the stout resistance of the APC senators, the human rights community, the press and the critical mass that see the entire process as rewarding crime and have therefore called for the withdrawal of
Obanikoro’s nomination.


“While we call on the country’s media, civil society groups and the critical mass to continue to insist that this reward for criminality does not stand, we urge Nigerians to see in the appointment and
confirmation of Obanikoro as PDP’s bold statement on impunity and corruption, which it had made cornerstones of its misrule and throw out the PDP with the vehemence of a people tired of such brazen promotion of criminality by a cabal that sees Nigeria as its private estate.

We urge Nigerians to make a loud issue of the nomination and confirmation of an alleged election rigger as a minister few weeks to a critical election, as an insult to our collective intelligence and one of the primary reasons to throw out the PDP with an emphatic thud
on March 28.”

"They brought in Buhari like a thief in the night."- Fayose

Buhari is sick! Buhari isn’t fit to rule the nation. Buhari is in the UK for treatment. Buhari isn’t back in the country. Buhari has returned.. sigh!
Governor Fayose of Ekiti’s interest in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari’s case isn’t waning anytime soon.

He insisted that the APC is deceiving Nigerians by concealing Buhari’s true health status and also added that the latter’s return to the country after 10 days in the UK was like a thief in the night.

Below is a statement from his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka 

“A man who campaigned for four weeks, speaking for less than one hour in all the rallies put together and needed to rest for 15 days should just stay at home and be playing with his grandchildren rather than struggling to take up a job that he does not have the required mental and physical strength to do. 

“They brought in Buhari like a thief in the night and now they want to put Lagosians into more hardships by blocking major roads all in the name of a phoney one-million-man match. 
“Why not hold their rally in a designated place instead of embarking on a match that will cause chaos and hardships in the state?” 
“APC said Buhari went on working visit to UK while Buhari himself said he went to UK to rest. When asked by press men whether or not he ever visited any hospital in UK, Buhari said: ‘What is wrong for me to go the hospital?’
 “By this statement from Buhari himself, it is clear that APC and its lying leaders tried to fool Nigerians, lying so brazenly and using fake pictures to authenticate their lies. 
“Even though there is nothing wrong in Buhari going for medicare abroad, afterall he should be seeing his doctors more often at his age, it is shameful that APC lied so brazenly trying to cover up the obvious reasons Buhari travelled for 15 days. 
“What is wrong is the lies told to defend Buhar’s trip to the UK to rest and seek medicare. The fake pictures of Buhari walking the streets of London, the fake Tony Blair picture and the use of pictures taken in Transcop Hilton, Abuja and claming that the pictures were taken in London is the main issue. 
“Most importantly, presenting Buhari to us as a superhuman, who can never fall sick is what is wrong and Nigerians are expecting Buhari to apologise for all the lies told in an attempt to cover up the real reasons he (Buhari) travelled secretly to UK.” 

Credit: Thetrentonline.com‎

The Plot Thickens! Femi Fani-Kayode sues APC, Spokesman for N5bn

Can we all agree that the 2015 elections is the most dramatic in Nigerian history?
Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples‎ Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is also suing the All Progressives Congress, APC and its spokesman, Lai Mohammed for derogatory statements  made against his personality.

Excerpts from the letter addressed to Lai Mohammed by Fani-
Kayode’s lawyer, Mr Whyteman Prekunomaa.

“We are solicitors to Chief Femi Fani — Kayode (hereinafter refereed to as Our Client). We write you pursuant to ‎our Client’s instruction in respect of a publication on Tuesday, the 3rd day of March, 2015 on Page 6 of Nation Newspaper wherein you made a statement and same was printed with the above caption, and hereunder reproduced as follows:

‎Contrary to information being peddled by the Director of
Media and Publicity of the Jonathan campaign Organisation . Femi FaniKayode the All Progressives Congress (A PC) has said the party does not wish him any ill-health, “even though it is seriously concerned about
his mental state.”

“You (Lai Mohammed) are also to enter into negotiation for damages as we have firm instructions to claim five billion naira damages against you. Take notice, therefore, that it will amount to a specious gamble on your part, if you treat this letter with levity.”

Mental illness allegation: Akinwunmi Ambode's camp releases statement

It has come to the attention of the Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organization the wicked, baseless and cowardly lies being circulated about our candidate for the Lagos State Governorship Position, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
The jittery opposition will stop at nothing in its smear campaign having failed to contain the soaring popularity of the APC Governorship candidate. But we are neither bothered nor discouraged; and we know that our numerous supporters and the generality of well-meaning Lagosians can see through the lies and desperation of those who dread a crushing defeat at the forthcoming election.
We know the source of this evil story as well as their despicable trumpeters. Well, we’ve got news for them… April 11, 2015 is almost here and it’s a date with history, when the good people of Lagos State will once again reject the evil machinations of those political marauders trying so hard to hijack their destiny. 
For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Ambode neither suffers from any ailment nor has ever met or been treated by a certain Dr. Lanre Adeoye. This fictional tale should be disregarded in its entirety.
With a clear focus, sound mind and in good health, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode shall be unwavering in his campaigns and strategic consultations to retain Lagos State for the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Fashola is working, Lagos is moving and Ambode is ready. No weapon of the opposition can stand against this obvious choice of the people.
Steve Ayorinde
Director, Media and Communications
Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organisation.

General Buhari's take on general elections postponement.

(Below is a press statement from the All Progressive Congress Party regarding General Muhammadu Buhari’s take on the postponement of general elections in Nigeria.)
We Must Remain Calm But Resolute. Following the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2015 general elections by six weeks, I wish to appeal for utmost restraint and calm by all Nigerians, especially the teeming supporters of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This postponement, which comes on the heels of  the bogey of the National Security Adviser that half of the registered voters were being disenfranchised was exposed as a crude and fraudulent attempt to subvert the electoral process.
The PDP administration has now engineered a postponement using the threat that security will not be guaranteed across the length and breadth  of Nigeria because of military engagement in some states in the North East.  
It  is important to note that although INEC acted within its constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a situation where it has had to bow to pressure. Thus, the independence of INEC has been gravely compromised.
As a Nigerian and a presidential candidate in the elections, I share in the disappointment and frustration of this decision. This postponement coming a week to the first election has raised so many questions, many of which shall be asked in the days ahead.
However, we must not allow ourselves to be tempted into taking actions that could further endanger the democratic process.  
Our country is going through a difficult time in the hands of terrorists. Any act of violence can only complicate the security challenges in the country and provide further justification to those who would want to exploit every situation to frustrate the democratic process in the face of certain defeat at the polls.
If anything, this postponement should strengthen our resolve and commitment to rescue our country from the current economic and social collapse from this desperate band. Our desire for change must surpass their desperation to hold on to power at all cost.  We are clearly dealing with people who feel they can get away with placing their personal interest over those of our nation and its citizens.
What is at stake is the very survival of our country. We must not allow this temporary delay to abort this great opportunity.   While I share the pains and frustrations of my fellow citizens over this development, my deep faith in the democratic process assures me that this country, with your support, will overcome.
We must remain resolute and rise above all provocations. We must continue to trust in the entire democratic process and in INEC, which has been brought under so much pressure in the last few days. Our trust can only serve to encourage the electoral body to remain steadfast and remain committed to the rule of law. 
 I wish to state strongly that our  party will not tolerate any further interference with the electoral process. The rescheduled elections of March 28thand April 11th, 2015 must be sacrosanct.
Nigeria is definitely greater than any of us, and much more important than our individual ambitions. Before us there was Nigeria, and long after we are gone there will still be Nigeria. Let  us continue to do our part to make it thegreat  country that it should be. We must rescue our dear country. God  being on our side, we shall salvage Nigeria together.
God Bless Nigeria! 
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC.

Opinion: What Manner Of Change Is APC Chanting? | By: Shaka Momodu

As I sit down to write this piece, I cannot but be amused by the change chorus around me. Even though I sense some genuine desire to have things go in a different direction, I get this sneaky feeling that a vast majority of Nigerians are being duped by some smart and clever businessmen masquerading as progressive democrats and agents of change.

They sensed resentment and keyed in with the change slogan which seems to have caught on like a wildfire in the harmattan. But when you ask those clamouring for change; change to what? They just stare blankly at you unsure of how to answer. And when the answer eventually comes, it’s a disappointment, “we just want change.” That is the first inkling you get that some of our choristers of change hardly understand the issues at stake.

Now, are these promoters of change really agents of change? Are they really the democrats they profess to be? The evidence around me suggests otherwise. I think they are part of the problems Nigerians need change from. The values and virtues of democracy which they profess and claim allegiance are observed more in breach by these people who claim to be the long awaited messiahs destined to liberate our countrymen from the bondage of corrupt managers of public wealth.

They remind us every day of the rot in the system – corruption at the centre, growing unemployment, insecurity in the land, irregular power supply etc. Of course, these are facts that cannot be disputed. But what they fail to tell us is that they have been part and parcel of the rot and share in the responsibility and blame for the situation in the country today. They fail to remind us that they are among the greatest beneficiaries of the weak institutions that have made the country a wobbling giant. They fail to tell Nigerians that they have become richer and more prosperous on account of their holding public offices in this democracy. They want change not to serve the people but to serve their own interests and those of their cronies.

They just want more money to increase their vast wealth to further their private benefits at the expense of public good. But they have found a strap line that resonates well with the people to anchor their quest for power, but no one is guiltier of practices detrimental to public good than these so-called agents of change. Their daily conduct is a mockery of their progressive hymn; the solemnity of their pledges to liberate the people is hollow, impiety and deceptive.

Now, let’s take a look for a moment at the promoters of change. Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu at the Redemption Rally organised by the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akure to mobilise support for the party’s candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, in the last Ondo governorship election openly boasted how he funded Olusegun Mimiko’s election with millions of pounds. He said: “Mimiko claimed that I did not spend money when he had problems with his mandate; this is not true. It is a lie. He came to me and begged for support, rolling on the ground.

“He collected money from me. I spent millions of pounds sterling but he betrayed me. It was Yemi Osinbajo who travelled to Israel and other countries to arrange the experts that helped him prosecute the case. Mimiko has called me a godfather, yes, I am a positive godfather and even, godfatherism is biblical and that is why Christians refer to God as their Father. I play godfatherism in the South-west for the good of our people. My godfatherism is for progress and mentoring. I have brought development to Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo and Ogun States and the people are better for it.”

Now, were the millions of pounds sterling earnings from entrepreneurship or money made from holding public office?  We hear of his vast wealth spanning real estate, media, construction, hospitality etc. It is this same man that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the “Navigator” of APC, referred to in his book, My Watch, as “having the worst case of corruption”. Till this moment, there has been no reaction from Tinubu.

Recall how he railroaded his wife into the Senate to replace a man who was far more experienced in legislative activities. Today, his wife merely sits in the Senate warming the seat, hardly making any meaningful contribution on the floor of debate. Lest we forget, his sister-in-law was also planted in the Lagos State House of Assembly. His son-in-law is also in the House of Representatives. This is the height of nepotism.

But nothing underscores Tinubu’s pretentious claim to the principles of democracy than his arbitrary appointment of his daughter, Sade, as the Iyaloja of Market Women and Traders in Lagos following the demise of his mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, who held the position. A true and progressive democrat would have thrown the position open to elective contest.

But that was not to be as he simply pronounced his 40-year-old daughter at the time, who is not even a trader, the President General of Market Women and Traders in Lagos, practically decreeing it a hereditary position. There is a saying that, “you can’t like the fruits of a tree and hate the tree.” A true democrat must not only preach it but practice it in all its manifestations.

Imagine if it was President Goodluck Jonathan that appointed his daughter as President of Market Women and Traders, all hell would have broken loose in the country. APC and those fraudulent human rights activists would have been shouting to high heavens in condemnation; lawyers – hundreds of SANs would have been jostling to represent the traders in court free of charge to challenge the imposition.

But Tinubu did it against all known sense of decency and not a whimper from these hypocritical sets of people who by their own choosing lay claim to being the custodians of public good. From the pro-democracy activists to the constitutional lawyers who see two similar impunities with double vision and twin morality to the godfather goaded to continue to dupe the conscience of the people, there is no difference between their sins.

Governor Babatunde Fashola is on a swing after being initially at odds with his godfather’s preference to succeed him. He seems to have accepted the reality of his own near-zero political value and has embraced the man he initially kicked against. He fought his godfather through proxies, culminating in an open contest where he was roundly beaten. The old fox taught his godson a very bitter lesson on how not to challenge a benefactor. When the primaries were held, the distance between the godfather’s preference and godson’s were miles apart.

How can one explain that after eight years in office and with well over N4 trillion in revenue expended, pipe borne water is still a scarce resource in Lagos? An estimated 90 per cent of Lagosians have no access to this vital necessity of life. Nearly every household today self-provides this essential resource by sinking a borehole. Recall here that the situation wasn’t this bad before Fashola’s rise to power. Even if the situation was bad, the governor’s record on this score is a miserable failure.

Under Fashola, instead of more people having access to pipe borne water, what we are seeing is a rapid decline of access to this necessity of life. Many public schools have no roofs, toilets, tables, and chairs as students sit on worn-out tyres to take lectures in classrooms that have neither windows nor doors. This is the state of some public schools especially the primary schools in Fashola’s Lagos.

The state of most roads in the state is nothing to write home about. Just visit a place like Ikorodu or Iyani Ipaja and you will understand what I mean. The health sector has deteriorated to the level of “mere consulting clinics,” i.e. if you see a doctor to consult. If you think I am lying, visit any of the public health facilities in Lagos and tell me if any, I repeat if any, befits our so-called “centre of excellence”.

I am also curious to know the policies Fashola initiated to help the unable become able and as such help lift more people out of the poverty index. Affordable housing is still a pipe dream in this mega-city state. What has he done to ease the challenges faced by the people in this regard?  This is the man now at the forefront of change campaign. The man who could not change the dilapidated infrastructure in public schools, health sector or provide pipe borne water for Lagosians after nearly eight years in office as governor is the one telling Nigerians that help is coming from Buhari.

Former Governor Lateef Jakande’s temporary school structures litter the state, almost 32 years after he left office. Lagosians should ask him, if he truly shares in their pains and identifies with their problems as he claims to be, then why are his children not attending public schools or using public health facilities like ordinary people?
Perhaps, more than anything else, Fashola’s hypocrisy played out last week, finally revealing the internal contradictions in their message of change.
When I read the statement made by the governor urging Lagosians not to vote for an old man, Jimi Agbaje (57), I chuckled, unsure of what he meant. Hear him: “You know what you have to do, open your eyes clearly. When I took this job, I was 44, I was counting the white hair on my head. Today, at 52, I am counting the black hair on my head. Akinwunmi Ambode is younger than me; you need youthfulness to do this job. That man (referring to Jimi Agbaje) is already 60; he cannot cope with this job. If you call him at night he may not take your call.”

The same Fashola, who feels Agbaje whom he claims, is 60 but whose actual age is said to be 57 is too old to govern Lagos, has been campaigning vigorously for Muhammadu Buhari (72) to be elected to govern Nigeria.
Now hear him defend his position on Buhari: “Some people are challenging me that if I say Agbaje is too old to govern Lagos, what about Buhari who is older? My response is this: We all agree that we have problem of insecurity in the country. Between Jonathan and Buhari who is the most experienced to tackle security issue? We all know Buhari is an experienced security expert. Then on corruption issue, who is the most credible among them? It is only Buhari. He has ruled Nigeria before and headed several positions without record of corruption and mismanagement.”

Did he really mean what he said about age? If he did then something is wrong somewhere. In one breadth, he approbates in another he reprobates. If a 57 or 60-year-old is too old to govern Lagos, which is less complex and a microcosm of Nigeria, why should it be okay for a 72-year-old man to be the president of Nigeria with all its multiplicity of problems? Will Buhari, who is steep in medieval times, pick Fashola’s call at night? Does Buhari have the vigour, stamina and mental alertness to govern a modern country with all its ethno-religious complexities and developmental challenges? The hypocrisy of these people surprises me to no end.

After nearly eight years in office, Governor Aliyu Magatakada Wamakko’s Sokoto State is still on the list of the 10 poorest states in Nigeria. This is according to the recent Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) 2014 report which revealed Nigeria’s poorest states. A man who failed to change the fortunes of Sokoto people for the better is on the bandwagon of APC’s change. His state is listed number four on the poverty index.

Look at Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s behaviour in Rivers State. What is ennobling about it that one can sincerely recommend as model to the youths to emulate? A progressive democrat who is so intolerant of opposition that he won’t even allow the use of the state’s stadium for a campaign rally a few days after he used the same facility to flag off his party’s campaign. Is this the change they talk about?

The truth is that Nigerians are not included within the pale of their glorious progressive dividends. Their posturing matched against the reality of their stewardship only reveals the immeasurable distance between them and the people whose interests they claim to be fighting for. They have amassed a rich inheritance for their own children, while condemning our children to hewers of wood  and drawers of water.
This is a generation of self-seekers whose motivation is primitive wealth accumulation. They must be challenged, interrogated and held to account for their public conduct lest the people are misled again by their new clamour disingenuously disguised as “change.”

According to Theodore Roosevelt, “The foundation-stone of national life is, and ever must be, the high individual character of the average citizen.” This is specially so for leaders and custodians of public trust. But what we have seen here is a succession of bad leaders who have profited from the misery of the people. And there you have it.

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