NINE THINGS WE LEARNT FROM APRIL 9

1.      Jega is set to put his name in the history books

A free, fair and credible election by all standards, Jega, after taking all the stick for the hitches experienced en route the polls, would be showered with a lot of encomiums. He has 2 major hurdles to cross though: the presidential and governorship elections. Success in both and Jega becomes a national hero. Actually, he already is.

2.      Free and fair elections is one which PDP loses

No more no less.

3.      Nigerians crave change

After 50 years of poor governance which includes the last twelve years of imposition, manipulation and politricks, the populace stood up to be counted this time around.

4.      Our votes counted

To you all who said your vote would not be counted, your vote was not counted because of one reason – you did not vote. I expect an impressive turn out come Saturday.

5.      ACN remains a regional party

Yes, they swept the southwest. What happened to the rest of the country? If they are counting on the southwest in the forthcoming polls, they better forget it.

6.      PDP remains a force to be reckoned with

I had tipped PDP to come crumbling like a pack of cards in a free and fair election. How wrong I was. The PDP had a strong showing nationwide. Despite losing most of the southwest, they gave the winners a good run for their money. In the other political regions, they still account for a large number of winners.

7.      It was more about party than persona

My last piece was bordering on what line the electorate would toe in the forthcoming elections. INEC answered my questions at the arrival of ballot papers. Only the party logos were on the ballot papers. I did not know the people I voted for, though I am sure they have a broom. However, It’s going to be a totally different kettle of fish during the presidential polls.

8.      There is only one way to fully overthrow PDP

MERGER. I took a critical view at the result from different constituencies. Statistics show that the total number of votes garnered by the opposition parties put together by far exceeds that of the PDP. These parties should put differences aside and make this political race more interesting. I see PDP having that edge in the presidential polls again.

9.      We are forgetting to thank somebody

Everybody is screaming Jega! Jega! INEC! INEC! But I think there is one person we are forgetting to thank: President Goodluck Jonathan. Truth be told, the president created an enabling environment for Jega to operate. He gave all the support needed and promised Nigerians not only free and fair, but credible polls. The president has delivered. Random question: do you think Jega would have performed this good had …….. been in power? (I did not mention name o.)

PLEASE COME OUT AND VOTE ON SATURDAY, 16^TH APRIL 2011. IT’S THE BIG ONE, THE PRESIDENTIAL POLLS. ONE MAN ONE VOTE. DON’T SELL YOUR VOTE. IT’S YOUR VOICE. HISTORY BECKONS.

Twitter: @oseroke

Facebook : facebook.com/oserokeigwubor

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2011 POLLS: PARTY OR PERSONA?

Ever since the political office seekers rolled out the campaign drums, I have been in a quandary as to which line to toe in the forthcoming elections, starting this Saturday. The question on my mind is, and remains, will I (and you) be voting for candidates based on political parties or personal capabilities.

Political parties are not what history told me they used to be. In those days, parties were identified by their manifestoes. The Second Republic readily comes to mind. UPN (Unity Party of Nigeria) was known for its free education programme while NPN (National Party of Nigeria) was known all over for its promise of provision of affordable housing. These days political parties have been transformed to political platforms – just look for a party that would give you the ticket to run for whatever post you desire. This is why we have an outrageous 63 parties.

Of the infinite incidents of cross-carpeting, one readily comes to mind – Atiku Abubakar. A vice-president for eight years on the platform of PDP, he decamped to his party’s fiercest rivals to actualize his presidential ambition. He called the ruling party unprintable names and vowed never to have anything to do with them again. Fast forward four years. Atiku was back in the PDP and even posed the greatest challenge to the sitting president in the primaries. Question is: if we have no shame, don’t we have pride?

A school of thought would say that it is the party that makes the candidate. In my opinion, it is pari passu. The Executive Governor of Lagos State comes in handy. There is no gainsaying that BRF has done a marvelous job in Lagos. “Marvelous” is actually taking some credit away from the man. But have you ever assumed he did not win his party’s flag for this election. Are you sure he would have won from another platform? Are you sure?

After twelve years of misrule and inept leadership, it still amazes me that the PDP still stands a chance in this election. Aside the power of incumbency (which, for the records, has never failed in Africa) the candidate they are presenting gives the party a major boost. A major reason, I feel, they had to jettison their zoning policy.  Nobody is actually saying that they are voting for PDP, but I have heard countless people say they are voting for Goodluck Jonathan.

After all said, I would suggest a balance of both party and persona. Left to me, the right man to lead this country is Professor Pat Utomi: his intellect, his charisma, his vision is not rivaled by any other candidate in this presidential poll. A special adviser at age 27, Professor Pat has come a long away and has the ability to rule this nation. In the NEDG debate, he was outstanding and the most convincing. Unfortunately, his platform is so weak that I don’t know the name. he realized this after the debate and has since stepped down. So the candidate I would be voting for is…

AS 2011 APPROACHES

As 2011 approaches

                Yes I know we are already in 2011. Infact the first quarter is almost over, but 2011 in the Nigerian lexicon is synonymous with the forthcoming elections, just as 2010 meant only one thing to the South Africans – the World Cup. I would be overstating the obvious by describing how pivotal 2011 is in the history of our beloved country. After 50 years of misrule and abject poverty, it is time for the Nigerian youth to stand up and be counted.

                Whatever I have to say may sound cliché as you must have come across it both on electronic and print media. Go out, cast your vote, protect it and make sure it counts. The general perception is we don know who go win, no need to waste my time. This was the same comments our parents made that has put us in this precarious situation that we find ourselves now. This time around, we’d have nobody but ourselves to blame should we sit and watch mediocres take charge of our government for the next four years. I have a strong belief in the Jega –led INEC in spite of her shortcomings during the registration exercise. The election would not be perfect but we can contribute our own quota by coming out en masse to vote. We reduce the risk of rigging.

                Their campaigns have been unconvincing to say the least. That must have been discouraging I must confess. The candidates have been unable to tell us, in details, what they would should they get into power. Those in power have been listing empty projects while those seeking to overthrow have been telling the whole world that those in power slept all through the four years. The debates have been too comic to convey any real meaning. I believe, though, that in the few weeks remaining we’d have no difficulty in making our choices.

                I’m not here to root for any candidate. All I want is for the Nigerian youth to come out and vote for whoever he pleases. The plan to close all schools during the elections is another means the ruling party is trying to disenfranchise us and this we must resist. For crying out loud, most students registered in school. If the president did not learn anything from the closure of schools during the registration exercise, then there is a fundamental problem somewhere.

                Our future depends greatly on the outcome of this election. Charlatans must not be made to taste power. Nigerian youths, it’s our time, let’s seize it .

IGWUBOR IN THE STUDIO

No o. Definitely not me. I love music. I love Nigerian music but not as a singer. I’m obsessed with the Choc Boiz but that doesn’t make me a rapper. Good news though. Rap runs in the family!

With great honour and tumultuous excitement, I present to you, 2 Medical doctors-cum-rappers from the University of Benin – XY and RAP RYDER!

I’d be bias a little. I’d talk more about XY – my blood brother!

A 300Level student of medicine, this is XY’s very first time on the mic, and he comes really good on this DJ Khaled beat. Nice metaphors, sick lines. I think we can only expect this dude to improve.

Rap Ryder has romanced the studio before and his delivery showed class also. It’s been ages we listened to such fast lyrics.

One thing that really fascinated me was the chorus. it was very professional and swaggerlicious IMO.

Listen and tell me what you feel. listen here or download from this link

http://www.4shared.com/audio/BQC_oiN7/Sky_High__-_XY_RAP_RIDER.html

MO, HITS TO WORK WITH KANYE WEST, JAY Z AND BEYONCE?

Too good to be true, right? But after that massive collaboration with Baba Aja Oluwasnoop, we shouldn’t take anything that comes from the Mo’ Hits for granted.

In an interview with MTV Base behind the scenes of the Mr. Endowed remix, D’banj mentioned the possibilities of Don Jazzy producing for the likes of Kanye West, Jay Z and Beyonce! OMG!!

Doubting Thomases that would be wondering the authenticity of this should take a look at a tweet from Kanye to both D’banj and Don Jazzy three days ago which suggests there is really something concrete underground.

The Mo’ Hits are really taking African music (and entertainment) a notch higher and I hope and pray everything falls into place for this project.

The Grammys is getting near menn!! Where menn? Here menn!!

THE OAU IMBROGLIO – MY STANCE

My recent flirtation with the students’ union as well as the parliament makes my opinion on this brouhaha noteworthy, I dare say. Had intentions of narrating my side of the story – what I heard, saw and felt – but I realized it was a boring piece, so let’s get to the crux of the matter.

I stand in full support of the union in this trying times, not because of my personal affiliation with the president (though I admit I wouldn’t have uttered a word had someone else been in charge), not because I enjoy this unwarranted ‘break’. I’m backing the union for posterity’s sake. The struggle is not about us alone, it’s about our future.

It’s ridiculous and outrageous to have a section of the students blame the students’ union executives and the honorable parliamentarians for the recent problems facing the institution. What is their point? Are they saying we should all have kept quiet at a NINE HUNDRED PERCENT (900%) INCREASE? Should they have folded their arms and watch the management impose an insurance scheme on all Great Ife students. Then why did we vote them in? We could as well assume that no union existed and bear the brunt of whatever exploitation the management brought to the fore.

At this juncture, I must make one thing clear. I do not belong to the school of thought that believes that the sole job of the Students’ Union is to oppose the university management on every issue. No. On the contrary, I believe and wish for a harmonious working relationship between both parties. But on the issue at hand, the union had no option.

I recall, with nostalgia, the manifesto night last session. The whole university hinged their hope and support on one man and this was reflected by a landslide victory in the polls the following day. I believe the students did not vote for a stooge. They did not vote for someone who would be an O-Yes man to the management. Infact, in my opinion, that particular short-coming by the previous executive was responsible for the defeat encountered by one of the presidential candidates, as he happened to be a member of the then outgoing executive.

I have digressed.

The executive (most especially the president) had an overwhelming support from the student populace and could not afford to fail at his first hurdle. I remember at his acceptance speech at the swearing-in. he had pleaded with the VC not to increase the fees, as this will make him one of the few VCs who never did so. The president besieged the VC that the rumour making the rounds about a purported increment should remain a rumour. We later came to realize those pleas fell on deaf ears.

With the management refusing to come to a round-table discussion with members of the executive as well as other acts of mischief which included the new mode of fees payment and the delay in stalites resumption, it was obvious the management was not ready to play ball.

For Christ’s sake, when did insurance become compulsory? What on earth happened to our health centre that made us need health insurance? And if truly we need this health insurance, how much enlightenment have we been given? Who is the insurance company? Where is the insurance card? Those of us whose parents are civil servants are already beneficiaries of the NHIS, why should we need another? These are questions bothering on the insurance scheme.

I read a comment by the registrar as regards the acceptance fee increment. His argument was that the fee was increased to meet the realities of modern day cost of education (paraphrased). True as that may sound, it is absurd and belligerent to jerk the price of any commodity from two thousand to twenty thousand naira. On hearing about it for the first time, I laughed it off saying the management just put it so high so that when the union comes for negotiation, they would reduce it. To my utmost dismay, the management has bewildered all by refusing to bend.

Now, who says the union shouldn’t have fought. Yes, some people had the campaign slogan,” vote for F.Jay, vote for closure of school”. It’s not about closure of school or not, it’s about fighting what you believe in. Jackson Brown Jr. said, “Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do”. It was only logical that the students staged a protest – a very peaceful one – to press home their claims. Forget all the media politicking claiming violence and destruction. It was even exasperated to the point where people were made to believe that ladies had been raped live(s) had been lost. That’s all falsehood. A very peaceful and like every other lecture boycott.

However, this is where I think the union got it wrong. On the second day of the lecture boycott, the union should have summoned all students to a congress. This was the method employed by the Devaino-led as well as Prof-led administrations. The management might have been forced to come out and address the students. Since this path was not toed, I feel the management was in a state of quandary as to the next move of the union. More disturbing was the fact that the Matriculation ceremony was the following day. Had the congress taken place, the management would have known of the decision of the student’s to ensure that matriculation still went on.

The dilemma was reflected in the letter released on Wednesday 23^rd February 2011. Taking a close look at that letter, you would realize that it had been written the day before, as the VC said (paraphrased), “…all students are thus required to proceed on a compulsory break tomorrow 23^rd February 2011…”. Even though the letter was released on that very Wednesday morning.

It would be stating the obvious to say that the union acted in the best interest of all students – present and future. Not staging an opposition at all would have been termed cowardice by this same people castigating the union for sending us home. Let’s tell ourselves the honest truth, the union fought for a worthy cause. Every move they made was justified. Besides, they had not exceeded the mandatory 72hours. Infact they had not completed 48 hours when that go-home letter was typed.

The union should be hailed for the courage and tenacity they should not bear the brunt for the misdemeanour of the university management.

Stubbornly persist and you would find that the limits of your stubbornness exceeds go well beyond the stubbornness of your limit……………………………………………..ROBERT BRAULT

Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta