President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has welcomed the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, delivered today in Abuja at the Court of Appeal, which upheld his election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The President in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Dr. Reuben Abati, described the judgment as a triumph for democracy and an affirmation of the sovereignty of the Nigerian people.
He praised the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and its Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, for their respect for the rule of law and the Constitution, saying their recourse to judicial review of their grievances affirms their faith in the nation’s judiciary.
Extending the hands of fellowship to the CPC and General Buhari, the President called on them to accept the decision of the tribunal, put the past behind them and support his administration’s efforts to transform the nation.
“From this day, let us move forward together as we work to deepen the democratic content of our polity and build a nation of our collective desire,” the President said, adding, “The judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal is a victory for all Nigerians”.
President Jonathan expressed his appreciation to all Nigerians for their steadfastness and support, stating “the resolve of his administration to continue to provide good governance, anchored on the strong foundations of honesty, transparency, hardwork and fairness to all”.
It’s not so much we are witnessing history unfold, as it is Washington’s hypocrisy unravel before our eyes.
Washington is infested with busy-bodies who run from one briefing to the next, one press conference to the next, in a drive to conduct their symphonies of policy and media in a desperate bid to remain relevant. Some try harder than others. Inside the beltway, original ideas, humility, honor and integrity are somewhat hard to come by these days.
They are the high-flying political class in the United States, an elite tribe who are so detached from reality that it’s become an almost embarrassment to watch. The Orwellian doublespeak which is now coming out the State Department’s office of nation-building is hitting new highs.
They grandstanded on the TV, and fawned Tunisia and Egypt during the celebrated Arab Spring. Then they ordered Libya and Syria to ‘show restraint and let democracy take it’s natural course’.
Even if – armed insurgents were burning down government buildings in Tripoli, and or firing upon and killing police in Syria.
Obama confidently that other governments “must be responsive for their citizens aspirations”.
Even if – those citizens are being backed and financed by the US State Department, Whitehall, Élysée Palace and allies Qatar.
Hillary Clinton ordered Libya to “respect the universal rights of its own people, including the right to free expression and assembly.”
Even if – her own government cannot even manage to cater for this right any more, even in the United States of America.
Watch this video and you will have a decent idea of what hypocrisy means today in the US:
In the US, the erosion of our basic rights provided by the Bill of Rights and US Constitution has been a long and painful process.
9-11 gave us the naziesque Patriot Acts I & II – two bills which have achieved nothing since their inception, and yet, are still as enthusiastically championed by Barack Obama as they were by GW Bush.
The anti-war demonstrations of 2003 gave us “free speech zones”, in country where freedom to assemble, where and when you want, used to be a god-given inalienable right. Now its a mere privilege.
The G20 demonstrations of 2009 gave us police brutality on a mass militarized scale, not seen before domestically. Thousands of paramilitary police where shipped in to Pittsburgh, sound canons were deployed and students were chased down, tear gassed and beaten in what came to known as forced compliance.
Even an obvious avant garde demonstration, a silent disco at the Jefferson Memorial saw police beat and injure Americans who were only trying to test the vital signs of a US Constitution in critical condition.
What elite political performers like Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton are really saying to the governments of Libya, and now Syria, and later to Algeria and Iran- is that you cannot put down an armed insurrection in your countries, but in the US we reserve the right to beat and shoot our own citizens, and arrested without charges- if they attempt to demonstrate in public.
In other words, “Do as we say, not as we do.”
President Obama will have the world believe that America is less brutal to its own citizens than the rest of the world, but as hundreds of thousands of people in the Occupy Movement now get their first taste of civil disobedience, it is inevitable that some will be unlucky enough to get the hard end of the state’s velvet fist. Indeed, Scott Olsen found this out the hard way in Oakland this week.
And the Occupy Movement will also learn very quickly that we cannot ignore the rights which our US political elite have been denying the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Libya for all these years now- and expect to be afforded those same rights by the same criminal US government here at home.
We are witnessing a culture in decline- a people who for the most part, are having trouble remembering what made it unique in the first place, and so many who can think of nothing more frightening than to be called to live up to any of those ideals – who forgot what freedom actually is.
The level of Washington’s hypocrisy, its arrogance – has never been on display so vividly as it is today. It’s a clear indication of a society in decline.
What will surely accelerate this decline is a mass chunk of Americans who still to this day, remain unaware that these changes in society have even taken place. And more to the point, too many are ever willing to profit, or make their daily crust from this hyper-security police state. This is one of the signs of a civilization in decline.
Our celebrity politicians have permanently lost touch with reality, and sadly, this tribe will never come back to the source of liberty.
It’s high time for Americans to stop making excuses for the lobbyists, the wars, the pork, the bailouts- and for selling out the principles which once made it an inspiration to so many others around the world. Stop making excuses for elite bureaucrats and Wall Street tycoons.
At a watershed moment in history, it can go both ways, so you only get one shot to make it right.
There were random gunshots Monday on the outskirts of Mayom County in South Sudan’s oil-rich Unity State, where rebels clashed with the army on Saturday.
The weekend incident was the bloodiest rebel fighting since the July independence, civilians on the ground said.
South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) rebels, formerly led by Peter Gatdet, attacked Mayom in the early hours of Saturday, and over 80 were killed in the subsequent clash with the regular forces.
“There were heavy guns firing in the forest,” Mr Peter Gargwin, a victim of the fighting who said he lost one of his relatives, said.
“There is still maybe fighting there,” he said.
Gatdet struck a deal with the government recently and returned to Juba.
Some of Mr Gatdet’s senior officers, who rejected the deal and accused him of accepting bribes from Juba, were behind the Saturday violence, according to the Unity State Information minister, Mr Gideon Gatpan.
Mr Gatpan said Monday “the army is still following up with those renegades in their hideouts and we have no serious incident”.
He asserted there was calm in Mayom which, together with the neighbouring Mankien County, have been apparent strongholds and hideouts for the rebels since March.
The gubernatorial election of 2007 in Abia State brought about the victory of the then Progressive Peoples Alliance [PPA] gubernatorial candidate as the Governor of Abia State and also propelled the promise of another South East based political party. Along with the political victory came the accustomed outcry that the victory had been a rigged victory by the then outgoing governor and owner of the PPA, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. In particular, the then new governor was charged/accused of being a stooge of Orji Uzor Kalu by the people of Abia – in what was widely believed a move to hold the State finances hostage for the then former governor.
Erosion Control along Nkata Ameke
Through the period starting from his victory in April 2007 till April 2011, Gov Orji battled against the stigma of a stooge and a puppet of the then former governor. Through this effort, the governor abandoned the political party [PPA] bidding him to the then former governor and momentarilydecamping into the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA]. His decampment into the APGA last less than a week when the governor dumped the APGA for the mainstream Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].
Bridge Construction along Nkata Ameke
Liberation from the perceived political bondage to the then former and owner of the PPA appears to have yeilded the way for unbonded unleashment of developmental programs for the people of Abia State. But credible information available to 247ureports.com point to an agreement reached between Governor Orji and the 1st Lady of the Nation [Madam Patience Jonathan]. Accordingly, the agreement stipulated that the Gov Orji is to remint the monthly sum of N35million to the 1st Lady for her efforts in bringing/rescuing the Govervor out of the grips of the PPA into the protective grips of the PDP.
Test Driving New Waste Disposal Trucks
The mouthpiece of the Abia State government in celebrating the progressive efforts of the State government under the leadership of Abia State notes that the 1st tebure of the Abia State government was marred bythe governor’s struggle to free the State from the grips of bondage and politicians who have spent their years feeding off the fat of Abia State. The mouthpiece of the State Government, Hon Bonny Iwuoha told 247ureports.com in a telephone conversation that the governor has since mounted the commencement of developmental programs in the State. Particularly, Hon Iwuoha pointed to Healthcare development as one of the areas the governor had embarked upon to improve the living standards of the people of the State.
Development and provision of one hundred and fourty five [145] health centers during the 1st term of Gov Orji is pointed to as one of his progressive efforts in the State. An additional fourty six [46] health centers have been erected within the first 150days of Gov Orji’s 2nd term in office [between May 29 2011 and November 1 2011]. Nineteen [19] health centers are reportedly in the pipeline. In all, a total of two hundred and ten [210] healthcare centers would have been erected by the start or early next year [2012]. As gathered, the 210 healthcare centers, when completed, will have qualified nurses as permanent staff and visiting Doctors, The facilities will also be able to treat minor illness and provide short-term admitance to patients. In addition to the 210 heathcare centers, the Abia State government touts their two new major diagnostic centers – one located in Aba and the other in Umuahia, the State capital. The diagnostic center which is a product of a patnership with an Indian Medical Group [Miture] is said to be ground breaking, in that, it will provide succor to the lower income earners resident in and around Aba and Umuahia. The partnership is managed under the leadership of Prof Mbanaso, an indigene of Abia State.
However closer inquiry into the strides claimed by the Abia State government indicates that the government of Abia State may have been economical with the extent of its progress and/or efforts. On the first level, informed and impartial observers of the affiars in Abia State point to the strides into the healthcare delivery as somewhat political gimmickry. Available information indicates that less than 50% of the commissioned 191 healthcare centers [145+46] have yet to be equiped and are yet operational. It was also learnt that the centers were not primarily an Abia State initiated project. It was part of an Milleniuen Development Goal [MDG] program -of which half of the funding was provided for by the World Bank. The two diagnostic centers are also said to be under a counter-part funding arraignment. The spokesperson for the Abia State government acknowledged that the 210 planned healthcare centers were part of the MDG. He claimed partial knowledge of the details of the healthcare centers by stating that he recently joined the Abia State government.
The industrial revival promised by the Abia State Governor during his campaigns of 2007 and 2011 appears a point to debate in both camps of the political divide. Gov Orji had pledged to boost the industries in Abia State by injecting life into the many defunct industries such as the Golden Breweries, Textile Mills and Glass Industries. To this effort, the Abia State government recently set up a board and a committee to study the feasibilty of revitalizing the mentioned industries within a period of one year. And as gathered, the committee completed their task and submitted its findings and recommendations to the Governor in the form of a proposal. 247ureports.com gathered that the proposal contained plan to create 3,00o new jobs. Also, a South African company has been invited to take over the Golden Breweries and to operate it. The chief spokeperson for the Governor, Hon Iwuoha confirmed the development.
Augumenting the proposed 3,000 creation through the revitalization project is the recent youth empowerment program embarked on in partnership with ASUPEDED for youth skill acquisition programs. The Abia State government will receive N100million monthly from ASUPEDED for the program. As gathered, 10 – 20 youths will be drawn from every ward to participate in the program. But their appear a discrepancy in the expected number of youths to be trained. The spokeman of the governor, Iwuoha placed the number at 4,430 while sources within the ASUPEDED placed the number closer to 2,000.
Reversing the trend of dilapidation of education and educational insfrastructures has posed one of the major challenges to the Abia State government. At present, Abia State houses one of the worse insfrastructural educational amenites in the country – owing largely to the historial management of the schools. The Gov Orji administration in their effort told 247ureports.com that it has launched a program of refurbishing the dilapidated classrooms. It added that the State Ministry of Eucation has launched a teacher re-education program – and provided a HILUX Van for each Local Government Area [LGA] for use to drive to schools within the local government to supervise the Teachers. In addition, the State government embarked on scholarship programs. It gave 25 scholarship award for tertiary institutions to recipients [Abians] studying outside the country – and 50 scholarship awards for tertiary institutions to recipients studying within Nigeria. The 75 scholarship awards were drawn out of the entire population pool of Abians estimated at over 4million equivalent of less than 0.002% of the population pool.
“Particular attention is given by the Abia State Government to the road network problems in Aba. We discovered that there were no drainage. The drainage were converted to dumpsite by traders and nearby residents” – stated Hon Iwuoha in diagnosing the problem in Aba road condition. He mentioned that the Abia State government has decided to take the bull by the horns to tackle the problem. “We have set up a taskforce to address the issue of illegal structures and illegal dumpsites. The taskforce has already began pullind down illegal structures”, added Iwuoha. But critics still point to the efforts of the Orji administration as wanting. One of the more vocal critics told 247ureports.com that “Aba remains a rotten place”. The critic adds that the governor may have constructed some roads in Umuahia but he has clearly abandoned Aba.
The storyline of Abia State in the hands of Gov Orji would not be complete if the recent formation of an audit group is left unhilighted. The Orji administration, immediately following the 2011 re-election victory, constituted a group to “quantifiy” Abia State. The group was tasked with enumerating the etities within Abia State – to enumerate the residential and commercial structures, the number of residents, and the-likes – for the sake of future planning and record keeping. The effort was awarded to an audit firm and mandated to complete the Abia State audit within 6months. Many within the opposition has applauded this effort.
In all, appraising Abia State under the leadership of Gov Orji seems an uneasy task. While the many citizens and residents of Abia State cryout over what they classify as a government that has achieved little in its over 4years in Office, the operators within the Orji administration believe otherwise – thus revealing a discrepancy between the two.
Information from the Tribunal indicates that the 5-man panel has struck-out the petition brought about the the Presidential Candidate under the party of the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC] and former Dictator, General Buhari. The 5-man panel gave the ruling at about 12noon after they sat for the Judgement at minutes after 10am. They dismissed the petition for lack of merit.
Security has been tightened up around the country.
Our notes will be incomplete if we do not pause to invite some reflections upon the recently concluded Local Government elections that took place in Lagos, the economic and financial capital of Nigeria. Lagos states also proudly terms itself as the centre of excellence, whilst that appellation might be disputable and even relegated to the status of commendable aspiration when benchmarked against international standards there is no doubt that Lagos state stands out when compared to other states in Nigeria. With its almost no dependence on revenue from crude oil, good governance, cosmopolitan composition and metropolitan structure, Lagos epitomises one of the dreamlands for experts of international development.
The last time we openly pondered about Lagos was earlier this year towards the general elections, under the title “Made in Lagos for Nigeria” and we observed that the televised gubernatorial debates that took place in Lagos had forcefully placed Lagos state on a level that requires some respect and special consideration. We noted that Lagos is quite a lucky state as none of the candidates on the podium came across as a thug, dullard or a freak and although a few untruths were proffered, they all deserve our applause for behaving with dignity and trying their best to appear competent. In a period littered with uncertainty and doubts that things can really change for the better, one of the many things the Lagos gubernatorial contest showed us is that decent debates like many other simple but necessary things can be conducted in Nigeria and that if well-managed Nigerian politicians too can follow simple rules. Lagos stood out as a model.
Alas, the same cannot be said of the just concluded Local Government elections wherein voters showed little excitement in participating, a lot of disappointment in most of the incumbent candidates and practically no trust in the challengers. On their own part, contesting and supporting politicians greeted the results with protests and allegations of rigging and other electoral malpractices. Sadly, there were also cases of violence and even loss of lives. Those who orchestrate violence should be ashamed of themselves; mark my words: nothing goes unrewarded in life one day those that do evil to our land will pay for it.
In politics, silence is a statement. With their reluctance and in some cases outright refusal to openly and passionately embrace their sitting Local Government Chairs and councillors, Lagos is speaking and what the people are saying is that they cannot feel or see the impact of those local administrators. Ideally, the Local Government Area politicians should be the ones presenting and defending the instances of their residents to the state and eventually to the national authorities. Many residents don’t even know their local representatives. The newly sworn in Chairs and Councillors need to start a new page in which they prove they can listen to Lagos by connecting with their residents. They need to be active for their people and be seen to be present in their territories.
The main opposition party in Lagos state is yes the PDP but just in case they don’t get it, they need to be told that Lagos does not like them at all. With its deafening silence and active apathy towards the PDP, Lagos is saying again as it has said with its history that it is a state of progressives and wants to continue to be so, to change that a lot needs to be done. In the meantime, just as we tell the PDP not to quash opposition in Nigeria ACN needs to give space to opposition parties in Lagos.
With its behaviour in the elections, Lagos is however also speaking to the ruling party in the state and it is telling the ACN that the people of Lagos do not like to be taken for granted. Something needs to be done about internal democracy an accountability of stewardship. Three of the most essential elements for a successful selection of political candidates are capacity to represent and connect with voters, ability to perform in office and loyalty to ideology and party; any political party missing these points in on its way to disaster. Those with vested interest in the party, from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the national level to Mr Kayode Adeniyi at the local level in Anthony Village, need to find a way to synthesise these three elements.
Lagos is also speaking to the electoral regulator and it is telling INEC and co that this democracy needs to make space for independent candidates. It is unfair and undemocratic to force people to shut their nose and to tolerate existing parties when voting or contesting. Many good people are out of politics today because they cannot identify with existing structures. For the benefit of the country we need to find a way to let them in. The desire for a simplified system with a few parties and candidates is understandable but an imposed simplification is ridiculous and annoying. Though it might appear difficult to implement, I am sure my colleague, Prof. Attahiru Jega, understands the benefits the introduction of independent candidates will bring to the system, he has the duty of exploring that option.
Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman representing Kogi Central on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has restated his vow to ensure the transformation of Ebiraland for the benefit of the people before the end of his four-year mandate in the Senate.
Abatemi-Usman, who is the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, made the remark at the palace of the Ohinoyi Anebira in Kaduna, Alhaji Sadiq Obari Isah during his visit to the Ebira community in the state.
In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Michael Jegede, the Senator was quoted as saying that the people of Kogi Central will have cause to celebrate at the end of his tenure in office.
While enumerating the various steps he has taken so far in his effort to pave way for the growth and development of the zone, the youngest lawmaker in the Red Chamber, told the Ebira people in Kaduna that they will never regret their decision to elect him as their Senator.
“Prior to my election, I was here to seek for your prayers and support. Today, I am here to thank you all for the confidence you have reposed in me by deciding to elect me as your Senator. I want to assure you all that you won’t have any cause to regret your decision,” Abatemi-Usman, a member of African Union Parliament declared.
He added: “I love this job. I am prepared for it. And so, I will not fail to deliver and put smile in your faces. I and my team are working round the clock to bring lasting solution to the protracted water problem in Ebiraland. We are equally not resting on our oars on the issue of Ajaokuta Steel because we know the impact its completion will have on our people and the country at large.”
Responding, the Ohinoyi who said he has been in Kaduna for about 49 years, noted that the Senator’s visit was the first of its kind. The traditional ruler urged Abatemi-Usman to continue with his good work in the Upper Chamber.
Members of Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) Kaduna branch led by their President, Abdulmalik Mohammed, National Association of Ebira Students (NAES) Kadpoly chapter and other Ebira groups in Kaduna were on hand to receive the Senator whom they described as God-sent.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) scanning machine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja had detected two suspected drug traffickers. The suspects during interrogation reportedly told narcotic investigators that they were advised to use Abuja Airport because of the attention on Lagos airport over ace actor and comedian Babatunde Omidina also known as Baba Suwe who has been under observation of the Agency.
Onyegbuna Patrick
According to the NDLEA Abuja Airport commander, Alhaji Hamisu Lawan gave the names of the suspects as Nnoli Valentine, 41 and Onyegbuna Patrick 25. Nnoli is a Nigerian based in Berlin, Germany ingested 99 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.6kg. He was arrested while attempting to board a KLM flight to Amsterdam. The second suspect Onyegbuna Patrick ingested 67 wraps of substances that that tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.250kg. Onyegbuna was caught returning from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The commander also faulted their permutation as the Agency has scanning machines in all the international airports in the country. “We are prepared to stop drug traffickers at the Abuja airport. All our airports are equally equipped with the 3D scanning machines and it was a wrong calculation by the suspects to have opted for Abuja airport. This arrest will serve as a warning that it is difficult for them to smuggle drugs here” Hamisu stated.
Nnoli who is married to a German woman with two children works in a restaurant in Berlin. The suspect who would have been given 5,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the drug said that he was stranded after a visit to his home town in Anambra State. “I was stranded after spending some time with my family in Anambra State. A friend I contacted to assist me with money to buy ticket lured me into drug trafficking with a promise of 5,000 Euros. They gave me the drug in a Lagos hotel and told me to go through Abuja airport and that there will be no problem. Unfortunately, I was arrested. I regret my involvement in drug trafficking” he lamented.
Nnoli Valentine
Similarly, Onyegbuna who sells footwear in Onitsha, Anambra State said that he was moved to indulge in drug trafficking to save his father’s life. “My father is very sick and I cannot watch him die. My mother is dead and I must do my best to protect my father. That was how I got involved in drug trafficking. I was promised the sum of 4,000 dollars and my travel expenses paid to Brazil to smuggle the drugs to Nigeria. They also asked me to return through the Abuja airport. I am deeply sad over the incident” he stated. He hails from Anambra State.
The Enugu State Government has dismissed as laughable and mischievous, claims by a purported human rights body that it was behind the current travails of one Osmond Ugwu who is currently facing charges in court for attempted murder.
The government also dismissed the threat reportedly made by the group to “make Enugu State ungovernable” if Ugwu was not released from prison custody within one week as uninformed and ill thought.
A release signed by Chukwudi Achife, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sullivan Chime, said that the tone of the claims and the threats made by the group as published in a national daily newspaper, confirmed its suspicions that the labour issues in the state were being sponsored and orchestrated by some disgruntled elements trying to create a false impression of crisis in Enugu State.
He said that even the most uninformed person would know that a criminal trial was a matter totally within the domain of the judiciary and that an order to remand or release an accused person in or from prison custody can only be made by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Achife said that even though the group mentioned in the report remained faceless and amorphous, it was still important to observe that a demand that the state government should release someone who has been remanded by a court of Law, can only stem from either ignorance of judicial processes or a mischievous intent of the person making the demand.
He noted that the concomitant demand by the said group for the Governor to give an account of his stewardship within one week and the reflection of similar comments made by a defeated gubernatorial candidate in the same story, clearly confirms the sinister motives of the people behind it.
Achife also said that the continued reference to the minimum wage as a cause even when it had been paid in Enugu State since August, was an indication that those behind the attempt to use it to create disaffection against the state government, had woefully failed.
He said, “It is amazing that people who claim to be human rights activists will be asking the executive arm of the government to take over the functions of the judiciary. The rule of law obviously means nothing to them. It has always been clear to government that some persons having no other way to blackmail it, have sought albeit unsuccessfully to use a non-existent minimum wage issue to cause disaffection against the government. Even people who do not belong to any Labour Union are now described as labour leaders”.
Achife restated Governor Chime’s commitment to securing the welfare of workers and to the establishment of a functional public service, adding that no amount of threat, blackmail or political intrigues can distract him from his commitment to the transformation of Enugu State.
Chief Mrs. Aisha Audu [nee Emeje], the former first lady of Kogi State has made her ambitions public as she recently announced her intentions to join the upcoming gubernatorial elections to govern Kogi State as the first female governor. In this interview, she argues that as a former governor’s wife, she had no specific function in government that would have assisted the people the way she wanted. She spoke about her plans for Kogi State.
What motivated you to join the race in which your former husband, the former governor Prince Abubakar Audu is one of the major contenders?
I am compelled by the socio-economic reality in the state. A group of youths called “Kogi Youth Vanguard” and a host of other civil society called me and state their plight, they encourage me to join the process to liberate them. I wept for my people. Go to Lokoja, the state capital, and see a glorified village. Up till now, our people even in Lokoja have not gone beyond rudimentary existence. They have a static life.
They are held hostage by poverty and ignorance. I weep for them. We want to re-brand the state. The state
They are held hostage by poverty and ignorance. I weep for them. We want to re-brand the state. The state deserves more than what it is getting. We want to attract visitors who could be potential investors. We need investors to grow the state.
But it looks more like a waste dump. It is lamentable that we have not been able to use the symbolism of the state as the first capital of Nigeria to boost tourism. The myriad of tourism attraction centres in the state is yet to be harnessed. Tourism provides 60 percent of revenue in most advanced countries. It is a tool for education relation and it is better than revenue from oil. We will showcase the rich tourism potentials in the state.
Though Kogi may lack the attractive pull of Lagos and the sophistication of Abuja, its historical antecedents can make it a tourist haven. When visitors come to the state they come with a lot of expectations but leave disappointed.
Available statistics have proved that women in Nigeria prefer to support the men in the race for elective position, especially that of the president and governor, for instance, it happened during the last PDP presidential primaries where the only female aspirant in the contest, Mrs Sarah Jubril, lost to the incumbent president due to lack of support from the women folk. What magic do you think will work in your favour in the December poll?
It is only in Nigeria that eligibility for political offices takes the colour of gender and tribe without consideration for the content of character, blueprint for development, and vision. We are in an era of increased agitation for more visible role for women in governance all over the world. But in a place like Kogi, they are locked
Kogi State is faced with serious underdevelopment since its creation in 1991 due to lack of good leadership, poverty, ethnic mistrust and youth restiveness. What do you intend to do when given the mandate to salvage the people?
The problem starts with lack of vision. Many never prepared for the position they occupy. They lack the required vision. A governor of a state is like a driver of a luxury bus. It is not just enough that you can drive, but do you have a good sight? Without a good sight, your driving ability is zero.
Another question is, do you know the road? Vision is very important. That is why the Bible says without vision the people perish. Governance goes beyond tarring of roads.
Those are normal responsibility of government and should not be seen as achievement because after all why were you elected in the first place? The vision sets you apart from the crowd. That is what set me apart from some people whose reasons for contesting is to display their wealth, or on a vengeance mission. If you have a compelling vision like the one we have, you will definitely be dissatisfied with the status quo.
Going by the public opinion, it was widely believed that your former husband, Prince Abubakar Audu performed credibly during his tenure as governor and you were part of the government, now that you have decided to throw your hat into the ring, are you saying his achievements were just a media hype?
If I have my way I would not want to speak on individuals. We are around to enrich the quality of debate in the polity. Having said all this, I want to say that there is too much hype in our politics in the state and propaganda has helped to make heroes out of mediocrity and our people to see hell as paradise.
You are a journalist and you should know that there are universal indices for leadership assessment. We do not need to go to the political graves to exhume political ghosts to come and govern us in the name of experience when we have vibrant youths. C. S. Lewis said no rearrangement of bad eggs can ever make a good omelette.
It was rumoured that you are in the race to spoil the chances of your ex-hubby. Are we saying the crisis that led to the dissolution of your marriage is irreconcilable?
My brother, I naturally do not respond to rumours. But I think it would be extremely uncharitable for anyone to reduce my governorship project to spoiling the chance of another person. I think I and my party deserve more than that. What we are saying is, our elections in Kogi do not reflect the best that Kogi could offer
What if your party, Justice Party, as one of the opposition parties in the state endorses Prince Abubakar Audu, what would be your next step? Would you support his candidature?
No way
How much do you know of the published report by the World Bank on women investment in the growing global economy, and how can you tap into that to improve the lot of women in your state and also improve its economy?
Yes I have been very much involved in most World Bank activities in the past one year; I was actually a delegate in the last IMF/WORLD BANK FORUM. I am aware the women deserve more assistance in many areas, such as health, discrimination in the workplace, lack of rights at home, land rights, education, more opportunities to enter the job markets and control over their lives, and many more areas.
In this year report the World Bank made significant progress with narrowing the gender gaps especially in the labour markets and education. As a woman I will increase opportunities for women and girls by increasing social enterprise development. Except we want to deceive ourselves, investing in women is an economically sound strategy, if women were given opportunities the overall development prospects would improve for all. Mind you women are the 40% of the global workforce. I will encourage women entrepreneur and involve them in all areas of governance.
Who is Aisha Audu Emeje. What makes you think as a politician, I mean your background and political network in the state?
I attended primary schools in Lagos and Calabar, which saw me through the prestigious Queen of the Holy Rosary Secondary School, Gboko in Benue State. I went to Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo for my Ordinary National Diploma (OND).
Then, I went for an online degree in Accounting and Finance from the American International University (AIU), Illinois, United States. Even though I lost my father (Chief W A. Emeje), a Chief Petty Officer in the Nigerian Navy when I was 13 in 1984, my mother was my role model.
She never gave up on us. All the grace I am enjoying today were the principles of life that my mother inculcated in me. I started from a humble beginning by selling cashew nuts. Through sales and dealership in automobiles, I now preside over a vast business empire that cuts across telecommunication, real estate and agriculture.
While I was the first lady, I ran a pet project known as Family Advancement and Care Programme (FACAP), which aimed at advancing family life. Though I had no specific function in government that would have assisted the people the way I wanted, I did not fail my people. I handled issues that were brought to me as the First Lady of Kogi State. Though I never had an office allocated to me. I never went to any.
I did not know what the office of the First Lady looked like. I was running my businesses from the house. Being a First Lady, I am not a politician rather a business woman. I believe that when you occupy a political office, a lot is expected of you. I do not know if I can meet up with those challenges.
I prefer to deal with everybody and not just the political class alone. I am very passionate about improving energy and the power sector.
I am also working with some foreign technical partners to provide 1,000 megawatts of electricity. I hope to partner the government or eventually go into Independent Power Project (IPP) to meet the needs of our society.
Kogi Politics is known to be Violent. How do you Hope to Tackle it?
. The fact is, it is not only in soccer that you have hard tacklers who deliberately leave the ball and go for the legs of opponents so the opponents can be stretched out of the field of play. One, I have divine coverings because the project is not mine. So, even if I walk in the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil because He is with me. If a small boy looks straight into your face and challenge you to a fight, you will know that he has a backing. If God is with us, who can be against us. We will play according to the rules, and live the rest to God, the police and INEC
How do you rate the quality of campaign in the state?
Poor! Many are just out to deceive the electorate. Many are saying they will do this and that. But a discerning mind would know that you cannot build something on nothing. The people of the state are unhappy. They are disenchanted and hostile. Experiences have shown that the pillar of democracy must first be erected before we can obtain benefits of responsible government. From there we will enhance the performance and service delivery capacity of civil servants. in a civil service state like Kogi, the welfare of the civil servant is very crucial.
Many believe you should have waited for four years to enable you do a thorough mobilization before you contest.
I am not new to the people and their challenges even if the party is. And let me tell you, if you wait for a perfect condition you will not get anything done in life. One thing is certain in life; what isn’t tried won’t work. inches make champions. It is from a little spark that you burst a mighty flame. And you should know that I can do all things through Christ. The sixth lessons in Collin Powell’s leadership primer says, “You don’t know what you can get away with, until you try”.
Why do governments fail?
The problem starts with lack of vision. Many never prepared for the position they occupy. They lack the required vision. A governor of a state is like a driver of a luxurious bus. It is not just enough that you can drive, but do you have a good sight? Without a good sight, your driving ability is zero. Another question is, do you know the road? Vision is very important. That is why bible says without vision, the people perish. The road to development can take a lifetime in the hands of a driver who does not know his way. There is great power in vision because our future is in our picture. Vision comes from visual ability to see beyond the immediate
Governance goes beyond tarrying of roads. Those are normal responsibility of government and should not be seen as achievement because after all why were you elected in the first place? Vision is a mental picture of a preferable future. Vision is not what you can see with your physical eyes. It is what you can see with your inner eyes. As people are blind physically, so it is in the inner eyes. Observe the artist or architect it is what they are seeing that they draw. If you can’t see you can’t lead. Jer. 33.3 “says call upon me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you know not”. What drives governance is the vision. If you have vision it is not every contractor that can work for you. He must build according to what you are seeing. The vision sets you apart from the crowd. It is the vision that determines your manifesto, your staff and other things. That is what set me apart from some people whose reasons for contesting is to display their wealth, or on a vengeance mission. If you have a compelling vision like the one we have, you will definitely be dissatisfied with the status-quo. You have to pity them, because, it is not that they are unwilling, it is just that they are unable. You can’t give what you don’t have. Many lack capacity for intellectual projections.
Your plan for the state
We want to re-brand the state. The state deserves more than what it is getting. We want to attract visitors who could be potential investors. We need investor to grow the state. But it looks more like a waste dump. When you lack vision you can’t project accurately .And that is why they wait for problem to come before solving it. You build one road this year and later you expand it. No, you should have seen it through intellectual anticipation and visual projection in the 21st century; you anticipate and plan.
Many believe that women are not strong enough to withstand the rigor of governing a state
Governance is not about brawn it is about brain. And governance does not need a strong personality. Instead, it needs strong institutions. It is not a one man show but collective efforts and collective responsibilities
Do you have enough money to actualize your goal?
Positioning is greater than cash. I don’t know why our media put so much emphasis on cash? Positioning is the key thing in life. It helps a great deal to determine the height one eventually attains in life. It is your position that determines your connections while your connections determine your contacts. And a man is as rich as his contacts. There are people, they don’t have cash but they don’t lack what cash can offer.
