Ship in for CHANGE Or Ship Out ~Olajuwon Obalola

Like most people are already aware that the only constant thing in life is change. But suffice to say that change will not be effectual if there is nothing to show for it at the end of the day. Thus while some are celebrating the victory, others are licking their wounds in defeat and hoping for a better outing next time.
But in all these, the nation must move forward. And for the country to mobe forward, the majority of the people will like to see a manifestation of change in greater magnitude and quantifiable measures.
Most Nigerians have since got to know that the greatest problem militating against the material and social wellbeing of the nation is CORRUPTION that has become so pervasive that it was possible for a sitting president to seek to rationalize it by making the demonic distinction between "corruption and stealing". It cannot be worse than that!

No safe haven for thieves in the in-coming government. -Buhari

THE moral decadence of Nigeria’s political class is playing out in the ongoing mass defections from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to the victorious opposition All Progressives Congress. No sooner had Muhammadu Buhari of the APC triumphed over President Goodluck Jonathan than the floodgates opened for prominent PDP stalwarts looking perpetually to the spoils of office to jump ship. Buhari and the APC now have a historic mission to break with the prevailing predatory system that has foisted parasitic political elite on the country.

Zimbabweans angry over S’Africans attacks on foreigners

Zimbabweans took to streets Friday in the capital Harare to express their anger over the xenophobic attacks in South Africa which have so far claimed the lives of five foreign nationals, including at least one Zimbabwean.

South Africa, where about 3 million Zimbabwean diaspora live, has been grappling with the resurgence of xenophobic violence since last week after residents of the port city of Durban started attacking foreigners, their homes and businesses. The anti- foreigner violence has since spread to the city of Johannesburg, amid calls by that country’s leadership for calm and immediate end to the violence.

Boko Haram kills 11 freed civilians in Gwoza

Eleven persons were killed by the Boko Haram insurgents in a part of Gwoza town, a military source told our correspondent on the telephone to Maiduguri on Friday.

The source said the victims were civilians, who were recently rescued by soldiers during the recapture of the town from the Boko Haram militias.

According to the source, the civilians had, during the long reign of the insurgents in the Borno town, stayed on the mountain but were evacuated by the military on the liberation of Gwoza.

S’African attacks: FG directs Nigerians to remain indoors

Nigerians resident in South Africa have been directed by the Federal Government to remain indoors up until the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country are put under control.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of a meeting he attended at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the directive was communicated to them by Nigeria’s mission in Pretoria.

The minister said,   “With the discussions I have been having with Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Pretoria, no Nigerian has so far been affected.

IOC President invites Buhari to Lausanne

Buhari, who will also become the Grand Patron of the NOC from May 29, has been invited to the IOC headquarters by Bach.

President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, has congratulated the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on his victory at the poll and also extended an invitation to him to visit the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Jonathan’s rejection of amended constitution shocks Senate

President Goodluck Jonathan’s letter to the National Assembly rejecting amendments to the 1999 Constitution was received with shock by some members who openly expressed surprise at the reasons given by the President to veto the bill.

The letter was read on the floor of Senate on Wednesday by the Senate President, David Mark.

Consequently, the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (4th Alteration Bill 2015), Senator Ike Ekweremadu, announced that his members would hold a two-day retreat to review the development. The retreat, which started on Wednesday, would end on Thursday (today).

Court lifts ban on Obasanjo’s autobiography, ''My Watch''

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in   Abuja has lifted the injunction barring former President Olusegun Obasanjo from publishing his autobiography, My Watch.

The same court had in December 2014 ordered law enforcement agencies to confiscate the three-volume book when it was discovered that it had been published before the order was made.

But on Tuesday, Justice Valentine Ashi of the FCT High Court ordered the release of seized copies of the book from the custody of the Nigerian Customs Service to Obasanjo.

Jonathan to hand over to Buhari on May 28

President Goodluck Jonathan will hand over power to the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on May 28, about 24 hours before the actual inauguration date.

The Minister of Information,   Patricia Akwashiki, disclosed this to State House correspondents   at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

Buhari may scrap ministers of state

The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, is said to be considering the reduction of the number of ministers as part of his strategies for reducing cost of governance.

Obalola's blog learnt that this formed part of the cost-saving proposals which Buhari   presented during the All Progressives Congress’s National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

Those to be done away with are ministers of state.

The NWC which is yet to conclude its deliberations on proposals, according a high-ranking member of the APC NWC,   include streamlining the ministries and parastatals.

Tinubu is my role model –Kashamu

Kashamu, who is the chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the PDP in the South-West, paid a rare tribute to the former Lagos State governor in an open letter, describing Tinubu as a true hero to be emulated by every Nigerian.

Kashamu is the senator-elect of Ogun-East senatorial district and one of the most vocal opponents of the APC before the party won the presidential election of March 28.

Suarez and Neymar stole the show.

Barca have so often relied upon Messi in recent years - especially in the big games and particularly in Europe. But at the Parc des Princes in their first-leg game against Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar and Luis Suarez showed they are ready to provide a helping hand with important goals too when it matters most.

Arising From My Vacation; MY WHITE FLAG. -Maxwell Adegbenro

"Remembering....."If this is the wish of the people, I stand in deference"~ JKF. Sir, God bless you for this!

2:08pm, Banillux, Lagos, Nigeria this afternoon electrified my enduring ambiance in company of the three friends have made online. We met, and exchanged glasses on the magniloquence of Ekiti politics. The maiming and castigation of those that won't align with the interest of Fayose by the gruesome people at the other divide form the basis our discussions.

I’ll restore military ties with US –Buhari

The President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), on Tuesday said his administration would restore military cooperation with the United States of America.

In an article published by the New York Times in its Tuesday edition, Buhari promised to, among other things, reform the military.

FAYEMI LAMENTS THE FATE OF CHIBOK GIRLS, A YEAR AFTER

Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has lamented the inability of the present administration to effect the release of over 200 school girls abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents in Chibok, Borno State exactly one year ago.

Fayemi who described the callous act of the insurgents as highly ignoble, said the experience of the students as well as their parents and family members is saddening and traumatising. He added that the situation was made worse by the failure of the present administration to properly coordinate and effect the release of the missing girls a year after.

The 2015 Presidential Elections and the Role of Nigerian Youth -Akin Rotimi

The elections have come and gone. Heroes and villains alike have emerged as we move on as a country along the path of healing and reconciliation after a most divisive election that stretched the nation at the seams. The documentation of the history of the elections would however be incomplete without the accounts of the role of Nigeria’s youth.

To start with, young Nigerians below the age of 35 make up about 70 percent of the population. Nigeria’s unemployment rate is spiralling upwards, growing at 16% per year. The youth of the nation are the most impacted, with a youth unemployment rate over 50%. We are the demographic group that most bears the brunt of the effects of bad governance and failed campaign promises. It is therefore understandable that the youth in their numbers energized the campaigns of the two leading parties in the elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Full Text Acceptance Speech By General Muhammadu Buhari

Your Excellency, the Vice President elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, your Excellency, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, the Director General of APC Presidential Campaign, 2015, your Excellency, the former Governor of Edo State and National Chairman of our great party, your Excellency the Governor Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, your Excellency, the former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ogbonaya Onu, Your Excellency, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Oni, your Excellency the former Governor of Kwara, Bukola Saraki, your Excellency, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, Please, let me stand on existing protocol.
At exactly 5:15 yesterday (Tuesday) evening, President Jonathan called to congratulate me on my victory. For this, I want all Nigerians to join me in congratulating and appreciating Mr President for his statesmanship. President Jonathan was a worthy opponent. I extend my hand of fellowship to him. I look forward to meeting him soon, as we plan the transition from one administration to another. He will receive nothing but cooperation and understanding from me, who led this nation to democracy. You stood in line patiently for hours; in the rain, in the sun and then in the dark to cast your votes. Even when the vote was extended to Sunday in some places, you still performed your civic duties.

You did so peacefully. You voted with your heart. Your vote affirms that you believe Nigeria’s future can be better than what it is today. You voted for change and now change has come. INEC has released the official result of the Presidential Election. INEC has declared that I gained the most votes with the required spread and won this election. In a more profound way, it is you, Nigerians that have won. The people have shown their love for our nation and their believe in democracy. The declaration of INEC accurately reflects the will of the people.

While there might have been some logistical obstacles and irregularities associated with the exercise, the result shall stand as what the people want. I thank all Nigerians who have made this day possible, our country has now joined the community of nations that have used the ballot box to physically change an incumbent president in a free and fair election To me, this is indeed historic. Most people will welcome the result because it is the one they voted for. Others will literarily be disappointed. I ask that we all be circumspect, respectful and peaceful in these times. This was a hard-fought contest. Emotions were high.

We must not allow them to get the better of us. This is not the time for confrontation. This is a moment that we must begin to heal the wounds and work toward a better future. We do this first by extending a hand of friendship and conciliation across the political divide. We hope and pray our friends in other parties reciprocate. I thank all the members of the All Progressives Congress, the APC, for their commitment and their hard work through the formation of the party, the campaigns and the presidential elections. Let me equally express my appreciation to the media, civil society and security agencies for their selfless service.

The international press and our friends abroad deserve a fair commendation for their support throughout the process. We promise a robust and dynamic engagement with your countries in matters of mutual interest. In the interim, I call on all Nigerians to be law abiding and peaceful. The eyes of the world were focused on us to see if we can vote in a peaceful way and carry out elections in an orderly manner. We have proven to the world that we are a people who have embraced democracy and a people who seek a government by, for and for the people.

We have put one party state behind us. We have voted for a government that will serve and govern, but will never rule over you. CHANGE has come and a new day and a new Nigeria is upon us. The victory is yours and the glory is that of our nation, NIGERIA. I will make a more formal address to the nation, later in the afternoon after I receive the certificate of return from the INEC.

May God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s President Elect
Muhammadu Buhari

Dr. Eniola Ajayi Congrautlates Buhari.

Ekiti State House of Representatives Candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 in the just concluded election of March 28, 2015, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, has congratulated the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari(rtd.) on his resounding victory at the polls.

Ajayi, ''thanked Nigerians for largely conducting themselves peacefully during the presidential polls and for their commitment to ensuring that democracy was preserved in Nigeria, adding that this was a proof that the democratic system of government has come to stay''.

In a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Information and New Media, Adeyemi Olajuwon Obalola, said that going by the outcome of the election, the people have spoken and demonstrated with their votes that change is possible in Nigeria.

She expressed the hope that a Buhari presidency will bring about the much anticipated and needed security, economic growth and by extension development and prosperity to the Nigerian Nation.

''As we embark upon our new responsibilities and commitment to nation building,  I wish to assure you and the good people of Nigeria of the continued friendship and equitable dispensing of the dividends of democracy in the APC led Government of General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd)''. She said.

A new beginning, a new nation and a new Nigeria is here. Please go ahead and succeed.

Buhari Officially Declared Winner by JEGA

I Prof. Attahiru Mohammed Jega hereby certify that

1. I was the RO of the President Election held on the 28 March, 2015
2. The Election was contested
That the candidates received the following votes: -
Senator Anifowoshe: 22,125 -Alhaji Galadima: 40,311
3. Rafiu Salau: 30,673
4. Dr.Mani I.: 29,666
5. Ayeni Musa:53,537
6) General Mohameed Buhari, 15,424,921.
7) Chief Sam E.:36,300
8) Ambrose Owuru:7,435
9) Oluremi Sonaiya:13,076
10) Martins Onovo: 24,455
11) Goodluck Ebele Jonathan:12,853,162
12) Allagoa Kelvin Chinedu:24,475
13) Godson Mgbodile O.Okoye:9,208
14)Dr.Chekwas Okorie: 18,220

That Mohammed Buhari, APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest no.of votes is hereby returned the winner -JEGA