Nuhu Ribadu holding a broom
By Matthew Mahmood
The media shocked the masses with news of 'merger talks' between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). CPC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari reportedly turned down the ACN a second time. He probably does not want ACN leader Ahmed Bola Tinubu or Tinubu's protégé as his vice candidate. It is obvious that ACN is just using Ribadu as a presidential candidate stooge, which is very sad for Ribadu’s fans. Why did Ribadu join ACN in the first instance?
He was almost dumped like a sack of rotten potatoes some hours ago. Until Election Day, we cannot be sure that another ‘garbage’ attempt would not befall him. If Ribadu is forced to step down then it would be more reasonable for Nigerians to vote for the boy that had no shoes aka President Goodluck Jonathan. The ‘no shoes’ TV advertisement is really ‘catchy’ and sympathetic.
Nigerians do not generally dislike President Goodluck Jonathan. What some people dislike is the way the Peoples Democratic Party is structured to favour members than the masses. During Jonathan’s imbroglio with the cabal a lot of Nigerians supported him. Surprisingly, he has not performed as expected and allowed people that would have supported him to support other presidential candidates.
Jonathan needs more technocrats in his cabinet because the average Nigerian cannot feel the impact of policies allegedly implemented by the PDP. The failed Buhari/Tinubu or ACN/CPC merger agreement would not have worked because both men have strong personalities and different ideologies. It would have been a disaster.
Ribadu may be the last hope for young Nigerians especially as Buhari never had a good Human Rights record while he was Nigeria's 7th head of state. Buhari needs to clarify his stance on the Human Rights allegations against him. Where appropriate, he should have apologized to the families of Nigerians that were unlawfully executed or died in detention during his tenure as a military ruler. Most continents have moved on and left Africa behind. Nigerians do not need a leader that would infringe Human Rights to correct indiscipline. It would be totally wrong and should not be condoned.
All Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate Ibrahim Shekarau won the NN24 presidential debate but he is he really media friendly? He does not seem to believe in freedom of speech. A man that told Shekarau that he was not supporting him was arrested at a polling booth during the National Assembly elections.
Shekarau allowed 259 children to contact polio by stopping the WHO polio vaccine in Kano State because of the misconception that the vaccine 'contained hormones' and made 'girls infertile'. Rather than apologize on air he defended himself in the debate and on BBC’s HARDtalk.
For putting thousands of children at risks of contacting polio that spread to nearby countries would have easily made a candidate lose a British or American debate but not in Nigeria. Shekarau’s current performance as a State Governor is reportedly poor but he is unlikely to loot the treasury since his first house is under construction. Other governors have houses in and out of Nigeria.
Ribadu Still In The Race
Why ACN – CPC talks collapsed
They have damaged my candidacy, says Ribadu
PRESIDENTIAL RACE: ME, STEP DOWN? BLOODY LIE -RIBADU
Jonathan wins Nigerian presidential election
Ba’mi, I No Dey Laugh O!
Baba: When will you stop weeping?
Heeyabor: Ba’mi, I no dey laugh o! (Daddy, I’m not laughing o!)
Baba: I know that now. Me, I dey laugh o. I dey kampe! (Me, I'm laughing. I'm OK and physically fit!)
Heeyabor: It’s not funny Ba’mi.
Baba: So, I should start crying because you lost a senatorial election? God forbid. Even the press reported your crying scenario. Look! Don’t disgrace me o. Yar’Aduha would have taken his daughter’s failure at the polls with gratitude to God if he were alive. Buckle up! Ranti omo eni ti iwo n se. (Remember that you are my child.)
Heeyabor: My enemies will laugh at me. I loved being a senator.
Baba: Senators are called senators for life. Forget the senate and move on. Move closer to your man and give us more grandchildren. You are not getting younger o.
Heeyabor: It’s not easy to be a career woman, wife and mother at once.
Baba: Just get the senate off your mind. It is time for you to become a minister as long as our party wins the presidential election; so that we would not have to lobby for a slot. Journalists are aware of the in-coming ministerial slot.
Heeyabor: Ba’mi, thank you but maybe the biggest loser in the lower house extended his bad luck to me.
Baba: But I forgave him when he came to beg me. That small boy with the big mouth is a spoilt brat but I like his father. No wonder he lost his seat to the battle of Ota. The driver of the bus had a minor wound from the way the boy ‘wrestled’ and tried to take the steering wheel from him. The driver is having the last laugh behind closed doors. He may even hold a thanksgiving party. After all, the driver is not the one that is now jobless.
Heeyabor: It is amazing that I, Danny and the biggest loser lost the election in our state?
Baba: DeKnow Mayliehay and his sect probably had a special celebration in order to laugh at the biggest loser. Igba ki lo bi orere, be oni se ri ola kii ri be. (Times change, today may not be like tomorrow.) The world is gradually changing. The electorate are wiser than ever before. The internet has revolutionized their brains. Look at what happened in Egypt and Tunisia. The masses are now powerful enough to oust presidents. The governed can no longer be governed like flocks of sheep or ‘mumu’.
Heeyabor: But Sir-rakee won a senatorial seat.
Baba: He is not yet a former Governor is he? He is ‘out-going’ like Danny. Anyway, Honeylola, Hagargoo and Harday-lakehay lost unexpectedly. The senate is no longer a dumping ground for former governors. Most former government officials show off and oppress other lawmakers without moving notable motions.
Heeyabor: Hakinjeeday and Hadaydeboo's children lost out too.
Baba: You see… you are not the only one, so stop crying.
