Wednesday, 1 April 2015
AFRICA FACTS
1. The Gambia has only one university.
2. Equatorial Guinea is Africa’s only
spanish speaking country.
3. South Africa is the most visited
African country.
4. Nigeria has the richest Black people in Africa.
5. Samuel Eto’o is the highest paid Footballer of all time, he received about £350,000 weekly in Russia in 2011.
6. A person from Botswana is called
a Motswana, the plural is Batswana.
7. A person from Lesotho is called a
Mosotho.
8. A person from Niger is called a
Nigerien.
8. A person from Burkina Faso is called a Burkinabe.
9. Nigeria has won more football
cups than England.
10. Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the world’s most educated President with 7 degrees, two of them are Masters.
11. Al-Ahly of Egypt is the richest club in Africa.
12. Didier Drogba is Chelsea’s
highest goalscorer in European competition.
13. Johannesburg, South Africa is
the most visited city in Africa.
14. Zinedine Zidane wanted to play
for Àlgeria, but the selector rejected him, saying they are already many players like him in the team.
15. President Jacob Zuma was given a special award by Fifa for refereeing on Robben Island during his years as a political prisoner.
16. President Robert Mugabe was
jailed for 11 years for fighting for freedom.
17. President Robert Mugabe is
Africa’s oldest Head of State and the world’s second oldest Head of State. He was born in 1924.
18. The Seychelles are the most educated Africans. Seychelles’ literacy rates (Adult: 92%, Youth: 99%) Zimbabwe is 2nd (Adult:
91.2%,Youth: 99%).
19. Rwanda is a better country for
gender equality than England and USA.
20. Somalia got its first ATM on
October 7, 2014.
21. South Africa has the most Grammy award winners in Africa.
22. Ethiopia has the most airports in
Africa.
23. Ethiopia’s economy is growing
faster than China’s.
24. Eritrea’s President, Isaias Afwerki is the least richest President in Africa.
25. Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest
independent country, it has existed for over 3,000 years without
being colonised.
26. Haile Selassie 1 was the 225th
and last Emperor of Ethiopia.
27. Nigeria has the most monarchs
in the world.
28. Angola has more Portuguese
speakers than Portugal.
29. President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has ruled Angola since 1979.
30. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is Africa’s longest serving Head of State. He has ruled Equatorial Guinea since August 3, 1979 when he overthrew his uncle, Francisco Nguema. His son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue is his Vice President and will succeed him if he
resigns. He started ruling Dos Santo
31. George Weah of Liberia is the
first man to win World, European and African footballer of the year
in the same year.
32. Swaziland is the only remaining
absolute mornach in the world.
33. The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa followed by Swaziland.
34. King Sobhuza ll of Swaziland took the longest time in reigning Swaziland, 62 years as he was crowned in 1921 and died in August 1982 at the age of 83 years.
34.1. King Sobhuza II of swaziland, married 70 wives, who gave him 210 children between 1920 and 1970.
35. Zimbabwe is the only country in the world were almost everyone was a billionaire at one point
Ajimobi Reveals Buhari's Plan For Nigerians
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has described what the the victory of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari means for those who revel in cutting corners in the running of the affairs of Nigeria.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi
The governor, in a congratulatory message issued in Ibadan on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said it means end of business as usual for those who revel in cutting corners in the running of the affairs of Nigeria.
Describing Buhari as a dogged fighter, the governor said he was a lesson in perseverance, resilience, calmness and patriotism which he said were the attributes that made his victory possible.
Governor Ajimobi expressed deep gratitude to Nigerians for keeping faith with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and for reposing confidence in Buhari despite all the darts thrown at him by his opponents and their cohorts. He restated his implicit confidence in the ability and capability of the President-elect to bring his wide experience to bear in ensuring that the change Nigerians had been clamouring for manifest in the shortest possible time.
The governor thanked the people of the state for turning out in large numbers to vote for APC during the presidential and National Assembly elections, saying this was a manifestation of the confidence they had in him and his administration.
He assured the people that their remarkable contributions to the emergence of the Buhari Presidency would attract some benefits and opportunities to the state in the areas of social and infrastructural development, employment generation and appointments.
Governor Ajimobi solicited further support from the people of the state by voting for him and the House of Assembly candidates of the APC in the April 11 elections in order to further the ongoing repositioning that would take the state to the next level.
Governor Ajimobi is one of many governor to congratulate the Major General on his election victory. Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun State, yesterday, described the victory Buhari as the best thing to happen to a country that has endured 16 years of maladministration at the center.
The Northern States Governors Forum also congratulated Muhammadu Buhari on emerging the winner of the presidential election.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/414243-ajimobi-reveals-buharis-plan-for-nigerians.html
Fire Affects Balogun Market Again
A mysterious fire has affected shops and properties worth millions of naira in the popular Balogun market on Lagos Island for the second time in three months.
The inferno which started on Wednesday morning and affected lock-up shops, was first noticed at the back of a building housing a commercial bank a correspondent of the Punch learnt.
Quick response from the Lagos State Fire Service prevented further spread of the inferno. A fire truck and a tanker were on ground at the time of the fire. Goods destroyed in the fire include lace materials, cosmetics, ladies wears, body cream, hair attachments, underwear accessories and refrigerators.
Some of the traders, who spoke with newsmen, commended the firemen for their timely response, which prevented the fire from spreading. Mr Cletus Onyema, a trader in the market said that he lost a huge amount of money as well as goods. He, however, thanked God for curtailing the losses. “When I got a call that there was fire in the shops around this area, I did not know what to expect.
“I thank God that the situation was not that bad. I lost some goods but I praise the fire service for work well done,’’ he said.
Another trader, Mrs Ronke Adebayo, told newsmen that she had just stocked her shop for the Easter sales. “I thank God that I was able to save some of my goods. “I have a truck load of lace materials parked out there but I was able to save the goods.
“I lost some goods but it would have been painful if all of them were consumed by the fire,’’ she said. Adebayo said that the cause of the fire was still unknown but said that the fire service came on time and put out the fire. Confirming the incident the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Fadipe Rasaq, said that firemen from Onikan Fire Station responded to the fire call within four minutes.
He said that the fire razed a storey building, which caused the top floor to collapse while eight lock up shops were also destroyed. He said the cause of the fire was still being investigated. Fadipe advised traders to organise themselves to buy centralised generators that would be stationed outside the shops instead of using many small generators.
The initial inferno that razed through the popular Balogun market occurred on January 12 and started early in the morning also at about 4.36am from an unknown source.
Fire Outbreak At Muritala Mohammed Airport
There was a fire outbreak on Wednesday at the arrival hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja which caused airline passengers and others to scamper for safety.
Airport road leading to the airport
The fire was said to to have been caused by an underground cable, Daily Independent reports.
A Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) fire personnel, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that the fire started around 2 p.m. He said that the fire was however put under control by the fire officers from FAAN.
He added that the fire might have been caused by an underground cable that needed replacement.
Another passenger, Mr Mayowa Olawale, said he was not happy with the officials of FAAN as they failed to address the passengers on the situation.
“We are just stranded here outside the arrival hall. This is unfair because as we speak no official information has been communicated to us as to what is really happening,’’ he said.
Meanwhile on Lagos Island, there was a fire outbreak in the early hours of Wednesday in the popularBalogun market which burnt properties worth millions of Nigeria.
Meet the Five Architects Of Jonathan’s Defeat
Nigerians made history. For the first time in the nation’s democratic history, an incumbent president has been defeated. While incumbent governors have been defeated in the past, it was a feat many thought might not be possible at the centre for a long time to come. But Nigerians, by their votes, have shown the exit door to a government they deemed has not served them right.
But the trouncing of Goodluck Jonathan at the polls was not a happenstance. Perhaps, if there were those who did not see this coming, it was probably the president himself and some of his loyalists. Beyond this, however, there are some five key individuals who contributed to the electoral downfall of the president. Their actions and what they represented ensured that in less than two months from now, Jonathan will become a former president.  BUHARI: THE ULTIMATE CROWD PULLER Nigerians made history. For the first time in the nation’s democratic history, an incumbent president has been defeated. While incumbent governors have been defeated in the past, it was a feat many thought might not be possible at the centre for a long time to come. But Nigerians, by their votes, have shown the exit door to a government they deemed has not served them right. But the trouncing of Goodluck Jonathan at the polls was not a happenstance. Perhaps, if there were those who did not see this coming, it was probably the president himself and some of his loyalists. Beyond this, however, there are some five key individuals who contributed to the electoral downfall of the president. Their actions and what they represented ensured that in less than two months from now, Jonathan will become a former president. Buhari BUHARI: THE ULTIMATE CROWD PULLER He is a man after the heart of the talakawas, the masses, in the northern part of Nigeria. These are young men and women who fanatically follow him – and have been doing so since 2003 when he first threw his hat in the ring. Buhari has always had a cult-like followership in up north but it was difficult to replicate in other parts of the country. However, the support base of the retired general moved beyond the north to the strategic south-western part of the country which has a strong media and publicity base, in addition to a large population of voters. From a man who consistently won 12 million votes in the north without any major finance or structure, he was successful sold to southern voters and this marked a major turning point for Jonathan, who would ordinarily expect that as a southerner, he would be the preferred candidate in the region. ‘Sai Buhari’ (only Buhari) that was only restricted to the north alone suddenly became the catchphrase in the mouths of both young and old down south. Even when questions were raised over his academic certificate and health, his followers, especially those who are very active in the social media, insisted they would vote for him nonetheless. Jonathan’s exit was inevitable.  TINUBU: THE UNDYING POLITICAL CRAFT MASTER Hate him or love him, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one politician you ignore and you later bite your fingers. Simple as that. Since he survived the PDP tsunami of 2003 when he returned as governor of Lagos State in an election that saw five of his former colleagues in the then AD sent packing, he has gone about the business of checkmating the ruling PDP with so much passion and determination. Blessed with an uncanny ability to identify political as well as electoral assets, Tinubu was said to have said immediately after the 2011 elections reasoned that if Buhari could poll 12 million votes without much resources and national appeal, then he was the man to be pushed forward for 2015. But before then, there was the need to build a strong, broad based political party that would be strong enough to serve as counterfoil to the PDP juggernaut. He and Buhari started consultations. The product was the All Progressives Congress (APC). He got disgruntled elements within the PDP to jump ship and for the first time since 1999, the opposition was able to speak with one voice.  .AMAECHI: THE BULL IN CHINA SHOP When Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, wanted to return as the chairman of the very powerful Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in 2013, his party, the PDP, did not want him because by that time, he had become a thorn in the flesh of President Jonathan. Amaechi and the president’s wife had fallen out over the demolition of waterfront houses under an urban renewal programme. It became a media war. The war shifted to the NGF. But Amaechi, backed by governors from opposition party and PDP rebel governors, would have none of that. Even when the governors had two parallel elections, public sentiment was on the side of the Amaechi faction. And he went about the business of Jonathan’s political demolition with alacrity. He used the NGF to fight the president and formed an alliance with opposition governors to make life miserable for Jonathan. It was a terrible embarrassment for the president, coming from a fellow Niger Deltan, and Amaechi’s persistence did more political damage obviously more than what the president budgeted for. ☰ |
 SARAKI: THE NEMESIS OF PDP One of the most underrated politicians in Nigeria must be Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara state. As chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum between 2007 and 2011, his influence among his powerful colleagues ballooned, and he eventually nominated Amaechi to be his successor. That gave him considerable influence on NGF even after his tenure as governor. Then, his loyalist, Kawu Baraje, became the acting national chairman of the PDP, further giving him a strong hold on the party structure. However, Jonathan, probably eyeing the 2015 elections, dislodged Baraje from the PDP secretariat. That was the final push for Bukola who promptly engineered the breakup of the ruling party in conjunction with other anti-Jonathan forces within and without. On August 31, 2013, the PDP had its convention in Abuja with the sole aim of electing a new chairman. However, rather than that making the headlines, the biggest news of the day was the staging of a walk-out by section of the party led by Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara state, and seven governors from the party. They were later to be known as the new PDP and they became unofficial opposition party to the PDP. When they eventually merged with the newly formed APC, they left the PDP bleeding as a spate of defections followed.  OBASANJO: THE TIRELESS RABBLE-ROUSER Former President Olusegun Obasanjo went about the demolition of the Goodluck Jonathan political brand with such determination that left many analysts wondering if there was nothing more to it than a statesman and his desire for good governance. But Obasanjo had an axe to grind with Jonathan. Having helped the latter to Aso Rock in 2011, he discovered, to his dismay, that Jonathan was keeping him at an arm’s length and that Tony Anenih, Obasanjo’s friend-turned-foe, had become the most powerful elder in the PDP. Bone by bone, Obasanjo began to take Jonathan to pieces. He would later ask most of his loyalists in the south-west, such as Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Isiaka Adeleke and Segun Oni, to join forces with the APC while he became a ‘political consultant’ to the party. On the international level, Obasanjo used his influence to get Nigeria’s allies such as the US and the UK to downgrade Jonathan and promote the candidature of Buhari. Obasanjo’s frequent public criticism of Jonathan often resonated with the views of many Nigerians. Jonathan did not need a political enemy like Obasanjo, and he had his hands full till the last minute. Who contributed the most to Jonathan's defeat? Buhari Tinubu Amaechi Saraki Obasanjo In my Opinion..the arrangements above best fits to who contributed the most. |
Buhari Promises To Treat All Nigerians Equally
Muhammadu Buhari, who won presidential election that took place last weekend, has said he was extended a hand of peace to President Goodluck Jonathan after a resentful presidential poll.
He also assured Nigerians that Jonathan has “nothing to fear” after losing power.
The former military ruler spoke after receiving the Certificate of Return as the president-elect, from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The current head of the country received international commendation on Tuesday, March 31, after conceding defeat and calling opposition leader to congratulate him even before the official announcement of poll results by the electoral commission.
In his concession speech, the incumbent president said he kept his pledge of credible and peaceful polls, and confirmed his seriousness not to plunge the nation into murder over his political bid.
Buhari, in what seemed a direct answer to the president’s move, said the nation should put behind the turbulence of electioneering and evaluate the “change” his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) promises.
The opposition leader said he holds no grievance against anyone, comprising members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jonathan’s team.
Buhari said: “But despite the rancour of the elections, I extend a hand of friendship and conciliation to President Jonathan and his team. I hereby wish to state that I harbour no ill will against anyone.
“Let me state clearly that President Jonathan has nothing to fear from me. Although we may not agree on the methods of governing the nation, he is a great Nigerian and still our president.”
The former military ruler said President Jonathan earns the support and “permanent respect” of all Nigerians by merit of the government he has held.
“This is how an honourable nation treats its servants and conducts its affairs; and this is how Nigeria should be,” he said, adding that he will meet with the president for both sides to work out a smooth transition.
General Buhari said the nation should put the past, particularly the recent, behind, but must not forget to learn from “old battles and past grievances—and learn to forge ahead”.
He stated that he has also put behind the controversy over his academic eligibility for the poll.
“Some unfortunate issues about my eligibility have been raised during the campaign. I wish to state that through devotion to this nation, everything I have learned and done has been to enable me to make the best possible contribution to public life. If I had judged myself incapable of governing I would never have sought to impose myself on it. I have served in various capacities and have always put in my best,” Buhari said.
The APC candidate noted that his administration will be a listening one and will treat all Nigerians equally.
“I pledge myself and our in-coming administration to just and principled governance. There shall be no bias against or favouritism for any Nigerian based on ethnicity, religion, region, gender or social status. I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection.
“You shall be able to go to bed knowing that you are safe and that your constitutional rights remain in safe hands. You shall be able to voice your opinion without fear of reprisal or victimisation. My love and concern for this nation and what I desire for it extends to all, even to those who do not like us or our politics,” president-elect continued.
“You are all my people and I shall treat every one of you as my own. I shall work for those who voted for me as well as those who voted against me and even for those who did not vote at all. We all live under one name as one nation: we are all Nigerians.”
It should be mentioned that the importance of Buhari’s victory is emphasized by the fact that this will be the first time in the history of Nigeria’s electoral process that an incumbent president is defeated.
The whole world today, April 1, praised Nigeria’s incumbent leader for a democratic and peaceful poll.
Asari Dokubo Issues A New Threat
Asari Dokubo, the former militant who promised to unleash violence on the country if the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan failed in election, has issued a new threat.
He promised to return “to the creeks” and blamed the Yoruba and Hausa for working against Igbo and Niger Deltans.
Dokubo said the election of General Muhammadu Buhari as president “is a clear indication that the country is not united” and blamed the Yoruba and Hausa for cooperating to frustrate Jonathan, who applauds from the Niger Delta region.
In a comment realesed by his spokesperson Rex Ekiugbo Anighoro, Dokubo saud: “Nigerian union clearly reinforces the fact of self determination and that Nigeria remains a very divided and separated entity whose claim to unity remains a fraud of gargantuan proportion.
“The celebrated victory of Buhari is not the victory of the people but victory of regional conspiracy and supremacy. The voting Partern has clearly shown that the Gambari North and the Yorubas are United in the conquest of the Niger Deltans and the Igbos of defunct Biafra with the middle belt now used as pawns.
“The victory of Muhammadu Buhari is a historical reminder that we are a conquered people who are mere appendages existing at the pleasure of the supremacist and the regional overlords.
“We remain a people separated by our ideologies and interests, we are not integrated nor reconciled.”
Former militant supposed that the elect administration could endeavor to sabotage the interest of the Niger Delta and called for a return to the creeks.
Former militant supposed that the elect administration could endeavor to sabotage the interest of the Niger Delta and called for a return to the creeks.
He added: “The conditions that advanced the need to embrace the creeks have been sadly re energised, it is clear that a vicious government who may maim and murder the voice of the so called minorities may have just been birthed. Indeed integration is nonexistent as regional gang ups and supremacy is symbolic with this victory.
“While President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan enjoys his moments and bask in the euphoria of a now world renowned statesman having congratulated Muhammadu Buhari his conqueror, we must quickly remind that our struggle was never about Jonathan nor about presidency.
“President Goodluck Jonathan was an establishment beneficiary of our struggle, our sweat and blood that many bled and died for, he was never in the struggle and he can never wish away our collective march forward for statesmanship. Yes Indeed to an extent he was a mitigating factor in self determination pursuit as we went on sabbatical, this mitigation he seem to have willingly repudiated.
“The days coming will be critical, we shall study all the conditions and consult widely before determining the way going forward for our collective existence and survival as a people. The days coming shall either drive the quest of integration or further separate us.”
It should be noted that the fake tweet circulated yesterday on the media. It stated that Asari Dokubo acclaimed President Jonathan and said he is a friend to any government, but later former militant denied the such news, saying that he would stay lyoyal to Jonathan.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/414219-asari-dokubo-issues-a-new-threat.html
PDP Comments The Outcome Of Election
The presidential campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued its first official comment after suffering defeat by the hands of the opposition the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement released by Femi Fani-Kayode, spokesman for the PDP campaign organisation said:
“Ladies and gentlemen of the media,
We have come here today to express our gratitude to the Nigerian people for the overwhelming support that we received over the last few weeks when it comes to the issue of the Presidential election.
We fought a virile, strong, aggressive and very effective campaign on behalf of our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and we put the case to the Nigerian people as to why we believe that he ought to have been elected as President for a second term.
We are very proud of the efforts of our President and of our party and we are also very proud of the efforts of every single one of those who participated in the Presidential Campaign Organisation. As a Directorate we could not have asked for anything more in terms of support and encouragement from our colleagues and comrades within the party and the Campaign Organisation. I am personally very proud of my team, every single one of them; my Assistant Directors, my officers, my advisory team and every single one of those that joined hands to help us to state our case and to sell our candidate to the Nigerian people.
It has however come to a point that we must tell the world and the Nigerian people about how we feel about the outcome of the election. What we will say here today is basically to reiterate and to reflect the words of our leader and President, President Goodluck Jonathan. We start by saying that we commend and we congratulate General Muammadu Buhari for winning this election. We also wish to commend our President, President Goodluck Jonathan, for having the courage to concede that he has lost the election at the earliest moment and also for being able to stand up and rise above party politics and being able to speak like a statesman.
We therefore urge the Nigerian people and our teeming supporters to stand firm and continue to support the democratic process and continue to agitate for a better Nigeria. We urge them to continue to support our party the PDP as best as they can even though we lost this election. We ask them to co-operate with the incoming government and to remember that we are first and foremost Nigerians before anything else.
On the day of the election when I went to vote at Ile-Ife, I held a press conference in which I told the people that more than anything else that we should try our very best to keep the peace in this country and to keep the country moving forward. I also reminded them that in every election there will always be a winner and a loser. It is a mark of our humanity and it is also symptomatic of the type of people that we are and who we are that when the time comes we can say we fought a good fight but we lost.
And having lost, it does not mean that it is the end to the world, it just means that we need to re-group, re-organise ourselves and begin the process all over again because another elections will come in a few years time. And that is where we are today. We have conceded that we have lost. We acknowledge the fact that we fought a good fight. We do not have any fears about the future. We did the right thing during the campaign. We have no regrets about our candidate or the way in which we conducted our campaign and we will live to fight another day
Finally let me commend all our colleagues on the other side for also standing up for what they believed in. There was absolutely nothing personal as regards this Directorate or myself. I had nothing personal against anybody. I was simply doing my job for which I have no regrets and I wish them well and I sincerely hope that they will take Nigeria to a level that we can all be proud of.
May God grant each and everyone of us peace. May He watch over our nation. May He guide our President for the next two months whilst he is still in power and thereafter and may He guide and lead the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, in the herculean task that lies ahead for him. My prayer is that he brings our nation together, heals the wounds and that he builds the bridges in terms of religion, ethnicity and region that he needs to build in order for us to make Nigeria a better place and to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great country that she is destined to be.
I want to end this message by thanking our colleagues in the press for always responding to us so quickly and for always being ready to hear our message and for putting it out there. Also those on the social media, both friend and foe, we thank you for your efforts. We thank our foes because they kept us on our toes and we thank our friends because they encouraged us and gave us hope.
May God grant you all peace and joy and may you live long and prosper.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The APC presidential aspirant, Buhari, was formally declared the winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the early morning of April 1, Wednesday.
The former military ruler overcame the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in a keenly contested election, but Jonathan while displaying statesmanship, called the President-elect to congratulate him even before the official announcment by the electoral commission.
Arsene Wenger Heaps Praise On Okocha
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has hailed former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’Okocha.
According to the Frenchman, Super Eagles legend, Austin Okocha is ‘one of the most skillful’ players he has ever seen.
Okocha who is the current chairman of the Delta State Football Association, played against Arsenal during his time with English Premiership club, Bolton and Wenger has revealed that Jay Jay Okocha was a delight to watch.
According to Sporting Life newspaper, Arsene Wenger ran into Jay Jay Okocha at the Arsenal training ground and scream, “oh my God Jay Jay what are you doing here? are you here to sign a contract with me?
Speaking to the newspaper later, Arsene Wenger said; “Jay Jay remains one of the best and skillful players that has ever played in the English Premier League. He was a delight to watch and a dream player of any coach. I wanted him then, but the situation was not conducive at that time.”
Last month, legendary Arsene Wenger, vowed to work with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to help with football advancement in the country and many sport lovers have welcomed the development.
Banky W Presents His 'Reflections On Elections'
Popular Nigerian musician Banky W has writen an interesting piece on the 2015 presidential elections in which he decided to share his “random thoughts” and “highlight some of the key factors”.
Nigerian musician, Banky W
In the statement Banky W congratulated Muhammadu Buhari on electoral victory and praised him for his determination and consistency of aim. Addressing Goodluck Jonathan, the singer thanked him for leaving a legacy of conductin free and fair elections in the country.
Read the full text below:
The morning after..
It has been quite an interesting time in our Nation’s History. Exhilarating for some, disappointing for others… but interesting nonetheless. The announcement of the 2015 Election results has dominated every news medium, traditional and social media platform in the last few days. Alongside most Nigerians worldwide, I was glued to my television throughout the process as INEC members slowly read out each result from each state, and then as the Chairman Mr Jega gave the final results and declared the winner.
Now that the dust has settled a little, it’s time to share some of my random thoughts on what has just happened, and celebrate/highlight some of the key factors.
Here’s to the President-elect, General Muhammudu Buhari.Congratulations Sir on your victory. Yours is a lesson of perseverance. After contesting and failing in 2003, 2007 and 2011, some would have understandably thrown in the towel on this particular goal. But it’s never failure until you give up, give in and quit trying. There’s a lesson for all of us in this. When you get knocked down, you get back up, dust yourself off, re-strategize, and try again. That’s precisely what he did, and now he’s the President-Elect. He’s got a tough job ahead of him…the economy is coming upon harsh times; oil prices have crashed and foreign reserves have been depleted. The Unemployment rate and poverty index in Nigeria is at an all time high. General Buhari’s administration have their work cut-out for them, and here’s hoping they hit the ground running. It’s time to cut the excesses of times past… time to focus on what’s truly important to the Nigerian people, and make significant strides in the right direction. Everything needs improvement. Security, Employment, Power, Education… you name it. Change is what we voted for, and change they must deliver.
Here’s to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Many of us have been vocal critics of the present administration over the past couple of years… but you’ve left a legacy of conducting/overseeing/allowing two free & fair elections to hold in Nigeria. That’s more than any other President can say in our Nation’s history. You’ve also been gracious in defeat, and your move to quickly congratulate the opposition has probably helped ease the atmosphere in these tense times. That these elections have been MOSTLY violence-free, is no small feat. Your position, that neither you nor any politician’s ambition, is worth the blood of any Nigerian, is noble, applaudable, and appreciated. If you’re going to go out, this is the way to do it.. with your head held high and your dignity intact.
Here’s to Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Muhammudu Jega. You’ve overseen such an intricate, tense, political process and come out mostly spotless. In recent times your job has probably been the most powerful and the most stressful in Nigeria, and yet you handled your affairs as cool as the other side of the pillow. Never once losing your temper, never once succumbing to pressure or drama, never once letting people see you sweat. Your attitude, manner, and competence in dealing with highly sensitive tasks and times, is one that is exemplary to all Nigerians. This is how to become a living legend. Our hope, however, is that INEC will improve upon this exercise and learn some very necessary lessons. The process to collate, calculate and announce results took entirely too long. It’s 2015… we can’t at this point, be that adverse to the use of excel sheets and calculators. Too much time passed between when votes were cast and when the results were announced that could be interpreted as an avenue for rigging to occur. The situation and allegations in States such as Rivers, and some areas in the North and East, should also be looked into for the purpose of eliminating any areas of malpractice in the future.
Here’s to the young people that were actively involved in the political process this time around. It was encouraging to see more of us participate. For instance, one of the parties used peers of mine like Adebola Williams and Chude Jideonwo (and their media platforms) to handle their PR and campaign activities with great success; while other parties used spokespeople who some say may have done more harm than good. Sites like LindaIkeji’s blog, Bella Naija, and YNaija, were just as, if not more important to candidates and voters, than traditional newspapers and media. This shows the innate tremendous power and influence that young people and our platforms have. Don’t be surprised when you see some of these young people being appointed in strategic powerful positions in the near future.
Here’s to the Nigerian People. This 2015 Election marks the first time in our history, that an incumbent President has been voted out of power. That in and of itself is a mark of a true democracy, and a sign that power still belongs to the people. My hope is that this will serve notice to the incoming administration at the Federal, State and Local levels. Gone are the days when our leaders can do whatever they like, and expect to remain in power with little to no backlash. Gone are the days when no matter how bad your actions are, or how bad a state we find ourselves in, we just say “it’s Naija” and “God dey”. The time has come where we must now hold our leaders accountable for the offices we have elected them into, and this election was the first step in that direction. We must pay attention… we must care. Not just about the office of the President, but the Governors, Senators, House of Reps, and Local Government positions. This is the only way we will see Nigeria truly change for the better. If we the people, just… care, again. Now is the time to keep track of campaign promises that were made, and see if they’re delivered on. The reason Nigeria keeps recycling the same problems and issues with no end insight, decade after decade, is because of failed leadership and citizen apathy. Our leaders were corrupt and we just didn’t care. Let’s hope that change, indeed, has come.
READ ALSO: 10 Nigerian Celebs Who Skipped Voting Day
To those of us that voted, whether your candidate won or lost, thank you for playing a very significant and important role in our Nation’s Democracy and History. Thank you for letting your voice be heard. Thank you for braving the inconvenient, tense, and sometimes harsh, conditions to make sure you voted and that those votes were counted. We laughed together and we fought; we stood in line together under the burning sun, then the rain, then the sun again; we discussed and we argued… but we voted.
Nigeria has a current population of about 182+ Million people; only 29+ million of which voted in the recent elections. The winner of the elections had 15+ million votes. That means, only 8% of our population chose the direction of our country for the next 4 years. That’s not good enough. I was watching the elections coverage, and it was sad to see that state by state, the eligible, registered voter turnout was less than 50%. That’s not good enough. Some people will say that we voted along tribal lines; I say that most young people, who do not have the tribal prejudices that older generations have, simply didn’t show up. Time and again, I’d be among groups of young people and ask who has picked up their PVC. 9 times out of 10, I’d be the only one. We have to do better. We seem to be content with tweeting, and instagram-ing, and arguing and pointing fingers… but when it comes to the most basic of our civic responsibilities… when it comes to actually playing a part in bringing about a better Nigeria that we all seek, we’re nowhere to be found. Social Media activism is simply not enough.
Some young people tried, but were frustrated by the inefficiencies in the PVC collection process. My heart goes out to you if you truly tried, but for some reason couldn’t get your card. Others were just “too busy” to go through what was required. To these ones, I say this: We saw pictures of Billionaires such as Aliko Dangote and Wale Tinubu voting. You are not busier than Dangote. If these ones could put their affairs on hold to register and vote, then clearly, we all need to get our priorities straight.
Some may say that elections here are rigged… well, you make it incredibly easy for someone to rig elections by not showing up. All the unused ballot papers can very easily be stamped for whoever they feel like. It becomes increasingly hard to rig when we show up en-masse. I pray, and work towards the day, when all the young people who are eligible, actually care enough to get up, go out and register to vote… and in that day, when we all actually do vote, we will truly be in charge of our Nation’s destiny. We’ll see a Nigeria that has a chance to cast away the burdens, problems and prejudices of times past, and finally live up to our potential.
- Banky Wellington
PS: Here’s to General Buhari’s daughter, Zahra… in the immortal words of FahlzTheBadGuy… ‘Ello Bae
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