This is the first major national crisis that has happened since the proliferation of social networking platforms in this country. I find it sad that people are circulating rumours without confirmation as well as gory pictures that have nothing to do with the current crisis. This is not to belittle the gravity of such incidences but you have to ask yourself some simple questions when spreading any news item. Is it in the interest of the public and can I influence positive change by sharing or spreading such news? If you cannot answer yes to these two questions, please keep the news to yourself or share it with only those that you know can use it responsibly.
The more tension you generate, the more risk you create for you and your loved ones, think about that before you post or share!
A blog that reflects my thoughts on business management and other useful information.
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Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Video Alleges Rigging in Nigeria's Parliamentary Elections
Contrary to popular reports in the mainstream media, evidence is emerging that the elections may not have been free and fair afterall in some parts of the country. Just view this video.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
General Buhari's Interview with BBC HARDtalk
I have read comments on a popular forum that General Muhammadu Buhari cannot appear on BBC HARDtalk because of his weeping at a press conference he held. This is not true because he appeared on the programme 7 years ago. Here is a link to a BBC report on the interview.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/3421277.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/3421277.stm
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Who Will Inherit Gen. Muhammadu Buhari's Political Legacy?
Win or lose in next Saturday's presidential election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) has between 4-8 years to exert a strong influence on the Nigerian political landscape. If he wins the elections on Saturday, he may look forward to at least four years in power as President and if he is lucky, he might even be there for the next 8 years.
However, if he loses, he will have to consider relinquishing his leadership of the CPC in favour of a younger and more vibrant candidate. Taking a close look at Buhari's support base, one finds that he is supported more by the down-trodden and poor in the North. Their support for him is predicated on the belief that he is not one of the region's corrupt elite who have maintained a stranglehold on the region's resources and by extension that of the entire country as well.
Now, the question is: who is best positioned to inherit Buhari's support base after he retires from active politics? Two major contenders appear to me to be well-placed to take Buhari's place in the heart of his supporters. Ironically, both of them are not currently members of his party.
The first is Nasir El-Rufai, the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He is currently a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) but he has pitched his tent with Buhari for Saturday's election. This is a politically astute move because he stands to benefit if Buhari wins with a senior position open to him in the new government that would be formed.
However, if Buhari losses, he will have succeeded in getting a landing pad for himself in the CPC considering his current travails with the PDP. He can then sell himself as the new face of the North; relatively young, highly educated and dynamic for future elections.
The other person who seems to be well-positioned to inherit Buhari's legacy is the Action Congress of Nigeria's (ACN) presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu. He has been brandishing is anti-corruption efforts as the former head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as one of his key selling points to become President. This will also go down well with many Buhari supporters in the long term.
Ironically, Ribadu and Buhari are currently discussing a possible alliance for next Saturday's presidential election. Ribadu seems convinced that Buhari should step-down for him. However, any astute political observer would realize that Ribadu has no pulling power in the North which because of its relative hegemony is the most import region of the country when it comes to presidential elections in Nigeria.
If Ribadu were to step-down for Buhari to run it would be in his long-term interest because the CPC/ACN coalition would have a very strong chance of winning the election at the first round of voting. Not only that, he would get a very senior position in the government that would be formed allowing him to gain more experience and earn the trust of more Nigerians with 2015 and 2019 in mind as years in which he may actually have a great chance of winning presidential elections.
Perhaps more importantly, he would be Buhari's political heir inheriting a strong support base in the North, strong enough to challenge the oligarchs holding the region to ransom at the moment and can truly become a key player in Nigerian politics for the next 10-20 years. This would still be true if the proposed CPC/ACN alliance fails to win next Saturday's presidential election.
However, if he loses, he will have to consider relinquishing his leadership of the CPC in favour of a younger and more vibrant candidate. Taking a close look at Buhari's support base, one finds that he is supported more by the down-trodden and poor in the North. Their support for him is predicated on the belief that he is not one of the region's corrupt elite who have maintained a stranglehold on the region's resources and by extension that of the entire country as well.
Now, the question is: who is best positioned to inherit Buhari's support base after he retires from active politics? Two major contenders appear to me to be well-placed to take Buhari's place in the heart of his supporters. Ironically, both of them are not currently members of his party.
The first is Nasir El-Rufai, the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He is currently a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) but he has pitched his tent with Buhari for Saturday's election. This is a politically astute move because he stands to benefit if Buhari wins with a senior position open to him in the new government that would be formed.
However, if Buhari losses, he will have succeeded in getting a landing pad for himself in the CPC considering his current travails with the PDP. He can then sell himself as the new face of the North; relatively young, highly educated and dynamic for future elections.
The other person who seems to be well-positioned to inherit Buhari's legacy is the Action Congress of Nigeria's (ACN) presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu. He has been brandishing is anti-corruption efforts as the former head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as one of his key selling points to become President. This will also go down well with many Buhari supporters in the long term.
Ironically, Ribadu and Buhari are currently discussing a possible alliance for next Saturday's presidential election. Ribadu seems convinced that Buhari should step-down for him. However, any astute political observer would realize that Ribadu has no pulling power in the North which because of its relative hegemony is the most import region of the country when it comes to presidential elections in Nigeria.
If Ribadu were to step-down for Buhari to run it would be in his long-term interest because the CPC/ACN coalition would have a very strong chance of winning the election at the first round of voting. Not only that, he would get a very senior position in the government that would be formed allowing him to gain more experience and earn the trust of more Nigerians with 2015 and 2019 in mind as years in which he may actually have a great chance of winning presidential elections.
Perhaps more importantly, he would be Buhari's political heir inheriting a strong support base in the North, strong enough to challenge the oligarchs holding the region to ransom at the moment and can truly become a key player in Nigerian politics for the next 10-20 years. This would still be true if the proposed CPC/ACN alliance fails to win next Saturday's presidential election.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
About The Nigerian Presidential Election On Saturday
The National Assembly elections of Saturday, April 9, 2011 have come and gone but the ripples generated are still obvious to see. There is no doubting the fact that the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was shocked in the Southwest and is very much aware of the potent threat that General Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) poses to the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Without being sentimental, it is safe to say that it will be difficult for any candidate to win in the first round. General Muhammadu Buhari is obviously loved by the masses in the north and under free and fair elections devoid of rigging he should have an overwhelming lead in the North. The same holds true for President Goodluck Jonathan in the South-East and South-South. The Southwest is firmly in the grip of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu stands to benefit from this.
Now, the key question we all have to answer on Saturday is: will the presidential election be won because of rigging or in-spite of rigging? As Nigerians we have to see this Saturday's election as a mission to save the country from chaos. Hence, not only must we vote for candidates of our choice, we must also ensure that those who want to subvert the process are identified, exposed and punished (according to the law).
In order to achieve this, we should all go out to vote with our multimedia gadgets (phones, smartphones and cameras). Where you find electoral offences being committed, record and post videos on the different social networking platforms ; Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry Messenger, Nairaland as well as local and foreign news channels and websites.
I also suggest that if you have not joined President Jonathan's fanpage on Facebook yet, do so. Then flood his page with videos of any electoral malpractice that may happen in your locality, do the same for the Facebook pages of the other two major candidates. It would be very difficult for him to face the world with thousands of videos showing electoral malpractice on his own Facebook page after next Saturday's presidential elections.
At the end of the day, we are out to achieve 2 things on Saturday:
1. Elect our country's leader for the next four years (God-willing) based on the choice of the majority and
2. Prevent our country from experiencing the dire consequences of failing to achieve 1 above.
God bless Nigeria!
Without being sentimental, it is safe to say that it will be difficult for any candidate to win in the first round. General Muhammadu Buhari is obviously loved by the masses in the north and under free and fair elections devoid of rigging he should have an overwhelming lead in the North. The same holds true for President Goodluck Jonathan in the South-East and South-South. The Southwest is firmly in the grip of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu stands to benefit from this.
Now, the key question we all have to answer on Saturday is: will the presidential election be won because of rigging or in-spite of rigging? As Nigerians we have to see this Saturday's election as a mission to save the country from chaos. Hence, not only must we vote for candidates of our choice, we must also ensure that those who want to subvert the process are identified, exposed and punished (according to the law).
In order to achieve this, we should all go out to vote with our multimedia gadgets (phones, smartphones and cameras). Where you find electoral offences being committed, record and post videos on the different social networking platforms ; Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry Messenger, Nairaland as well as local and foreign news channels and websites.
I also suggest that if you have not joined President Jonathan's fanpage on Facebook yet, do so. Then flood his page with videos of any electoral malpractice that may happen in your locality, do the same for the Facebook pages of the other two major candidates. It would be very difficult for him to face the world with thousands of videos showing electoral malpractice on his own Facebook page after next Saturday's presidential elections.
At the end of the day, we are out to achieve 2 things on Saturday:
1. Elect our country's leader for the next four years (God-willing) based on the choice of the majority and
2. Prevent our country from experiencing the dire consequences of failing to achieve 1 above.
God bless Nigeria!