Group Sets Grand Agenda For Buhari ·

Urges jettisoning of Nigeria’s expensive Presidential System.

·        Blasts continued implementation of IMF economic policies.

·        Calls for drastic slashing of salaries of political office holders.

By Chukwudi OHIRI

As the gale of agenda setting for the incoming administration continues ahead of the May 29 handover date, a group, under the aegis of Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation (MNTT) comprising of leaders of thought from the six geopolitical zones of the country and in the Diaspora led by erstwhile Editor of Daily Times, Chief Areoye Oyebola, has made available to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a detailed document charting a comprehensive roadmap for the total transformation of the country.

The document which was made available to some media houses outlined specific action plans and urgent steps that must be taken by the incoming administration to revamp the economy, fight corruption, end impunity, end insurgency, create a value re-orientation for the citizenry and reposition Nigeria for greatness again, amongst others.  MNTT believes that the administration of Gen. Buhari’s administration will hit the ground running if it religiously implements the contents of the document.

To demonstrate to all Nigerians that his administration is that of an altruistic service to the people and not business as usual, the MNTT recommends that in the first instance, salaries and allowances as well as the now trending severance gratuities and post-tenure pensions of all political office holders starting from the president himself to the local government Chairmen and councillors be slashed down by between 60—70% in order to free up capital required for infrastructural developments. The group decried a situation where recurrent expenditure in the country’s annual budget more than triples the capital expenditure thereby denying the citizens the opportunity of developing critical infrastructures that directly impacts on the lives of the common people that make up a vast majority of the population. The policy document expressed worry that the emoluments of public office holders are still shrouded in secrecy and are allegedly far higher than those of their counterparts in advanced richer countries.

The group argued that one of the reasons for desperation by politicians to get into office at all cost is the luxurious lifestyle political offices guarantee such that Nigerian politics has now become more lucrative than drug peddling. “For you to succeed in your herculean task”, the group told Buhari, “salaries and allowances of the President, National Assembly members, Governors, Ministers and other political office holders should be reduced by about 60 to 70 per cent”. In addition, “severance gratuities and post tenure pensions, whether approved or contemplated, should be reduced or cancelled out-rightly” in tandem with what obtains in advanced climes, the group said.

The MNTT document harped on the need to drastically cut down the cost of governance which it blamed on the expensive and extravagant presidential system that gives room for over bloated bureaucracies. The group unequivocally recommended the discarding of Nigeria’s ostentatious Presidential system while suggesting concrete way of making a pragmatic departure from it in order to cut down on the cost of governance. The group specifically urged Gen. Buhari to epitomize this matter of immense national exigency by issuing a Presidential directive to the Salaries and Wages Commission, on assumption of office, that “all basic salaries and allowances paid to you (Buhari) as President of Nigeria must be lower than that of President Barak Obama (of the United States) which is $4000,000 a year”.

On the hydra-headed monster called corruption which has eaten deep into the very fabrics of the country’s national life, the MNTT called for a decisive action plan against perpetrators that will include long prison terms, forfeiture of dubiously acquired wealth and the abolition of the system of plea bargaining as non-option. The group called on Buhari not only to amplify, but also exemplify his much hyped “strong moral authority” in the crusade against corruption. They argued that “the all-pervading corruption in all areas of our national lives, most especially, among the different arms of government” was responsible for the economic crunch being experienced in the country lately, insisting that the efforts to arrest and prosecute politicians have only been inert and insincere. The group noted that “despite all the pretences and occasional arrest and inconclusive prosecution of those involved in massive corrupt enrichment, no highly placed Nigerian has been made to serve as a scapegoat through life imprisonment and publicised forfeiture of stolen houses, lands and funds as a deterrent to other future treasury looters”. In the light of this, the group urged Gen. Buhari to up the ante once in office saying: “The all-important point is that you must ruthlessly and desperately fight corruption to a standstill, with our laws changed to give harsh punishments, including long years of imprisonment, and forfeiture of stolen assets for all offenders, irrespective of status. Plea bargaining must never again be tolerated in this country”.

Still on the issue of freeing more funds for developmental projects, the total national transformation advocates decried the large number of Presidential fleet (about eleven) whereas the country has no national carrier. They called for immediate sale of at least, nine of the presidential jets “considering the fact that the richest country on earth, the United States has very few presidential planes, compared to Nigeria”. In a direct advocacy for the sell-off, the group said: “Please do not hesitate to sell nine of the eleven jets with two retained”. It also recommended that the proceeds from the sales be immediately invested in the provision of additional Mega Watts of electricity that would be sufficient, on a 24hour basis for our industrial and domestic needs”.

On fuel subsidy, the group opined that Nigeria has no business importing petroleum products when it could have as many refineries as possible and rather than export crude oil, it would be then be exporting refined products with added value. They counselled Gen Buhari to set timelines for his administration on when to revamp Nigeria’s decrepit refineries, build additional ones, end importation of fuel and correct the fraudulent practice whereby Nigeria ranks among OPEC member countries with one of the highest fuel pump price per litre and the lowest minimum wage record. It described the fuel subsidy regime as monumental fraud against the Nigerian people as the oil cartels cart away billions through mere presentation of receipts without importing a single litre of fuel.

On Nigeria’s fiscal and economic policy thrust, the MNTT called for the jettisoning of the one-size-fits-all economic blueprint of the Breton Woods institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In its stead, they advocated for a “a coherent, original, deep-rooted and forward-looking economic philosophy that can turn Nigeria, with its awesome endowment by providence into one of the most prosperous nations in  the world in record time. The group criticized the import-oriented status of Nigeria’s economy “which has made the country a dumping ground for all sorts of (substandard) manufactured products from different parts of the world.” They opined that Nigeria could achieve much more than the proceeds from oil if only it can look in the direction of Agriculture and exploration of other solid minerals other than oil which abound in commercial quantities across the length and breadth of the nation waiting for harnessing.

MNTT insisted that “until we take such drastic steps (most of which were enunciated in the policy document under review), Nigeria will continue to move around in circle thinking that it is making progress whereas it is heading nowhere” adding that such incoherent and half-hearted measures of the previous regimes “explains why the percentage of China’s abject poverty shrank from 56per cent of its population to 12 per cent in the last 30 years (whereas) that of Nigeria rose from 20 to 80 per cent within the same period.

Arise, O Compatriots (1)

By Chukwudi OHIRI

(07052415807)

The events of the last few weeks in Nigeria and later, the xenophobic attack on non-indigenous blacks in South Africa really call for intense sober reflections for every well meaning Nigerian, especially all Igbo indigenes at home and in the Diaspora. Unfortunately, it appears that there are no lessons learnt. Nigerians and indeed the Igbos have not learnt that East or West, home remains the best.

First, it was the Oba of Lagos, His Highness Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who savagely issued a warning threat to all Igbo people residing in Lagos to either vote for his preferred candidate in the recently conducted governorship polls or face extinction. According to the well respected king, Lagos belongs to him and the Igbos have to do his bidding or perish in the Lagoon. The controversy and uproar generated by the comment almost heat up the polity to a melting point. In the end, the Oba’s anointed candidate won the elections and whether the Igbos heeded his call or not is a subject for further discussions. Heavens did not fall, but where lessons learnt?

Hardly had the dust generated by the Oba’s thread at home settled than another King in far away South Africa provoked a spate of wanton killings of fellow black Africans in what may pass for one of the world’s most deadly xenophobic attacks in recent history. The king of the Zulu nation, Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly accused the government of South Africa of cowardice for not intervening in the growing number of non indigenes setting up businesses in South Africa and thereby “inconveniencing” the banafide indigenes. He allegedly called on such foreigners to leave the country and what followed was the spate of killings.

The sad but indubitable truth is that Nigerians, especially the Igbos are the most travelled people on earth and perhaps, worst hit in all of these. Arise O compatriots, it’s time to wake up. It’s time to think home, it’s time build Nigeria and Igbo land of our dreams.

Outside the shores of Nigeria, a Nigerian is despised and treated with disdain for the wrong reasons. Within the country, the Igbo man is seen as a perpetual threat that must be halted at all cost. In the North, he is despised. In the South, he is dreaded. In the West, he is hated, abhorred and disparaged like a monster that must be eliminated. Unfortunately, in the East, the Igboman appears to hate one another.

Look at the governorship polls in Abia State. It has been turned into a tribal war between bonafide indigenes and non-bonafide indigenes. It also degenerated to death threat on residents who dare to vote against a certain candidate. Yet we cried ‘blue murder’, ‘we wailed’ we lamented when the Oba of Lagos threatened us with death if we fail to vote for his anointed candidate. What moral justifications do we have to condemn the Oba when we do the same thing to ourselves back home? Who would take us serious if we are so threatened elsewhere? A dog can only bear the name its owner calls it. People address you the way you are dressed. Not until we begin to regard ourselves, no body will regard us. We are directly the architect of our misfortune in corporate Nigeria. At the national level, unless our government begins to place high premium on the lives and welfare of its citizens, no nation would accord us that respect and dignity we deserve.

 A few years ago, this same South Africa, forgetting so soon, the price paid by Nigeria in its march to freedom and complete eradication of apartheid, embarked on the deportation of Nigerians with genuine visas on account of a yellow fever vaccine document which the authorities claimed was fake.  What did our government do? They hobnobbed with the South African authorities, invited them to a tea party and that was all. Every time, the federal government engage in a weightless rhetoric about a certain principle of reciprocity in its foreign policy thrust, but when the occasion warrants reciprocal action, the will power disappears and we chicken away.  

While not soliciting for a reciprocal killings and damage of investments as many Nigerians have prescribed (two wrongs cannot make a right), the Nigerian government ought to have demonstrated a proactive stance that will portray it as a responsible government. Rather than moving to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa as many other countries have done, the federal government feels the damage already done is not enough to warrant such an expedient action. Perhaps, when Nigerians begin to die in their thousands; when their properties are depleted to ground zero; when the son, daughter or relation of a highly placed politician or government official is affected; maybe it will then be time to act. This is called ‘crying when the head is already off’—reactionary governance. Arise O compatriots, our attitude towards our citizens must change.

Recall that in September last year after the ill-fated Synagogue Church of All Nations building collapsed, killing scores of South Africans, the South African government promptly dispatched a delegation to Nigeria not only to ascertain the complicity of the church owners in the tragedy, but also to ensure that it personally took stock of its demised nationals and their bodies taken home. Can the Nigerian government replicate the same feat if the story was the other way round? I’m sure you know the answer.

In January 2015 when 12 French journalists were killed in Paris, the French government led by President Francois Hollande with a unanimous support of all citizens declared war on the terrorists deploying over 10,000 troops across the length and breadth of France not only to forestall further attacks, but also to apprehend the three suspected terrorists. Never was it heard that the opposition cast aspersion on its leader nor was it politicized.

In Nigeria, when more than 200 Chibok girls were abducted over a year ago, there were neither signs of emergency on the part of the government nor were the citizens unanimous in condemning and seeking solution to the debacle. In fact, it became a campaign tool in the hands of the opposition making it sound as if the purported abduction was a fiction. Till date, these girls are still missing while many Nigerians still doubt if the abduction was real. We must arise, O compatriots, lest we continue to be a laughing stock among the comity of nations. Premium must be placed on the lives of our citizens. Let us imbibe the culture of chasing away the predatory kites and blame the mother hen later for her carelessness. If we don’t imbibe this attitude, the Chibok girls (if real) will remain missing even with the bravest of presidents. The fight against insurgency will remain elusive and the little gains made, reversed.       

Who takes the blame in all of these? It is neither the government nor the citizens. I think we are collectively guilty as charged.

2015 General Election: The Die Is Cast

By Chukwudi OHIRI

Gradually, years have turned to months, months to weeks, weeks to days and now, in a matter of hours, the long awaited general elections stare us right in the face. The gladiators having supposedly crossed their ‘Ts’ and dotted their ‘Is’, the press has been awash with permutations from pundits and bookmakers—some, in favour of the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others, in favour of the of the main opposition figure, General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Party (APC).

One thing unique about this year’s election is that locally and internationally, all seem to agree with the notion that Nigeria is going to the polls for the first time in its chequered history on a level playing ground for both the incumbent and the major contender. For the first time, the presidential election is going to be keenly contested in a most gruesome atmosphere shrouded in uncertainties as to the outcome. The whole world has its eyes attentively glued towards Nigeria.

 Penultimate week, Israel held its presidential election. That election did not draw attention of the world as much as the one Nigeria is about to conduct despite the fact that the stability or otherwise of Israel in the Middle East has grave consequences for the world at large. Yet, it did not generate as much frenzy as the one in the offing in Nigeria. In fact, not many people knew that Israel was about to hold a major election at the time. It came like a flash of lightening and before one knew it, it was gone. The hullabaloo associated with Nigeria’s election is a pointer that its success or flop will have far reaching implications beyond Nigeria’s shores.

How ready is INEC?

Whether the umpire—the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is ready or not is inconsequential at this point at least until after the polls. One undeniable fact is that had the elections held on February 14 as earlier scheduled, it would have been an unmitigated disaster as unfolding events have clearly shown that apart from the security issue which was amplified by INEC as main reason for the postponement, INEC was anything but ready. Nigerians must remain grateful to those who furtively or openly canvassed for the initial postponement from 14^th February to March 28. Except if there was a deliberate ploy by default to get it wrong from the outset. Inadvertently, has admitted that all was not well with its readiness asides from security.   

The question about INEC’s present readiness is a very dicey one. As usual, Prof. Jega has repeatedly told Nigerians that its commission is sufficiently prepared for the polls. In s[pit of these assurances, there are palpable fears in many quarters that the March 28 polls will never be hitch-free in terms of logistics. This has become like stock-in-trade of INEC. Of course, it will be a tall order to expect that INEC has to be one hundred per cent before the elections can be held. However, analysts appear divided over INEC’s claim of being substantially ready. The confusion still trailing the distribution of Voter Cards is one area that may puncture INEC’s claims. With only a few hours to the elections, INEC has not refuted the allegations that some PVCs are yet to be printed. News of large chunk of cards being erroneously sent to wrong locations still trickle in without clear solutions in sight. PVC distributions in Ogun State and Lagos are still shrouded in controversies without INEC coming clean on how it intends to resolve the impasse. Reports have it that thousands of residents in these states hit brick walls late last week in the last minute rush to collect the cards. In many cases, INEC officials were either not found or they arrived very late into the afternoons with one tale or the other as to why the cards were not handy. In most of the distribution centres, the frustrated voters left in anger. The import of all these hick-cuffs is that millions of Nigerians who are ready and willing to exercise their civic responsibilities will be disenfranchised for no fault of theirs. The silence and complacency of the opposition party—APC in the face of these discrepancies is suspect. This is unlike the APC we know. Perhaps, the unequivocal vote of confidence passed on Jega and INEC by the APC is perhaps, the reason why the PDP seems to be crying foul, alleging a grand conspiracy and complicity by INEC and the opposition party. One thing is sure. Many Nigerians will be disenfranchised even when the PVCs are distributed on the election day proper.

The Nagging Controversy over the use of Military

The yet unresolved issue or rather, the lack of consensus on whether then military will be deployed during the election or not is quite worrisome. Understandably, unfolding events have given credence to the agitation of the opposition for sticking to their guns on non-use of the military during the election. The integrity and non-partisanship of the military has been put to question in recent past. The undeniable truth is that it will be more beneficial than detrimental to use the military during the polls. Most analysts who initially opposed the plan to deploy the military are beginning to see reasons with those that insist. As a matter of fact, not a few electorate have vowed that they will have nothing to do with the elections if there was no adequate security on ground to guarantee safety of lives and property during and after the polls. The absence of the military will aggravate the already worsening spate of voter apathy that is prevalent. The rigid position of the opposition is quite apprehensive.

The constitution clearly holds that the military have no business with elections. Strengthening this provision is the recent judgement by a competent court of jurisdiction that the military must not be involved in elections. However, the midpoint of this impasse will be that while the police act as first line security during the polls, the military and other paramilitary groups can be strategically and conspicuously placed on standby to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Moreover, the services of the Naval and Air force will be highly indispensable in the logistics of INEC. If the federal government decides to officially withdraw the military and the paramilitary at the eleventh hour in obedience to the court judgement and the bidding of the opposition, this will be a sure recipe for disaster. Caution must therefore be exercised while clear rules of engagement must be spelt out.

What the Opinion Polls say

As usual and as expected, opinion polls and surveys from independent and national have been inundating the polity though not without confliction propositions. The common denominator in the submissions is that out of a total of 14 candidates vying for the presidency, only two are considered real contenders.

For the National Think Tank Group, victory would go to the candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Bu­hari.  A two-page analysis of the survey, tagged: “Straw Predic­tion of 2015 Presidential Election”, made available to Journalists by Dr. Peter Orji, predicted that Buhari/APC will carry the day with an estimated votes of 15.4 million while President Goodluck Jonathan/PDP would garner about 11 million. To arrive at this conclusion, the group stated that it based its forecast on “a careful study of the demographics of Nigeria voting patterns, based on an unbiased analysis of how voters shall cast their votes.”

The group submitted that Buhari would lead in the North-East, North- West, North-Central and South-West, while Jonathan would win in the South-South and South-East. It also explained that unlike in 2011, Buhari “will secure substantial votes in the North-Central and greatly improve his showing in the South-East.” In its summary, the group put the distribu­tion of the votes across the zones in the following order: “North-Central, PDP, 1.73million, APC, 1.86million. North-East, PDP, 1.3million, APC, 2.55million. North- West, PDP 2.15million, APC, 5.65mil­lion. South-East, PDP 1.65million, APC, 650,000. South-South, PDP, 2,.2million APC, 1.7million. South- West, PDP, 2million, APC, 2.9million. FCT, PDP, 150,000, APC, 200,000.

Conversely, an independent national opinion poll carried out around the country by a United Kingdom-based firm Kevin, Charlyn and Kimberly claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan would coast home with victory ahead of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), with a margin of 13 per cent. The survey, according to the group revealed that 77per cent of the respondents went for Dr. Jonathan while Buhari scored 27 percent from over 30,000 respondents interviewed in the survey.

Unveiling the result of the survey to a cross section of journalists in Abuja, Vice President of the firm Mr. Vince Onyekwelu, said the results were collated from a survey monkey sample of 28,000 respondents, 2000 respondents from Facebook and Twitter, and another 300 respondents from face-to-face contacts and telephone interviews.

Elsewhere, political research group, Eurasia, presented its analysis of the 2015 presidential election. According to the assessment, Eurasia tipped President Goodluck Jonathan for a narrow victory over Muhammadu Buhari. The survey lowered the probability of President Jonathan’s re-election to 55% as an energized Buhari campaign gains momentum in swing regions. It argued that the issues of weak security and corruption will play to Buhari’s advantage, yet, machine politics and access to money are likely to decide Nigeria’s election, leaving Jonathan and the PDP with the edge.

Landmines ahead of the elections

There is clearly an uneasy calm in the polity. Thanks to the postponement of the polls earlier scheduled for February 14. This ‘divine’ postponement calmed a lot of nerves and literarily changed the tensed atmosphere. However, pundits strongly believe that whoever emerges winner at the polls, there will be skirmishes of violence followed by accusations and counter accusations of systematic rigging. It is however believed that the security agencies will rally to the rescue to abate the potency of the danger.

The issue of PVC distribution will surely resonate prior to and after the polls. The fear is that some parties will hide under this anomaly to question the integrity of the polls. Already, allegations of a deliberate lopsided distribution are in the air and it is most likely to be amplified when eventually a loser emerges.

The use of card reader for the polls is like a beautiful bride with leprosy. Many analysts see it as a disaster-in-waiting. Unfortunately, there seem to be no going back on its usage as any attempt to do so will truncate the entire process. The test run organised by INEC a few weeks ago revealed significant flaws which INEC downplayed for whatever reasons.

In the first instance, the main essence of the card reader is to authenticate not just the card, but the card holder through the unique features of fingerprints. The arrangement is that once the card reader is unable to read the fingerprints, an incidence form will be issued to the voter to enable him vote. This defeats the whole essence of the card reader given the magnanimity of allegations levelled against INEC. The implication of this is that if truly, as alleged by the PDP, INEC connived with APC to compromise the process as its complacency suggests, then INEC could possibly have issued millions of card which will surely pass through the card readers but cannot authenticate fingerprints. This can give room for multiple voting especially in those areas where there is a general consensus to malign a particular candidate. In 2011, reports had it that supposed party agents sold out their principal to favour particular candidates on both sides. The decider therefore depended on who outrigs the other. In theory, INEC has reportedly provided safeguards against this scenario but mischief makers on both parties must be lurking around to abuse the incidence form.

Beyond the fears about rigging, a situation where the card reader was only able to authenticate the fingerprints of 54% of voters (as reported in some of the test stations) during the test run that witnessed very low turnout should be a source of worry. The fear here is that when more people turn up for accreditation, the margin of error might likewise more than triple. The inherent frustration that will naturally come from voters, especially when they will have to queue  for hours unending due to slow accreditations process occasioned by malfunctioning card readers may trigger unrest.

Finally, the issue of Buihari’s certificate may have been subdued, there is this apprehension that the courts might give a verdict that may not be palatable to all in the aftermath of the election. The apprehension may even be more within the APC as internal wrangling may lead to disgruntled party members trying to explore that loophole if victory comes to the party. The implication might be that the real winner may have to yield the victory to runners up coveting that position.

The War on Boko Haram

Emerging reports from the theatre of war—the North East, are that nearly all the territories captured by the insurgents have been retaken by the Nigerian forces.  The President and Commander-in-Chief, President Goodluck Jonathan has reassured Nigerians that all the captured territories will be liberated before the polls. This sounds like a promise kept, however, the internally Displaced Persons, IDPs have yet to return to their bases. Non indigenes who fled from those areas may not be in a hurry to go back and this may have some negative consequences on the overall rating of the elections.

As Nigerians March out on March 28 and April 11, all eyes are on the country to see how fair or foul the elections may turn out to be. One thing is certain. The 2015 election will likely be a watershed in the history of Nigeria.     

INEC POSTPONES FEBRUARY 2015 ELECTIONS

Chukwudi Ohiri

News just reaching us now is that the proposed general elections scheduled for February 14, and 28 2015 has been rescheduled. The elections will now hold on March 28 and April 11 respectively.

Briefing Journalists at the end of a marathon meeting with stakeholders, Professor Attahiru Jega, the INEC boss cited unpreparedness of the security agencies to guarantee security of lives and property of citizens especially in the troubled spots of the North-East as the main reason for the postponement insisting that INEC was prepared for the elections but had to reschedule the election on the advice of the National security team.

He ruled out the possibility of resigning his appointment based on calls by some groups for his resignation on grounds of ineptitude and allegations of complicity with the opposition party APC to tilt the elections in its favour. Jega threatened that he would have sued those accusing him of complicity for damages were it not for his busy schedule of ensuring a credible, free and fair election. However, Prof. Jega said he would willingly resign if anybody could come up with a proof  that he erred in any way in the conduct of his duty as INEC Chairman.   

Prof. Jega reiterated that distribution of PVCs cannot and is not the reason for rescheduling the elections but that the Commission would take the advantage of the postponement to perfect its preparations where they were hitherto lagging behind. He ruled out categorically that nobody has forced the Commission to take its decision on the elections as it was thoroughly reviewed before arriving at the final decision to shift the polls. 

Obanikoro Returns As Minister

Obanikoro Returns As Minister

By Chukwudi Ohiri

In what appears to be a promise promptly kept, President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded the names of seven new ministers to the Senate for confirmation including a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and six other.

Also nominated were Kenneth Kobani, a former National Treasurer of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, and a former Senator, Patricia Akwashiki.

Mr. Obanikoro, one of the aspirants who contested for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State almost caused a major crisis in the party when he rejected the outcome of the primaries where Jimi Agbaje was declared the winner. Obanikoro popularly called Koro by his teeming supporters had resigned his ministerial position on October 15 to vie for the party’s ticket in Lagos for the 2015 election.

In the after math, Koro lost to Jimi Agbaje who was believed to be the preferred candidate of the party leadership in a somewhat controversial manner leading to some face-offs and rancor within the party. Obanikoro not only rejected the results of the primaries, but went ahead to file a legal suit against the declaration of Mr. Agbaje as winner, a situation that elated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as it would have potentially balkanized the opposition PDP ahead of the polls if not quickly checked.

Part of the deal that assuaged the anger of Obanikoro was that President Goodluck Jonathan assured him that he would be reappoint into the cabinet if he sheathed his sword over the scuffle. The settlement informed Koro’s decision to discontinue his legal challenge of the PDP governorship primary result for Lagos State promising to join forces with Agbaje and the PDP to capture Lagos come February 28.

There is every likelihood that the National assembly may ratify his nomination although there are fears that some of his perceived excesses during his brief stint in office as Minister of states, Defence may pose some albeit, temporary challenge to his easy passage. Again, if the nominations are not ratified before the first set of elections on February 14, 2014, his roles and activities during and after the elections will most likely be a factor in screening and ratifying his nomination.