Bode George: Obasanjo is a Lair – Opadokun

Bode George: Obasanjo is a Lair – Opadokun Ayodele Samuel,Lagos Chief Ayo Opadokun, the National Coordinator of Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) say former president Olusesgun Obasanjo has been accused of flagrant lies to the public concerning his responses to issues on recent developments in the country. Opadokun in a statement stated that Obasanjo’s diatribe on Bode George and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the governor of Ogun State lacks moral ground, saying that a response to his hypocritical comments is expedient especially ‘‘‘when the destiny of a Nation is being rubbished by a tragic hero personality in his undue quest to appropriate to himself unmerited infallibility’’. The CODER National Coordinator who described Obasanjo a self – exaggerated individual, stated that the former presidents moral history is replete with hypocrisy, deceit and friendship betrayal, adding that ‘’General Obasanjo has a warped reason about immorality and his born-again status when his public and private life are the opposite of decency is in the public domain’’. ‘The most repugnant behaviour of the enigma called OBJ is his regular habit of lying and falsifying events. OBJ’s unbelievably discredited status has reached a state where whenever he says good morning to you, it is in your best interest to open your window blind to confirm. OBJ’S recent statements on Bode George and Governor Daniel are typical hypocritical lifestyle of the Owu Chieftain’’ Opadokun posited. He stated that the former president knew that he was lying when he claimed that he was lured into the reception held for Bode George in Lagos, the event which he described as ‘celebration of criminality’. Opadokun explained further: ‘’the fact that the Owu Chief attended the ceremony before he became an opponent of the social party clearly illustrates the OBJ double face lifestyle. A decent man should have acknowledged the strident campaign of some of us who had spoken immediately against the Owambe party because we were mindful of the possible negative effects it will have on the young people generally and the Yoruba offspring in particular. On Obasanjo’s comment on the governance failure of Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration in Ogun State in the last eight years, Opadokun pointed out that the former president was being mischievous; as ‘’it came after his PDP faction’s primaries in Ogun State have been accepted by a Federal High Court as the authentic one’’. He further described the Obasanjo’s statement on Ogun as being hypocritical ‘’because he and Daniel were in power between 2003 and 2007 as comrades in arms and he never publicly or otherwise rebuked Daniel for non-performance’’. ‘’For eight years, Gen. Obasanjo had the best opportunity in the world to transform Nigeria. Funding and human resources were available in all ramifications. Furthermore, throughout his eight years in office, crude oil sold at very unprecedented high prices. Yet Obasanjo cannot point at any project that was successfully executed and commissioned’’ he added.

ATD endorses Goodluck Jonathan ahead of 2011 poll

ATD endorses Goodluck Jonathan ahead of 2011 poll Ayodele Samuel,Lagos With few weeks ahead of the presidential election the Agenda for Transparent Democracy (ATD) has endorses the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan as the best option for Nigeria at this crucial moment in history. The group in a statement sign by its National Coordinator Babalola Medayedupin said “Following close monitoring of the electoral process so far, ATD unequivocally submits that the merits in President Jonathan’s candidature far outweigh, by all standards, whatever arguments that may be proffered to the contrary.” ATD added that the 2011 Presidential election is unique and critical to democratic consolidation. “this is not just another periodic election but an opportunity for Nigerian to demonstrate love for our dear country by speaking out clearly, with our votes, in support of one, united, indivisible Nigeria. 2011 Presidential election is a golden opportunity to reassert our collective desire to move the country ahead over and above primordial differences, political revisionism and divisive ambitions.” Medayedupin said ATD as a group firmly believes that the choice of leadership is vital to the growth of democracy in any society. “ATD wishes to draw the attention of Nigerians to our peculiar democratic journey since the restoration of civil rule in 1999. It is important to again reassert that the track record of President Jonathan speaks volume of the experiences he has garnered in the last twelve years of our democratic experiment. For a man who has been Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and President, there is no doubt that President Jonathan clearly towers over and above his opponents in the April 2011 Presidential election.” The group said that President Jonathan has learnt “the rope; weather the storm of power; and mastered the art of governance with so much trepidation and assiduity.” It would therefore be in the interest of Nigeria and indeed a great honour to our collective history as a people to vote massively for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and return him as President on 29th May, 2011. The group said that President Jonathan has demonstrated through his team of campaigners, that he understands the chemistry of nation-building through effective mobilisation of citizens across ethnic, social, economic and political barriers to propagate a national agenda. “This key attribute of patriotic zeal manifests largely from the array of entertainment professionals, students/youth, leaders of thoughts, civil society actors, businessmen, labour, women, artisans and several others who have been rallied to propagate Goodluck Jonathan’s message of restoration and national rebirth.”

Italy based Nigerian Join Presidency Race

Italy based Nigerian Join Presidency Race Italy based Nigerian business mogul Francis Onabis has declared his intension to contest for Nigeria presidency in the 2011 election. Onabis who is currently the President, CEO of Mattia holdings limited, a financial and marketing consulting company in Cyprus and Stillwater Limited in Italy. Onabis said thou he have no political experience but his love for the country and desire for change motivated him. He said he had acquired good governance knowledge and experience by staying outside and he is ready to inject it to Nigeria governance to make the nation great. He lamented the complete break down of Nigeria infrastructures, economy, and security to both people of Nigeria and property, which he attributed to failure of the ruling party, which have been in power since 1999. Also condemning the government of the ruling, PDP saying “they run the government of Nigeria as their own personal property, Government should not be run like that, Nigeria belong to all us and any person who is elected to a public office must understand he or she is there to serve the people, PDP have ruled Nigeria for the past 12years Nigeria is not better off thanks to their way of ruling.” He said over the years multinational companies have moved out of Nigeria, “no regular power supply, the PDP just don’t get the priorities right in Nigeria, the last 12 years they have made their member's rich and the Nigerian masses poorer, provision infrastructures has become a thing of who you know, infrastructures are for the people of Nigeria whichever party they may belong, they have made their party member richer and the masses poorer.” While he condemned the independent bomb blast in Abuja , he said “am not one of the people who believe you can solve problem with force, they say vote is more important than gun. I am convinced nothing cannot be solved with proper reasoning, There is no need killing innocent people to make a point” “If you are not happy with a government you vote them out, If you are not happy with a government you vote them out, killing innocent people will never bring the change we all seek in Nigeria ” While he said he is stargazing on political party to run, he said “am going to take a careful look at the existing party see if their agenda fits mine and then decide Parties, I need to meet with the leader's of the various parties and find out which of them is suited to our course, I can only work with a party which principle's is to salvage Nigeria”

A Nation at 50

A Nation at 50 Ayodele Samuel Senior correspondent At this historical moment and time, Nigeria makes a replication of the time when Israel was in the wilderness. Though the journey was tough then, Israel knew with certainty that she was heading for the Promised Land - Canaan , Sadly, Nigeria does not yet know where her own destination lies even at 50. After 50 years of political independence, Nigeria still gropes in the dark; walking without a definite direction, it is pathetic as the world daily watches the acclaimed giant of Africa helplessly moving about with the whirlwind of unfortunate circumstances. The Nigeria experience 50 years ago indeed has been a story of lamentation on all sides. Visions and targets set for development by our founding fathers 50 years ago have all woefully failed. And yet there is no end in sight to further failure. As the nations begins another journey the nation certainly needs a way forward, a break through from a nation where poverty reigns supreme in the midst of plenty: a country that is known for production of; and renown for export of crude oil but import refined and finished petroleum products to the detriment of its economic and political progress; a country where N17bn is set aside to celebrate her 50th independent anniversary at the expense of the masses that are denied basic necessities of life. A country where 70 percent of it citizen live below 150 naira per day but awarded more than 70 percent of its annual budget to salaries and allowances of political office holders . It is no more news that basic infrastructures in the country are in deplorable conditions. No good roads, no basic educational structures, our hospitals have become transit point to mortuary due to inadequate health care facilities. Unemployment is increasing as the economy gets worse. Industries have closed down due to unabated high cost of production as a result of unreliable power supply As we celebrate years of independence, think of when we shall get out of this shameful situation wickedly imposed on us by selfish leaders over the years, what is the way forward? We should use this moment to reflect soberly on achieving the true Nigeria dream, both the leaders and lead must reflect soberly on the state of the nation,; we can’t continue to be led by visionless leaders, who neither have the mental capacity nor patriotic desire to move the country forward. At this moment Nigerians must wake up from their slumber to reality. 2011 is a year Nigerians must decide on true leadership. It is a year Nigerians must vote and ensure that their votes are not counted for the wrong candidates. It is a year to tell the wicked, self imposed leaders to go into political oblivion; it is a year to rescue our country from the visionless and corrupt leaders while they bow out shamefully. for a Nation like Nigeria to be great again it will start from somewhere mostly important which is credible, transparence and elective election, when their is a free, fair election, we must all we lay our hands on the plough afresh towards building a nation we can all be proud of in OUR GENERATION!

CHEERING NEWS FROM THE MANUTACTURING SECTOR

CHEERING NEWS FROM THE MANUTACTURING SECTOR When President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office some months ago, he inherited a deplorable industrial sector especially, the deteriorating state of infrastructural facilities which had crippled economic activities in the sector. LEADERSHIP Industry Correspondent AYODELE SAMUEL writes on efforts of government to reposition and to repair the damage caused by many years of neglect with consequent toll on the economy. No doubt the first two decades following Nigeria ’s independence in 1960 remains the glorious period in the nation’s history. During this period, several sectors of the economy experienced unequalled vibrancy. The period contributed significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). The manufacturing sector played a significant role in stabilizing the engine of the nation’s economic development in terms of employment, export and agriculture which serves as source of foreign exchange earnings. Between1970 to1980 according to statistics, the manufacturing sector alone contributed between 11 - 9.9 percent to the nation’s GDP respectively. Recent figure released by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has shown that the manufacturing sector contributes only four percent of the nation’s GDP while Industrial Capacity Utilization has dropped to about 28 percent. Currently, many local industries have continued to operate under very severe economic and environmental conditions such as poor energy, poor infrastructure facilities including bad road network, lack of access to funds and high interest rates on bank loans while those that cannot endure the economic hardship close shops. Professor Eric Chiedum Eboh, a Policy Economist and a business researcher said for Nigeria to achieve its economic targets and development objectives it requires the right business environment to nurture a competitive and dynamic private sector. These indices have been a headache to manufactures and government itself. This was what led to the convergence of the meeting between government and stakeholders to find lasting solution to the problems facing the nation’s industrial sector. It is on record that government through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been tackling these problems on many fronts by bringing both private and public sectors together to discuss the way forward in the commerce and industry sector. In May this year, the Ministry had met with NACCIMA, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria MAN, and other stakeholders in the sector to fashion out possible solution to the problems facing the sector. Also, the problems of the nation’s industrial sector was on the front burner at the meeting of the National Council of Commerce and Industry, the highest policy decision making body in the sector which held in Kano from May 17-21, 2010. This led to the formation of a committee to develop a 10 year National Strategic Industrial Development Master Plan (NSIDMP) to provide the roadmap for industrial development in Nigeria . This committee is headed by the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Ms. Josephine Tapgun while the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Emem Wills Wilcox is the alternate Chairman. During this interaction with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye pointed out that the purpose of the meeting with the Organized Private Sector was to harvest their views on the challenges facing the sector as well as to find possible ways to alleviate the problems. According to him “I know where the shoe pinches and I know that the mandate of this ministry is to remove all obstacles, stumbling blocks and barriers in the pursuit of Commerce and Industry and our tasks here is to support you.” He pointed out that most of the challenges that were facing the sector did not reside with his ministry; therefore the ministry has to interface with other ministries and agencies of government such as the Ministries of Finance, Petroleum, Power and the Nigeria customs Services and CBN to tackle the problems. These interface with other ministries and agencies have started yielding results. The N500 billion revival funds for the industrial sector which led to the disbursement of N150 billion to the real sector was initiated by the ministry in 2009 and the present Minister followed it up for it to come on stream. On the assurance the Ministry gave to manufacturers on special prices for Low Pure Fuel Oil (LPFO) which was one of the concerns raised at the meeting with the Minister, the Ministry of Petroleum has facilitated unfettered access to LPFO by manufacturers. Action has been stepped up on the 100 billion bailout funds for the textile industry, through the Bank of Industry (BOI), to enable more moribund textile companies to access the loans on one digit rate interest through the arrangement work out by BOI. With efforts to tackle the illegal check-points that dot the Seme border route and various ports which have been the entry points for illegal imports into the country, a 21 – man Task Force on Trade Facilitation in Nigeria headed by the ministry’s Ag. Director Trade Mr. David Adejuwon has been set up, comprising members from Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Transport and Finance, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Quarantine Service (NOS) Nigeria Police, CBN and National Association of Clearing and Forwarding among others. The Taskforce was on an assessment tour of infrastructure needs at the border posts recently to harmonize various activities of the agencies at the posts. This is to ensure compliance with multilateral and regional decisions on trade facilitation. In the course of their assignment, it was discovered that out of the over 30 government agencies currently operating at the borders and ports, only few are legal. The National Sugar Development Council in collaboration with the Ministry has flagged off the delivery of input loans and credits to members of 40 out-growers Association in conjunction with Bank PHB, the Central Bank of Nigeria and National Agricultural Insurance Corporation of Nigeria (NAIC). Also the Ministry has provided new guidelines for companies granted approval to import unfortified raw Sugar for Industrial use on packaging and labeling of their products as well as to ensure at least 70% local contents in National Sugar consumption by 2015. The council recently developed up a National Sugar Master Plan that will foster new investment and help existing investment in the sector to consolidate. Also, the Ministry through the Bank of Industry (BOI) has approved N58 Billion for 675 small enterprises to guarantee the utilization of raw materials, especially agricultural produce, generate employment, increase export potentials, promote MSMs by women as well as deepen bank’s credit delivery process through lending to cooperative groups under collective guaranteed arrangement. In a bid to sustain continuity of policy and programme of the Ministry the Minister has given his support for the Campaign for Patronage of Made in Nigeria Products. The Ministry is also collaborating with Common Fund for Commodity (CFC) on the provision of prototype cassava processing plant. Another Cassava Processing Factory was commissioned by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad at Angwa Nungu Village of Lafia, Nasarawa State in July 2010 adding to the two prototypes already commissioned in Masaka and Kuje both in Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State respectively. Also, CFC granted Nigeria Palm oil project an estimated $4,611,040 meant to improve the income generating potential of oil palm in West and Central African region ( Nigeria and Cameroon ). The project was meant to benefit small-scale palm oil processors operating inefficiently, with limited market access or ability to effectively participate in palm oil domestic and national supply chains. The project will improve on existing technologies and provide skills training (technical) for operators and business skills for management staff. The Ministry has shown the zeal to promote development of industrialization by sustenance of Government Backward Integration policy on cement through cancellation of all un-utilized cement import licenses issued from 2002 - 2008. This measure was reached in collaboration with stakeholders in the cement sub-sector after it was confirmed that there was substantial increment in the capacity of local manufacturers of cement in Nigeria . This measure is primarily aimed at accelerating the growth of local capacities as well as providing possibilities for eventual export of cement products to other African states and beyond. In view of the above, and to achieve the much desired self-sufficiency in local manufacturing of cement, create employment and value addition,government has issued new cement import licenses to investors that have committed resources to local production of cement. The new import licenses cover the period of 1st July to 31st December 2010. It is imperative to note that government granted license to existing and new entrants into cement in 2008 in a bid to bridge the shortfall and ensure a decline in the price of the commodity in Nigeria . The new entrants were BUA Group, Madewell, Reagan Reinassance, Minaj, Lababidi and NICA. They were granted license to import 500,000 tonnes of cement each with option of bulk, jumbo or 50kg bag cement. BUA Group used its allocation on bulk cement while others like Madewell and Minaj did 50,000 tonnes each, Reagan did 20,000 while Lababidi and NICA did not utilize their allocation. This non-utilization and under utilization by new entrants added to the problem of shortfall in cement supply in the country. Local production of cement in 2009 stood at 8.5 million while the shortfall was 8million tones which government bridged with import. With new investment and expansion of lines by cement manufacturers, local capacity projection for 2010 is 11 million tones while the remaining balance will be imported by those who have shown commitment in local production. Government has tried to encourage genuine local investors in the cement sub-sector by granting them license to import bulk cement for bagging at their facilities but no group or individual under the guise of operator should hold government responsible for their failure to grasp the rare opportunities provided to them by government to participate in the sector. However, public commentators have been analyzing the significance of this government action in boasting local production of cement. MAN Director-General, Mr. Jide Mike described the move to re-introduce the Cement Backward Integration policy as a positive one that would enhance local capacity production and eventually significantly reduce the price of cement in the country. By the move, he said the federal government has displayed its commitment to the survival of the real sector of the economy, which has almost been extinguished by faulty policies and the harsh environment of the past years. Commending the government on the backward integration policy, which became effective in 2002 and has significantly boosted the local manufacturing capacity, he said the era of overtly relying on imported cement is over as local production now exceeds the imported cement. Chairman of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria CMAN Engineer Joseph Makoju while commending the action the government explained that that by the end of 2011, Lafarge Cement WAPCO will have rolled out its new plant at Lakatabu Ogun State; Dangote Group would have commissioned the Ibeshe plant and doubled capacity at the Obajana factory and Benue Cement Company, all of which will increase the local production of cement above 20million metric tonnes per annum. Makoju also stressed that the rising output from the various local cement companies had already begun to result in the crash of the price of cement from over N2000 per 50 kg bag to about N1500 per 50kg bag. He said with the promises made by the federal government to revamp the nation’s power sector, finance the manufacturing sector and boost infrastructure already taking shape, the price of locally produced cement was on its way to around N1000 per bag or even less. Makoju assured Nigerians of a drastic crash in the price of cement, as the nation moves towards full self sufficiency in the area of cement production next year.

2011 and Nigeria youth

2011 and Nigeria youth Ayodele Samuel The failure of different government to conduct free, fair, peaceful and credible election has made it difficult for Nigerians to rely on President Jonathan’s words to deliver credible polls comes 2011 election, the need for Nigerians, especially youths to register, select right candidates, vote and protect their votes just remains the best option to protect our future. If the youths teams up rightly, I would be right to say Nigeria youths would determine the next set of leaders we would have, but the fear remain making a right choice. The youths consist of a large number of voters in every elections, now the youth would also play a major role in the conduct of the poll if, Jega’s decision to use youth corps members remains. If during 1993 election, I was under age, I knew not the role of the youth in making that election free and fair, but 2003 and 2007 the youth was badly used in the process, many of our friends ended up as a 2000 per day political thugs, few stanched ballot boxes but we all suffer the consequence of bad governance and misrepresentation those administration gave back as dividend, now its 2011 we are saddled to make the right choice. The 2003 and 2007 produced administration was a disaster to the youth, the rate of unemployment over increased , ASUU strike closed down our universities for months, we couldn’t compete internationally because we were half baked, the government seems never to yields any of our plights . It is time for youths to stop sacrificing their future for mere food. Avoid being used as political thugs by dubious politicians who have their children schooling in western parts of the world The politicians due to unemployment they have created has turned many Nigerian youths to immeasurable weapons for election looting, political campaign violence, election rigging and other electoral frauds that turn Nigerian politics to do or die affair. It is time for us to stand for what is right even if we’re standing alone. We are no longer leaders of the tomorrow we knew not, the tomorrow our politicians have destroy but today’s leaders and tomorrow shapers of a future and a great country The role of youths in nation building and credible elections include active participations in a lawful manner in decision making especially when it comes to determining who rules the nation realizing the fact that, youths are the future of every country. The future of the youths can only be secured when true and patriotic Nigerians are installed into government with the help of the teaming youth through free and fair election not selection as we have it in the Nigerian politics. We youth must rise to defend democracy in this election, the will of the people must not be not subverted by these criminal politicians who have spent their valuable life span looting this nation, we will bear the consequence of their deeds if we don’t stop them now.

This celebrity Presidential hopefull: Bashorun Dele Momodu

You would know he is a journalist, after my text message, he called me, he was in Ghana, he was happy to talk to the much read Ayodele Samuel, i guess, i meet with him at the planet one center room 11 something but i my self enjoyed this interview like never before Otunba Dele Momodu is a man of many parts who needs no introduction. The business mogul,publisher, author, columnist and showbiz impresario, who has not hidden his disdain for the nation's misrule, opens ‘Pandora’s Box’, and says he will aspire to become Nigeria's president come 2011. In this exclusive interview with AYODELE SAMUEL, he discusses his 2011 presidential ambition and does not shy away from some controversial issues in the polity. Excerpts: You have a good job, yet you want to run for the presidency in 2011, why? A lot of people think I'm looking for a job. No. I'm not looking for any job because I'm not jobless. I have a very good job. I'm not the richest man in the world but I'm happy with what God has done in my life. I was born very poor, we don't have a single rich person in my family and it has never bothered us, all we want to do is leave a good name and legacy behind. Others think it is a publicity form, and I say that if it is about publicity I would have gotten it when NTA came to me in 1988. I am the master of publicity, so if I need publicity I know what to do, but this is not because of publicity. I just believe that Nigeria has reached a crossroads. We have the last opportunity to have a bloodless revolution. If care is not taken we are going to enter the next stage which I'm afraid of because the suffering in Nigeria is unprecedented anywhere in Africa. I have travelled the length and breadth of Africa and know that while other countries are making progress, we are retrogressing. It is dangerous. So some of us have decided to jump into the murky waters of politics just to try and see if we can bring the needed change to this country. It is very sad that Nigeria is where it is today, even when God has given us everything in this world to make us the greatest nation. How do we know? We are the biggest black population on earth. Do you think God will just create more people in Nigeria than other countries just for the fun of it? opportunities for us all the mineral resources, God gave good planning, very brilliant people. I have been in all the continents, I have been in over 60 countries and there is nowhere I have been that I didn't see Nigerians doing great things. So what is wrong with us? What is the problem? The problem everybody is giving is leadership, but then we have ourselves to blame, especially the youth. The youth occupy about 70 per cent of the total population of Nigeria if not more. 80 per cent of Nigerians don't belong to any political party and they don't vote, so how can you allow the remaining 30 per cent to hold us to ransom. One of my biggest regrets is that I did not realise that politics is important in time, all the churches did not realise that politics was important, even the mosque did not realise that politics was important, so we left politics in the hands of hooligans. Most of the people you find today are selfish people and a lot of them have been in it for 50 years and above, yet they are not satisfied; they are not ready to retire. We keep exhuming dead bodies when we ought to take examples from other nations. I will give you just two examples. In America, we have Obama who became president at the age of 47, now in Great Britain we have both the prime minister, David Cameroun and his deputy, do you think they are foolish? And I give the example of football, every winning side is usually made up of young players. But we bring 50-year-old to play. No matter how strong you are, at a point in your life the law of diminishing return will set in and that is what is happening in Nigeria. So until we fight those old men and get them to quit, we will not achieve any meaningful result. Most of those men were jobless before they came into government, and they will become unemployable. When they leave because they have nothing to offer. Nigeria is the only place where there is a data base of people who have failed in life, businesses, and in their families, yet we call them leaders. So what is leadership? Leadership is the ability to manage men and resources. What have they managed successfully? We can no longer be left in the hands of professional politicians, we must now leave it to the technocrat professionals to help us, and I'm one of them. And we are global players, most of the people you find in government are local champions, none of them knows beyond their immediate environment. You will hear Oyo politicians, Ibadan politicians, Ogun politicians. No, I want to be among an African like Kwame Nkruma, Nelson Mandela etc. So that is why I'm different. I came from an intellectual background in Ile Ife and all my life I have been like a philosopher. What do you think 2011 elections would be like? If Jonathan decides to run, I have no problem with it, but if we beat him in the election he should go. Nigeria is the only place where a political party has declared to rule for 60 years. We should banish the PDP from the surface of the earth. These are parasites that have ruined everything they can. For the past 11years, can you point out what PDP has done consistently? No water, no road, no electricity, no school, no hospital, nothing. I become the president of Nigeria and the commander in chief, you can be sure that I will motivate the youth, soldiers, air force, the navy. Tell me how many warships Nigeria has today, tell me how many air force jets we have in Nigeria? No nation can be protected when you have no security. You must be able to defend yourself against internal and external aggression. Are you on any political platform now? Yes I am. I have always been in the Labour Party. For the fact that I'm not in the PDP does not mean I'm not in any political party in Nigeria. You see, that is part of the problem of Nigeria — this arrogance of power. I don't want to do it the way they do it? No, I'm going to teach them a lesson by using what they don't understand. Does that mean you will be contesting on the platform of Labour Party? I will be contesting, that is the most important thing, but I'm in the Labour Party. Under the Labour Party then? I will be contesting to be the president of Nigeria. I have not got the ticket yet, so it will be stupid and arrogant of me to be definite because there are other people who also want it. So the party under which I will be contesting is not the issue. The issue is that I'm going to mobilise and galvanise those 80 per cent who don't ordinarily come out. That was what happened in the case of Abiola. Those who never voted came out to vote, that was how he won. If he had waited only for party members there is no way he would have won. That was what happened in America, those who never voted came out to vote for Obama, he was not only voted by the democrats. Those who have been voting in Nigeria are not up to 40 million with the entire voters’ register. So where are the other 100 million people? Those are the people we are targeting and we know how to reach them. The politicians cannot reach them because they have done nothing to empower them, inspire them, help them. I know what I'm saying. Taking past elections into cognisance, are you comfortable with the present INEC leadership? I have no problem with Professor Attahiru Jega. He is a man we all know very well; he is a very respectable man and I believe he will do well. However, in Nigeria, once your employers are the federal government or PDP, they can try anything; but it is now for Jega to say no if they try to tamper with his job. What do you think is the recipe for credible elections in 2011? The best thing is to field the best candidates— -candidates who are Nigerian; they should not be candidates who are local champions and ethnic jingoists. Those who think and believe in Nigeria are those we need not the type of people that we have at the moment. We need very good candidates who can set our environment aglow again. You could remember when Chief Abiola was alive, there were so many excitements, and there were so many colours. But when you have colourless candidates, nothing is going to happen. So I can tell you that with what I'm planning, you can be sure that even the blind will see it and the deaf will equally hear it. Why are you coming to contest after the June 12, 1993 elections in which you played an important role? It is very supernatural. 17 years ago our plane was hijacked by Babangida and his men; they tried in various ways to land the plane somewhere else. When a plane is about to take off, it must have its schedule and it must have a flight plan, destination and route. We already had our flight plan, the control power had been alerted, but unfortunately, the man who was supposed to be the captain was seized at gunpoint. That was Chief Abiola and the hijackers tried to land the plane somewhere in Abeokuta because they felt that when they got to Abeokuta they could get another captain, and that was Shonekan. Of course the man suddenly abandoned the plane. The hijackers looked elsewhere, so they headed to the North and went to Kano where they found the man called captain Abacha and he could not see the route very well, he couldn't handle the plane, so somewhere along the line, he had heart attack and died. We were just lucky that the plane did not crash. Another pilot took over and that was Abdulsalami Abubakar and he tried to land in Mina but they goto Minna before realising that there was no airport, so they ran away from Minna and headed to Abeokuta again. When they got to Abeokuta, they found a man who looked confident, and brave, and he said if possible he would land on the street of Owu, but the man was too self confident and at the end of the day, he also had serious troubles with the plane, and at the end of the day he could not land the plan. He had to hurridly and by force hand over to another captain, Umaru Musa Yar' Adua. The man didn't have good health, so how could he fly what healthy men could not fly? And he died because the trouble was too much. In fact, in his own case, he did not hand over to anybody, he just abandoned the plane and died like that. Then we had a man from the riverine area, Goodluck Jonathan. We all know he is a very lucky man, so the problem now is that we don't know whether he will be able to land the plane on the river or on the ring, we can't tell. That is why some of us came. We have seen that most of the people who were brought as pilots and captains have not had that rigorous experience of doing anything worthy of note; they were only lucky to be pushed by one person or the other. But in my own case I have been in the corridors of politics since I was about 22 or 23 years old. I have been moving in the corridors of politics but I have not been in the corridor of power. There is a different between corridor of politics and corridor of power. When you are in power, you see only three things, you see power, you see wealth and you see fame, but when you are in politics you see everything the more and you are able to predict what will happen at the end of the day. What I want to do next year is not just about election, it is a way of reviving June 12. They tried all the tricks for 17 years and they have failed. Nigerians that voted during the 1993 elections are still alive, and I believe they will come out now and revalidate their votes. I was forced into exile, but it is time now to reclaim our mandate by giving power back to the people of Nigeria.