Jonathan's mess, Buhari's burden

You may never fully understand the malady at the Mile 2/Apapa end of the Oshodi-Apapa expressway until you visit there.  This is the ill-luck President Goodluck Jonathan apportioned the residents and workers in that area; it grew incrementally worse in the last two years.

Tankers, as they are called, waiting to load Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, have defied every suggested solution.  It was so bad sometime last year that President Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Project Monitoring, Professor Sylvester Monye, came to Lagos but was not able to get to the point of the road where a proper assessment could be made. Why?  Because the tanker drivers are the lords of the road!

If you are a resident of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, just imagine the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as the loading depot.  Then imagine a five-lane queue of tankers – highly combustible, with unruly drivers – from the airport all the way to Lugbe Estate.

If you are a resident of Ibadan, imagine a five-lane queue of these same articulated vehicles from Iwo Road roundabout all the way to Ibadan Tollgate, by Lead City University.  If you live and work in Enugu, imagine same from the Enugu Airport all the way to Government House, Enugu, where Governor Sullivan Chime presently resides.

Apapa Oshodi road completely shut down

For those living and or working in Kaduna, visualize a five-lane queue of these terrible tankers from Angwanrimi to Ahmadu Bello House; and if you are a Port Harcourt person, imagine same from Pipeline Junction to Mile 1 Flyover.

The reason for this voyage is that unless and until you experience this madness, the story would sound distant, very distant.

Yet, that same road leads to Nigeria’s port, one of the busiest in Africa, yielding billions of naira but enmeshed in this murkiness. For a distance of less than 400metres in-between and depending on which part of this stretch is your house or office, you could be stranded on the road for eight, yes, eight hours. It could be worse.

Even a revered Man of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, when he visited Vanguard in December 2013, could not but express bewilderment at the will-power of residents and workers in this seemingly God-forsaken part of Lagos.  Vanguard has had to open an ultra-modern outlet in Ikeja for ease of business regarding advert placements. The madness is egregiously complemented by craters on this federal highway, which makes driving crazy.

Jonathan is on his way out.  Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s next President and Commander-in-Chief would inherit this mess.

If there is any part of Nigeria requiring urgent CHANGE, it is this part of town.  Nigerians are waiting. 19 more days cannot be as bad as the years of neglect.

Privatisation of PHCN a fraud,electricity workers tell Buhari

In apparent response to the statement made by the out-going minister of power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, on the need for the in-coming administration not to tamper with the   privatization of the power sector, electricity workers in the country have demanded a thorough review of the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, alle-ging that the privatization   project  was fraught with irregularities.

The workers further alleged that the privatisation exercise had made electricity generation and consumption in the country ineffective.

The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Emplo-yees, NUEE, insisted that the payment   of over N200   billion to the private sector by the government after the privatization   exercise leaves much to be desired, and urged the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, to revisit the   exercise.

The executive members of the union, led by the General Secretary and factional President of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said   this in Abuja, while conducting select journalists round the site of abandoned 60 containers of 52KVA electricity transformers, at Kubwa, in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the NUEE executive members, Ajaero argued that if after many months, privatization of electricity in the country had failed to bring positive impact to electricity consumers, then, there  was the need for the Buhari-led presidency  to revisit the programme.

Comrade Ajaero said: “We want to say, as a union that the sham called privatization should be revisited. If privatization, as we were told, was to  bring us heaven-on-earth elderado, and it has not done that, why should we insist on it?.

“Of course, our position as NUEE, has been no to privatization, especially given that we are an underdeveloped economy. It is the function of the state to provide power.

“Even the   so called privatization, you   can see   that even   this   year   alone, between January   and now, they have even given the so   called private   sector over N200   billion. So, why fund them if you say the electricity is in the hands of the private sector? That brings you to the point of the fraud on who owns them.

“Why would you sell your house to  somebody and you still give him money to maintain it? So, it’s a fraud.”

Emphasizing on the minister’s comment that privatization of PHCN must stay, Ajaero added: “We want Buhari to ask questions first  and foremost because it   is wrong for   a   an out-going minister to be setting agenda   for Buhari to reverse or not to reverse the privatization of PHCN.

“A minister who inherited about 4000 megawatts and is today, battling with just 2000 and something megawatts, doesn’t have   the moral   courage to advise incoming government   on what   to   do.

Ajaero stressed: “If he Buhari asks questions for some months, he will now know the direction to move.”

On the abandoned containers, Ajaero said he was alerted on the abandoned equipments by concerned citizens who got wind of the development.

“With these transformers hidden here,  you can now understand that while they were privatizing, certain properties were being hidden, “he alleged.

I Have Not Given Up On My Political Ambition - 9ICE

The Nigerian musician Abolore Akande, popularly known as 9ice, has revealed that he has not given up on his political ambition.

In an interview with Vanguard the musician speaks about his ambition to become the governor of Oyo state.

On lessons he learnt from his experience in politics:

“I’ve learnt that Nigeria lacks leadership. It’s ‘moneyticians’ that they see, and they have no choice but to follow whoever they see. During the course of my campaign, I learnt a lot, and I got closer to the people. I listened to their yearnings, and realized that they want a lot of things, but are not getting what they want.

I will also implore people who have the passion to lead their people to offer themselves up for service. The people that we have there now are not leaders; they’re just there for whatever they’ll gain.” 

On his ultimate ambition:

“My ultimate ambition in politics is to become the governor of Oyo State. However, I’ll still run for the Federal House of Representatives to serve my constituency in the next election. I believe I can serve in that position very well, and I also know that I stand the chance to become the governor of Oyo State.”

On his plans for the people as the Special Adviser to the Oyo State governor on Youths:

“My plans are to spring up so many ideas that I already have at the back of my mind. Initiatives like the Governor’s Cup in terms of Sports, and also by organizing debates. The era of debates has died, and I think we need to encourage the brilliant students who have the capacity for that in Oyo State. I intend to present such students to the governor so they can be supported academically, and if the powers that be support the idea, then I think we’re good to go.”

On how he intends to combine his role as a public official and an artiste:

“I don’t think one disturbs the other. My political office is during the day as Abolore Akande, and music is performed at night by 9ice. I think I have already differentiated the two.”

On his plans to work towards regulating the industry in his own way:

“Definitely! That’s one of the reasons why I’m in politics. People in this industry complain every day, but there will be no change if we don’t participate. The more we are in government, the better it will be for us.”

9ice, born as Alexander Abolore Adegbola Adigun Alapomeji Ajifolajifaola is a Nigerian musician. He is a south-westerner from Ogbomoso in Oyo state but he grew up in the district of Bariga in Lagos.

He is known for his use of Yoruba language in his music, but mixes the Yoruba proverbs with English, broken English, Hausa and Ibo sometimes.

The Gongo Aso crooner contested for the Federal House of Representatives, Ogbomosho North/Ogbomosho South/Orire Federal Constituency on the platform of his party, All Progressive Congress (APC) but lost out at the primaries in the just-concluded general elections. 9ice was later appointed as the special adviser to the Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on youths.

I won't fight Pacquiao again - Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather says he will not fight Manny Pacquiao again after branding the Filipino a “coward” and a “sore loser”. “He lost,” said the American, 38. “He knows he lost. I lost a lot of respect for him after all of this.” Mayweather says he did not detect any physical problem for Pacquiao during their welterweight contest.

“Absolutely not,” Mayweather said in an interview with Showtime, to be shown this weekend. “He was fast. His left hand was fast, his right hand was fast and he was throwing them both fast and strong.”

Mayweather told ESPN  earlier this week he would consider fighting Pacquiao again but backtracked on that in the Showtime interview. “I change my mind,” he said. “At this particular time, no, because he’s a sore loser and he’s a coward.

If you lost, accept the loss.” Mayweather says his last fight before retirement will be in September, with Britain’s Amir Khan a possible opponent.

Liberia is Ebola-Free - WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Liberia free of the Ebola virus, as the country has had no new cases in 42 days.

Last September, Liberia was seeing 400 cases a week, with hospitals full and bodies lying in the streets.

A public health campaign was launched to stem the epidemic, and the last confirmed death was on 27 March.

The Ebola outbreak has claimed over 11,000 lives in the region, and remains active in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

But new cases have been falling and the UN's Ebola envoy, David Nabarro, called progress against the disease in West Africa "extraordinary".

He warned however that it would take time to eliminate the outbreak completely.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf expects her counterparts in Guinea and Sierra Leone to call to congratulate her on her victory over a disease that swept through the region, killing over 4,000 people in her war-recovering country alone.

Officials say it was collective effort and resilience that eventually conquered Ebola.

Ms Sirleaf is celebrating. She is due to take a bus tour around the capital thanking healthcare workers and community people in a victory parade.

She also indicated how traumatised she and the nation remain. "Even today if you hear an ambulance siren you shake a little bit," she said.

But even though Liberia has been declared free of the virus, correspondents say the outbreak will have a long-term impact, having damaged Liberia's already fragile economy.

The organisation is warning against complacency. It has been criticised for ignoring warnings about the potential danger of the outbreak and not responding quickly enough.

Of the West African countries hit by Ebola, Liberia has seen the most deaths.

With international help, Ebola care centres and hand washing stations were set up to try to halt the disease, which is spread through contact with sick people.

Billboards were put up with slogans like "Ebola is real", "wash your hands and don't touch" and "don't be the next victim".

Mu’azu should borrow a leaf from British Labour Party leader — Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has justified his call for the resignation of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu ,the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ,saying Mu’azu should borrow a leaf from the resignation of British Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrats leader, Nick Clegg over their parties defeat at the poll.

Ayodele Fayose

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka,in Ado Ekiti yesterday,Fayose said his position is premised on the issue on ground and that he had no personal score to settle with the PDP National Chairman. “It is morally wrong for the National Chairman to remain in office after leading the party into its first national electoral loss.”

Three party leaders in Britain, including opposition Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrats leader, Nick Clegg had resigned yesterday, after their parties loss in the Thursday general election. “Alhaji Mu’azu should be honourable enough to follow the same path as the British LP and Democrats leaders.

“Mu’azu’s case is even worse than that of the British party leaders, who resigned immediately their party lost because majority of PDP members no longer have confidence in his (Mu’azu) leadership and there is no way a willing leader can be forced on an unwilling followers.”

Speaking further, the governor said; “This is not about any personality and I am also not operating here on empty boast because Ekiti State was delivered to the PDP 100 percent.

It is a disgrace for Igbos to beg Buhari for appointments - Ohanaeze

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization has described as a disgrace to the Igbo nation, the decision of some Igbo people to beg the president -elect, General Muhammadu Buhari for appointments in his government that will take off on May 29, 2015.

President of Ohaneze in Anambra State, Chief Chris Eluomunoh, who is also the chairman of Ohaneze State Presidents’ Forum for the seven Igbo-speaking states, said at a news conference in Awka that issues of federal appointments were constitutional obligations which every president of Nigeria, irrespective of the voting pattern of a people in an election, must obey.

He condemned in its entirety, the move by certain people who claimed to be representing the Igbo to be begging the president-elect for appointments of Ndigbo in his government. According to him, Igbo nation is an integral part of Nigeria and must get their due share in Nigeria, adding that appointing Igbo people into offices should not in any way be regarded as doing them any favour.

Eluomunoh said there was nothing unusual for a group to be in opposition, telling Igbo people not to see the defeat of Jonathan as the end of their progress in the politics of Nigeria. He said: “It is a disgrace for any Igbo to be begging General Buhari for appointment, after all Buhari and others in the South West and members of his party had been in opposition for the past 16 years and they never begged Jonathan for appointment.

“As far as the politics of Nigeria is concerned, General Buhari and the incoming APC government must involve the South East in the zonal arrangement. “With Buhari as the president and the South West as the vice president, the next most important appointment, which is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, must come from the South East. We don’t have to beg for it and so those who went to Buhari to beg for appointment on behalf of Igbo did not represent Igbo.”