Why Nigerians Should Elect Me President In 2019 – Ezekwesili

Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Education Minister, has stated why Nigerians should elect her as President in the 2019 general election.

Mrs Ezekwesili, the candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), said it was time Nigerians stopped recycling old and outdated leaders in the country.

She was instrumental to the start of the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media, which trended internationally.

Addressing a world press conference on Monday with the theme: “For Those Who Say We Cannot Win,” the former minister warned Nigerians against re-electing President Muhammadu Buhari.

The text of her address was reproduced through her twitter handle.

She said the president has now shown neither the capacity nor the aptitude for the highest office in the land.

She also advised Nigerians not to elect the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, as attempting to choose between the duo is like asking one to choose between death by poison or death by gunshot.

“Do you remember? The chant all across the country was ‘Anyone But Jonathan’. Sadly, that is how we ended up with this reprobate government,” Ezekwesili recalled.

“This time it is: ‘Anyone But Buhari’. And by that they mean that we should reinstate the failed PDP and its candidate, former vice president Atiku Abubakar because they think Atiku is the only person that can defeat Buhari in 2019.

“And in 2023, when Atiku and the PDP inevitably fail again, because a bad tree cannot bear good fruit, we will hear new chants of ‘Anyone But Atiku’.

“2019 cannot be ‘Anyone But Buhari’. Our country is not a recycling plant for uninspiring old men with their old ideas and old dubious characters. We deserve better than their aggressive mediocrity.

“And that is why I am running for president – to lead a people’s movement that will permanently terminate bad leadership, retire these incompetents and fight for every Nigerian.

“For those of you considering the PDP as an alternative, I really want to ask you: what is the thing that you see about them that is any different from the APC. Really? These people are the same: Siamese Twins of Failure.

“We cannot reject one oppressor and hand over to another oppressor. We do not love bondage. We do not enjoy suffering.

“These people are brothers and sisters of iniquity and impoverishment, merchants of failure and dissapointment.

“Six and a half years after, I had fought the fight that had to be fought from within, and then I left government knowing for sure that if this political order is not changed, the work of good governance that we do within government will never last.

“I decided not to re-enter government, rebuffing every request made since, and instead made a decision to dedicate my life to activating citizens to push these blood-sucking political class out of office.

She highlighted was her government would look like if elected President saying they would be no time for blame game.

“My leadership will not be by trial and error, and I will not spend my time making excuses and blaming others.

“An Oby Ezekwesili presidency will not only work to create an enabling environment for our young people to explore their greatest potentials and be globally competitive, but they will actually power the government.

“Because I know that the poor mother whose children will sleep without food tonight does not care about excuses or blame games. The 4 million Nigerians who lost their jobs last year do not have time for excuses or blame games.

“Leah Sharibu and the several other young girls whose futures are being snatched by terrorists do not have time for excuses or blame games. The small business owner who spends half of his earnings on generating his own power does not have time for excuses or blame games.

“They want results, results, results. They want tried and tested leadership; a leadership that is data-driven, independent-minded and solutions-centred.

“You know my record. You know that when I say it, I do it. You know that when I promise it, I keep my word.

“Don’t you finally deserve a president you know can and will do what she says she will do – no stories, no hidden agenda, no dodgy friends; just working every day for you and our children?

“Are we not tired of managing poverty, and death, and destruction?

“How sad it will be if we choose to reelect incompetence, stagnation and mediocrity. How equally sad it will be if we elect a shady, unprincipled individual who hops from one party to another every election season and has a corruption file in the United States Department of State.

“Our agenda is about creating wealth – growing the pie exponentially, creating jobs, building shared prosperity and taking at least 80 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“The agenda is to mobilize the energies of the people and our private sector, invest in upgrading our capacity capabilities to compete globally, and end the bad policies which have turned Nigeria into Poverty Central.

“Importantly, our actions will center on mobilizing the youth, building and adopting science and technology to disrupt the status quo in every sector, implementing reforms and reorganization to reduce bureaucracy, and making government a partner instead of an enemy of progress,” Ezekwesili added.

Lagos Set To Commission Modern Ferry Terminal, New Ilaje-Bariga Road

In furtherance of the intermodal transportation system of Lagos State Government, all is now set for the commissioning of an ultra-modern ferry terminal and new access road in Ilaje-Bariga area of the State.

The State Government, in a statement on Sunday by Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya, said the ferry terminal and the newly upgraded road were part of the initiatives of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration to further scale up the integrated transportation initiative of the State Government aimed at ensuring seamless connectivity within the State.

According to him, the access road and the terminal would be commissioned by the State Government by mid-November 2018.
Giving details, Akinsanya said: “The terminal situated at the tail end of the upgraded Ilaje Road which provides access to the terminal from Akoka Road, abuts the lagoon front facing the Third Mainland Bridge.

“The state-of-the-art terminal sitting on a reclaimed land area of over 2000 square meter, has a parking facility that will accommodate no fewer than 150 cars and ample space for park and ride buses for those that will want to park their cars to get to their various destinations through the terminal by ferry.”

He added that ferry services would be provided from the terminal to connect other existing terminals such as Ipakodo and Badore in Ikorodu axis, Badore in Ajah axis, recently commissioned Five Cowrie Creek Terminal in Falomo, Marina Terminal, among others.

The Commissioner said the Ilaje terminal, in addition to a well-lit surrounding, had been designed with other complementary facilities such as ticketing office, passengers seating area, restaurant, mini mart, shops, toilets, seat-out area for relaxation, boatyard as well as security watchtowers.

On the road, he said the newly upgraded 1.1km Ilaje Road with carriageway and width of 8meters, is equipped with a bicycle lane, street lights as well as covered side drains which serve as a walkway.

“Transportation in Lagos is predominantly road-based and it is pertinent to state that the administration of Governor Ambode has made concerted efforts to reduce the pressure on the roads with the aim of promoting an integrated transportation system.

“In this quest, the administration is progressively taking advantage of the vast waterways that Lagos is endowed with by embarking on waterfront infrastructure projects including dredging of predetermined viable waterways routes to provide alternative and reduce the travel time of road users,” Akinsanya said.

He said aside from the new road and ferry terminal in Ilaje, a new transportation and tourism hub was being proposed at Oworonshoki by the foot of Third Mainland Bridge, which is a stone throw from the Ilaje Terminal.

“The reclamation of the area is presently at an advanced stage and it is designed to accommodate another ferry terminal, shopping areas, bus terminals, and relaxation facilities.

“With the commissioning of the Ilaje terminal, the residents of Bariga, Akoka and environs will, among other benefits, enjoy shortened travel time to their destinations under a more relaxed and stress-free condition. It would also result into savings in transport cost and reduction in vehicle maintenance cost aggravated by the present condition of our roads that State Government is assiduously working upon,” Akinsanya said.

'We Are Not In Business Of Deceiving Nigerians' – Osinbajo

by Adeyinka Akintunde


Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is not in the business of deceiving Nigerians.

He spoke as a guest on Brekete Family Programme, Human Rights Radio, that airs on FM 101.1MHz, where he interacted with the Anchor, Ahmad Isah, aka ‘Ordinary President’.

Brekete Family Programme is a reality radio programme that that prides itself as the voice of the voiceless.

The Vice President also said that the administration was for the common man with the focus to take Nigerians out of poverty.

According to him, government programmes and projects were geared towards achieving that objective.

Responding to Ahmed Isah, who asked what the Buhari’s administration had for the common man that voted them to power, Osinbajo said, ”We are not in the business of deceiving Nigerians, whatever the President, and I say is the truth.”

He also described himself as “ordinary Vice President” and explained that the administration’s National Social Investment Programmes was geared towards improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

He said, “The President’s focus has always been on the common man. This government is government of the masses. Our concentration is how things will be better for the masses. So, when we came, we decided on a few things to tackle youth unemployment.

“First, the N-Power programme to engage as many young people who are graduates as possible. We have employed 500,000 so far. Many are teachers, health workers and project assistants in farms.

“The major thing is for us is how to employ more than 500,000. There is also N-Built where we have trained 25,000 who want to be technicians, mechanics etc.” he said.

Osinbajo also talked about the Trader Moni where petty traders get a loan of N10,000 with six months grace period to pay back, stressing that the target was to reach two million petty traders with such loans.

He said once a trader paid back the loan, he or she would be entitled to another N15,000 loan and it would continue like that until one was qualified for a loan of N350,000.

He said at the inception of the administration in 2015, they met 23 states owing salaries and despite the fact that oil prices were above $100 per barrel, states were owing salaries.

He said the states were bailed out three times to enable them pay salaries and pension.

Osinbajo, again narrated how Buhari’s administration unlike the previous government that had a lot of resources as a result of oil price of over $100 per barrel, had to battle with little resources occasioned by oil price of between $28 and $35, disruptions by Niger Delta militants boosting pipes and forcing oil production to drop from 2.1 million to less than one million per barrel.

He noted that President Buhari stopped the looting of the treasury which was common under previous administration, adding that once corruption was stopped, the federal government would be able to provide infrastructure which includes power, railroads and among others.

But Ahmed Isah told Osinbajo that Buhari’s government was perceived not to be friendly with the common man.

He presented the case of a widow whose merchandise was unnecessarily confiscated by Customs officers after taking N200,000 bribe from her.

He narrated how some Customs officers were in the habit of illegally confiscating citizens vehicles and goods hiding under duty fees.

The presenter said that by conduct, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) portrays itself as the most corrupt agency in Nigeria and beyond.
Responding to complaint, Osinbajo promised to step into the case involving the Customs and the widow.

He said, “I will look into this Customs matter. We must resolve it. We will make sure those people mentioned will be held to account.”

The presenter also reported to Osinbajo that Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company was over billing customers and was one of the institutions giving the government a bad name.

He said documents which took him six months to gather proved the corrupt practices going on in the company.

He said the money that has been stolen from the company which has 47 staff since inception was more than 11 states budget combined.

Isah while challenging the Vice President to investigate the allegations, said he was ready to go to prison if his climes are proven to be lies
Osinbajo also responded to the complaints about the school feeding programme in some parts of Ogun state by a caller from abroad, Osinbajo promised to look into the complaints and revealed that 9.2 million children enjoy the benefits in school feeding programme daily.

He also said all the produce is from local farmers with at least 6.8m eggs used daily to improve the economy.

He also promised to appoint two aides from his office as liaison officers to the programme to gather first hand complains that will enable the government intervened.

Nnamdi Kanu: How I Was Smuggled Out Of Nigeria During Operation Python Dance

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has revealed how he escaped during the military clamp down on the secessionist group.

In an interview with Israeli TV Channel 1, Kanu said he was “smuggled out” of the country with the help of relatives.

IPOB was the target of a Nigerian army operation code-named Operation Python Dance, launched in the south-east.

While the group was banned, Kanu went out of public glare until two weeks ago when video of him in Israel resurfaced on social media.

In the interview, Kanu alleged that 28 persons were killed during the army operation, which was largely felt around his father’s residence in Umahia, Abia state.

“When I came out (of prison), I continued to preach to my people. I continued to practise my Jewish religion,” he said.

“And one day, the Nigerian army came to my house to kill me. They killed 28 people in their attempt to kill me.

“My people evacuated me before they came to my bedroom. They took me away and smuggled me out of Nigeria. I needed some time to recover which I did and then, had to make my way to Israel.”

The IPOB leader added that he feels “relieved” that he “managed to make it” to Israel, “the only place I feel safe in the world.”

He said he could have gone back to England (where he had been for years) “but I still don’t feel safe in England. That is why I stayed back in Israel.”

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PRP Confirms Shehu Sani Its Kaduna Central Senatorial Candidate

The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) says Shehu Sani is its candidate for Kaduna Central senatorial zone in the 2019 election.


The senator recently joined PRP from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after a protracted dispute with his former party’s leadership in the state.

The chairman of PRP in Kaduna State, Tom Maiyashi, disclosed this on Monday in a chat with journalists .

According to him, Mr Sani has already been registered as a full member of PRP after his defection to the party.

Mr Tom said by joining the party, the outspoken senator has only returned home because his ideology matches that of PRP.


“I wish to confirm that he is the candidate that will be contesting under our party for Kaduna Central Senatorial district. He has been fully registered at his ward six Tudun Wada ward in Kaduna South local government Area of the state.

‎”Senator Shehu Sani’s ideology has always been that of the PRP, so to us he has just come back home and we are happy he has returned,'” he said.

‎The party chairman also said that before Mr Sani joined the party, someone purchased the party’s nomination form for the senatorial ticket but on his own decided to step down. The chairman thus indicated the party would write the electoral commission, INEC, to substitute the former candidate’s name with that of Mr Sani.


He, therefore, appealed to the electorate to vote for all PRP candidates across the country in the general elections.

“As a party, we are committed to providing good governance for Kaduna and other states where we are fielding candidates,” he said.

He further explained that the National Chairman of the party, Falalu Bello, will be its governorship candidate in Kaduna State.

Mr Maiyashi described Messrs Sani and Bello as people with intellectual capacity to provide good and qualitative governance for the good people of the state.

Peter Obi: We’re Focused On How To Create Jobs — Not Learning ‘Shaku Shaku'

Peter Obi, running mate to Atiku Abubakar, presiedential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the period Nigeria is in calls for sober reflection and not for dancing “Shaku Shaku.”

“Shaku Shaku” is a popular dance step common among entertainers and young Nigerians.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had said he is learning the dance step ahead of the 2019 general election.

Speaking with journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport in Abuja upon his arrival from Dubai on Monday, Obi said the Atiku team is spending its time thinking of how to create jobs and not learning how to dance “Shaku Shaku.”

“I have not had the opportunity of reading his comments as I haven’t seen the dailies. I know Vice-President Osibanjo is a gentleman and may not have made such a comment,” Obi said.

“However, while I am not against people dancing or learning how to dance ‘Shaku Shaku’, as I believe it is one of those things that is keeping our people going on in this very difficult times, I believe that the crossroads that we have found ourselves in as a nation requires sober reflection.

“For me in particular, this period calls for sober reflection not dancing or learning how to dance as there are many challenges facing our nation at the moment. Not the least being recently having our country named the world headquarters of extreme poverty with over eighty seven million people. Worse still millions more are losing their jobs, with four million by the third quarter of this year alone.

“Millions of Nigerians go to bed hungry not knowing where the meal for the next day will come from, hundreds of thousands risk death by crossing the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea to wherever they can make a living.

“These and other challenges are indicative of the dire straits facing us as a nation today. And these are what we on the Atiku team are spending our time with the best minds on how to start creating jobs and putting food on people’s table. We must get Nigeria to start working again for the good of everyone.”