2011 April Polls Update

Twenty-four hours from now, Goodluck Jonathan would be sworn in as Nigeria’s President for the next four years. It was not an easy road to victory for Nigeria’s fifth civilian President. Jonathan is known to be one man who has been favoured by the elements.

President Goodluck Jonathan has described majority of those lobbying for appointments into ministerial positions and boards of federal parastatals as selfish people who do not have the interest of the Nigerian masses at heart, saying only about 10 per cent of such lobbyists have done so based on patriotic considerations.

THE Federal Government, yesterday, said it was determined to ensure a hitch-free inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan and 26 state governors on Sunday.

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that he will select credible and intelligent people into his cabinet and other areas of government to run the affairs of the state.

FORMER Presidents of the Senate, Senators Anyim Pius Anyim and Adolphus Wabara, yesterday, described the legislature as a war-front where ideas, thoughts and views about the sustenance of democracy is canvassed, saying that lawmakers must emphasize the making of laws that have direct impact on the welfare of their constituents.

Call them Lawyers’ Supports Club For Goodluck Jonathan. It couldn’t have come with a drama more political. The scene was funny. Lawyers struggled to put their names on the list of legal practitioners intent on defending the victory of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It was like the biblical attempt to beat the doomsday.

No fewer than 50 Heads of State and Governments are expected to attended the inauguration ceremony of President Goodluck Jonathan on May 28.

A ranking member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said that the Speakership of the 7th National Assembly will emerge on the basis of competence irrespective of ethno-religious or regional background.

LESS than two weeks to hand-over , the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Oyo State has warned the out-going Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, members of his kitchen cabinet and other political functionaries against alleged last minute looting of State funds, government property and assets.

Ogboko, the country home of Imo State governor-elect, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, has become a political pilgrimage centre of sort since he was announced winner of the gubernatorial election last weekend.

Former Senate Leader and strongman of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, yesterday, lamented that the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), was robbed of well-deserved victories during the general elections in Kwara State.

An Islamic organisation, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has set up a four-member committee on the post-election crisis that engulfed Kaduna State.

The long anticipated April 2011 elections have come and gone. What remains now in the saddles of leadership is the reality of the challenges of having to live up to the various electioneering promises.