When Governor Ikedi Ohakim addressed Imo stakeholders January 4 this year, he promised that local government elections, which had been on hold in the last six years, would be conducted in August.

Tenacity and audacity seem to be Atiku Abubakar’s middle name. The former Nigerian Vice-President has finally fixed Sunday August 15, 2010 to declare his presidential ambition, against all perceived odds.

He was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, a time when the legislature made useful contributions pursuant to strengthening democracy, insisting on due separation of powers. In this chat, he talks about the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan and brings new insight into the debate on zoning.

Chief Henry Oladele Ajomale, is Lagos State chairman of the Action Congress (AC). He is a Lawyer, seasoned administrator, diplomat and grassroot politician, who prior to his emergence as the state Chairman of the party, served as Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations as well as Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters to the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu

If the government does not provide the money that INEC needs early enough, then, what ought to be done will not be done at the required time and then, the promise of a free and fair election cannot hold. It is the responsibility of government to provide the money now, so that INEC can meet its deadline, compile a new voters register early enough for the elections to hold by January. So, the onus is with the executive. If money is not on ground, you cannot blame postponement on INEC.

Peter Odili contested in 2007, Donald Duke contested and others. So, why should zoning be creating problems? We should get away from the politics of tribalising important issues and move on. Nigeria has been faltering for a long time and we should depart from politics that make us wobble. It is better for us. I think the issue of who runs this country should be given to the best. Nigeria deserves the best and the best should rule us. There is no issue at all.

THE present democratic engineering in Nigeria had over the years remained a mirage in Imo State. The reason is that the 27 local government areas of Imo State had largely been administered by appointed, instead of elected personnel for more than five years.

For the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC led by Prof. Attahiru Jega, the polls offer some fresh challenges in addition to compiling a fresh voters’ list especially with the new Amendment to the 1999 Constitution, which provides that presidential and governorship elections should be held 120 to 150 days to the expiration of the tenures of the incumbents.

THE duo of Mr Segun Adeniyi who served late President Umaru Yar’dua as presidential spokesman and Mr Ima Niboro who is serving President Goodluck Jonathan in that capacity have said that throughout the period their bosses functioned as President and Vice President no friction existed between them.

Ordinarily, Sokoto would be one of the few states in which governorship election in 2011 would not take place except now with the amendment of Section 135 of the 1999 Constitution. The Principal Act had subsections 2 (a) and (b).