ACN...The New Opposition Party in Nigeria.

Last Saturday National Assembly election
has thrown up ACN to the frontfore as the
New leader in the pack of oppositions
to the PDP.
Their almost sweeping of the south-west
polls and Edo state,make them a very strong
contender-amidst many pretender- to
Aso Rock.
Tinubu,Osoba,Lam Adesina and a host of
others have done a good job in turning
ACN to the new AD.
Dispite their many short comings,the Presidential
election will determine how much they have grown
and how good the wheels of their political machinery
grinds...

Buhari/Bakare,the CPC & the Elections.

Gen Buhari is a gentleman well known for
his discipline.A former head of state(military),
that came to power with the aid of the gun- in his
words-to end indiscipline.Contested president twice before
with the ANPP before being shoved out and forced to set-up
his own party.
Idolized in Northern Nigeria by the "talakawas"
(masses) & by many non-northerns for his humility
and financial discipline.He represent a real challenge
to the PDP in the race to Aso Rock though he is seen by
many as a religious fanatics(no thanks to his comments) &
an unrepentant sectionalist.This views may turn out to be
his undoings.
His running mate Pst. Tunde Bakare is a preacher & a fierce
social critics.
The CPC is a new party founded by Buhari after he was fustrated
out of the ANPP.With a green but strong-membered structure,it will
be difficult to judge its strenght against grounded parties like
the PDP,ANPP & ACN. The upcoming election will determine if the
CPC will last or fizzle out!

Ridadu/Adola, ACN & April 11

Nuhu Ribadu is a household in Nigeria courtsy of
his prowess at the helm of the now infamous anti-
graft agency EFCC.He came,saw & conquuered - no
matter the technique used.
The fear of Ribadu & the EFCC- of then- was truelly
the begining of wisdom. Have said all that, its ironic
that the major players of his political platform were the
same men he referd to as criminal in the yore days of his
EFCC reign.Same men who accused him of doing his master's
(OBJ)bidding through selective justice.One of their principal
is still facing trial for the allegation of looting filed against
him by Ribadu
Fault his timing & platform,you can;t argue th fact that
Ribadu is young,brilliant and a real presidential material
(alongside his running mate- Adeola)who should give GEJ
a run for his money.
The ACN is gradually becoming a real threat to PDP's dominance,
given the fact that it managed successfully to steal some states
out of the PDP's nose.It can be argued that it is dominant in
the south-west and like the PDP,lacks internal democratic process
etc.With the political heavyweights in its kitty, April '11 will
prove how well grounded the party is or if its just another shadow
bidding its time to fade!

What makes us thick?

What makes us thick? I ask myself:
We fight in the morning,at evening we cling glasses
Smile amidst so much suffering
Stark poverty,we were crowned the happiest people on earth
We disagree over everything excerpt football...

What makes us thick? I wonder aloud:
Abundance of crude oil,fuel & kerosene is scare and expensive
With leaders & politicians that strive to redefine the term "greed"
We move on,despite the lack of social amenities
Social institutions collapse,but not our faith...

What makes us thick? I search my mind:
With over 140+ million people,having few children is almost a taboo
3-4 hrs of traffic daily,we still think of owning atleast one car
Despite crises & strifes, we'll never support division
No good roads, still we make travelling fun
No steady electricity,instead we improvise and power on...

What makes us thick? I reason:
Blood may be thicker than water,
Our bond is thicker than BLOOD

Shekarau/oyegun, ANPP & April 11

Gov Shekarau,a two time Governor of Kano state- a rare feat-
emergernce as the Presidential candidate for hte ANPP was no
surprise considering the fact that He had the ANPP machinery
almost to himself.
Its a well know fact that He is a protege(or former)of Gen. Buhari
whose is also gunning for Aso Rock(Nigeria's seat of power).His
insistence on contesting for the position with Gen. Buhari was seen
as a betrayal by the northern talakawas(masses) who are die-hard
supporters of Gen. Buhari.
If He could win Kano state then he would have establish himself as
a no pushover in northern national politics.His personality does not
sell much outside the northern voting bloc,it will therefore be difficult
for him to clinch the prize come April 11 unless a miracle takes place.
His running mate OYEGUN might make or mars his chances as well.

The new ANPP as its called is a shadow of its glorious former self.
It will take more than speeches to convince the electorate that the party
is united.Bickering & stick ups tore it apart.It once had almost all the
northern state in its hand until power mongers tore divided its house.
If it can win back the northern states then it might become a real challenger
to PDP's dominance.
I's chances in the Presidential election is very slim!

Goodluck/Sambo,PDP & their Chance in April '11

Goodluck Jonathan(phd) personalized the saying "Good name is better than...."
from a classroom teacher to a deputy Governor,to Governor,to Vee-pee then
President in a space of app. 8yrs- its HISTORY!
Like he said in his campaign speech "if I can make it,the you too can"
He represent the new face of leadership in Nigeria-youth,education & being
gentlemanly.From the minority part of the country that never dreamt of being
in power, his divine thrust to power represent a fresh hope of equality in
the land.And like he said in his campaign speech "if I can make it then you
too can make it"
He has an amiable gentleman (an architect) as a running mate.

The PDP which pride itself as the biggest political party in African
is Nigeria's version of the GOP.It controls more than 20 out of the 36
states in the country.It has almost all major the power brokers(both at state &
National level),senators,reps,former Presidents, ministers and head of government ministries & agencies in its fold.
Suffice to say its the party with the biggest structure on ground.Though it lacks
internal democracy and amid crises after crises,its has manage to keep its house
in one piece! And with the power of incumbency,it remains the party to beat!

Presidential Candidates, their parties & my opinion

Starting from tomorrow I'll be blogging about
Presidential aspirants, their political platforms,
their chances and their popularity.

While the Federal house of Representative has finnally
pass the Freedom Of Information (FOI) bill after months
and years of dillydallying.Whatever took them so long?

The Senate in their wisdom, passed the minimum wage(18,000)
bill into law bring to rest the clamors by the (dis)Organized
Labour & civil societies.

My worries....why are these bill,submitted ages ago,just
being passed by the National Assembly at the twilight of
tenure?
Your guess is good as mine....cheap popularity! We are not
fooled.We know those that performed and those to send to
political obscurity!