Item: "A more general interpretation of your argument might be more credible,namely,that political parties will necessarily place people from the larger and more politically powerful ethnicities in commanding positions.That might be valid."
Mobolaji Aluko:
Please calm down and reconsider.
In what way is this perspective of yours really different from the current dispensation?
The only difference I can see so far as that you hope for an attitudinal change. You hope that the candidates from the regions will be happy to serve the nation and not ethnic interests because the the ethnic interests are being served by politicians at the local level.This hope of yours is based on theoretical repackaging of the present dispensation. Is it not more in the realm of hope for psychological reorientation than actual change in process?
This hope of yours ignores the following
1.Leadership at the centre in Nigeria is not about satisfying ethnic interests.If you wish to prove that it is about satisfying ethnic interests, I am happy to read from you any appreciable development of an ethnic base by any leader against the interests of the nation.Perhaps we can mention the capital being moved from Lagos to Abuja.
2.The power of the centre over-weighs by far that of access to power at the regions.This is because of
A.The monocentric focus of the Nigerian economy.The focus is on oil,which as I expect,dwarfs every other aspect of the economy.The Nigeria system plays little role in the active effort of the exploration and processing of this oil.Its major role is consumption.So the development of the complementary industries that would support an indigenous oil industry exist only as feeders to the work being done by the multinationals,not as agents of production.The leadership is centred on control of the crumbs from the multinationals not on development.What kind of money and power will you get from controlling Sokoto,Edo,Anambra or other states when the collective national GDP is so low? The center is everything.
In the light of these considerations,the idea of benign leadership created by a philosophy based on an ethnic platform is doubtful.
A more general interpretation of your argument might be more credible,namely,that political parties will necessarily place people from the larger and more politically powerful ethnicities in commanding positions.That might be valid.I doubt,though,if the argument for zoning so that a person from Edo state, like myself, can 'taste' power,or from the Niger Delta like Goodluck,is the solution to the sheer disinterest in the national project that seems to mark leadership at the centre.
What has been done for the Niger Delta by its own governors? What is happening to their government allocations? Why is the news of the recent devastation in the Nigeria Delta by Nigerian soldiers a few days ago not commanding the obvious,if not loud attention of the Presidency where a man from the Niger Delta is in charge?
Perhaps we need to rethink the ethnic paradigm in the first place.
You have a point,though,on the idea of the need to examine an idealistic projection in comparison with what might be seen as a pragmatic,phased development.Even then,is success guaranteed?
Thanks
Toyin
On 9 December 2010 11:11, Mobolaji ALUKO <alukome@gmail.com> wrote:
Toyin Adepoju:Please calm down.I know Prof. Albert Ayeni - I have interacted with him a little more closely in the past year or so on Nigerian academic matters - and I trust that he knows that I share his "visionary vision" of an "ethnicity-less" Nigeria, populated with people with "shared values." He himself is a MINORITY of sorts, just like yourself, if you know what I mean - but let us leave that one for another time.But what I am ARGUING is that the CURRENT political mindset in Nigeria - meaning as far back as the 1958 Willinks Commissoin Report - is that due to demonstrable (deliberate or fortuitous) historical exclusion of minorities from certain COMMANDING HEIGHTS of governance, economics and decision-making in Nigeria, the country needs zoning at the current time, so that CITIZENS from every group would be able to have INCREASED opportunity to demonstrate their ability to exercise power in the presence of the rest. I then suggest a TRANSITIONAL method of getting the best out of this zoning arrangement by getting the zones to choose their OWN best candidates who would then be selected from at the national level.In fact, this micro-choice of leaders WITHIN a zone followed by a macro-choice on the national level significantly obviates what you identify as: "At the level of ethnic interests, is the focus not less on credibility but more on primordial sentiments and alliances with powerful figures,strategies that are often not about the nation but about distorted conceptions of entitlement." Instead of choosing people from their zone who have simply made "alliances with powerful figures" with people outside their zone, the greatest tendency will be to choose those who have already DEMONSTRATED success in tending to their needs, and therefore can do the same BEYOND their ethnic cocoon. Once that person becomes a NATIONAL LEADER, the ethnic groups will no longer see him or her as THEIR CHAMPION, because they in fact have another crop of leaders doing their biddings locally. In fact, the zones will in effect be "donating" the service of their son or daughter for NATIONAL SERVICE.There are two cardinal things that I continue to demand, despite what I consider a transitional recommendation:1. that the zones' rotation NOT be constitutionally specified - ie let EACH political party decide how it chooses its candidates.2. all votes be one-man-one-vote in as many levels as possible, with the possibility of college votes at certain specified subnational levels depending on their political culture.Let me assure you that give or take 20-30 years, and in particular if we specify four or five-year single-terms for executive positions, and three-term limitations for legislative positions, after some time, choice based on ethnicities will be a matter of the past in Nigeria.But let me repeat: it is very easy for those of us who come from the Majority Four - Yoruba/Igbo/Hausa/Fulani to say that we should ignore zoning. The reality is that ignoring it favors us, and disfavors others at the current level of political development in the country.And there you have it.Bolaji AlukoPS: For effect, I repeat Nzeogwu's speech of January 1966. I insist that the day the Military took over the commanding heights of governance in our country, impunity and corruption (the latter already creeping into our body politic by January 1966) in a radical manner. That is what we have been grappling with, leading to an encouragement of ethnic blocs to try to "steal their own" from the "center" and bring the bacon back to "their own people."QUOTENzeogwu's Declaration of Martial Law - January 15, 1966
In the name of the Supreme Council of the Revolution of the Nigerian Armed Forces, I declare martial law over the Northern Provinces of Nigeria.
The Constitution is suspended and the regional government and elected assemblies are hereby
dissolved. All political, cultural, tribal and trade union activitites, together with all demonstrations
and unauthorized gatherings, excluding religious worship, are banned until further notice.
The aim of the Revolutionary Council is to establish a strong united and prosperous nation, free from
corruption and internal strife. Our method of achieving this is strictly military but we have no
doubt that every Nigerian will give us maximum cooperation by assisting the regime and not disturbing
the peace during the slight changes that are taking place.
I am to assure all foreigners living and working in this part of Nigeria that their rights will continue
to be respected. All treaty obligations previously entered into with any foreign nation will be respected
and we hope that such nations will respect our country's territorial integrity and will avoid taking
sides with enemies of the revolution and enemies of the people.
My dear countrymen, you will hear, and probably see a lot being done by certain bodies charged by the
Supreme Council with the duties of national integration, supreme justice, general security and
property recovery. As a interim measure all permanent secretaries, corporation charimen and senior
heads of departments are allowed to make decisions until the new organs are functioning, so long as such
decisions are not contrary to the aims and wishes of the Supreme Council. No Minister or Parliamentary
Secretary possesses administrative or other forms of control over any Ministry, even if they are not
considered too dangerous to be arrested.
This is not a time for long speech-making and so let me acquaint you with ten proclamations in the
Extraordinary Orders of the Day which the Supreme Council has promulgated. These will be modified as
the situation improves.
You are hereby warned that looting, arson, homosexuality, rape, embezzlement, bribery or
corruption, obstruction of the revolution, sabotage, subversion, false alarms and assistance to foreign
invaders, are all offences punishable by death sentence.
Demonstrations and unauthorized assembly, non-cooperation with revolutionary troops are
punishable in grave manner up to death.
Refusal or neglect to perform normal duties or any task that may of necessity be ordered by local
military commanders in support of the change will be punishable by a sentence imposed by the local military
commander.
Spying, harmful or injurious publications, and broadcasts of troop movements or actions, will be
punished by any suitable sentence deemed fit by the local military commander.
Shouting of slogans, loitering and rowdy behavior will be rectified by any sentence of incarceration, or any
more severe punishment deemed fit by the local military commander.
Doubtful loyalty will be penalized by imprisonment or any more severe sentence.
Illegal possession or carrying of firearms, smuggling or trying to escape with documents, valuables,
including money or other assets vital to the running of any establishment will be punished by death
sentence.
Wavering or siting on the fence and failing to declare open loyalty with the revolution will be regarded as
an act of hostility punishable by any sentence deemed suitable by the local military commander.
Tearing down an order of the day or proclamation or other authorized notices will be penalized by death.
Ths is the end of the Extraordinary Order of the Day which you will soon begin to see displayed in public.
My dear countrymen, no citizen should have anything to fear, so long as that citizen is law abiding and if
that citizen has religiously obeyed the native laws of the country and those set down in every heart and
conscience since 1st October, 1960. Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in
high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent; those that seek to keep the country divided
permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the
nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have
corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds. Like good
soldiers we are not promising anything miraculous or spectacular. But what we do promise every law abiding
citizen is freedom from fear and all forms of oppression, freedom from general inefficiency and
freedom to live and strive in every field of human endeavour, both nationally and internationally. We
promise that you will no more be ashamed to say that you are a Nigerian.
I leave you with a message of good wishes and ask for your support at all times, so that our land, watered
by the Niger and Benue, between the sandy wastes and gulf of guinea, washed in salt by the mighty Atlantic,
shall not detract Nigeria from gaining sway in any great aspect of international endeavour.
My dear countrymen, this is the end of this speech. I wish you all goodluck and I hope you will cooperate to
the fullest in this job which we have set for ourselves of establishing a prosperous nation and
achieving solidarity.
Thank you very much and goodbye for now.UNQUOTEOn Thu, Dec 9, 2010 at 5:20 AM, toyin adepoju <toyin.adepoju@googlemail.com> wrote:How relevant is Bolaji's argument about the logic of zoning in contrast to that of Ayeni,who sees it it as a bane of Nigerian politics?The core of Bolaji's argument,if I understand it well,is that the political mindset in Nigeria is that of exclusion of minorities,so the country needs zoning so that every group would be able to have power.He then suggests a method of getting the best out of the zoning arrangement by getting the zones to choose their best candidates who would then be selected from at the national level..I understand Bolaji's argument as diametrically opposed in terms of its underlying philosophy to that of Ayeni.Ayeni is not addressing the issue of all regions needing to have power.What is the value of power in a national context? This question is the crux of his vision.His answer is that the value of power in a national context is the equitable development of the entire nation.In that context,the issue is not about any region having power but about the best candidates to achieve this vision of equitable development.Is Bolaji not still still operating in the 1960s-20th century mode of Nigerian political thought that Ayeni describes as having failed the country?Bolaji argues that the sifting process through which each region produces its best candidate will help to produce good leaders.To me,that view ignores the logic that informs the decisions made in connection with zoning.At the level of ethnic interests,is the focus not less on credibility but more on primordial sentiments and alliances with powerful figures,strategies that are often not about the nation but about distorted conceptions of entitlement.All these years this kind of thinking,in whatever form it has taken, has led us nowhere.As visionary as Ayeni's vision is,it looks to me like the most realistic approach to developing real nation,not a collection of ethnicities and power blocs.ThanksToyinOn 8 December 2010 19:35, Albert Ayeni <ayeni982000@hotmail.com> wrote:
Dear Bolaji & All:
Any option that retains zoning as the core consideration for electing Nigeria's president in the 21st Century in my mind condemns Nigeria to the 20th Century political mode. I do not know how much good is in this for the country. We have used this approach since Independence over 50 years ago, it has not helped us. We cannot continue in the same mode and expect different results. Whatever we must do to change the 20th Century political mode to a 21st Century mode we all better start thinking about it from this moment. The 21st Century political mode must instal the most competent NIGERIANS in office at the center regardless of where they come from. My definition of a competent NIGERIAN is one whose vision is blind to race, ethnicity, religion, region, etc.; one who sees Nigeria first as belonging to all of us and ready to sacrifice anything for strengthening the unity in our diversity. A competent and committed Nigerian will see clearly that water, energy, education, food, health, roads, railways, etc must go round the entire country --- these essentials of life are not tribe or religion sensitive, rather every living Nigerian should have access to all of them.
Zoning is retrogressive, counterproductive and fails to exhibit that we Nigerians actually care about the foremost Commandments our Lord Jesus Christ pronounced in the Bible (see Mark 12:28-31). I am also sure the Holy Koran and the Sacred documents of other religions have something similar somewhere in their doctrines--- and those Commandments are that we should love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. We always go to Church, Mosque, Synagouge, etc. to worship and hear these Commandments preached every now and again, but they seem not to matter at all in the way we conduct ourselves! If we operate from the premise of these Commandments, the issue of Zoning will disappear from our political parlance. We do not trust one another because we have no love for God or for one another. We are self centered and always eager to advance our personal (and sometime very wicked) desires at the expense of others. That is why one tribe/ethnic or religious group cannot be confident that if someone from another tribe or religion is in office, he/she will care enough to protect the interest of people from another tribe or religion --- for how long are we going to remain in this mode??? It is about time we started moving away from this resource wasting and corruption promoting mode and adopt the one that will put Nigeria first. Our people deserve much better than they currently receive from the political leaders and the so called elites.
To some, what I have stated above may sound unrealistic or naive --- it would be unrealistic or naive to them because they cannot see themselves loving other Nigerians as themselves, they are thinking more of the past and forgetting that the future is greater than the past. They could not fathom that in a Nigeria where love reigns in people's heart, the resources each of the zones is clamouring to control can meet the needs of every Nigerian and make it possible to increase our productivity to generate a lot more than we currently have. A Nigeria where love reigns in people's heart can apply its intellectual property to explore its environment and develop some unique capabilities that will project the country globally as the first in history to advance knowledge in such a sphere of human endeavor.
Let us think together and use the benefit of our exposure to other economies around the world to convince Nigerians that we can actually do better. The path to greatness lies in fashioning out a new direction that moves us away from tribal, regional and religious politics to one that will put NIGERIA FIRST. The older generations may be harder to convince, but it should be easier to convince the younger Nigerians ---- they are the leaders of tomorrow! In your own way, do your best to play a positive role in this challenging task --- argue against zoning, promote GODLY LOVE, COMPETENCE and COMMITMENT. If you cannot do any of this, it is much better to do nothing than promote Zoning for Nigeria. You will not be helping matters by doing the latter.
Be blessed, Albert
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From: alukome@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2010 12:32:42 -0500
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Re: Jonathan in Secret Talks with Northern Leaders •Atiku: There'll be vacancy in Aso Rock
Dear AllThe information below shows the gamut of contradictions in the present power-play in Nigeria - not just for 2011 but for 2015 and beyond.Please come with me.....................
- GEJ's Personal Option is predicated on his being an incumbent; on completing UMYA's term; on the repudiation of zoning; and on the plea that the South-South (being the economic cash-cow of the country) should be "given a chance" to rule the country.- the Northern Consensus Option 1 (by one set of politicians, led by Ciroma, Atiku, IBB, etc.) is predicated on the fact that 1999-2007 was the Southern turn, and that 2007-2015 was supposed to be the Northern turn based on a PDP zoning arrangement - until UMYA's untimely death interposed itself, but that his death should not upturn that apple-cart.- the Northern Consensus Option 2 (by another set of politicans, including some Northern governors) has been predicated all along on the assumption that (a) GEJ should run (and win), but should rule for ONLY ONE TERM, whereupon (b) the North can in turn run its full 8-year term (2015-2023). The Northern governors with greatest promise of presidential run later on support this option, now that they are not in the running NOW.- the South-Eastern Consensus Option 1 is to support the Northern Consensus Option 1, with the provision that a SE-vice-presidential candidate NOW will most likely emerge as the 2015 President, assuaging a vacuum in South-Eastern political psyche.- the South-Eastern Consensus Option 2 is to support the Northern Consensus Option 2 Part a but not Part b. The argument will be that ONLY the SE has NOT tasted the presidency on a geo-political rotational basis, and so should be president come 2015.- the South-South Consensus Option 1 is to fully support GEJ's Personal Option, particularly the "cash cow" argument.- the South-South Consensus Option 2 is to support Northern Consensus Option 1, but more out of worry that should GEJ not win either the PDP primaries or the general election, that would damage South-South (and other minorities') chances of being president for a full term for a long time to come.- the South-West Option is to Siddon-Look, I think. No matter what happens, that GPZ may not be in the running for anything presidential until 2023 or 2027 - unless of course some revolutionary thinking intervenes! :-)And there you have it.Bolaji AlukoReading the tea leavesNot drinking them_____________________THIS DAYJonathan in Secret Talks with Northern Leaders
•Atiku: There'll be vacancy in Aso Rock
By Imam Imam in Lagos and Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 12.07.2010President Goodluck Jonathan has been holding secret talks with key Northern political leaders over the way out of the zoning crisis and is weighing the option of serving just one term in office, THISDAY can report.
Also yesterday, former presidential aspirant, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, moved to reopen the zoning controversy when he wrote Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, threatening to "reconsider" his membership of the party if zoning is not adhered to.
Northern leaders, including governors sympathetic to Jonathan, have proposed the option of one term and a return of power to the North in 2015 to reduce the tension in the polity and create a "peaceful atmosphere" before the 2011 elections.
THISDAY learnt that General TY Danjuma and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, are also involved in this move which has been considered as a "political solution" to the controversy.The major obstacle to his outright endorsement by the North, according to THISDAY sources, is the fear that he may seek a second term in 2015, thereby keeping the region out of presidential power for nine years.
Information available to THISDAY indicates that the power brokers have agreed in principle to support Jonathan's aspiration on the condition that he would in turn commit "in writing" to support a Northern candidate to succeed him in 2015.
"The naked truth is that we cannot stop President Jonathan from running," a traditional ruler told the newspaper yesterday. "No matter the argument we want to make, it will be difficult to ask a sitting president to vacate office when it is within his constitutional right to run. We also do not want to damage our relationship with the South-south which is as old as Nigeria."
He said, however, that the president should also consider the political dilemma of the North as it would be "unfair" to keep power in the South for 17 out of 20 years if Jonathan seeks re-election in 2015."From 1999 to 2019, that is if Jonathan seeks re-election, it would mean the South ruled for 17 years while the North ruled for only three years, between 2007 and 2010. It is therefore commonsense for us to expect the president to spend only one term and go in the interest of national unity," he said, confirming that the Northern power brokers had already held discussions with the president on the issue.
THISDAY also learnt that some of the emirs and leaders of thought made their positions known in various meetings with the Director-General of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, during his visits to the states in the North as part of his mobilisation tour to states ahead of the PDP presidential primary.
The newspaper could not confirm if Jonathan was well disposed to the one-term option, but he is said to be seriously considering it."I can confirm that the president himself is not averse to it because he believes one term is enough to make an impact," a political associate of the president told THISDAY. "His belief is that seeking second term is one of the reasons many leaders are afraid of taking tough decisions so that they could be re-elected into office."
Jonathan's decision to stand in the presidential election was based on the argument that he and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua were elected on a joint ticket in 2007 and he should be allowed to serve out the two terms.
THISDAY gathered that many of the Northern governors believe that if they support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2011, it would signal the death of their own hopes of being president.
However, it is believed that if Jonathan agrees to the one-term option, every aspiring Northern governor would have an equal chance of succeeding him in 2015.Babangida, in his letter to Nwodo, said "the judiciary has made its pronouncement, our duty is to comply," referring to a judgment of an Abuja High Court, which acknowledged the existence of zoning arrangement in PDP but stated that it cannot enforce its application, thus failing to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2011 poll.
Babangida in a letter dated December 6, 29010, which he personally signed, said the verdict was only open to one interpretation that zoning exists within PDP and that if the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) had any doubt, it had been cleared.
He said the ruling was binding on the party's National Working Committee (NWC) and every member of the party including President Jonathan, threatening that if the party had become so helpless, many of them would have no alternative but to reconsider their continued membership.Responding to the letter last night, Nwodo said he would present it to the party's NWC for deliberation.
The letter is entitled "Challenges of the Judgement of High Court of the Federal Capital in Suit No. FCT/HC/ 2425/2010/- Sani Aminu Dutsinma Vs PDP, Re: Rotation and Zoning of Party and Public Offices".Babangida said in the letter: "As you are well aware, some controversies have, for sometime now, arisen over the decision to jettison the principle of zoning as enshrined in the constitution of the party.
"It is my view, and that, I believe, is the view of many public spirited, patriotic and responsible members of our party that to do so would violate the provisions of Section 7.2(c) of the constitution of the PDP, which provides as follows:
"In pursuance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels."He said the above section of the PDP constitution was further amplified by paragraph 2(c) of the preamble to the said constitution which provides that: "To create socio-political conditions conducive to natural peace and unity by ensuring fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, to conform with the principles of power shift and power sharing by rotating key political offices amongst the diverse people of our country and devolving powers equitably between the federal, state and local governments in the spirit of federation."
Referring to the court suit, IBB said that the above provisions of the party's constitution relating to rotation and zoning came up for interpretation before Justice L. H. Gumi, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The former military president referred to some of the provisions of Article 7.2(c) of the 1st Defendant's constitution 2009 as amended, which he said recognises the principle of zoning and rotation of party and public elective offices.The said article, he said, is still subsisting and binding on the party, its organs and members.
He told Nwodo: "As a founding member of the party and in fact as one of its principal officers at the time, and as its present chairman, no one is in a better position than yourself to understand and to execute the party's constitution."It was not too long ago that you were elected, almost unanimously, as chairman of our party. It was a time of crises when there were agitations for reform. You were elected precisely because we were all convinced that you had both the wisdom and the courage to restore the party to the path of truth and justice.
"Under your leadership, this issue of zoning and rotation of offices was discussed by the NEC of the party and the committee came to the conclusion that rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices is a policy of our party – a policy enshrined in the constitution of the party.
"Having come to that conclusion it was the duty of the committee to enforce it. The duty of the committee in that regard was made clear by the learned Chief Judge when he declared: 'It is domestic issue and not such as would be justiciable in a court of law. The power to nominate and sponsor candidates to an election is vested in a political party and the exercise of this right is the domestic affair of the party.'
Babangida added: "If, in the past, the NEC had any doubts as to the meaning of the provisions of the relevant sections of the constitution relating to these matters, such doubts have now been resolved by the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in the suit above-mentioned. It is clear from the said judgment that the provisions of the constitution are so clear as not to require the assistance of judicial interpretation in order to understand them.
Babangida said: "Whatever doubts the NEC of the party may have had have now been removed. Every member of the party is required to comply with the provisions of the party constitution. And so is the president who is the leader of the party.
"As great as the office of President is, we should never forget that it does not precede membership of the party. On the contrary, it is membership of the party that precedes the office of President of the Federal Republic so far as the president was not elected as an independent candidate."And so I urge the NEC of the party to enforce the constitution of the party in its totality in the forthcoming election. To do otherwise is to condone this attempt at a gross and deliberate violation of the constitution of the party. To do otherwise is tantamount to a declaration that the NEC of the party rejects the principles of equity, justice and fairness enshrined in the PDP constitution."
Also yesterday, former vice-president and presidential aspirant of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday took issues with former Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Anthony Anenih, who said there is no vacancy in Aso Rock by 2011.
Atiku asked Nigerians to discountenance the former Works Minister, saying there is vacancy at the Presidential Villa and that a brand new president will emerge by May 29, 2011.The former vice-president who is the consensus candidate of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) in PDP described Anenih as a political "dead duck," struggling for relevance.
In a statement by his campaign organization, Atiku said Anenih is no longer taken seriously because of his antecedents.
He said: "Nigerians should be wary of the utterances of Anenih. The sovereignty lies with the people and not with Anenih. He does not have the mandate to speak on behalf of the people who are yet to cast their votes in the 2011 elections.""No Vacancy," Atiku said, was the same battle cry Anenih used to win favour with the late Gen. Sani Abacha, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and now Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
The former vice-president wondered how Anenih who he said had no political space in his home state of Edo "because of his widespread unpopularity can now promise the presidency to someone else".Atiku described Anenih as a drag on Nigerian democracy, stating that it is ridiculous to describe the presidency not vacant when the President himself has pledged to conduct free and fair elections.
He said: "If indeed, the presidency is not vacant, then there is no reason to conduct a presidential election in 2011 because the winner is already known according to Anenih's odd theory of democracy".
The former vice-president warned President Jonathan to distance himself from Anenih and his ilk or risk losing credibility in his avowed commitment to free and fair elections in 2011.
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