Thursday, February 26, 2015
Nigerians Beware! Jonathan procures N11 billion equipment to tap your phones
Nigeria’s active 120 million GSM subscribers need to know this: The Nigeria Police, the State Security Service [SSS] and the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited [NIGCOMSAT] are, on behalf of the Nigerian government, possibly hacking your phones and listening in to your conversations.
The three state agencies are able to do this with the aid of an over N11 billion sophisticated equipment procured and installed for them by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Knowing what Nigerians are discussing over the telephone was too important a necessity for Mr. Jonathan that he awarded two different contracts for the same purpose in less than two months interval.
On August 31, 2010, less than six months after he became acting president, Mr. Jonathan awarded an approximately N6billion contract to an Israeli-owned but Abuja-based security firm, V & V Nigeria Limited, for the “Procurement of strategic GSM Tracking System for the Nigeria Police Force and expansion/upgrade of the existing system with the DSS”.
The project, awarded to the contractor by the Ministry of Police Affairs, was jointly hosted by the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), under the Nigeria Police Reform Programme.
Less than two months after – October 21, 2010 – another N2.61 billion contract was awarded by the same Ministry of Police Affairs “for the procurement of Strategic GSM Tracking and Interception Systems for the Department of State Services, under the Nigeria Police Reform”.
This other contract, which appears a duplicate of the first, was awarded to a British security firm, Gamma TSE Limited, which, according to the information on its website, “manufactures highly specialized surveillance vehicles and integrated surveillance systems, helping government agencies collect data and communicate it to key decision-makers for timely decisions to be made”.
The two clearly similar projects were however neither budgeted for nor listed among contracts approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2010. They were also not captured in the government’s budget implementation reports for that year.
There is also no indication that the contracts complied with Nigeria’s public procurement law, which requires competitive bidding for government contracts of that magnitude.
Yet there was a separate project in the 2010 budget by the Nigeria Police Force (not the Ministry of Police Affairs) for “the procurement of GSM interception and tracking equipment installed in 10 configured vehicles (security/criminal intelligence)” for which N2.5billion was budgeted.
It is not clear whether this other project was executed at the time, but it was also not captured in the budget implementation report as well as FEC approvals for the year.
Insiders at the State Security Service, the Nigerian Police and the NIGCOMSAT said while Gamma TSE delivered on the contract awarded to it, they were not sure that V & V, linked to a top politician from the South-South, performed satisfactorily.
Gamma TSE could not be reached for comments. Repeated telephone calls to its London office were neither answered nor returned.
V & V also declined to comment when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. The official, who answered the call made to the company’s Abuja office, directed all enquiries on the project to the Ministry of Police Affairs.
But the spokesperson for the Ministry of Police Affairs, James Odaudu, also declined comments, just like his counterpart at NIGCOMSAT, Sonny Aragba-Akpore. Both officials said they should not be expected to divulge details about security-related installations.
Details about these new surveillance contracts emerged about 22 months after PREMIUM TIMES exposed a similar $40 million surveillance contract the administration secretly, also in open violation of lawful contracting procedures, awarded to an Israeli firm, Elbit Systems, with headquarters in Haifa.
At the time, Nigerian rights activists considered the project one of the most far-reaching policies ever designed in the country’s history to invade the privacy of citizens.
The clandestine programme allows the government spy on citizens’ computers and Internet communications and emails under the guise of intelligence gathering and national security.
Embarrassed by the widespread national outrage that arose after this newspaper exclusively exposed the secret contract, the presidency had summoned the management of Elbit Systems for a meeting to explain why the contract should not be revoked after it allegedly breached a confidential clause in the contract.
In May 2013, the House of Representatives asked the federal government to suspend the contract, saying it was awarded in breach of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and that the deployment of such spy equipment would violate citizens’ constitutional rights.
The House then ordered the immediate suspension of the project to allow its Committees on Information and Computer Technology, Human Rights, and National Security, to conduct an inquiry.
The House is however yet to make the outcome of its enquiry public, and the project has since gone ahead. Intelligence sources say the Internet Spy device has since come alive.
The spying on telephone and Internet communications of citizens is continuing despite the country not having any law in place to regulate such undertakings by the nation’s security agencies.
The Cybercrime Bill 2014, which allows a measure of communication interception, is yet to be passed into law by the National Assembly.
Part 3 Section 22 of the Bill, which deals with Interception of electronic communications, says: “Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the content of any electronic communication is reasonably required for the purposes of a criminal investigation or proceedings, a Judge may on the basis of information on oath: (a) order a service provider, through the application of technical means to collect, record, permit or assist competent authorities with the collection or recording of content data associated with specified communications transmitted by means of a computer system; or (b) authorize a law enforcement officer to collect or record such data through application or technical means.”
However, the bill, initiated by the presidency, was passed in December by the Senate but it only scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday and was referred to the House committees on justice and information for further scrutiny.
When eventually passed by both chambers, it would be harmonised and then sent to the President for assent.
CREDIT > PREMIUM TIMES
Nigerian lawmakers give govt one week to submit full report of audit on missing $20billion
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has again requested the Federal Government to avail his committee the full report of the forensic audit done on the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation by Price Water Coopers, PWC, to enable it perform its constitutional duty as enshrined under Section 85 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic.
The lawmakers gave the government one week to make the report available to their committee.
According to the committee’s chairman, Solomon Adeola, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, several weeks had passed with several demands made for the report without success.
He said it took a public outcry before snippets of the reports in a “highly condensed version was released to the Press by the Auditor General”.
He stated this in a press statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES after a press briefing alongside members of his committee in Abuja on Wednesday.
The committee frowned at the role of the Ministry of Finance in the commissioning and appointment of auditors “without the involvement of the Auditor General whose office is eminently and exclusively empowered for the duty by the 1999 Constitution”.
Mr. Adeola said by virtue of Section 85(6) of the Constitution, the auditor general ought not to be directed by Mr. President to deal with the report in a particular manner.
The lawmaker said for yet unclear reasons, no reference whatsoever was made to the need to send the report to the National Assembly where the Public Accounts Committee is empowered and equipped to deal with it as constitutionally required adding that the PAC “hereby request that the full report on the Forensic Audit by PWC, which must include the initial Draft Report, Executive Summary, management/internal Control Letters be forwarded to the national Assembly not later than one week”.
Nigerian Army To Promote Soldiers Fighting Insurgency
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 announced a special promotion for all soldiers involved in liberating Baga in Borno from Boko Haram insurgents.The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, announced the promotion while addressing the soldiers during an official visit to Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area.
Minimah said the promotion was to reward the soldiers for their gallant effort in flushing out the insurgents.
He added that soldiers who died in the battle with the insurgents would also be promoted posthumously.
The entire country is singing praises of Nigerian soldiers for the bravery exhibited in the fight against the insurgents.
I urge you to keep the tempo by striving hard to record more successes, Minimah said.
He expressed optimism that insurgency would end in the next couple of weeks.
Never again will Nigerians suffer this kind of large scale destruction in the name of insurgency, Minimah said.
He said his visit was aimed at boosting the soldiers’ morale and building more confidence in them.
The war is almost ended, we will liberate Dikwa, Bama, Gwoza, Marte and other places in a few days time, Minimah said.
He advised Nigerians to support the military in its quest to end the insurgency.
Nigerians should maintain confidence with Nigerian armed forces. They should support our military because there is no other.
War is war. War does not often come out in favour of any one. In fact, it is the end that justifies the means.
The war, as it stands, has turned out for the good of Nigerian Armed Forces, and God willing, in a matter of time, it will be over.
So, I encourage Nigerians to support their military, Minimah emphasised.
He said that the six weeks offered by the Federal Government for the military to clear the insurgents was achievable, going by the recent developments.
t is achievable; we are still within the time frame. But six weeks should not be taken that everything must be attained because this is war, he added.
Minimah assured that the military would strive harder to ensure the return of peace to all the affected areas in a short while.
Bomb Blast Rocks Jos, Many Feared Dead
A bomb blast, suspected to have been carried
out by Islamist sect, Boko Haram on Thursday, February 26, 2015 on
Bauchi Road in Jos, Plateau State has killed several people and others
injured.According to reports, the blast occurred at the Pharmacy Gate entrance into the University of Jos.
The number of casualties has not yet been confirmed although dead bodies were reportedly seen around the scene of the explosion.
More details to come.
APC, PDP supporters clash in London
Alleged Nigerians in Diaspora protest Buhari’s candidature
The protesters believed to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, besieged Chatham House while General Muhammadu Buhari was delivering his lecture with various placards.
Nigerians in Diaspora purportedly sponsored by PDP to protest against Buhari
Pro-Buhari supporters in London
The growing support being enjoyed by Buhari from the international community and global leaders was identified as the driving force behind the move for the protest staged to embarrass Buhari while he delivers his lecture.
Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti State Governor, who has been sponsoring series of hate and death wish advertorials against Buhari has been accused as a major financier of the latest protest.
Tension between the two camps were however calmed by officers of the Metropolitan police who patrolled the area.
General Buhari’s Speech In London
Nigeria is now battling with many challenges
The growth of democracy on the continent
Nigerians and the whole world are intensely focused on this
year’s elections
Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map
Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa
On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand
The work of making Nigeria great is not yet done
Buhari speaks at Chatham House, London on February 26,
2015.
(APC Press Releases) – Permit me to start by thanking
Chatham House for the invitation to talk about this important
topic at this crucial time. When speaking about Nigeria
overseas, I normally prefer to be my country’s public relations
and marketing officer, extolling her virtues and hoping to
attract investments and tourists. But as we all know, Nigeria
is now battling with many challenges, and if I refer to them, I
do so only to impress on our friends in the United Kingdom
that we are quite aware of our shortcomings and are doing
our best to address them.
The 2015 general election in Nigeria is generating a lot of
interests within and outside the country. This is
understandable. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and
largest economy, is at a defining moment, a moment that has
great implications beyond the democratic project and beyond
the borders of my dear country.
So let me say upfront that the global interest in Nigeria’s
landmark election is not misplaced at all and indeed should
be commended; for this is an election that has serious import
for the world. I urge the international community to continue
to focus on Nigeria at this very critical moment. Given
increasing global linkages, it is in our collective interests that
the postponed elections should hold on the rescheduled
dates; that they should be free and fair; that their outcomes
should be respected by all parties; and that any form of
extension, under whichever guise, is unconstitutional and will
not be tolerated.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the dissolution of the
USSR in 1991, the collapse of communism and the end of the
Cold War, democracy became the dominant and most
preferred system of government across the globe. That global
transition has been aptly captured as the triumph of
democracy and the ‘most pre-eminent political idea of our
time.’ On a personal note, the phased end of the USSR was a
turning point for me. It convinced me that change can be
brought about without firing a single shot.
As you all know, I had been a military head of state in Nigeria
for twenty months. We intervened because we were unhappy
with the state of affairs in our country. We wanted to arrest
the drift. Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence
and popularity of such drastic measures all over Africa and
elsewhere, we fought our way to power. But the global
triumph of democracy has shown that another and a
preferable path to change is possible. It is an important
lesson I have carried with me since, and a lesson that is not
lost on the African continent.
In the last two decades, democracy has grown strong roots in
Africa. Elections, once so rare, are now so commonplace. As
at the time I was a military head of state between 1983 and
1985, only four African countries held regular multi-party
elections. But the number of electoral democracies in Africa,
according to Freedom House, jumped to 10 in 1992/1993 then
to 18 in 1994/1995 and to 24 in 2005/2006. According to the
New York Times, 42 of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
conducted multi-party elections between 1990 and 2002.
The newspaper also reported that between 2000 and 2002,
ruling parties in four African countries (Senegal, Mauritius,
Ghana and Mali) peacefully handed over power to victorious
opposition parties. In addition, the proportion of African
countries categorized as not free by Freedom House declined
from 59% in 1983 to 35% in 2003. Without doubt, Africa has
been part of the current global wave of democratisation.
But the growth of democracy on the continent has been
uneven. According to Freedom House, the number of electoral
democracies in Africa slipped from 24 in 2007/2008 to 19 in
2011/2012; while the percentage of countries categorised as
‘not free’ assuming for the sake of argument that we accept
their definition of “free” increased from 35% in 2003 to 41% in
2013. Also, there have been some reversals at different times
in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Madagascar,
Mauritania and Togo. We can choose to look at the glass of
democracy in Africa as either half full or half empty.
While you can’t have representative democracy without
elections, it is equally important to look at the quality of the
elections and to remember that mere elections do not
democracy make. It is globally agreed that democracy is not
an event, but a journey. And that the destination of that
journey is democratic consolidation – that state where
democracy has become so rooted and so routine and widely
accepted by all actors.
With this important destination in mind, it is clear that though
many African countries now hold regular elections, very few
of them have consolidated the practice of democracy. It is
important to also state at this point that just as with
elections, a consolidated democracy cannot be an end by
itself. I will argue that it is not enough to hold a series of
elections or even to peacefully alternate power among parties.
It is much more important that the promise of democracy
goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their
leaders. It is much more important that democracy should
deliver on the promise of choice, of freedoms, of security of
lives and property, of transparency and accountability, of rule
of law, of good governance and of shared prosperity. It is very
important that the promise embedded in the concept of
democracy, the promise of a better life for the generality of
the people, is not delivered in the breach.
Now, let me quickly turn to Nigeria. As you all know,
Nigeria’s fourth republic is in its 16th year and this general
election will be the fifth in a row. This is a major sign of
progress for us, given that our first republic lasted five years
and three months, the second republic ended after four years
and two months and the third republic was a still-birth.
However, longevity is not the only reason why everyone is so
interested in this election.
The major difference this time around is that for the very first
time since transition to civil rule in 1999, the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) is facing its stiffest opposition so far
from our party the All Progressives Congress (APC). We once
had about 50 political parties, but with no real competition.
Now Nigeria is transitioning from a dominant party system to
a competitive electoral polity, which is a major marker on the
road to democratic consolidation. As you know, peaceful
alternation of power through competitive elections have
happened in Ghana, Senegal, Malawi and Mauritius in recent
times. The prospects of democratic consolidation in Africa
will be further brightened when that eventually happens in
Nigeria.
But there are other reasons why Nigerians and the whole
world are intensely focused on this year’s elections, chief of
which is that the elections are holding in the shadow of huge
security, economic and social uncertainties in Africa’s most
populous country and largest economy. On insecurity, there is
a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria.
Apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history
has Nigeria been this insecure.
Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map,
killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions
internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions
of our territory the size of Belgium. What has been
consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle
against insurgency. I, as a retired general and a former head
of state, have always known about our soldiers: they are
capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do
their duty in the service of our country.
You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in
Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone,
Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in
several parts of the world. But in the matter of this
insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary
support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem.
The government has also failed in any effort towards a multi-
dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation
in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours
to come to our rescue.
Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will
have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to
recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilizing role in West
Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost
to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the
welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them
adequate and modern arms and ammunitions to work with,
we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to
choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we
will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by
initiating a comprehensive economic development plan
promoting infrastructural development, job creation,
agriculture and industry in the affected areas. We will always
act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester,
and I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and
return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and
international efforts to combat terrorism.
On the economy, the fall in prices of oil has brought our
economic and social stress into full relief. After the rebasing
exercise in April 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as
Africa’s largest economy. Our GDP is now valued at $510
billion and our economy rated 26th in the world. Also on the
bright side, inflation has been kept at single digit for a while
and our economy has grown at an average of 7% for about a
decade.
But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of
mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated
to human development or shared prosperity. A development
economist once said three questions should be asked about a
country’s development: one, what is happening to poverty?
Two, what is happening to unemployment? And three, what is
happening to inequality?
The answers to these questions in Nigeria show that the
current administration has created two economies in one
country, a sorry tale of two nations: one economy for a few
who have so much in their tiny island of prosperity; and the
other economy for the many who have so little in their vast
ocean of misery.
Even by official figures, 33.1% of Nigerians live in extreme
poverty. That’s at almost 60 million, almost the population of
the United Kingdom. There is also the unemployment crisis
simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode at the
slightest stress, with officially 23.9% of our adult population
and almost 60% of our youth unemployed. We also have one
of the highest rates of inequalities in the world.
With all these, it is not surprising that our performance on
most governance and development indicators (like Mo Ibrahim
Index on African Governance and UNDP’s Human Development
Index.) are unflattering. With fall in the prices of oil, which
accounts for more than 70% of government revenues, and lack
of savings from more than a decade of oil boom, the poor will
be disproportionately impacted.
In the face of dwindling revenues, a good place to start the
repositioning of Nigeria’s economy is to swiftly tackle two ills
that have ballooned under the present administration: waste
and corruption. And in doing this, I will, if elected, lead the
way, with the force of personal example.
On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand.
Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be
appointed into my administration. First and foremost, we will
plug the holes in the budgetary process. Revenue producing
entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one
set of books only. Their revenues will be publicly disclosed
and regularly audited. The institutions of state dedicated to
fighting corruption will be given independence and
prosecutorial authority without political interference.
But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption
should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-
hunt. I’m running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity
and not adversity.
In reforming the economy, we will use savings that arise from
blocking these leakages and the proceeds recovered from
corruption to fund our party’s social investments programmes
in education, health, and safety nets such as free school
meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed
youth and pensions for the elderly.
As a progressive party, we must reform our political economy
to unleash the pent-up ingenuity and productivity of the
Nigerian people thus freeing them from the curse of poverty.
We will run a private sector-led economy but maintain an
active role for government through strong regulatory
oversight and deliberate interventions and incentives to
diversify the base of our economy, strengthen productive
sectors, improve the productive capacities of our people and
create jobs for our teeming youths.
In short, we will run a functional economy driven by a
worldview that sees growth not as an end by itself, but as a
tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alike.
On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the
continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe
the people will choose wisely.
In sum, I think that given its strategic importance, Nigeria can
trigger a wave of democratic consolidation in Africa. But as a
starting point we need to get this critical election right by
ensuring that they go ahead, and depriving those who want
to scuttle it the benefit of derailing our fledgling democracy.
That way, we will all see democracy and democratic
consolidation as tools for solving pressing problems in a
sustainable way, not as ends in themselves.
Permit me to close this discussion on a personal note. I have
heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many
respected British newspapers including the well regarded
Economist. Let me say without sounding defensive that
dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be
less dictatorial than others. I take responsibility for whatever
happened under my watch.
I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and
the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a
converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic
norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic
elections for the fourth time.
You may ask: why is he doing this? This is a question I ask
myself all the time too. And here is my humble answer:
because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done,
because I still believe that change is possible, this time
through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have
the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria
that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that
all Nigerians will be proud of.
Fayose Opens Up On Why He Opposes Buhari
Following his death wish for the All Progressives Congress
(APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has said he has nothing
personal against the former head of state.
The governor, who spoke on Thursday through a statement
issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said he is
not wishing Buhari dead as widely believed in many quarters,
but maintained that the APC presidential flag bearer is too old
to govern a complex country like Nigeria.
Fayose explained that he is opposed to the emergence of
Buhari as president because Nigerians do not deserve a leader
that will govern by proxy.
The Ekiti governor said his experience as chairman of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ad hoc committee which
shopped for a suitable presidential candidate for the party in
the run-up to the 2007 presidential election informed his
opposition to Buhari’s candidature.
He revealed that his committee did not recommend the late
President Umaru Yar’ Adua, whom he said initially, rejected
the offer before he (Yar’Adua) was allegedly opposed by
former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Fayose said the criticisms trailing his mode of campaign for
the re-election of the PDP candidate, President Goodluck
Jonathan, are unnecessary, accusing the APC leaders
promoting Buhari’s candidature as insincere.
The governor, who said he owed nobody any apology for
exposing the hypocrisy of APC leaders, accused them of
placing personal interests far above national interests.
He alleged that the APC had not only packaged lies and tried
to foist such on Nigerians, but had compromised the
Independent National Electoral Commission to rig the
elections if it had held on February 14.
Going down the memory lane on how the late Yar’Adua was
preferred by Obasanjo, Fayose said he does not want the
events that took place in the PDP presidential primary in
December 2006 to be re-enacted in 2015.
Fayose said: “I remember then as the ad hoc chairman of the
PDP committee that shopped for the presidential candidate to
replace former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a crop of
suitable, brilliant, healthy and competent northern politicians
in the PDP were shortlisted by me for Obasanjo to pick from,
but he overruled the list and asked me to contact the late
Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua because he preferred him.
“In fairness to the late president, he objected to the offer on
health ground, but Obasanjo insisted that he must be the
president.
Buhari Speaks At Chatham House, As Rented Hecklers Clash With APC Supporters Outside Venue
Muhammad Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) today delivered a widely
anticipated speech at the Chatham House in London,
affirming his readiness to run and win the postponed
2015 presidential elections.
Mr. Buhari arrived at the Chatham House venue of the event
accompanied by several APC figures, including former Governor
Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the party’s national chairman John Odigie
Oyegun, and Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and
Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State as well as former Ekiti state
governor, Kayode Fayemi.
Buhari taking notes during the Q & A at Chatham
House talk
The event had its dramatic sideshow as a group of Nigerians
sponsored by the Nigerian government showed up to heckle Mr.
Buhari in order to disrupt his talk.
Mr. Buhari’s appearance to give the lecture squelched a media
frenzy driven by claims by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti
State to the effect that the APC’s presidential candidate was
very ill and hospitalized in a UK hospital. Several party officials
had dismissed the speculations, insisting that those spreading
them, including Mr. Fayose, were desperate to use such
insidious schemes to slow the APC’s political momentum.
Buhari and Rotimi Amaechi beofre the talk at Chatham
House
Mr. Buhari, a retired army general, looked fit and healthy and
made a few jokes in response to the rumors about his health.
He said he had received calls from Maiduguri that a woman was
in tears, thinking he had died. He said his doctors had declared
him fit and vowed to return to Nigeria to lead his party’s “final
onslaught” against the ruling People’s Democratic Party.
The APC candidate took notes and stood up during parts of the
event as he responded to questions posed by participants
during the session.
Prior to Mr. Buhari’s arrival to give his speech, a group of
protesters reportedly hired by President Goodluck Jonathan’s
campaign stood outside the venue chanting anti-Buhari songs.
SaharaReporters had revealed that Mr. Jonathan’s campaign
had spent $20,000 to hire a group of Nigerians in the UK to
stage protests against Mr. Buhari at today’s talk. As the event
proceeded inside, members of the APC in the UK mobilized to
the scene to confront the hecklers and support their
candidate. The verbal clash between the two groups created a
tense atmosphere at the venue.
Officers of the UK Metropolitan police later patrolled the area to
calm down the feuding camps.
Credit:Sahara Reporters
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Fani-Kayode Counters President Jonathan, Says Ekiti Rigging Tape Authentic
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Mr. Fani-Kayode said his team had listened to and reviewed the recording and that it came to the conclusion that the opposition All Progressives Congress turned fact on its head by claiming that Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state; former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; and the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, who featured in the recording, planned how to rig the election.
“We have listened to the audio clip and we make bold to say that the discussion that took place in it did not make any mention of any form of rigging in the Ekiti state governorship election and neither did it contain any evidence of any conspiracy to rig,” he said.
Mr. Fani-Kayode also said rather than attempting to orchestrate rigging, what the audio clip clearly revealed was Governor Fayose expressing concerns that a military commander was not acting on information about illegal movement of weapons into certain parts of the state.
“The Governor and others were apparently worried that safety of the voters and INEC officials could be compromised if security measures were not strictly enforced,” he said.
Mr Fani-Kayode’s admission of the authenticity of the tape is another chapter in the series of contradictory responses from the ruling party and those at the centre of the vote rigging plot.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, last Friday, Mr. Jonathan said he would not investigate the authenticity of the audio recording because it was a “fabrication.”
“It’s all fabrications. Why should I investigate things that are not real?” he asked.
Using forensic analysis that compared the voices in the recording with public record samples of the individuals in the recording, Guardian Consulting, The New York-based security firm, that helped authenticate the recordings, confirmed that the tape was genuine.
“The voices from the recording were subjected to a Forensic Voice Frequency Comparison against known samples and were found to match to a 98 per cent degree of certainty,” the firm said.
Mr Jonathan’s dismissal of the tape as a fabrication came after Mr Obanikoro denied taking part in the meeting and threatened to sue PREMIUM TIMES and Sahara Reporters for their vigorous reporting on the matter.
Mr. Adesiyan confessed that the recording was genuine but that it was more of an altercation between Mr. Fayose and Mr. Momoh after the former accused the later of favouring the then governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi.
“Fayose accused the General who supervised the Ekiti election of taking bribe from Fayemi and APC, that was two days before the election. They called me because they said the General disarmed policemen and I told him to allow the policemen to do their job,” he told the Sunday Punch newspaper.
After initially claiming his voice was manipulated using speech software such as Natural Voices, Mr. Fayose later admitted during a political event in Ekiti that it was his voice that was captured in the tape but claimed he was rebuking Mr. Momoh for favouring the APC.
“If you listen to the tape about military rigging in Ekiti. Listen to the tape you will see that I was the one accusing the army of compromise. Listen, take time to listen. But they would come back with propaganda and saying it all as if the whole world of propaganda belongs to them,” he said.
Counter Allegation
While challenging the APC to do a critical content analysis of the discussions in the audio clip, Mr. Fani-Kayode said it was the APC that rigged the governorship election in Osun state.
“During the course of those elections, some of their agents gathered in secret locations where they thumb-printed ballot papers in favor of their governorship candidate, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,” he said.
Mr. Fani Kayode also played a video tape he claimed proved the APC rigged the election in Osun state.
“It is ironic that instead of purging itself of its own insatiable appetite for rigging and cheating, the APC, through its Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, chose to call a press conference in which he alleged that our leaders were ordering soldiers to rig in Ekiti state.
“This is a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black,” he said.
APC, Buhari calling for violence At his press conference, Mr. Fani-Kayode also accused the APC and its presidential candidate of veiled attempts to instigate violence in the country, while also undermining the nation’s armed forces.
“It is now very clear to us that the APC is determined to cause security breaches in the next few weeks. This has been confirmed by their vigorous campaign of calumny against the military and their consistent demand that soldiers must not be deployed for security surveillance at the polling booths in the forthcoming elections,” he said.
Mr. Fani-Kayode also alleged what he termed subtle threat of violence by Mr. Buhari at an APC leadership meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
“General Buhari said that the patience of the APC and its leaders were on test. One wonders what he means by that and what he and his supporters intend to do once that patience runs out.
“In an AFP news report of Friday, February 6, 2015, he was asked if he would accept the outcome of the presidential election no matter how unfavourable. Listen to his answer: “I am not going to lose; so I won’t answer that question.”
“Again, only yesterday, Wednesday, February 18, 2015, in an interview on ARISE Television, General Buhari was asked what his reaction would be if he loses the election. His answer was: “We shall see.”
“As far as we are concerned, these are ominous and subtle threats to unleash violence on the Nigerian people and all those that he perceives are his enemies in the event of his losing the election,” he said.
Mr. Fani-Kayode said Mr. Buhari has succeeded in inflaming the destructive passion of his supporters in the northern part of the country on many occasions in the past.
“We recall his unacceptable remarks on May 15, 2012 when he said “if what happened in 2011 should happen again in 2015, the dog and the baboon would be soaked in blood”.
“We witnessed the orgy of violence that they unleashed shortly after the announcement of the results of the 2011 presidential election, which the Sheik Lemu Committee, in its report to the Federal Government, said was caused by Buhari’s inflammatory statements.
“We recall with sadness the massacre of some of our vibrant youth corps members who participated in the 2011 election as INEC’s ad-hoc staff in Bauchi State.
“We are concerned that the same thing may happen again given General Buhari’s divisive and inciting comments coupled with the APC’s violent disposition,” Mr. Fani-Kayode said.
He said the attempt by the APC to discredit the use of soldiers by promoting some “misleading audio footage of the so-called rigging during the Ekiti governorship election, in which one Captain Sagir Koli was the dramatis personae, is childish and absurd”.
He said the Nigerian Government deployed soldiers in the Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections and all those elections were devoid of violence.
“Remarkably, the APC won in Edo and Osun; APGA won in Anambra, Labour Party won in Ondo while PDP won only in Ekiti State,” he said.
He added that the basis on which the APC is agitating for the exclusion of soldiers from the election by sponsoring court cases is patently dubious and untenable.
“The reason that the APC and its leaders do not want soldiers deployed is to be able to intimidate voters and unleash violence on the polity once they lose the elections.
“They know that it would be far more difficult for them to do that when soldiers are on the streets.
“With these dishonourable tactics and desperate acts by the APC, we are the ones who should be worried and who should be complaining but, unlike Buhari and the APC, our patience is not running out because we are committed to a peaceful election and we completely reject the option of violence,” he said.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
I’ll flee Nigeria if APC wins — Bode George
In this interview with ENIOLA AKINKUOTU, a
national leader of the Peoples Democratic
Party, Chief Bode George, speaks on the
recent comments of former President
Olusegun Obasanjo and other national issues
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says
President Goodluck Jonathan plans to
perpetuate himself in government like the
former President of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent
Gbagbo. What do you think of this
comment?
He (Obasanjo) says he is a Christian and as a
Christian, it is emphasised in the New
Testament of the Bible where Christ said
judge not so that you will not be judged. But
his judgment is no longer about the policies
of Jonathan. He has gone down to the extent
of saying Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
(retd.) will jail you (Jonathan), that is why
you are afraid. I am holding my breath
because in an African setting, you talk to
elders with respect and that is why I am
trying to get the right words to describe my
feelings. Baba (Obasanjo) is not a young man.
He was Head of State at 39. So averagely, he
should be about 84 or 85 and I am requesting
that he should graciously fade away into the
midnight. In the Bible, Romans chapter 13
states clearly that we should pray for those
in authority. It says pray for your leaders so
that they don’t run aground. So, to me that
is my own interpretation. If baba (Obasanjo)
had attended the Council of State meeting in
Abuja, where they were very well briefed,
and that it was decided that only the
Chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega,
that could pronounce a postponement and
that he should go and come up with a
decision and Jega addressed a press
conference. Now to start comparing our
President with Gbagbo in Cote d’Ivoire is
unjust, unsavoury and unfair because what
is the population of Ivory Coast? What are
the tribal sentiments of Ivory Coast? Are
they the same here? I want to plead with
Baba. God has been kind to him and he has
served his own time. I don’t want to
conclude that his life will be like King Saul
in the Bible. I pray it will not be so. Baba has
played his role. No generation can finish any
job. Nation building is a continuous exercise.
You come, do your own and go back into
history.
Apart from the issue of insecurity which
Jega gave as the reason for the
postponement of the elections, do you think
INEC was ready to conduct the elections
on February 14 and 28?
I granted an interview recently and there
were two posers that I gave to Jega. Thank
God Jega is a professor. He told us that there
was an 88 per cent collection rate in Borno
State where there is massive insurgency as
well as in Yobe and Adamawa states. Here,
where there is calmness and civility, only 30
something per cent of the populace had
collected PVCs. It is just improving. I think as
of last Friday over three million had
collected as against 5.6 million. And he is
saying we are ready. Without the Permanent
Voter Cards, you are immediately
disenfranchised. Ask Jega that as a professor,
will it be fair to conduct an examination
whereby you have (students who have)
covered 80 per cent syllabus and another
class where you have (students who have)
covered only 30 per cent syllabus. Is it fair?
The other question is this issue of card
readers. Have they been tested? I am talking
as an electronic engineer of 48 years in
practice. You just bought equipment from
China and the last time it was tested was in
China. Our own environment is not the
same. Look at the vagaries of the
temperature here from the swampy areas of
the South and the savannah in the North.
Who has tested the equipment? Now, I am
not saying they will not all work but if there
are almost 9,000 polling units in Lagos, is he
saying all the 9,000 card readers will be
functional? If the card readers fail to work in
some polling units, what shall we do?
Why did the military surround former
Governor Bola Tinubu’s house?
If Bola Tinubu finds his way into national
government, I will go on exile. He hasn’t the
temerity and the calmness of mind. They
don’t even know what to do in power.
Because the vice-president is his boy, he will
just order that Bode George should be picked
up. He said soldiers came to him but he
must have been dreaming. When he said
soldiers had surrounded his house, I drove
down there because my house is not too far
from there. I know the hierarchy of the
military and its behaviour. That they
surrounded his house is lie number one
because on either side of his house are two
buildings. There is also one at the back. So, I
wondered where the soldiers were hiding.
Why would you lie for public consumption?
So when I got down there, I knew that his
spin doctors were working. These days
people go on the social media and the story
went viral. Why would he (President Godluck
Jonathan) from Abuja, be running after Bola?
Let them be very careful about the
statements they are making. More so, if
Obasanjo is now linking Jonathan with what
happened in Cote d’Ivoire and coup; not in
this 21st Century. That is past and gone
forever. No nation goes through this kind of
tribulation twice and survive. We have had
our own experience of Civil War and I pray
that God does not direct our minds in that
direction and our people have to watch their
mouths.
The general perception in Lagos is that the
governorship race is between yourself and
Tinubu.
Absolutely not! In the PDP, no individual
owns the party. I happen to have been the
first national vice chairman, South-West PDP,
and then became deputy national chairman
South and then deputy national chairman for
the whole country and having done that,
they have honoured me that as long as I
remain in the party, I remain a member of
the Board of Trustees and I am the only one
representing the South-West in the national
caucus forever. That is a great honour in our
party but I don’t decide who becomes a
candidate. Primaries were conducted and in
this particular case, the voice of the people
became louder than anybody’s. I am not like
Bola Tinubu, I don’t have the papers of the
party in my pocket. I don’t even have a veto
power. But the other side doesn’t practice
democracy. We have friends that are
members there. Jimi Agbaje has no godfather
but will not behave like an authoritarian
governor.
But Senator Musiliu Obanikoro said you
were the one that imposed Agbaje.
That is absolute garbage, he knew he was
lying. You know he came from their party
and that is why he was saying it was me. He
has now retracted the statement. We are now
one indivisible party and we are ready for
election. All the vagaries and all that
happened during the primary was a test of
the ability and the strength of our party and
we listened to the voice of the people. The
voice of the people is the voice of God.
Jonathan’s perception in the South-West is
not as favourable as it was in 2011. There
has been blame on you and other PDP
Yoruba leaders for allowing Buhari to
increase in popularity in the South-West.
If you had said this about two or three
weeks ago, I would have agreed. I got these
feelers straight to my face. People came to
me and said they would vote for Agbaje but
they will not vote for Jonathan because he
had done nothing for us here. And I
explained that there is a general
misunderstanding of the concept of operation
in this country. The long periods of military
rule presupposed that the Head of State was
responsible for everything and it is that
same thinking that is responsible for this
situation. We are all hands on deck
explaining the differences between military
governance and democratic governance.
Highly educated people, my age groups, were
asking me this question but I explained to
them that 60 per cent of the impact the
President will have on you is through the
federal allocation to your state. Does he give
every state and every local government
allocation? Yes. They collect it religiously
every 30 days. In the area of security, he
guarantees it. It is only three states in the
North-East battling insecurity. There is peace
and he guarantees that. What of
infrastructure? All federal roads in Lagos
from Alfred Rewane in Ikoyi all the way to
Third Mainland Bridge and Ebute Meta are
federal roads. Are they like the roads in
Somolu and Akowonjo?
Secondly, the APC refused to participate in
the National Conference. Since he (Buhari)
has refused to debate, what will he do about
the resolution unanimously reached by the
National Conference? What will happen to
the report? The decisions of the National
Conference are so germane to the future of
this country. The more reasons why the man
who conceptualised it should be allowed to
implement his decisions.
Ekiti Gate: APC Wants Obanikoro Banned From Public Office, Adesiyan Sacked As Minister
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for the
banning of former Minister of state for Defence, Musliu
Obanikoro, from holding any public office over his role in
the rigging of the governorship election in Ekiti state on
June 21, 2014.
APC Presents Ekiti Rigging Audio Tapes To The Public
Mr. Obanikoro’s name was Tuesday sent to the Senate for
confirmation as minister, by President Goodluck Jonathan. The
APC asked the Senate not to confirm Mr. Obanikoro.
APC also asked Nigeria’s armed forces to immediately begin
investigating Aliyu Momoh, a Major General for his role in the
alleged rigging of the election in Ekiti and repeating same in
Osun and ensure that immediate and necessary disciplinary
action are taken against all individuals that were involved in
what it said was subversion of democracy.
A video recording recently emerged of an intelligence officer in
the Nigerian Army, Captain Sagir Koli, giving details of how
General Momoh was used by Mr. Obanikoro, Ayo Fayose and
others to rig the election.
Also now in the public domain is a recording of a secret
meeting convened by top Peoples Democratic Party’s politicians
to strategise on how to rig the Ekiti election.
Rising from its first joint leadership meeting at the Shehu
Yar’Adua Centre Abuja, the APC also asked the Federal
government to immediately relieve the Minister of Police Affairs,
Jelili Adesiyan of his appointment.
The oppsosition party also asked the Nigerian government to
ensure that the armed forces are kept out of partisan politics in
line with a recent judgment by a court in Sokoto and its
affirmation by the Court of Appeal on Monday.
Part of the outcome of the joint leadership meeting was that the
rescheduled election dates of the March 28 and April 11 must
remain sacrosanct. The party said it would not tolerate any
further shift.
The party added that “the use of the card reader for the 28th of
March and 11th of April is non-negotiable, as contrary to the
misinformation being disseminated the use of card reader is not
synonymous with electronic voting”.
Speaking earlier, the party’s presidential candidate and former
Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, urged members of the party
not to “relax” after the completion of its campaign rallies
nationwide.
Mr. Buhari said APC should not lose focus due to the
extension. “Our patience and resilience will be tested in the
days ahead. We must pass this test. In a time like this, which
in football analogy can be referred to as extra time, we must
avoid making costly mistakes,” Mr. Buhari said. The APC
presidential candidate said the party must use the next six
weeks “to re-charge and re-focus on our goal”.
He said the goal of the APC remains to win the elections now
slated for March 28 and April 11 with a convincing majority.
“We should aim to achieve a victory that will be beyond dispute
and proceed to form the next government and start work on the
task of rebuilding our beloved country.
“Our eyes must be on the objective to build a great society that
works for all of us. A country where every child has an equal
opportunity to get an education, where every young Nigerian
who needs a job can find one. Where the sick are looked after
and senior citizens are provided for. A country which gives
value to human life, where the welfare and security of all is a
national priority and corruption is defeated,” he said.
Speaking on the Ekiti rigging debacle, Mr. Buhari expressed
surprise at the silence from the government over the matter.
“Up till now, there has been no official denial of this most
unfortunate event. It makes me wonder, in the circumstances
that led to shifting of the date of the Federal Elections, whether
the security services are even now being prepared to play
similar roles in the March 28th and April 11th elections.
Mr. Buhari said security services have serious constitutional
responsibilities to the people of the nation adding that their
importance to the health of the country cannot be
underestimated.
He urged the leadership of the security services to keep the
institutions out of partisan politics.
“I personally and, am sure, all Nigerians, have tremendous
respect for our security services. I therefore urge strongly that
they stick to, and concentrate on, their constitutional duties,
otherwise they stand the risk of becoming part of our already
complicated national situation,” he said.
He also thanked members of the party who took time to
participate in his campaign rallies across the country.
He particularly thanked those “who have been made mind
boggling offers by our opponents in a bid to break our ranks
and curtail our momentum in the march to change Nigeria for
good, yet you have chosen to be on the side of a cause that is
just”. He appealed to the party leaders and faithful not to rest
thinking that all is won. “Six weeks is a long time and we do
not know the plans of the other side but with our strong
resolve, we will prevail.
“Therefore let us keep our eyes on the ball. Let us work as we
have never done before, and let us watch and help each other.
The days and weeks ahead will be tough.
“Our resolve will be tested and all kinds of evil tricks will be on
display. But do not despair. The goal is in sight. Change is
coming. The people of Nigeria will prevail. God has destined
Nigeria to be a great country. We shall overcome and Change
shall be achieved,” Mr. Buhari said.
SOURCE : PREMIUM TIMES
Another politician tears his PDP party membership in public
Why show so much disrespect for the party
in public? Why not just quit and be done
with it? Pictured above is Abdullahi
Muhammad, the Senior Special Adviser on
Security to Gombe state governor, Ibrahim
Dankwambo, publicly tearing his PDP
membership card yesterday.
New York Times Slams President Jonathan
“It appears more likely Mr. Jonathan grew alarmed by the
surging appeal of Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler
who has vowed to crack down on Boko Haram,” the article
said. “By dragging out the race, Mr. Jonathan stands to
deplete his rival’s campaign coffers, while he continues to use
state funds and institutions to bankroll his own.”
In an editorial on Monday, the New York Times slammed the
postponement of the Nigerian elections. It pointed out that the
action might have been more credible if President Goodluck
Jonathan’s government had not spent much of the past year
playing down the threat posed by Boko Haram and if there were
a reasonable expectation that Nigeria’s weak army has the
ability to improve security over the next few weeks.
“It appears more likely Mr. Jonathan grew alarmed by the
surging appeal of Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler
who has vowed to crack down on Boko Haram,” the article said.
“By dragging out the race, Mr. Jonathan stands to deplete his
rival’s campaign coffers, while he continues to use state funds
and institutions to bankroll his own.”
Recalling that Buhari led a coup against a democratically
elected government in 1983, it argued that his emergence as
potential winner of the forthcoming election is more of an
indictment of Jonathan’s dismal rule than a recognition of the
former military chief’s appeal.
It criticized Jonathan’s performance over the abduction of the
Chibok girls and the attacks by Boko Haram, saying they have
exposed the weaknesses of Nigeria’s armed forces and the
dysfunction of the government.
“Beyond security matters, entrenched corruption and the
government’s inability to diversify its economy as the price of
oil, the country’s financial bedrock, has fallen have also caused
Nigerians to look for new leadership. Nigeria, the most
populous nation in Africa, and a relatively young democracy,
cannot afford an electoral crisis.”
It would be recalled that following an endorsement of Buhari by
The Economist in its edition dated February 7, a sulking
Jonathan said he did not need the support of the magazine.
Text of the editorial by the New York Times:
Nigeria’s Miserable Choices
The Nigerian government was supposed to hold presidential
elections this past weekend, which presented voters with the
dispiriting choice of keeping a lousy incumbent or returning to
power a former autocratic leader. Now they will have to wait at
least six weeks to cast votes.
The Nigerian election commission said earlier this month that it
had pushed back the vote until at least March 28, after the
country’s security chiefs warned that they could not guarantee
the safety of voters in northeastern areas of the country where
Boko Haram, the extremist militant group, captured
international attention last spring when it abducted hundreds of
schoolgirls. On Friday, Boko Haram fighters attacked a village in
neighboring Chad for the first time, an alarming sign of the
group’s expanding strength in a region that also includes areas
of Cameroon and Niger.
Any argument to delay the vote might be more credible if
President Goodluck Jonathan’s government had not spent much
of the past year playing down the threat posed by the militants
and if there were a reasonable expectation that the country’s
weak military has the ability to improve security in a matter of
weeks.
It appears more likely Mr. Jonathan grew alarmed by the
surging appeal of Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler
who has vowed to crack down on Boko Haram. By dragging out
the race, Mr. Jonathan stands to deplete his rival’s campaign
coffers, while he continues to use state funds and institutions
to bankroll his own.
That Mr. Buhari, who helped launch a coup against a
democratically elected government in 1983 and ruled until late
1985, has emerged as potential winner is more of an indictment
of Mr. Jonathan’s dismal rule than a recognition of the former
military chief’s appeal.
Nigerian voters have grown increasingly worried about the
stunning rise of Boko Haram, which has committed terrorist
atrocities including bombings.
The abductions and attacks by the group have exposed the
weaknesses of Nigeria’s armed forces and the dysfunction of
the government. Although Mr. Jonathan’s government has in
the past been less than enthusiastic, and at times obstructive,
in response to offers of American and European aid, he appears
to be growing increasingly worried. In an interview with The
Wall Street Journal last week, he said he would welcome
American troops to fight the insurgency.
Beyond security matters, entrenched corruption and the
government’s inability to diversify its economy as the price of
oil, the country’s financial bedrock, has fallen have also caused
Nigerians to look for new leadership. Nigeria, the most
populous nation in Africa, and a relatively young democracy,
cannot afford an electoral crisis. That would only set back the
faltering effort to reassert government control in districts where
Boko Haram is sowing terror. The security forces may not be
able to safeguard many districts on Election Day. But
postponement is very likely to make the security threat worse.
*An editorial by New York Times published today with the title,
‘Nigeria’s Miserable Choices’
Monday, February 16, 2015
Hours after Obasanjo dumped ruling party, Ogun PDP expels former President
Hours after Olusegun Obasanjo announced his exit from the Peoples
Democratic Party, the Ogun State chapter of the party has announced that
it was expelling the former president from its fold.The statement expelling Mr. Obasanjo from the party was issued by the state chairman, Bayo Dayo, who said the former President had to be expelled following series of unabated anti-party activities,’unbecoming of a highly celebrated party man’.
“The totality of the executive,leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family in Ogun State hereby state categorically as from today Monday 16th of February 2015, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo stands expelled and ex-communicated from the party,thereby loosing all rights,previous privileges and respect of our teeming party members,” Mr. Dayo said.
“The general public especially the media are to take note that whatever Obasanjo does or say must no longer be seen from the prism of a PDP leader. Indeed he seems to have lost all sense of proper behaviour expected of a man who previously used and abused the opportunity provided him by the PDP.
The statement explained that, his ward eleven, Abeokuta North Local Government, has earlier sent in a letter dated February 12, 2015 expressing serious concerns at his numerous anti-party activities and uncomplimentary utterances targeted at the leader of the party, President Jonathan.
“It is ironic that this is the same Obasanjo who when he was President never tolerated nor accept any opinion, suggestion or criticism of his tenure,” Mr. Dayo said
Coming as the climax of his feud with the leadership of the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Obasanjo had supervised the shredding of his PDP membership card on Monday at his Abeokuta, Ogun State, Hilltop residence.
This happened while the former President was hosting members of the PDP from his Ward, 11, Ita-Eko, led by Surajudeen Oladunjoye, whom Obasanjo asked to tear his card.
Mr. Oladunjoye tore the card amid anti-PDP chants by the guests.
They danced and sang in Yoruba: “Bi awada, bi ere, PDP wole lo” (like play, like play, PDP sinks).
Also, in a speech at the ceremony, Mr. Obasanjo indicated he was aware the PDP planned to expel him from its fold.
“They said they want to expel me from PDP, although I have not been told but I have my ears on ground. We’ve been trying to run away from a man but he pleads we wait for him at the other side of the river,” he said.
Then, barely two hours after asking his membership be torn, the Ogun State chapter of the PDP announced his expulsion.
Mr. Obasanjo had on Saturday accused Mr. Jonathan of planning to scuttle the forthcoming elections, thereby unleashing “Gbagbo treatment” on Nigeria.
But in its reaction, the Presidency, in a statement by Reuben Abati, Presidential spokesperson, said Mr. Obasanjo was rooting for interim national government which he hoped to head
Full Transcript of Leaked Tape Exposing Rigging of Ekiti Election
The gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, Nigeria, took place on the 21st June, 2014. The
two main contenders were Ayo Fayose and Kayode Fayemi from the PDP and APC respectively. Below is a transcript of a recording of a secret meeting that took place on the night before the
election.
Context
All those present are upset by the failings of the military to execute their plan of
intimidation and electoral fraud in line with what was agreed/ordered by the President of
Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chief of Army Staff of the Federation. All those present
are expressing their disapproval of the job done to date to the to the Brg General in
charge of the operations.
Those present in the room were:
* Governor Ayo Fayose – Executive Governor of Ekiti
* Senator Iyiola Omisore
* Brig General Aliyu Momoh
* Senator Musiliu Obanikoro – Ex Minister of state for Defence
* Captain Sagir Koli
* Honourable AbdulKareem – Honourable member of the National Assembly
* Jelili Adesiyan – Minister of Police Affairs
During the conversation strategies/plans to intimidate voters and perform electoral fraud
were discussed in detail. The key points are as follows:
* The use of the Nigerian military by the PDP to assist in electoral manipulation. This
includes:
* The creation of a list of APC members to arrest
* The use of stickers to be used to identify persons not to be harassed and detained by the
army
* Deployment of “Special Team” including a “Strike Force”
* The Minister of state of Defence bribing military personnel with the offer of promotion if
he carries out the “strategy”
* A gubernatorial candidate admitting to electoral fraud by copying voting material
provided by the INEC
* The reprimanding of military personnel for mistakenly detaining PDP members engaged
in electoral fraud
* The Minister explicitly states he was instructed by the President of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria to execute this plan.
* The Candidate Fayose explicitly states he was given assurances by the Chief of Army staff
to execute this plan.
Personalities
Musiliu Obanikoro :- One time high commission of Nigeria to Ghana, recently stepped
down as Minister of state for Defence Federal Republic of Nigeria to contest for a political
position. A card carrying member of the PDP.
Key Quotes
“Am not here for tea party, am on a special assignment by the President.”
“Then that Daramola (APC Fayemi Campaign Manager) I want him picked up in the
morning!”
“Look here, you can’t get promotion without me sitting on top of your military council. If I
am a happy man tomorrow night, the sky is your limit”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musiliu_Obanikoro
(profile)http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2014/06/21/ekitidecides-fayemis-campaigndirector-
arrested-by-soldiers/
(voice)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO2SyPkk52w
Ayo Fayose: – Present executive Governor of Ekiti state under the peoples democracy party (PDP).
Key Quotes
“We agreed in Abuja on the modalities to work, we agreed on a sticker, that any vehicle
you see that sticker, you allow that sticker. That sticker is on those vehicles his own was
sent to him, mine was sent to me. The one by SSS was given to me to give to them there is
no vehicle that left this place without that sticker. The people you just dis-armed had that
sticker clear and clean.”
“Today they went to “efon” they carry all the ….. Where we are supposing to be collating,
the thing INEC gave to us, soft copies we now printed and everything, because they see
INEC thing on top of it, why is my contact man not with them, i said my contact man
would be sitting in the check point permanently. I convince this man to leave this people,
they were said to sit in the sun. They packed all the computers, it’s took me more than 2
hours to get this man to release this people.”
“Chief of army staff called me he told me, you are in safe hands, he [General Momoh]
would perform and if you have any issues, call me. He told me that i have made it clear to
him that I am Jonathan for this election.”
(Profile) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayo_Fayose
(Voice) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOce2g4O9XM
Senator Iyiola Omisore :- He was deputy Governor of Osun state 1999- 2003, a former
senator that reperesented Osun state 2003- 2009.A card carrying member of the peoples
democratic party (PDP) and gubernatorial candidate in recent Osun state election.
Key Quotes
“I would just say that we don’t have to argue this much, we have seen some lapses yes, its
just this evening. there is nothing happening now that we cannot contain before tomorrow
morning, there is nothing.so ba mi so fun general, we can be together on this matter. Your
boys can be overzealous and do things that are not sent.”
(Profile) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyiola_Omisore
(Voice) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByzAuXi5k8k
Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh: – Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 32nd Artillery Brigade
Key Quotes
“We have strike force they just entered into the force. We can start arresting in the
afternoon.”
“There are about 6 special team. ( koro cuts in” your own team”) I have one. “strike force” I
have almost forty soldiers after deployment.”
“We have done a lot of arrest.”
“Let’s accept one thing, we want success, you know why i ask, if we have put only
policemen, we would have reach them together.”
http://www.thegazellenews.com/2014/06/19/ekiti-2014-sss-arrested-pdp-membersthumb-
printing-in-fayoses-dgs-hotel/
Honourable Abdul Kareem: – An Honourable of in the National Assembly of the federal
Republic of Nigeria.
“Momoh, you know me now, you are the one from Kogi nah, are you not the one from kogi,
(general cuts in ” am a stake holder is more in my heart than you. Don’t talk to me anyhow
please, don’t talk to me anyhow.”) Am not talking to you anyhow to, don’t talk to me
anyhow too; i won’t take it from you. Whom am are you talking to, am an honourable
member of the national assembly, do you know you are insulting me too? (koro cuts in ” sit
down general, sit down please”)who are you that you say am insulting you, if am in the
military, i would be a brigadier or general today. so what are you saying, am a member of
the national assembly. (koro cuts in: i dont like all this embarrasment,we all left our home
to come here, we are here for the same thing. i don’t like the way the honourable is
talking, i asked him to come here, if you are a member of the national assembly so, i was
once a senator too. show some respect.”)”
TRANSCRIPT
TEXT STARTS
General:
Chief never belief me…………… he said OC mopol should handle them, we did. Now we
have nothing less than 500 vehicles, with specific instruction
Jelili Adesiyan: Are your men carrying out instructions
Obanikoro: Let me tell you why your men are not carrying out instructions, why am saying
your men are not carrying out instructions. We came in just now and we saw so many
check points none of them stopped us. We had to be stopping and asking why they are not
stopping us, and while we are doing that, a lot of vehicles….. We had military men in our
convoy and police in our convoy, and yet we expected to stop and demand to know who is
inside.
Jelili Adesiyan: several arrests
Fayose : Me I don’t want to be in this meeting, I don’t want to be in this meeting…. No
Obanikoro: Mo like i ru nko ba yi ( i don’t like this kind of thing). Take it easy… hmmm…
Obanikoro: why he’s been angry, he said you (you referring to General) have been dodgy.
That he’s (he referring to Fayose) been trying to meet you that you have always been
giving excuses
General: I understand His Excellency problem. ….. it’s not because you are here sir. In
fact if I start crying now….. No no no….wait! Wait! Wait! … Do I know you? We met
yesterday!….. The only person that can tell you the truth is Chief disu, the truth… In fact
I handed over…. 5 hours he was with me in the field, and he’s still in the field up till now.
Do you understand?
Obanikoro: Can you excuse us.
General: The problem we are having is that they should control it…..
Hon AbdulKareem: When you are there, how many people did you take from this things
ObaniKoro : (Clarification) That were arrested?
General: Including the chairman? The governor called me and said……
Jelili Adesiyan: But they said that issue of the chairman….. Because they just called
me from (koro cuts in “you know what I want you to do now” )…. am coming…. the issue
of the chairman of “oyen local government”. They just called us now that you have done
very well when the man was arrested in “Faki” but, that you brought him, arrested him
that he was thoroughly beaten, and after sometimes u said u found gun…. (General cuts
in “it’s the police inspector”) but they have withdrawn all the police orderly of all this
local government……..
General: As of this afternoon we still had the Governor. Like this afternoon, we still going
for this something…. there is … like yesterday he still called me. “Chief uba” does not
belief have not compromise even you! Those are his emails’ know his problem, the
pressure is high (Koro cuts in “Absolutely and failure is not an option”).
Jelili Adesiyan: We must not even fail in this…. because we have the people (Unidentified
Hausa man cuts in “oga sir!”)
General: No. No wait! You know who is pushing our principal; it’s all this people outside.
Jelili Adesiyan: Another thing, General relax sit down. You are a soldier man, you are
working for us. You have more shock absorber than we bloody civilian. Forget about that
there are something’s that are not clear to us. One – that your boys are dis-arming even
the police. (General “are the police for us? Yes now! Yes now!”)
ObaniKoro: He must know that. Let him explain himself please
General: you see the problem, once u are doing this thing you’ll understand. You have
spend a lot of resources I must confess. As at this afternoon, the vehicle that have left this
emmmmm… is up to one hundred and forty (140), in segment. Chief ehn…… please,
came out with two (2)set of people unknown to them. They don’t know themself am not
the one that divide them o. He said ok, you go here, you go there. He now brought the list
they now sat down and said. What of this one we have strike force they just entered into
the force. We can’t start arresting in the afternoon.(koro cuts in “is in the night”) in fact
because of pressure, this chairman when he was beaten, he said they should bring him
here. Unknown to me that he has even called SS director because he had been…… myself
the AIG, the police all of us work together today and we decided today that by 6 o’clock
they block the road. He’s own men he put them under OC mobile who divided them and
we inserted soldiers civil defence army and even NDLEA, and oga told them that is the OC
Mobile that is ……. (koro cuts in “duro nor” wait!)
ObaniKoro : I don’t want to keep you here more than necessary, because we are not alone
in this thing, we have to be seen to be fair, even if we have a direction that tomorrow we
want to achieve. Your excellency, we are here because of you, and it is you I want to
please. Momoh is here before you let us give him an assignment (fayose cut in “let me)
Fayose: This brigadier general I was governor of this state 12 years ago, you would
probably be a captain or a major, but we give God all the glory. When you talk to this man
he would argue from morning to night. What we want to eat does not allow us to know our
right. Number two, my younger brother retired in the army as brigadier general, when you
explain to this man, its argument, argument, argument. Today, we met and agreed on how
to work, myself, Omisore and all the head. We agreed on a strategy to use, and the nine
(9) that would join us and all you expect me to do, I have done. Before this incident
happened even as at Tuesday, our member are being matcheted and treated like nobody,
of late sir, have been calling you for the past three hours, to tell you that “Bimbo
Daramola” is doing rally in his home town, and they are brandishing gun, what does it take
you to make this arrest since sir? number two (2) I was the one who called you to tell you
that they have arrested a par…. arishe gave me that information, because its was in front
of arishe’s place. Fayemi was going on with 27 car convoy; I was the one who called you
that they arrested “Fayemi” council chairman with gun, by and large. “kabiyesi oke mesin”
and “Akin omole” MD of NAS before, calling that our community is flooded. (koro cut in ”
are you taking note, I need you to take note” person 1: yes sir!”).
Honourable AbdulKareem (comes in) :They are the ones, there this thing in “Ikare Ekiti”
there is breakdown of everything “o ti ju bi fun awon omo onike” look this is a very serious
situation (Jelili Adesiyan cuts in “awon olopa?) Sitting down with this man would mess
this election up for you. (koro cuts in “no no no”).
Koro: Who dis-arm who? Why were they dis-armed?
Jelili Adesiyan: listen koro, I was asking you one question one time. (Senator Omisore
cuts in “they have collected money. The police now that are working, they are dis-arming
them too.”) I asked one question from you, why was our police men dis-armed, you now
answer are they working with us? I want you to continue from that place. Its means you
are the one giving them info
General: Yes! You know why I said so? It’s a very simple question; if… you know when I saw Chief, Chris Uba I was so happy, because he came. The people that are on the field now
are people we briefed, not only soldiers, not only soldiers, SF were there now any vehicle
you see now we have….. a Hilux carry about 8 men its mix together. You don’t know the
directives, you don’t know the situation they found those police men. The vehicle that left
now, under “OC Mopol” from my own with Chris Uba in charge and myself and three of us,
it’s almost 140.
ObaniKoro: You know what, wait! we cannot keep this man here indefinitely, we can’t
keep him here indefinitely. He has said there is a team based on your instruction that is
going round now(fayose cuts in “can’t you let me talk, how can he say that, can you let me
talk am not a small boy!”).
Fayose: we agreed in Abuja on the modalities to work, we agreed on a sticker. That any
vehicle you see that sticker, you allow that sticker. That sticker is on those vehicles his
own was sent to him, mine was sent to me. The one by SSS was given to me to give to
them there is no vehicle that left this place without that sticker. The people you just disharmed
had that sticker clear and clean. Today they went to “efon” they carry all the…..
Where we are supposing to be collating, the thing INEC gave to us, soft copies we now
printed and everything, because they see INEC thing on top of it, why is my contact man
not with them, i said my contact man would be sitting in the check point permanently. i
convince this man to leave this people, they were said to sit in the sun. they packed all
the computers, its took me more than 2 hours to get this man to release this people. we
have been subjected to serious embarrassment, (Jelili Adesiyan cuts in ” then what we
have been told is that the army have been compromised”) they have been compromise.
They are now dis-arming police too that want to work, in my local government, my own
local government the same thing. today, they were sharing money in the government
house, i called them, people in the government house who loves us were taking pictures
how they were putting money in envelopes, i called them, did everything, instead its our
own rebel that is arrested co-incidentally, it’s the money i wanted to go and give to him.
(General cuts in “your excellency, have you finished sir?”)This is un-becoming….
General: Governor house yesterday, we were together, (koro cuts in, we have a challenge
on our hands, how do we resolve this challenge? I am here, the governor is here, when we
call you, we want action, it’s should not take 2 hours to get action”)
Koro: we have a challenge on our hands, how do we resolve this challenge? I am here, the
governor is here, when we call you, we want action, it’s should not take 2 hours to get
action, the governor said he called you, somebody was detained for over 2 hours, i want
to know who asked to be dis-harming those people.
General: Test my integrity; was I in your local government yesterday? (Un-identified Hausa
Man: yes sir, general: what did i tell you?)
Un-identified Hausa man: sir, the commander was there, he gave us contact and he
directed that only those contacts we should contact to, any other person, we should not
listen to. (fayose cuts in ” the contact was with you this afternoon? The contact was with
you “owoeye standing by you”)
Fayose : The contact was with you this afternoon owoye, the contact was standing by you,
and you are still questioning me. The contacts owoeye was telling you on the other line,
that that the man is with you, 30 – 40 minutes after, they were still kept there. you now
told me that i expect contact, is it too much? That in 24hrs, that the contact cannot stay
with eehhh.. That the contact cannot stay like that (general cuts in “you are misinterpreting
all this” un-identified Hausa man cuts in “sir! sir, the commander said that we
must deliver by all means, and that’s the directives they gave to us (koro cuts in ” if you
dont work with who you are supposed to work with……. its becomes a credibility to us.”)
Fayose: Excuse sir, I told Chief Uba, that am …… that he should send me some soldiers that should go with me, because of a long stage, this one came i told him that where is
he, he said he cannot come inside. did you not tell me that? oya talk now ? (koro cuts in ”
that he was reluctant to come inside”) i said well, i would not go and meet him outside
ooo. Invariably, he came inside, i said sit down. i now called him, i said what instruction
did you give to your guy? what instruction did you give to your guy? (general talks ” which
instruction did i give to you when you are coming ?” un-identified Hausa man answers “you
said that i should come, when his excellency is going home, i should escort him, and any
other thing he needs tomorrow during the election, we should provide it, that’s all!”) if he
want to spoil it, let him tie his head, because we are going to wage war against him. The
war is eminent. i was in my house, “chief of army staff” call me, and told me he has
briefed him, and gave me his number because i never met him before. He told me, you
are in safe hands; he would perform, and if you have any issues, call me. He told me that i
have made it clear to him that i am Jonathan for this election. Chief of army staff told
me, have never met him before in my life. He only called me with the instruction from the
villa. Each time we explain this this to this man, he porous, everything is porous.
Jelili Adesiyan: anyway, i don’t want us to….. where we are now general, we held so
many meetings, that i don’t belief we should be in this situation now. The idea of having
headship, is that everybody should work together. under no circumstances what so ever is
for anyone to be dis-armed number one. number 2 is that, (general cuts in: excuse me sir
this dis-harming of a thing, is it the thing that led to eemmmh…. am a commander (koro
cuts in : wait, the guy just left with the lady, the team that left here as we are being told,
are being dis-armed, that’s why we are worried.
Fayose: we even said this stickers must not be shared until its 4 o’clock.( general cuts in: when did we share the stickers? un- identified Hausa man answered: by 16:00hrs”) the guys
that just left just called that the soldiers have dis-harmed us, that they were as good as
beating us. I asked did they not see the stickers, they said the stickers are there. we
showed them (general cuts in :did i not tell you about stickers yesterday? “)
Un-identified Hausa man : you did sir.
General: what did i tell you?
Un-identified Hausa man : that any vehicle carrying the stickers, that we should be left.
(Jelili Adesiyan cuts in: are your boys carrying out your instructions? that was exactly
what i asked you?
General: i have 5 sections, i took my time yesterday (honourable AbdulKareem cuts in:” se
ko se pe awon people yi lo gba owo lo wo awon people yi?”)
Fayose: nko to won lo se ni yen!o ti wan se ni yen o!
Honourable AbdulKareem: you can’t do this. i have a stake in this. We are all stake
holders. (Everyone in the room echoes, we are all stake holders”)
Fayose: We have to call the president and let him know. This people are doing
somethings.they would not even serve police that wants to help us, we can’t continue like
this.(general cuts in ” are you working with a different police?”)
Honourable AbdulKareem: Momoh, you know me now, you are the one from kogi nah, are
you not the one from kogi, (general cuts in ” am a stake holder is more in my heart than
you. Don’t talk to me anyhow please, dont talk to me anyhow.”) Am not talking to you
anyhow to, don’t talk to me anyhow too, i won’t take it from you. whom am are you
talking to, am an honourable member of the national assembly, do you know you are
insulting me too? (koro cuts in ” sit down general, sit down please”)who are you that you
say am insulting you, if am in the military, i would be a brigadier or general today. so what
are you saying, am a member of the national assembly. (koro cuts in: i don’t like all this
embarrasment,we all left our home to come here, we are here for the same thing. i don’t
like the way the honourable is talking, i asked him to come here, if you are a member of
the national assembly so, i was once a senator too. show some respect.”)
Koro: i won’t say a word, i would allow you to talk, but i want to sound a note of warning.
This man, we cannot keep him here indefinitely. let us make progress, give him
instructions on what we want him to do, let him go and do it, let us monitor him, and
make sure those things are done, cause as he’s seated here, other people are monitoring
his movement (person 2 “God bless you sir”) give him instructions. (Person 4 cuts in “let
me just say something”) Let the senator land.
Senator Omisore: i would just say that we don’t have to argue this much, we have seen
some lapses yes, its just this evening. there is nothing happening now that we cannot
contain before tomorrow morning, there is nothing.so ba mi so fun general, we can be
together on this matter. your boys can be overzealous and do things that are not sent,
(koro cuts in “and some can be compromise too.”) yes! What am saying momoh is that, at
this level, any information that you hear from us, we are on ground here, move swiftly to
those information, and act number one. Instead of you defending them even blindly. You
go and find out what is really happening there. We have areas that are faulty areas, look
into it, “ikere”, “ilawe”. Let them confirm what is happening there. My friend major is
looking to “oke-mesin” himself.
Koro: Do you have a special team?
General: there are about 6 special team. ( koro cuts in” your own team”) i have one.
“Strike force” i have almost forty soldiers after deployment.
Koro : the idea of calling you, and not getting reactions we have to stop that now, you
must bring that to an end. When we call you, within the next 5 – 10 minutes, we need to
know what has been done about it, and we want to get the full feedback on what has
been done. all those that has been dis-armed, tell your men they must release them.
(person 4 cuts in “they don’t dis-armed anyone again”) and then put 2 or 3 of your men in
charge of that. That before anybody is dis-armed; they call that person for clearance.
That person would call in, and if they say they should not, nobody is dis-armed. If he say
that they should go ahead, nobody know them, go ahead and dis-armed them. Then that
daramola i want him picked up in the morning, (person 4 cuts in: “no in the night, tonight!
daramola and commissioner for finance”) daramola is in which local govt.
General: sir, we have done a lot of arrest.me and oga chris.(person 4 cuts in : i know”)
Koro: i understand.
General: what am saying is that, it’s the pressure.
Koro: wait! Wait! Your excellency, give him your token so that we can go.
Fayose: o ni number mi. he has my number.
Koro: the people you want them to take control of would arrest before the morning, can
make their list and their local government go and bring it.(general cuts in: that chairman
now, he’s already with SS now.”) let me tell you, they say there is one place that has been
flooded “ecomog” from osun “omisore cuts in: that’s oke-mesin, he spoke to the oba of
oke-mesin” that oba, you must ensure, that those people are flushed out.”
Omisore: oke mesin.
General: Oke-mesin where? (omisore cuts in” he knows the place”) oh, i know oke-mesin
very well.
Koro: who is that one gonna brief, (Un-Identified hausa man in “captain aja, he is already there. i gave him the number ehhhh. i gave him the number of akin.”) oh akin is there.
General: Daramola is which local government?
Koro :Oye local government, don’t go an give very conflicting ki ni o. i don’t want you to stay here for to long
General: yes sir!
Koro: They would be talking to you on the phone (general cuts in” yes sir.”) Nobody is
monitoring you; i don’t want a situation they would say you have come here.
Omisore: i want you to notice that when the governor was going, he went with about
twenty something vehicles.(koro cuts in “the governor told him that already”)
Koro: that should not be happening on the eve of election
Honourable AbdulKareem : awon ti won ba se meeting nko ni tantalizer? (general cuts in :”you are the one nah, its chris”)
General: Lets accept one thing, we want success, you know why i ask, if we have put only
policmen, we would have reach them together. in the presence of chief chris, i said if we
dont deliver. since yesterday we’ve been hammering it. He just left. Now am the one that
pick up the chairman of oyen local govt. if am compromise, the governor doesn’t have my
number. Is the chief that he telling me that he’s been asking for my number from him? As a
general, i can’t pretend like he does not want to give money.
Koro: general sir, it’s not about you, it’s your men in the field,(general cuts in “we
checkmate them”) ehnnn..it’s for you to continue to find out what they are doing.(general
cuts in ” sir, what you need to do now, don’t listen to people texting, Chris is talking to me
and my men, sir you sent me a message that somebody is behind the
negotiating………what i want to do is, we are going to form a group, a one group. Have
told chief yesterday that am not working again, that he should be in touch, he said he’s
coming to my place.”
General: voting has not started, the plan has been briefed, i told this man in uniform
yesterday, i don’t know which state he’s from. i took my time within 2 days when that
thing happened, i went round and my brief to them is deliver or you would be sanctioned,
and i told them if this my is your contact point, if they say follow here follow. Tell me any
soldier man that is staying in any of the opponent hotel. We have asset we are not using
it. the governor, our excellency, i know his problem i never knew until…… when oga chief
came to me, he looked at me if its money he said he would give to me, have given my
soldiers, their morale are high.(koro cuts in:” don’t talk too much, i want you to go and
work and deliver for us. look here, you can’t get promotion without me sitting on top of
your military council. If am a happy man tomorrow night, the sky is your limit, and at the
end of the day if am unhappy….”)
Koro: am not here for tea party, am on a special assignment by the president (Jelili Adesiyan cuts in: “so that when next we have someone 2 send on special assignment, it’s
would be you. There is one thing i want to tell you, we are anticipating tomorrow, because
this people know we have people that want to vote for us tomorrow, this people might
come out with thugs to destabilize our people at the polling unit. we want you to work
with the police too, and arrest whoever wants to cause problem a any polling unit
People speaking for a while…….
Omisore : there is a contact man in wusi. Call that contact person now.
General: They are with the my soldiers,(fayose cuts in: “it’s not correct sir.”) gentlemen
listen both of you, i told pastor this evening how many local government is in our hands, i
called pastor this morning that please tell your men to follow my soldier one by one.
Fayose: If am working for you, if am working for you sir, i cannot be following you around sir. My people cannot be following you about. We don’t follow IG about, we don’t follow
police about. The “OC mopol” of this state is working for us, we don’t follow him about.
When we call him one hand we have this problem he settles it immediately. Last night, we
told him this is happening around the government house, he condone off all the 4
entrance off (general cuts in: ‘ i was the one oh”) you are not the one sir. (General cuts in
again:” i was the one who created road blocks, I was the officer on ground sir.”) When you
were coming this night, were you searched?
TEXT ENDS
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