One of the main things that's been drawing so much attention of late is the Nigerian 2011 elections. Its like this is the most publizised in terms of the level of awareness and usual drama that follows.
Listening to Moyo Oyatogun's program, Daily Guide on Star FM, I heard a woman make a funny statement and she said: "I am 35 years old and I've never voted in my life but for the fact that IBB is contesting I will vote against him". Nigerians are finally standing up to fight for what they believe in. Let's just hope its fair and credible.
Another interesting one I read is the declaration by the 49th most influential personality in the world, General Overseer of RCCG who promised to fight back if anyone got tempted to rig the upcoming elections. In His words, “If anyone tampers with our votes in 2011, we will fight.”
I really never considered this voting of a thing too...never really had an interest in politics (voting involves politics trust me) but with the recent happenings I just felt I should do this brief analysis on a few major aspirants. I urge you to read through carefully on their milestones and as a famous politician, Patrick Obahiagbon would sound like, I urge you my readers not be soaked in the aqua of religious bigotry, desist from intellectual jejune acts resulting from the aqua of political chauvinism and let your mind be as elastic and free as the Tabula Raza. In other words, do not judge the book by its cover.
Short Review on top aspirants for presidency, then its left to you to take your pick.
Before you read through you would recall one of Nigeria's best leaders in the sense of what he did and the legacy he left, speaking of Obafemi Awolowo.
Awolowo is remembered for building the first stadium, Liberty Statium, Ibadan in West Africa, first television station WNTV in Africa, running the best civil service in Africa at the time (in the Western Region), He would also be credited with coining the name "Naira" for Nigeria's currency (formerly known as the Nigerian Pound) as the Federal Commissioner of Finance under the Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon. Today, he is remembered by many Nigerians and non-Nigerians as the best Nigerian president that never ruled.
Now a brief review of the top 2 contenders >>
Listening to Moyo Oyatogun's program, Daily Guide on Star FM, I heard a woman make a funny statement and she said: "I am 35 years old and I've never voted in my life but for the fact that IBB is contesting I will vote against him". Nigerians are finally standing up to fight for what they believe in. Let's just hope its fair and credible.
Another interesting one I read is the declaration by the 49th most influential personality in the world, General Overseer of RCCG who promised to fight back if anyone got tempted to rig the upcoming elections. In His words, “If anyone tampers with our votes in 2011, we will fight.”
I really never considered this voting of a thing too...never really had an interest in politics (voting involves politics trust me) but with the recent happenings I just felt I should do this brief analysis on a few major aspirants. I urge you to read through carefully on their milestones and as a famous politician, Patrick Obahiagbon would sound like, I urge you my readers not be soaked in the aqua of religious bigotry, desist from intellectual jejune acts resulting from the aqua of political chauvinism and let your mind be as elastic and free as the Tabula Raza. In other words, do not judge the book by its cover.
Short Review on top aspirants for presidency, then its left to you to take your pick.
Before you read through you would recall one of Nigeria's best leaders in the sense of what he did and the legacy he left, speaking of Obafemi Awolowo.
Awolowo is remembered for building the first stadium, Liberty Statium, Ibadan in West Africa, first television station WNTV in Africa, running the best civil service in Africa at the time (in the Western Region), He would also be credited with coining the name "Naira" for Nigeria's currency (formerly known as the Nigerian Pound) as the Federal Commissioner of Finance under the Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon. Today, he is remembered by many Nigerians and non-Nigerians as the best Nigerian president that never ruled.
Now a brief review of the top 2 contenders >>
Goodluck Ebele JonathanA humane administrator, amazingly simple minded and loved by his people, friends and colleagues, nobody ever expected he will venture into the dicey and precarious nature of Nigerian politics. Nevertheless, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan saw the need to boost the socio-economic with political interest of the common man as well as bridge the lacuna of rural-urban dichotomy of his people through the provisions of social infrastructure.
Hence, he took to politics in the Fourth Republic and pitched tent with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was picked as the running mate to the Party’s flag bearer Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha. The duo emerged victorious at the polls in the 1999 gubernatorial election, and so, Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan became the first Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.
We all know what happened and he later became the Governor of Bayelsa State.
In 2006, he was selected to run as the vice-presidential candidate on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket in the 2007 presidential elections.
He was Vice-President of Nigeria from May 2007 until February 9, 2010 when the Senate through a resolution, invoked the doctrine of necessity to empower him to serve as Acting President, with all the accompanying powers, due to President Yar'Adua's prolonged absence from Nigeria. President Yar'Adua died on May 5, 2010 and Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as President Yar'Adua's replacement on May 6, 2010, becoming Nigeria's fourteenth Head of State, as mandated by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the few month's he's done a lot of cleaning up of a lot of important names in public offices such as the recent sacking of Police Chiefs. He's also demonstrated a passionate leadership quality of carrying people along with open transparency as exhibited in his constant communication with NIgerians through Facebook where he declared his intent to run for presidency.
Latest Statement: “In presenting myself for service, I make no pretense that I have a magic wand that will solve all of Nigeria’s problems or that I am the most intelligent Nigerian”
So after all said and done I feel you should do some more research and make sure who you're voting for makes sense and this is just my own little awareness.
Ibrahim Babangida
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| IBB |
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) ruled Nigeria from August 27, 1985 to August 27, 1993 as a military Head of State. He introduced the concept of military president into the Nigerian political lexicon and till date remains the country's only military leader addressed by that title. He maintained a firm grip on power and tried to abrogate the unpopular policies he inherited in office.
Babangida's regime was popular for its liberal economic policies. He tried to introduce the culture of debate into the polity, with the open deliberations that preceded his launching of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF)-supported Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).
The killing by a letter bomb of Dele Giwa, a magazine editor critical of Babangida's administration, at his Lagos home in 1986 was largely attributed to Babangida and remains a controversial incident to this day. In 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo established the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission headed by Justice Chukwudifu Oputa to investigate human rights abuses during Nigeria's decades of military rule. However, Babangida repeatedly defied summons to appear before the panel to answer allegations of humans rights abuses and questioned both the legality of the commission and its power to summon him. His right not to testify was upheld in 2001 by Nigeria's court of appeal which ruled that the panel did not have the power to summon former rulers of the country.
Babangida's regime was popular for its liberal economic policies. He tried to introduce the culture of debate into the polity, with the open deliberations that preceded his launching of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF)-supported Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).
The killing by a letter bomb of Dele Giwa, a magazine editor critical of Babangida's administration, at his Lagos home in 1986 was largely attributed to Babangida and remains a controversial incident to this day. In 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo established the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission headed by Justice Chukwudifu Oputa to investigate human rights abuses during Nigeria's decades of military rule. However, Babangida repeatedly defied summons to appear before the panel to answer allegations of humans rights abuses and questioned both the legality of the commission and its power to summon him. His right not to testify was upheld in 2001 by Nigeria's court of appeal which ruled that the panel did not have the power to summon former rulers of the country.
Babangida's policies were coherent, well thought out and always applauded.
He assembled some of the brightest individuals from the military and the civilian class who set the stage for many good policies such as privatization and deregulation with recourse to the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Latest Statement: “For me, politics is not and has never been a do or die affair. If I lose, I lose and if I win, I win: such is life and life continues,” - Babangida
A few other aspirants are Nuhu Ribadu(AC), Muhammadu Buhari(CPC)Congress for Progressive Change, Pastor Chris Okotie of the Fresh Democratic Party and Pat Utomi of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP).
So the Big Question is WHO ARE U VOTING FOR? Who is worth voting for and why do you think he should be voted for????
Aren't we set for some drama! Please cast your votes wisely!
God bless Nigeria! Good People Great Nation! (Comments below)
So feel free to express yourself...Who do you want to vote and why? Your views matter!
ReplyDeleteI doubt I will be able to vote since I'm not in the country but yeah I also get the sense that Nigerians are more ready for this election. Great write-up.
ReplyDeleteGEJ is the man for d job. He shows a level of transparency and due to his achievment in just 4 months, I believe he is willing to do a lot for the Nigerian people in years to come
ReplyDeleteFeedback:Myne ur so right, the awareness is so intense. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous: You have a point there but you know its not about his transparency and all.There some forces that operate underground. He sure needs to carry out an effective campaign.