Elections Results 2011

WINNERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEATS

Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo
PDP
EnuguNorth/South Kingsley

Ebenyi
PDP
EnuguEast/Isiuzo

Hon. Patrick Asadu
PDP
Nsukka/Igboeze South

Tobias Okechukwu
PDP
Awgu/Aninri/Oji River

Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi
PDP
Udi/Ezeagu

Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
PDP
Igboeze North/Udenu

Hon. Peace Nnaji
PDP
Nkanu East/West

Mrs. Stella Ngwu
PDP
Uzo-Uwani/Igbo-Etiti

Lagos Federal Constituencies

Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency
ACN
42, 060

PDP
16, 270

SDMP
576

NCP
321

Lagos Island Federal Constituency I
ACN
17,803

PDP
6,244

SDMP
60

ANPP
185

Lagos Island Federal Constituency II
ACN
22,254

PDP
6,946

SDMP
118

DFPF
423

ANPP
185

Federal Constituencies

Eti-Osa Federal Constituency
ACN
32, 473

PDP
16, 219

SDMP
1,125

NCP
442

Ikeja Federal Constituency
ACN
32, 757

PDP
15,152

CPC
3,562

LP
1,299

ANPP
1,049

Kosofe Federal Constituency
ACN
63,070

PDP
18,744

Senatorial Election Results

Rivers State

Rivers South East Senatorial District

PDP
154,218

ACN
58,182

APGA
13,605

Winner – Magnus Abe of PDP

Rivers East Senatorial District

PDP
154,218

ACN
34,978

APGA
3,679

Winner – George Sekibo of PDP

Kaduna State

Kaduna North Senatorial District

CPC
103,094

PDP
30,604

Winner – Usman Bawa of CPC

Kaduna South Senatorial District

PDP
428,992

CPC
73,830

ACN
70,488

Winner – Nenadi Usman of PDP

Delta State

Delta North Senatorial District

PDP
98,204

DPP
67,548

Winner – Ifeanyi Okowa of PDP

Nasarawa State

Nasarawa North Senatorial District

CPC
62,815

PDP
31,602

Winner – Solomon Ewuga of CPC

Nasarawa South Senatorial District

PDP
108,844

CPC
103,320

Winner – Solomon Adokwe of PDP

Kogi State

Kogi Central Senatorial District

PDP
68,167

ANPP
26,959

ACN
4,051

Winner – Nurudeen Usman of PDP

Kogi West
PDP
84,511

CPC
35,281

ANPP
6,483

ACN
5,817

LP
582

APGA
455

Winner – Senator Smart Adeyemi of PDP

Ondo State

Ondo South Senatorial District

LP
88,319

PDP
80,319

Winner – Boluwaji Kunlere of LP

Ondo North
LP
84,290

PDP
51,112

Winner – Prof.Ajayi Borrofice of LP

Ondo Central
LP
113,292

PDP
41,783

Winner – Dr. Ayo Akinyelure of LP

Edo State

Edo Central Senatorial District

PDP
61,983

ACN
49,385

Winner – Odion Ugbesia of PDP

Lagos State

Lagos West Senatorial District

ACN
503,786

PDP
234,679

CPC
40,711

APGA
13,305

ANPP
9,011

ALP
5,198

SDMP
2,631

NPPP
1,525

DFPF
1,478

Winner – Senator Ganiyu Solomon of ACN

Lagos Central Senatorial District
ACN
202,506

PDP
75, 982

APGA
9, 302

SDMP
3, 499

NCP
3,073

Winner- Mrs. Remi Tinubu of ACN

Lagos East
ACN
222, 429

PDP
83, 133

SDMP
10, 100

CPC
7, 776

ANPP
2, 183

Winner – Gbenga Ashafa of ACN

Benue State

Benue South
PDP
147,923

ACN
79,433

Winner – Senator David Mark of PDP

Benue North Senatorial District

PDP
229,682

ACN
143,978

CPC
4,971

MPPP
571

LP
352

Winner – Barnabas Gemade of PDP

Oyo State

Oyo Central
ACN
105,975

AP
92,544

PDP
78,643

Winner – Hon. Ayo Adeseun of ACN

Oyo South
ACN
127,621

AP
118,256

PDP
92,359

Winner – Femi Lanlehin of ACN

Enugu State

Enugu East
PDP
67,330

PDC
32,005

APGA
8,175

LP
4,439

ACN
3,621

CPC
730

ANPP
525

Winner – Hon.Gilbert Nnaji of PDP

Enugu North
PDP
86,220

LP
27,139

PDC
25,731

ACN
3,099

Winner – Senator Ayogu Eze of PDP

Enugu West
PDP
112,806

PDC
7,522

LP
5,175

APGA
3,591

ACN
1,325

Winner – Senator Ike Ekweremadu of PDP

Imo State

Imo West
PDP
95,816

ACN
63,755

APGA
54,432

Winner – Senator Osita Izunaso of PDP

Imo South
PDP
60,449

ACN
47,258

APGA
2,782

APN
1,568

ANPP
1,125

Winner – Matthew Nwagwu of PDP

Gombe State

Gombe Central
PDP
84,347

ANPP
50,080

CPC
40,145

LP
1,462

Winner – Danjuma Goje of PDP

Osun State

Osun East
ACN
119,852

PDP
51,315

Winner – Hon. Babajide Omoworare of ACN

Osun West
ACN
121,971

PDP
49,001

AP
7,789

Winner – Prof. Sola Adeyeye of ACN

Ogun State

Ogun Central
ACN
102,389

PDP
56,312

PPN
27,182

Winner – Gbenga Obadara of ACN

Ogun East
ACN
72,543

PDP
52,613

PPN
46,148

Winner – Gbenga Kaka of ACN

Ogun West
ACN
61,362

PDP
59,949

PPN
45,246

Winner – Akin Odunsi of ACN

Cross River State

Cross River North Senatorial District

PDP
91,123

ACN
11,056

ANPP
7,393

DFPF
1,721

Winner – Prof. Benedict Ayade of PDP

Niger State

Niger East Senatorial District

CPC
131,872

PDP
83,773

ACN
21,621

Winner – Ibrahim Musa of CPC

Sokoto

Sokoto East Senatorial District

PDP
138,397

CPC
57,643

DPP
41,113

ACN
38,947

Winner – Dr. Ibrahim Gobir of PDP

Sokoto South Senatorial District

PDP
112,585

CPC
36,682

DPP
32,029

ACN
19,3987

Winner – Dr. Ibrahim Gobir of PDP

Nigerian leader picks Kaduna governor for deputy

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has nominated Kaduna state governor Namadi Sambo to be vice president of Africa’s most populous nation, a presidency source said on Thursday.

Jonathan, who was sworn in last week after the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, surprised many by choosing a relative newcomer to national politics to be his deputy.

“It is true. Sambo has been chosen by the president to be the vice president,” the source said.

A spokesman for the 58-year-old governor declined to comment.

Analysts said it was too early to know whether Sambo, a northerner who was elected governor in 2007, would now be considered a contender for presidential elections to be held by next April.

“Sambo has not been in politics for a long time so he is not your characteristic Nigerian politician,” said Mansur Ahmed, senior member of the think-tank Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

“It is difficult to say who the PDP will choose. The decision on who will be their presidential candidate depends on many factors,” he added.

Under the power-sharing agreement within the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the presidency should rotate every two terms between the Muslim north and Christian south to avoid an imbalance of power.

Yar’Adua, a northerner, died during his first term and many expected Jonathan to appoint a powerful northern vice president after he took over as head of state who would then go on to be the ruling party nominee in the next presidential race.

“The selection of vice president is not simply a question of who is best equipped for the job, but who will not upset the most number of factions,” said Antony Goldman, head of London-based PM Consulting.

Jonathan himself has not ruled out running for president although he said in April he wanted at least three months to see how reforms enacted so far took hold.

An aide to Jonathan said on Wednesday there was general consensus in support of his seeking re-election and that he would likely do so with the PDP.

Cairo Ojuogboh, Jonathan’s assistant on National Assembly matters, said he personally believed Jonathan would stand in presidential polls next year.

But Jonathan’s spokesman, Ima Niboro, said Ojuogboh was in no position to make any declaration on the president’s plans.

A bid by Jonathan could be controversial because he is from the south of the country and would be seen as upsetting the balance of power.

SOURCED FROM REUTERS

Nigerian VP hopes Yar’Adua will return soon

Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan said on Friday he was hopeful that President Umaru Yar’Adua, who is in hospital in Saudi Arabia, would return soon and continue to govern Africa’s most populous nation.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan

Yar’Adua has been absent for more than a month and Jonathan has been presiding over cabinet meetings. But executive powers have not officially been transferred, leading to questions over the legality of government decisions.

Political analysts, senior lawyers and a former U.S. envoy have warned Nigeria is on the brink of a constitutional crisis. The Bar Association has brought legal action to try to compel Yar’Adua to temporarily hand over power.

But in a wide-ranging New Year’s Day address to the nation, Jonathan said “the ship of state continues to sail” and that “the nation remains united and driven by a common purpose”.

“Although Mr President has been away from us for sometime on account of a medical condition, he has maintained sustained interest and optimism (in state affairs),” Jonathan said.

“We are hopeful Mr President would return to us before long to continue his good works, with renewed vigor and vitality.”

Lawyers and members of the opposition who have challenged Yar’Adua’s failure to formally transfer powers say affairs of state are already being affected.

A new chief justice was sworn in on Wednesday in Yar’Adua’s absence, leading legal experts to question the legality of the ceremony. The top judge is a key position because he would in turn swear in a new president, legal experts say.

SOURCED FROM REUTERS

Nigeria risks constitutional crisis:lawyers,ex-envoy

Nigeria is on the brink of constitutional crisis with its ailing president not transferring powers to his deputy and political king makers feuding over his succession, a senior lawyer and a former U.S. envoy have warned.

President Umaru Yar'Adua

President Umaru Yar’Adua has been absent from Africa’s most populous nation for more than a month receiving treatment for a heart condition in Saudi Arabia, but there have been no official updates on his health for weeks.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has been presiding over cabinet meetings but executive powers have not officially been transferred to him, leading to questions over the legality of decisions made by the government in Yar’Adua’s absence.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the umbrella body of all lawyers in the country, has launched legal action against the Attorney-General, asking a top court to declare that Yar’Adua has violated the constitution by omitting to transfer powers.

“We are saying there is a duty on the president to do it, it is not discretionary … We cannot continue this way, we are not running a banana republic,” NBA president Rotimi Akeredolu told Reuters in a telephone interview on Thursday.

“We are treading a very dangerous path and we have to be very careful. We are trying to paper over a few cracks … but if we are not careful the whole building will collapse,” he said.

The NBA’s legal action follows a similar suit already brought by prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana.

It also adds to a crisis in the judiciary triggered by the swearing in on Wednesday of a new chief justice, the first time in the country’s history the head of state has been absent for the ceremony and an act some senior lawyers say is illegal.

The legality of the top judge’s position is vital because he who would swear in a new president should Yar’Adua leave office: controversy over the chief justice would mean controversy over the legality of the new president, lawyers say.

Nigeria does not need legal confusion over what is already a fierce succession debate.

“Yar’Adua’s removal from office would result in a political and constitutional crisis for the United States’ most important strategicpartner in Africa and one of its largest suppliers of oil,” former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria John Campbell said.

“Though Yar’Adua has been ill since he assumed the presidency in 2007, there is no consensus yet among the king makers about what to do upon his removal,” he wrote in a paper published on Wednesday by the Council on Foreign Relations, a U.S.-based think-tank.

SOURCED FROM REUTERS

GANI FAWEHINMI DIES AT 71

He was often regarded as the eternal foe of every Government in power; the irremovable thorn, and perhaps one of the finest in Nigeria’s legal world. Erudite and not given to fine colourful speeches the blunt speaking Gani rose to national prominence in the late seventies when he championed for the removal of Ahmadu Ali, Nigeria’s recalcitrant minister of education. “Ali must go” he cried and Ali went. Gani Fawehinmi’s distaste for military oppression and despotism was never in doubt and he paid for it with long periods of incarceration. He had always courted controversy with a single focus; the struggle was more important than the victory. His legal battles were legendary. I remember the case of several unionists in the early nineties who had been mischievously expelled from school because of unionism. The day Gani appeared in court the small south western town came to a standstill. The students were not only freed but most notable the press had buzzed about a stupefied judge’s jaw hanging agape and eager hands rushing in cue to shake the hands of the mighty one. However the senior advocate of the masses will be best remembered for his long drawn battle in finding the killers of maverick journalist Dele Giwa. Twenty years after his death, I asked Gani a single question on what he thought about Dele’s death and the aftermath. Gani spent one hour on the subject; it was a passion he expended his entire life fighting to unravel. The man was simply recalcitrant many would say. “till I die I am never going to give up on Giwa’s killers” and he died never knowing who killed Dele

Gani was famed for always packing a bag with the bare necessities when he shut his gates, because he often reasoned, jail was always a doorstep away from home. The man had been to jail more than eighty times, most times for daring to ridicule the mendacious dark goggle wearing Sani Abacha before the international community. Gani remained unfazed preferring to move in out of jail than go on exile, the same attitude he displayed when he said the title senior advocate of the masses  was more prestigious that then the legal zenith, senior advocate of Nigeria. It was no wonder that at Abacha’s sudden demise Gani wished him eternity in the hottest parts of Hades.  In 1999 when democracy was restored to Nigeria, it was thought that Gani would take a bed rest, who sai ? The man condemned the entire exercise calling it a political walk in insanity. He took Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo to task for his frequent trips outside the country and then accused him of aping Gabon’s despotic leader Omar Bongo who had ruled the central African country for more than 3 decades, when it was rife that OBJ was courting a tenure extension.  However Gani’s great walk in fame would come  when he contested for Nigeria top seat after several years of trying to register his political party. Gani lost, but then embarked on several verbal fisticuffs with president Obasanjo over the frequent hike in the pump price price of fuel and his dictatorial tendencies asking that OBJ imbibe the rule of law in governance, something current president Umaru Yar’ Adua latched on to, even though he was also chided by the legal luminary. This morning in one hour, Nairaland, Nigeria’s foremost social website was agog over Gani’s death, 2000 views and a hundred comments in three hours!! Off course much more goodwill is expected in coming days and months especially for one who always had something to say. When he was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs, doctors said ‘don’t talk’, but maverick Gani berated Nigeria’s health sector for failing to discover the terminal ailment that had plagued him for several years. The man had talked and wept in his frail voice for the failed project he called Nigeria for more than an hour!!

Aghogho, CONNECTAFRICA

FELA’S NIGERIA; EKITI’S HOUSE OF COMEDY

‘Carpenter wey no know im work..na sowegbe-(a Yoruba word for a loafer).. Tailor wey no know im work..na sowegbe’. This is a popular refrain from one of late Afro beat star Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s hits of the 70’s; one that aptly describes the recent resignation of the Ekiti State Resident Electoral commissioner, Mrs Olusola Ayoka Adebayo. In a letter which by now could debatably become the letter of the year and perhaps the most controversial letter in Nigeria’s history penned in three paragraphs but has drawn admirably a landmark readership base and attracted all facets of reactions since it was released to the public. The love gone sour terse note gave the author’s reason for resigning as her deep seated respect for the rule of law and her Christian inclination.

The INEC chairman, Maurice Iwu was the most expressive of all the respondents. His usually stone cold ghoulish personae  was  amplified as he moon walked past several reporters who had laid siege at the presidential villa. He just stared, dumb as a basenji. Three times he was spotted dashing in and out of the villa. But Iwu ought to have known. The 74 year old grandmother’s letter was originally sent to him but he rejected it telling her smartly ‘I did not appoint you’. This definitely wasn’t in the script for the INEC chairman, several paid advertorials on Public and private stations bluffing on the electoral body’s achievement never painted it in the cowardly colour of yellow. The President’s chief spokesperson, Professor Dora Akunyili wouldn’t be swayed by Ayoka’s pious submission. In her typical shrill blunt manner better suited for drug counterfeiters, she said ‘this is an attempt to undermine and discredit the government’. As the three Government stooges sat bunched up on a table addressing the media hours later it was apparent that this was a quick fix; every player assigned his specific role. Iwu-the referee and coach, Akunyili-the psychologist and the Inspector General of police was comfortable with his default role as enforcer of the law; he gave Ayoka 24 hours to report to the police otherwise she’d be declared wanted.

Surprisingly for the first time in a long while the opposition and the ruling party are united in a cause. The AC rejected Ayoka’s letter and asked the Presidency to compel her to finish the mess she began. In this deeply polarized war, Ayoka’s shares her mess with the civil society and the public who have hailed her a hero for refusing to play ball.

Discerning the temptation that Ayoka has failed to yield to is the first to untying this Gordian knot. But the clues could be sieved beneath the grain. Sunday, the 26^th of March, a day after the re-run elections Ayoka was supposed to announce the results, we couldn’t because, of the 10 local governments elections were to be conducted, 9 succeeded. The bad apple, Oye local government which incidentally is the hometown of the PDP standard bearer and erstwhile Governor, Segun Oni didn’t happen in rather murky circumstances. The elections were scheduled to be held on the 2^nd of May^. Ayoka must have been prepared for that except she was a ‘sowegbe’, undoubtedly she was prepared for the by-election. But  whileAyoka announced results in only 5 local governments; INEC has a different figure of 9., perhaps  a facsimile of Esau’s body but Jacob’s voice There are questions begging for answers and Ayoka solely will answer those questions. At 74, she belongs to the elite class Africans bestow the title of elders-reverenced for their sagacity. It must be farthest from her mind to be referred to as a sowegbe; she would be most notably want to be remembered as ‘pako’-one who is familiar and an authority in her job.

Aghogho, CONNECTAFRICA

NIGERIA’S OPPOSITION UNITE AGAINST RULING PARTY

Opposition parties in Nigeria have agreed to unite to compete against the governing People’s Democratic Party in elections due in 2011

The 19 parties are forming what they describe as one mega party to challenge President Umaru Yar aAua. Heavy weights are involved including former presidential contenders Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari who also led Nigeria after a coup in the 1980’s. The opposition parties say they are uniting in order to save Nigeria. They accuse the PDP of running the country into the ground and acting as if Nigeria was a one party state. The PDP has dominated since Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999. But observers have criticized elections as being marred by rigging voter intimidation and the use of security forces in favour of the ruling party.

SOURCED FROM BBC

RIVERS STATE RIGHTS COMMISSION INDICTS FORMER GOVERNOR

The chairman of the Rivers state truth and reconciliation commission, Justice Kayode Eso has presented the final report of its proceedings to the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amechi. Justice Eso said its work had helped in the reconciling of 15 warring communities in Rivers State.

The erudite jurist however had harsh words for the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili for failing to protect the people of oku-lama who were caught in a backlash with military authorities. The two- day military operation had left several people homeless and properties worth millions of naira destroyed. Justice Eso berated the ex-Governor for failing to offer compensation to the people even after it was discovered that security forces had been guilty of excessive use of force

The 591-page report also highlighted several areas including; economy, militancy, multi-national oil companies and cultism. The commission’s chairman however failed to reveal any recommendations it made in the several cases brought before it during his presentation

The commission had started shakily and was shrouded in controversy when Dr. Odili had accused the incumbent Governor of witch-hunting. Odili had thereafter failed to appear before the commission at Port-Harcourt saying he was afraid for his life. A special arrangement which saw him appear in Abuja failed to provide answers to the several questions posed at him

Just stopping short of indicting him, Justice Eso had accused the former Governor of over-paying armed insurgents in a money-for-weapons exchange deal. The Governor wasn’t the only one who got scathed in the report. The traditional ruler of Bonny kingdom was accused of not only failing to honour the tribunal but of gross abuses of power

Governor Rotimi Amaechi was sombre as he received the report, saying that he was a part of the previous administration and was pained when his suggestions for better welfare and security weren’t taken seriously. The governor said the state was headed nowhere if it continued supporting brigandage saying that Elders and parents had a responsibility to report militant youths to security operatives even if they were their wards

The 5 man panel which began sitting in June 2008 was set up to probe alleged human rights abuses in the state in the last 11 years. A three-year insurgency by militants fighting for greater control of crude-oil resources has left the Niger Delta pauperized and Nigeria’s oil production output cut by at least 25% and foreign investors fleeing in droves out of the Delta

aghogho, CONNECTAFRICA

MAURICE IWU’S TEN GREEN BOTTLES

When the ban on political activities by erstwhile military ruler, Abdusalami Abubakar, was lifted in 1999 there were jubilant scenes across Nigeria; it wasn’t far-fetched to say the citizenry were inebriated with optimism. Such flowery terms as dividends of democracy, due process, fix Nigeria, etc were chucked down our throats at will by the President and his goons via the media in the same manner everyone had once salivated at the prospects of eating his own share of the proverbial national cake.

Once again Nigeria is going to experience democracy; that sound foundation which was laid by its founding fathers, several politicians seemed to suggest in campaigns leading to the 1999 General elections.

If bleak is the picture describing Nigeria’s socio-economic and human development 10 years later, there is no wool covering any eyes with the respect to the poor conduct of elections in Nigeria. The recent cancellation of the Ekiti state Governorship elections in 10 local government’s out of 18 is one more pointer on how the national electoral body has found it easier to conduct flawed elections than credible ones. For the INEC chairman, two years after the elections, it has been a facsimile of the popular nursery rhyme of ‘10 green bottles standing on the wall’. Several states have more than accidentally falling down and billions of Naira are being allocated in the conduct of election Re-runs

However Professor Maurice Iwu, Professor of Pharmacology rings like a classic schizophrenic to Nigeria’s opposition parties; he caused a furore when he remarked that the American elections were not as organized as Nigeria’s advising that the Yankees could borrow a leaf from us. Three months from now INEC will begin plans for the 2011 general elections; incredible when you realise that incompetent elections conducted three years ago would ensure that nearly than one third of 36 states will have separate election dates beginning from 2011.

In 1999 election flaws were tolerated because the country was in great haste to do away with the jack boots and inebriated pepper soup Generals. Erstwhile INEC chairman Abel Goubadia had referred to the elections as a lesson in democracy. But Maurice Iwu is no upstart having superintended two elections. His main supporters are the ruling People’s Democratic Party who have benefited in no small measure from landslide electoral victories helping the PDP create a plutocratic oligarchy. On the other hand, pitched against Iwu are the more than two score political parties, the media, civil society groups and the electorate.

This group has succeeded greatly in demonizing the INEC chairman on the pages of national tabloids, TV, anywhere an audience is guaranteed. However Iwu hasn’t also been the devil, the national assembly had treated him with kid gloves in the run up to the elections when his bogus electronic voting capturing device failed to turn on in a live presentation. And that was several months to the elections, the registration exercise commenced as scheduled but dragged on perpetually because of poor logistic and organisational arrangements.

Iwu is no messiah, which is why on Election Day several fortunate people voted with temporary voters cards and others couldn’t locate their names on the voters’ register, worse still the dead were more fortunate to find their names listed in the register.

The report of the electoral reform committee submitted to the President Yar’ Adua has shown that the present INEC is incapable of conducting the 2011 general election. Look at the number of by-elections we have had in this country, what the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal have said about corruption in INEC, yet no one has brought to book.

The Electoral Act law gives INEC the power to prosecute electoral offenders, but read the reports from most electoral petition tribunals; INEC tops the electoral offenders list. Iwu may be a devout catholic who has never missed mass in two decades but he isn’t that coy to impugn himself. One question that the Government needs to answer is this; can INEC conduct a free, fair and credible election?

The answer lies in 140 million Nigerians and is blowing in the dusty sirocco wind where joy is ethereal, has a slender trunk that often breaks too soon’.

emma, CONNECTAFRICA

NIGERIA’S LEADER PAWNS KINGIBE

There will be no Part 4 on the piece ‘death wish for Nigeria’s President’ notwithstanding the macabre political comedy continues to play out. What better way for President Yar’Adua to announce that he is as fit as fiddle than resuming work with swearing-in new military chiefs and firing a bloody civilian for a never-to- be-made public reason. When this plot began, it was obvious there would always be a fall guy . Yesterday on local TV Nigerians watched a gaunt Nigerian leader move like an Ice-queen decorating Generals. It was apparent that he had more than traipsed the holy city of Mecca in the last fortnight. But why fire Baba Gana Kingiibe? The militants in the Niger Delta may have heaved a sigh and chorused gleefully, good riddance to bad ….. But the baritone sounding ambassador had once been on the side of the progressives. His land mark campaign trudge with Moshood Abiola nearly fifteen years ago endeared him to the heart of several Nigerians, that even an appointment in the mendacious General Sani Abacha’s Government when his President in Waiting was languishing in jail was treated with kid gloves by a highly critical Nigerian press. However Babagana Kingibe lingered a little too long with Abacha that eventually he was kicked out of Government after three stints in different ministerial capacities. The sacking of Kingibe is remarkable, because he was mute throughout this Mecca fiasco. It isn’t that John Odey and Segun Adeniyi; President Yar’Adua’s media goons fared any much better other confusing everyone but themselves. Kingibe quietness perhaps gives some credence to the theory that what wasn’t said actually was the reason for his sack. In a grand plot that could perhaps be only be realized in Hollywood, Kingibe was to become a puppet President if Yar’Adua had died or resigned due to his enervating health condition and VP Goodluck impeached or forced to resign (thanks to the PDP which has zoned the presidency to the Northern Part of Nigeria; Goodluck unfortunately is from the South- South). So what did he do about this script? The answer I guess is blowing in the wind. Yar adua is back, but true to form he has pretended like his military predecessors that nothing is amiss. Firing Kingibe or dissolving the cabinet is equivalent to the ostrich burying its head in the ground in hiding.

aghogho, CONNECTAFRICA