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Cross River: “Emperor” Falls into Police Dragnet

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The Source
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Aminu Alhasan - Cross Rivers Commisioner of Police

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

It was end of the road for a daredevil crime gangster, Godswill Emmanuel aka Emperor, Monday in Calabar as the Police in the Cross River state capital arrested him and two members of his gang.

Confirming the development, the state Commissioner of Police Aminu Alhassan said the suspects were arrested in a hotel in Akamkpa local government area, about 30 kilometres from Calabar.

Emmanuel and his crime gang are believed to be responsible for the shooting of Gov. Ben Ayade’s Security Adviser, Ani Esin, in 2018.

The Cross River government and the police declared Emmanuel wanted in 2018 after the attack on Esin. According to Alhassan, the crime kingpin was arrested alongside Denis Onyekachi and Edet Okon.

The Commissioner of police assured of his men’s battle-readiness for criminals in the state.

“We are not making noise about our achievements, but this is a warning to all those involved in crime in the state; we will continue to smoke them out.

“We have never relented in our quest to sanitise every part of the state.

“It is either you stay away from crime while in Cross River or you leave because this place will be too hot for you to operate.

“Criminals must leave the state now or face the consequences as well as the full wrath of the law,” Alhassan warned.

Those Blaming Buhari Are Are Responsible For Banditry In Imo – Gov. Uzodimma

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The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has taken exception to the feeling that  President Muhammadu Buhari should be blamed over the spate of insecurity in Imo State. He, instead said those who harbour such thoughts are the ones behind banditry in Imo.

The Governor has also raised the alarm that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State have become targets of attack by the politicians and their collaborators who are behind the banditry and killings.

He spoke on Monday in his remarks at the wedding ceremony of Chinedu, son of business mogul and politician, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, which held at the Cathedral Church of Transfiguration of Our Lord (CATOL), Owerri.

Governor Uzodimma said wicked politicians have decided to hold Imo State captive, killing innocent ones and burning public and private property of Imo citizens,  all in the name of politics.

He urged the Church and the congregation to pray for such persons to repent.

Speaking earlier on Sunday while addressing the congregation at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Ozuh Omuma, Our East local government areas of Imo State on Easter Day, Governor Uzodimma reiterated that the killings going on in the State are politically contrived hence needless for anyone to point fingers at President Buhari or himself as instrumental to the wicked act as “some soulless persons” are won’t to do.

“I pray that God will touch the hearts of these people who are sponsoring the killing of innocent ones, burning houses and destroying public property in the name of politics.”

To buttress his point that wicked and mindless politicians are behind the killings in Imo, the Governor said it beats the imagination that in the incident which took place at Ogberuru in Orlu last week all the victims – Ward Chairman, Ward Secretary and Woman leader – were  of the APC.

“I have crosschecked since the inception of this mindless blood letting in Orlu, Orsu and other communities in the zone, not one Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) person has died, their houses burnt or attacked. It is clear to me therefore that these killings are the handiwork of politicians who are after the APC members,” the Governor said.

He warned that the killings must stop now as his government is neither weak nor lacking in the zeal to deal with the perpetrators except that his administration has zero tolerance for blood letting.

Governor Uzodimma wondered how burning of police stations, local government headquarters and the killing of innocent and hapless citizens could help to advance the course or aspiration of any politician.

Regardless, he enjoined his kits and kin and all men of good will, to remain fervent in their prayers for God to touch the heart of both the sponsors of the banditry and their actors/collaborators to come to their senses, particularly in the light of the occasion of Easter when Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Governor Uzodimma promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him by Imo people who trusted him with their mandate, reiterating that his administration will pursue policies that will bring joy, prosperity and development to the State.

Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal, Amaechi Responsible For The Sufferings of Nigerians – Anyim

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The Source
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Anyim Pius Anyim

Without mentioning their names, former President of the Senate and presidential aspirant, Pius Anyim, has blamed the present socio-economic problems besetting Nigeria on those who pulled out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2013 and allegedly deceived Nigerians.

Speaking at a consultative meeting with PDP leaders across the six geo-political zones of the country in Abuja at the weekend, he maintained that the defectors’ action brought the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he observed, has since plunged the nation into untold hardship.

He, therefore, warned the main opposition party not to repeat the mistake of that year.

Recall that dissatisfied with events in the party, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and then governors of Adamawa, Kwara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Rivers and Niger States had walked out of the party’s National convention and later joined forces with the APC.

Ayim, who is one of the 17 individuals seeking the ticket of the former ruling party, said: “In 2015, some of us in PDP, simply decided to pull out of PDP and bring that government down and we were plunged into darkness. That is why we are here.

“Let nobody confuse you. Let nobody mislead you. We were confused and misled in 2015. And that is why we are here. We now have an opportunity to come together and reinvent ourselves.

“Do you agree with me that Nigerians are saying please return us to 2015? If Nigerians are begging us to return them to 2015, do you have any reason not to support me?”

Anyim, who was Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under former President Goodluck Jonathan, commended him, saying that Nigerians would have reaped more benefits of democracy if that administration was not obstructed by the APC in 2015.

He added: “We were planning that for the second tenure of President Jonathan. We will stretch out these plans and policies to actually deliver maximum results. Unfortunately, that administration was truncated.

The presidential aspirant called on the party members to support his ambition to return Nigeria to the path of prosperity.

“If you stand by me, if you partner with me, we will return this country, again on the path of peace, growth and prosperity,” he added.

He assured that if he gets the chance to be president, he will make the country competitive once again, saying: “I want to say that in returning Nigeria on the part of growth, we have to sharpen a new foundation or at least the return to where we stopped in 2015.

“I want to say that the crises of our nation today, the challenge of our time today demands a unifier. It demands a crisis manager. It demands a stabilizer and these are all that I am known for.

“I will build consensus across the board. I will make sure I secure the buy-in of every component of our polity before I deploy any policy that will help us move forward.”

On insecurity, the former Senate President vowed to attack the virus from the roots such that it stands no chance of affecting society in a meaningful manner.

He further stated: “I will address insecurity from the roots and by the time I take it up from its roots, I will nip it at the point of arms. I mean at the point people start carrying arms.

“Without that underground preparation, it will be difficult to just carry arms and achieve results.”

2023 Presidency: Oluwo Of Iwo Says No Nigerian Will Vote For An Igbo

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Oluwo of Iwo

By Akinwale Kasali

The hope of having a South Easterner as the President of the Nation come 2023 seems to have been dashed if the words of Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo is anything to go by.

The  controversial Monarch has expressed his lack of confidence in an Igbo man as the next President of the nation come 2023.

Oba Akanbi said what has always led to the failure of the Igbo getting the Presidential seat is because of their approach, which over the years, amount to chasing of shadows.

“The failure of the South Easterners to change their approach amount to chasing shadow on their political journey of producing Nigeria’s President.

“The civil war wounds meted on South Easterners is a weak factor to institutionalize policies capable of tearing the nation apart.

“I have people from across Nigeria in Iwo, including the South Easterners. They do not only have their businesses but also built their houses and own farm lands. Such is not only peculiar to Iwo but to other parts of the country, except the South-East. A Nigerian in Nigeria should be able to own land anywhere.

“The style by the South easterners is barbaric. Such is not only detrimental to their economic viability but also to their political recognition. As a Traditional Ruler, I can’t trust any South easterner as my President.

 

“You can’t be a leader on sectional interest. With such unsophisticated, primitive and uncivilized thinking, no Nigerian from other zones will vote a South Easterner as their President.”

The Monarch has over time pledged his support for the candidacy of frontline All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Aspirant and National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Political observers believe that his comment on Igbo Presidency is inconsequential.

Said an Igbo business man when asked to comment:

“Is that one an Oba too. So when Traditional Rulers are talking, he talks too. Nobody takes him serious. He does not count. Not even in his domain. Was he not the one who hit a colleague Traditional Ruler publicly? I beg, discuss serious issues.”

Lagos 2023: Lagos GAC Endorse Governor Sanwo Olu Second Term Bid

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Second Term bid of Governor Babajide  Sanwo Olu of Lagos State got  a huge boost and seal of approval, following his endorsement by the Governance Advisory Council, GAC.

The Apex Body within the state ruling political class of All Progressives Congress, APC, gave nod for his second term ambition to the delight of Governor Sanwo-Olu at its meeting this Monday afternoon at the State House Marina.

Though the approval of his Second Term ambition was not surprising as the National Leader of the APC and frontline Presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had openly endorsed Governor Sanwo Olu.

With the APC Governorship election primaries slated for May 27 and the GAC approval, it is certain that he will emerge as the Party’s Governorship Candidate come 2023.

With this endorsement, the coast is clear for Governor Sanwo-Olu to prepare for his re-election and also go ahead and pick his nomination forms for the election.

Immediate past Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode was denied the Party’s ticket for second term by the GAC allegedly for performing poorly in office.

It was the first time in the history of the State since 1999 that a sitting Governor in Lagos State was denied a second term in office.

“l Am In Support Of My Adorable Wife, Betty, Going To The Senate” – Gov Akeredolu

By
Ayodele Oni
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Akeredolu and his Wife -Betty

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, who arrived the State capital on Sunday from overseas trip, after widespread rumour of his death, has approved the move by his wife to contest a senatorial seat in Imo state.

Governor Akeredolu’s approval was contained in a wedding anniversary message sent to his wife, Betty on Easter Monday.

Akeredolu’s message reads

“Betty, FLOOS, let me choose this great day in our lives, our 41st wedding Anniversary, to notch up in print my support for your popular and known quest to serve your people in the Senate.

“The evolution of modern societies bears indelible evidence of significant inputs of few people. This trajectory records definitive impacts of those who dare to think and act differently.

“The consequence of this defiance finds expression in radical departure from the old order, leading to transformation.

“It yields quality accretions which impact positively on the people in any given space.

“The world owes those who dare a debt of gratitude for audacity, tenacity, consistency and focus.

“These torch bearers withstand the brunt of vilification, contempt, deprivation and even rejection. They remain undaunted until the set goal is achieved.

“They are rarely praised afterwards.

Public service is taken as the highest form of participation in the affairs of a human community, state or a country.

“It ennobles anyone, privileged to serve, whose tenacity, focus and integrity ensure development. Only a few are truly equipped for service. They must be encouraged at all times.

“Anytime, anywhere and under whatever circumstances, those who hold views which threaten to shatter age-long widely held beliefs and/or practices are a special breed.

“Those whose activities have borne positive impact on the lives of the under-privileged, must be supported by all good people.

“I join all other well-wishers, admirers, supporters and stakeholders to support, openly and without any reservations or equivocation, my Adorable Betty in her bid to continue to serve the people in her State of birth, Imo.

“I do this, most enthusiastically, as a partner, admirer and active follower for over four decades. I consider myself highly privileged to have a workaholic, gender and human rights activist, humanist and philanthropist as wife, adviser, harshest critic, supporter, political associate and, above all, an unrelenting ideologue, ready to sacrifice and confront any obstacle, natural and artificial.

“I am of the firm belief that any group, society, community, state or country, privileged to avail itself of the quintessential service of a bold crusader, as she, is lucky indeed.

“Seeking to continue what she started long before I came into politics, when she ran for the House of Representative, at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, is not strange to me or anyone who has been watching the activities of this special personality.

“I SUPPORT HER ASPIRATION NOW, AS I HAVE ALWAYS DONE, EVEN BEFORE I JOINED POLITICS. I know her to be a passionate believer in rectitude.

“I believe in her mission to emancipate women from the shackles of all forms of oppression. I have known her as a fiercely independent personality who is never afraid to voice her dissent on any issue.

“I have witnessed her triumphs over adversities at close quarters. She made me appreciate more the nuanced difference between foolhardiness and courage.

“Many have come to accept her as a rock of refuge for the oppressed and hopeless. She has been a strong advocate for equity and justice and against unprofitable superstitions, beliefs and habits which predispose people to diseases and avoidable deaths.

“I am proud of this gift from Imo State. I support her aspiration wholeheartedly. I am convinced that the people of Imo State will enjoy quality representation from her.

“Her presence in the Senate promises exciting moments.

I harbour no anxiety that my Adorable Betty, ADA OWERE, has all it takes to BEMORE.

“While offering her my unalloyed support, I wish her all the best in this current quest to extend and particularise the scope of service in the interest of the people.

“May the will of the Almighty be manifested and fulfilled in this endeavour, and many more, designed to uplift the downtrodden.

May fair winds aid this sail!”

Presidency Says Authors Of Hate Speech Divide Nigeria Not Buhari

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said the accusers of President Muhammadu Buhari are the real problems of Nigeria.

He stated that those blaming the President for dividing Nigeria with his style of leadership were responsible for the division.

Reacting to the Easter Sunday sermon by Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Adesina exonerated Buhari from causing divisions in the country.

According to him, unguarded speeches by the critics divided the country. He stated this in a tweet on Monday.

Among other things, Bishop Kukah had said “The government has slid into hibernation mode. It is hard to know whether the problem is that those in power do not hear, see, feel, know, or just don’t care.

“Either way, from this crossroad, we must make a choice, to go forward, turn left or right or return home. None of these choices are easy, yet, guided by the light of the risen Christ, we can reclaim our country from its impending slide to anarchy.

“The greatest challenge now is how to begin a process of reconstructing our nation hoping that we can hang on and survive the 2023 elections.

“The real challenge before us now is to look beyond politics and face the challenge of forming character and faith in our country.”

The Presidential spokesman pointed out that “Those accusing Buhari of dividing the country are the ones that used their mouths and unguarded speeches to divide Nigeria.

“Those who divided Nigeria with their mouths, with evil, unguarded speaking, are the ones now accusing President Buhari. How sad! Their wicked intentions shall not come to pass.”

Nigeria: Bishop Kukah Was Right, Says HURIWA

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria,  HURIWA, concurred with Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Monday that Nigeria has metamorphosed into a National Hospital with full occupancy.

This is a day after the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, strongly criticized the President, Muhammadu Buhari, over the critical security situation, corruption and divisiveness in Nigeria.

Bishop Kukah’s criticism was contained in  a Homily he delivered on Sunday, April 17, 2022, to mark the Easter Sunday. Kukah, listing the pains of Nigerians, and how low the country has descended, said everything has broken down in Nigeria, under Buhari’s watch, except corruption.

HURIWA’s, National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, fully supported Kukah’s position.

The group insists that the Ninth National Assembly led by Senate President Ahmad Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila is a joke, having failed to impeach Buhari over alleged numerous glaring impeachable offenses.

Their reaction was titled:‘Insecurity: HURIWA backs Kukah, knocks NASS over failure of oversights functions’.  It reads:

“The respected Catholic Bishop was on point when he said every aspect of our national life has been grossly broken since President Muhammadu Buhari came into office in May 2015. Everything he said cannot be further from the truth.

“In all ramification, the President and his entire cabinet have failed in the government’s primary responsibility, which according to Section 14 (2)(b) of the Nigerian constitution, is: ‘The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’.

“Monthly, vicious insurgents, killer herdsmen, and gunmen slaughter hundreds of innocent Nigerians in Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Taraba, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and other states. Sadly, these terrorists and enemies of the country walk freely, unarrested and unprosecuted by the Buhari regime while security agents pander around, sparing the killers while the President gives empty marching orders and unsympathetic condolence messages.

“The sitting duck and bootlicking Senate and House of Representatives are also complicit over their failure to impeach President Buhari after he has lost the legitimacy to exercise authority as President having failed woefully to enforce section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution which is the primary duty of government.

“Apparently, the President, through his All Progressives Congress party, has captured the conscience of the NASS leaders and pocketed the two other branches of government with his surrogates and lackeys as military chiefs, hence, his remaining in Aso Villa, despite the many impeachable offences he has committed against the Nigerian people some of which is his inability to decisively defeat, degrade and deal with terrorists who kidnap school children and citizens and keep them in the forests for months without himself as the Commander in Chief taking enforcement measures to rescue these citizens.

“Nigerians are tired of the current failed administration and the gross failure in all aspects of governance and we are afraid that if the trends are not arrested and Nigeria becomes a failed State, then Africa as a continent can’t contain the refugees that will stream out of a failed Nigeria”.

Alleged Rape: Lagos State Government Closes Down Chrisland Schools

By
Uche Mbah
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0
Chrisland Schools

By Akinwale Kasali and Uche Mbah

The alleged Rape of a 10-Year Old Student of Chrisland School by her colleagues during a Dubai trip has put the high profile Chrisland Schools in trouble.

For not reporting or handling it, and for trying to cover it up, and Indefinitely suspending the student, the Lagos State Government has ordered an  immediate closure of the Schools.

The Lagos State Government in a statement on Monday, said the sexual abuse of the minor was being investigated.

The Government in the statement shared by Jubril A. Gawat, @Mr_JAGs, media aide to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of the State, announced the closure of the schools pending the outcome of investigations.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to the alleged sexual violence case involving students of Chrisland Schools which occurred in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“It is pertinent to note that all allegations are being investigated by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Ministry of Education, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency, whilst the criminal allegations have been escalated to the Commissioner of Police.

“In view of the allegations, we are committed to ensuring that adequate medical and pscyho social support is provided.

“This is to reassure members of the public of the State Government’s commitment to safety and child protection, especially in ensuring that all child-centered institutions within the state, formulate and implement policies and systems that are compliant with the Executive Order (NO.EO/AA08 of 2016), Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Program.

“We also use this medium to remind the general public that any person who engages in any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child, commits an offence and is liable to custodial sentence of fourteen (14) years.

“This includes “producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing an image of child pornography”.

“In the meantime, all Chrisland Schools within Lagos State are hereby closed, pending further investigations.”

The mother of the Girl had alleged that the School carried out a pregnancy test on their daughter without notifying the parent.

It also added that parent wasn’t aware of the rape and the circulated sex video that was trending on the internet.

The family called on Nigerians to come to its rescue as the School has been threatening to deal and allegedly kill their child if she spills the beans of what happened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates trip.

The mother of the pupil alleged that the school tried to cover up the incident from them till another parent showed her the video of the incident. The aggrieved mother further claimed that the school threatened to kill her daughter if she ever spoke about the incident.

“A parent called me that she needed to see me urgently. I went to her house and she told me that something had been trending in Chrisland and she believes I was not aware. The woman showed me the video and told me that all the parents are aware. Immediately I informed my husband.

“Please I am begging Nigerians to help me because Chrisland was trying to hide this issue. They were trying to push us out of the way and my daughter was affected psychologically. Please I need help as a mother. I am begging fellow Nigerians to help me.

“They have been threatening my daughter that if she speaks out they are going to kill her. That it is a man’s world and nothing would happen. My daughter was dying in silence,” she said in parts of the video.

The mother of the pupil further stated ever since they confronted the school about the incident, they suspended her daughter.

“Because we have started confronting them that we are aware of what they did, the school sent her a suspension letter.

“When my daughter explained to me what happened, she said that they went out in the morning to have breakfast and one of the boys, Kachi, begged her to borrow him her phone charger which she obliged. After they had dinner, Kachi called her room that she should come and take her charger. She went there for her charger.

“When she got into the room, one of them said she should take her charger from the toilet it was when she entered the toilet, that they hijacked her and told her to take a substance, so they were all under the influence. She said after that she did not know what she was doing again. They told her to be climbing them and someone stood there videoing them and posting it out,” she said.

Music Executive, Ubi Franklin, was the first to reveal the rape saga. In a series of tweets,  Ubi mentioned that the little girl was selected to represent her school in a competition in Dubai. He said while at the competition, the girl was raped by a group of fellow students.

She was also video-taped and the video was posted on Instagram a month ago.

According to Ubi, the distraught parents found out after another parent in the school alerted them.

”Just got off the phone with a friend of mine. His 10 year old daughter was selected to represent her school at the World School Games in Dubai. His daughter was r**ped by fellow students, video taped and posted on Instagram…The school concealed it for a month.

”He found out on his own when another parent called his wife and showed his wife the video of his 10 year old daughter being circulated on Instagram. I have spent the last 1hour listening to confessional statements by some teachers… I am begging this should rather be a dream.”

Responding to the allegation, the School said it formally notified the parents of the young girl of her suspension; for allegedly joining ”a few other co-learners to carry out immoral act after the lights out instruction was given”.

The School said the girl joined other students of Chrisland School to play a game of ‘truth or dare’; which led to her being gang-raped by the minors.

Thereafter, the 10-year-old female pupil was suspended by the school. This came after she was allegedly taken for a pregnancy test without the knowledge of her parents. Reports indicate that the boys involved have also been suspended.

The pupils had visited Dubai in March to participate in the World School Games which held between March 10-13, 2022. The school was celebrated for carrying out an impressive display and winning about 34 medals.

The Silly Season Of Bolekaja Presidents

By
The Source
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0
MAP of Nigeria

By Dan Abubakar

The clown car is continuing its journey to nowhere revealing more characters just in for a ride but who are having us believe they are in contention to be president of a country in mortal danger of dissolution in chaos.

The situation is not funny at all even if you make allowance for the fact that this is the silly season of politics when all sorts of characters bop up and by their talk and their posturing seem intent on being taken seriously.

One of the latest entrants is Labour Minister Chris Ngige under whose watch ASUU is more on strike than not, putting the future of millions of youth in jeopardy . What is he going to tell people is the reason for his wanting to be president? To fulfill a divine mandate conferred by the Okija shrine? To abolish ASUU and abolish University education? To be referred to, a short time time from now, as a one time ‘presidential aspirant’ as many of his fellow entrants obviously crave?

The public – the number that pays any attention,  that is – had scarcely taken this in when a photograph appeared in the press and social media of another entrant – Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi – paying what appears to be a courtesy call on the  chairman of the APC, the newly, politically, resurrected Abdullahi Adamu with heavy Ghana-Must- Go bags framing their background.

No marks for guessing what is in those bags. But don’t be surprised if tomorrow you are told a printer had just delivered fresh party registration forms!

We are in that season, of course  when you have to constantly prick yourself for the assurance that you are still alive, that what you see happening around you is actually happening and are not episodes of a particularly ghastly horror movie.

We are in a season when corruption is no longer a crime but a fad such that only fools get caught. And  so what if they are?

They can procure ready instruction from Orji Kalu, another presidential hopeful (oh help us God!) on how to trigger  judicial acrobatics that cause you  to laugh all the way out of jail or the court house. But of course there is always the option of a presidential pardon as Dariye and Nyame have just testified.

The clown car hurtles on.

Can you beat the antics of the fellow who is accused of helping to turn his state into a killing field but who now got himself tied to a stake in a reprise of the crucifixion, with the message that he was offering himself as a living sacrifice for Nigeria’s salvation? One wag has since quipped that those who had him on the cross could have done the country and especially his state a huge favour had  they used actual stakes!

And what about Ayo Fayose, ‘the stomach infrastructure original’, fresh from declaring he was also in the race, helping himself to mounds of amala at a popular buka in Abuja. It was as if he was trying to fatten himself up for combat, the type Lagosians would recognise as the forte of motor park touts and bus conductors who thanks to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have become a major force in politics such that obeisance has to be paid to M.C Oluomo their head honcho.

This season of course began with presidential aspirants all across the country being begged by their multitude of supporters to volunteer to save Nigeria. These supporters who majorly contribute to Nigeria’s poverty index soon managed to pony up the millions needed to buy the presidential application forms for their idols to signal how serious they were.  Such aspirants could truly say that they were only responding to the yearnings of millions of Nigerians as expressed by their supporters.

Support is also expressed by one or two characters sending forth  a press release or holding a press conference and claiming to speak for bodies with lugubrious titles like Northern Youth Vanguard, Oduduwa Salvation Front, Movement to Actualize Igbo Presidency. Those names are actually made up but you get the drift.

If we had better organized political parties, that stand for something, it is doubtful if most of these so-called presidential aspirants would have had the gumption to inflict themselves on us and engage in this noise pollution.

Serious parties would even now sift the long list of candidates and quietly ask most to drop off so as to preserve some integrity for the political process and allow us to concentrate on examining the credentials of more credible candidates like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of the APC and Peter Obi of the PDP.

But in a situation where Ghana Must Go bags rule, with the latest game in town being declaring that you want to run for president, the clown car will soon have to make way for a trailer.

Abubakar, a Political Analyst, wrote from Abuja

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