HUGE POLITICAL EXPENSES: A JUSTIFICATION FOR LOOTING? Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  Someone bought a governorship party's nomination form for N11million; lobbied all the party executives with N50million. He won his party's ticket and moved to the next level.
  
     Again, he spent over N200million for the general election campaign; spent another N100million to settle political godfathers in addition to another N200million to buy votes on election day.

   In essence, he has spent close to N1billion from his hard earn money to win the governorship election...

    Let's say he eventually won and got sworn into office, how does he recoup all the outrageous expenses of his political investments without having to divert State allocations or other public funds to settle the various political debts he owed?

    I think it would be unreasonable and unfair to think that he incurred such expenses on election for nothing. He obviously didn't establish a kind of charity organization. Even if he's a philanthropist, the people that invested in his campaign are not. They need returns for their investments.
  
     Or let's view it this way, we know it's unethical to embezzle while in government office but is it ethical not to make gain from your huge investment? If we say he should never tamper with State allocations in settling his debts, then he's faced with conditions that would make him pay debt throughout his lifetime!
    
     Yet in all of these, two things stand out. First, if things continue this way, no typical Nigerian youth would ever aspire to be elected into a governorship position. Why? Because it's simply impossible for a typical Nigerian youth to raise such an amount to obtain nomination form, let alone affording other millions for the campaign.
Two, it would also be unfair to assume that one who spent such a huge amount would not loot State treasury.

     This underscores the overwhelming nature of our problems. We need to first fix the psyche of a worsted and damaged citizenry who sees politics as a good business that must be hugely invested into and public offices as a passport to become moneybags before we can ever fix this great country of ours.

      I think I might agree with Barrister Oshuntoye, a Canadian-based lawyer who onced suggested that fixed minimum wage be established for public office holders, from ordinary Councilors to the President. If this is achieved, no one will go take a bank loan of N27.5m to obtain a party's presidential nomination form when no means of recouping such amount is guaranteed.

    Our political parties and political culture in Nigeria is faulty; our political structure too needs reform, until we reform these institutions, no good person can come out of them and perform excellenctly. We must change our mindset and the way we view public offices.

    Reforming our political structure and changing our mindset and beseeching our citizens to see the danger that lies ahead if this tradition is not stopped is a job that must be done if we are to step forward. If not, how are we ever going to hold anyone accountable?

OUR BANANA IS ROTTING, WE SAY IT IS RIPENING. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

      Heavenly father, bring back the good old days in Nigeria. Restore those years when Ghanaians came to Nigeria to work at construction sites as labourers; as gardeners and drivers. They sold ‘puff-puff' and repaired our shoes yet we pursued them in Ghana-must-go bags. Today, our leaders have stolen us dry in same Ghana-must-go bags and we are fleeing to Ghana to be educated.

    In those good years, graduates were like kings. Right there on the convocation ground, employers would be falling on themselves to reach and grant you on-the-spot employment you rightly deserve. Today, over 67million Nigerian graduates are without jobs. So serious is the case that some PhD holders applied for truck drivers job in response to Dangote Cement Factory advert placement many months ago.

    Oh Lord, bring back those years when values count. When government office holders had genuine interest of the masses at heart and were transparent and answerable to their citizens. Bring back the likes of selfless leaders like Cheif Obafemi Awolowo who built Cocoa House not in his hometown nor consider OAU better situated in his domain.

      In those good years, there were genuine trust on fellow Nigerians so much that while driving and your car broke down on the highway, all you need do was to wave and other cars driving by would fall on themselves to help you. Today, armed robbers would attack you on the same highway and leave you practically naked and fellow Nigerians would drive pass and ponder in the car with their partner, 'see fresh mad man!'

     During those good old days, most of us all went to public schools and still compete adequately with those who studied in United Kingdom,  but now, the public schools are reserved for only poor men's children where pupils learn under roofs made of thatches and benches that termites have devastated.

   In my entire years at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) as an undergraduate, my total tuition fees between year 2000 and 2005 was just N33,500. Today, same amount is nowhere near the exorbitant acceptance fees charged in many public higher institutions in Nigeria.

    Today we ignore the experiences of those good old days and concluded we're making progress. We bank on endless number of sub-standard private universities in our land, increasing number of private jets owned by few superrich Nigerians, fleet of expensive vehicles own by few Nigerians and untold depravity ravaging amidst our youth all in the name of civilization as indicators for positive development. Our banana indeed is rotting while we brag it is ripening!

THE TRUTH THESE PROGRESSIVES NEVER TOLD MUHAMMADU BUHARI. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

  I'm still wondering which bank gave N27.5m loan to a 72 years old man to invest in politics? Ok let's assume it's not a lie (which glaringly it is) how does he intend paying N27.5m plus interest in the unlikely case he becomes president if not through tax payers' money?
By implication, Buhari has stated in clear terms that he will offset his many debts from our commonwealth. Should we begin to expect this from someone the 'progressives' say would drive away corruption?
    These are the questions I expected these desperate armies of boll weevils and termites called APC to have considered and asked Buhari before allowing him to be their candidate.
   There are two categories of Nigerians that want Buhari: the Northern oligarchy hiding under religion and zoning to actualize their aims and the unsuspecting youths who don't realize this old man is using part of their time. It's more like they have concluded they may never be relevant in governance or that they don't believe in themselves. They have refused to accept the stark reality that Buhari has served his time already and he's using part of theirs.
    What new vision does Buhari have? When will these men with greedy minds but weak bodies hand over the batons of leadership to the youths? When Buhari was Head of State, President Barack Obama was probably in high school. Americans have since stopped talking of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, yet we keep worshiping and re-cycling these old men and expect Nigeria to be like America!
   Meanwhile, Buhari's generation was a very privileged one indeed and he achieved everything possible in term of wealth and government power. In 1975 at the age of 33, he was appointed the Military Governor of the North-Eastern State, present day Borno & Yobe states. In 1976 at the age of 34 he became the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. In 1978 at the age of 36 he was appointed the Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). In 1983 at the age of 41, he became the Head of State. Most Nigerians at that age have not had the opportunity to serve. Today the reverse is the case. Most Nigerians at age of 35 are still unemployed and still living with parents. Many are still not married. One major reason for this unfortunate turn of events is that many elders like Buhari have refused to voluntarily hand over the baton to the next generation. This is the fact many youths clamouring for Buhari never realised.
    I quite agree with Professor Wole Soyinka who pointed out that some Nigerians love to point to Buhari’s past agenda of discipline as the shining jewel in his scrap-iron crown. But to inculcate discipline however, one must lead by example, obeying laws set down as guides to public probity. Example speaks louder than declarations, and rulers cannot exempt themselves from the disciplinary structures imposed on the overall polity.
    The case of selective punishment for drug pushers under Buhari's regime is still fresh in our memories. What about Nduka Irabor, Tunde Thompson and other journalists that Buhari jailed unlawfully. Tai Solarin was sent to jail by same Buhari for publicly opposing him; Fela Kuti was jailed by Buhari and parents and friends of Barth Owoh, Ojuolape and others wept when they were sent to their early graves. Come to think of it, is any coup plotter justified to rule Nigeria, especially the one that truncated our hard-earned democracy at all?
      I believe, as a former Head of State, Buhari is automatically a member of the Council of State. He has every avenue to channel his views across on how to move Nigeria forward. He doesn't necessarily have to be in a frontline role, he can serve in an advisory capacity.
He should go sit down and allow agile youths take charge.

SAINT OLAWALE JIMOH IN PICTURES

 

 

 

 

Endorsements

 

Saint-Olawale Jimoh after a successful public engagement..

 

With 'OGD Apostles', a team of committed and core ogdists. With the grand patron of the OGD political family, Otunba Gbenga Daniel at the centre. 

 

 

With Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the immediate past Governor of Ogun Sate and Com. Diran Olatokunbo

 

                                 Rocking it with Ijebu Descendants Association of Minnesota

 

 

With Adekoya Boladale of Sahara Reporters, a journalist, media entrepreneur and political analyst

 

With colleagues at The Political Academy, a privately established platform for training young leaders and political aspirants

 

     At The Political Academy with Hon. Ogunkoya, Hon. Matthew Ogunjobi, John Ogunlere and Hon. Femi Sokeye

 

With Nafiu Abimbola Olawale, Dejie Rowland, Hon. Matthew Ogunjobi and Hon. Centro at Asoludero Hall, Sagamu, Ogun State.

                               

 With Nigerian star actress, Dayo Amusa
 

                                At Ogun State Political Stakeholders' Conference in Sagamu.

With Miss Nigeria

 

With former Ogun State Commisioner of finance, Mr Kehinde Shogunle

 

                                                          Still at The Political Academy

 

With Mr Kayode Ajala, the publisher of Hints Magazine

 

With Comrade Ifekayode Akinbode, former SA to Gov. Gbenga Daniel

 

With Sf Ojo Emmanuel Adediran, an award-winning blogger political analyst

 

                 At an enlarged gathering of young Ogun Political Stakeholders and core Ogdists

 

Ojude Oba 2014 playground

 

With Hon. Deacon Kenny Awolade

 

With Mr Sina Kawonise (SK), the foremost governorship aspirant of Yes Party for Ogun State, Nigeria 

 

 With Comrade Taiwo Solanke of Teemoney Publicity and Comrade Bukonla Okubanjo

 

 Self while receiving a certificate at the Political Academy

 

At the launching of Association for Greater Ogun State (AGOS) with Comrade Segun Okeowo Kayode and Mr Segun Okeowo Kolade 

 

 With Mr Avner Mnamchi, the former MD of Sparkwest International

 

At a political event with Mr Akinbayo Oshuntoye, a Canadian-based lawyer, certified private investigator and Counter Intelligence Specialist (CIS)

 

In a group photograph with Mr Sina Kawonise (the governorship candidate of LP for Ogun State, Nigeria) shortly after his trip from China.

At Lagos Airport Hotel Ikeja, Lagos for the launching of "Across Decades", a book written by Sina Kawonise, the current governorship candidate of SDP in Ogun State

With Mustapha Musa Dapo (MMD), the DG of Hon. Ladi Adebutu Kessington's Campaign Organisation at Lagos Airport Hotel Ikeja, Lagos for the launching of "Across Decades", a book written by Sina Kawonise,

 

 

Myself and old classmate, Comrade AfrikaWee Tunde former SA to Governor Gbenga Daniel

 

Myself and Colonel MKO Awokoya, a former Deputy Rector of the prestigious Gateway Petro-Gas Institute, Oni, Nigeria.

 

Myself and Adenuga Don Mayor

 

  Alone outside the Political Academy

 

 Alone at 2014 Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode

 

      Alone outside The Political Academy, Ogun State

OGD'S DEFECTION TO PDP: BETWEEN REALITIES AND SENTIMENTS. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

      Things are changing and we can't afford to be adamant. Politics is such an interesting game and Nigeria's own is much sweeter, only that it's not for dullard and learners!
      Ever since the former governor of Ogun State Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the grand patron of OGD political family, the largest political family in Western Nigeria officially announced he would return to PDP  there has been rumbles in several camps of OGD family. Much has been said and published regarding the issue but of all the stories authored on social media, Fela Rotimi's piece appeared shocking where he labelled the action as 'ambitious criss-crossing and outrageous dis-loyalty to voters.'
    He further lamented the plight of thousands of taken-for-granted and forgotten innocent electorates who are neither carried-along, nor have their opinions sampled in the negotiations and are left confused by rumour mills.
     Many even viewed Labour Party (LP) in the light of this action as not more than a mere ram one reared and nourished only to be slaughtered for festive merriment. This can be said to be true given the fact same OGD built and nourished LP to become the strongest force in Ogun and imagining same party collapsed into another party with the consent of the one who built it calls for questioning.
      Labour Party surely had earned a high-profile show of acceptance from Ogun people in the last few months. Confidence in LP has continued to soar to high heavens with the activities of the stakeholders of the party. It has exhibited unparalleled readiness to transform Ogun for better if voted in comes 2015. Supporters of political aspirants for various offices made the campaign more interesting but challenging for the incumbent government. In summary, LP dwarfed other main parties in ideas, programmes, consolidation, organisation, political oration and paraded best brains Ogun can ever produce!
   Sina Kawonise for instance, is a combination of abilities; a resourceful entrepreneur, outstanding media giant with enviable past records in public office and private business. This proud Ijebu son has done wonderfully well and has all it takes to move Ogun forward. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka is a complete gentleman with proven track records. A seasoned banker of all times. What about Sarafa Tunji Ishola, who is equally a seasoned administrator and a qualified candidate for the job? All these people have reasons to be worried at action of the leadership of LP to merge with PDP.
  In fact, sizeable percentage of OGD political family are bound to detest the idea at this time but same action might end up becoming blessing for the family and those who might have resolved to stay back in LP may still need to have a re-think. Either ways, those who moved to PDP shouldn't be seen as cowards, while those who might still be skeptical shouldn't be viewed as being disloyal to their leaders. It's a personal decision only that a personal interest shouldn't supersede party's political ideology.
      It would be recalled that PDP was defeated in the last election not because the opposition had greater hold on the people but largely because of the internal crisis within the PDP fold. Whenever there's a problem in larger organisations, smaller ones take such opportunity to excel, same for political parties. In the 1990s here in Lagos, the conflict between Messers Agbalajobi and Dapo Sarumi paved way for the emergence of late Micheal Otedola. The same thing happened in Ogun in 2011. The conflict in PDP gave birth to PPN and same dis-agreement between top stakeholders gave victory to Amosun of the then ACN at the time.

    Sentiments apart, it isn't a child's play wrestling power from an incumbent government let alone a government that does not give a damn if a thousand people die all in a bid to return to power. I believe so much in Labour Party, yet I still contest the survey results that rated it as the strongest in Ogun. The truth is Labour Party is much more stronger in Ogun East but not the same for Ogun Central and Ogun West.
  Going into next year’s general election with these indicators might result in political suicide. It's in the light of all these facts that I would give kudos to Otunba Gbenga Daniel for that brilliant move. I believe going  into a coalition with another political party that also has some grounds might just be what we need.
     Those who have their eyes trained on political participation would undoubtedly agree with me that  only a solid coalition of all the old PDP members scattered all over different parties would give Amosun a chase in 2015.

GRADUALLY, THE NORTH IS GOING INTO EXTINCTION. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

        In the last few years till now, Northern Nigeria has witnessed bloodsheds like never before. Much more than that of civil war and the usual argument by the Northern elites is that North has always been peaceful before the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan.
    History has proven this claim to be wrong. The North has always been known for bloodsheds. Killings began in the North during 1966 riot that started in May and lasted till October where thousands of people mainly Igbos were killed. Some were buried alive, others were crucified and killed gradually by having their eyes plucked out, their ears chopped off, their tongues cut and their manhood hacked off. The luckier ones just had their heads severed from their body. Women were raped and thereafter broken bottles forced into their womanhood and President Jonathan whom the North loves to blame for their crisis was probably still in secondary school at the time.

     If today, powerful people in the North, for reasons best known to them chose to make Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan, who bears the brunt of their Boko Haram activities? A visit to Borno, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Barkin Ladi (Jos) and parts of Adamawa provides one with  views similar to that of the remnant of nuclear war scene. The other time, despite assisting Kano to repair some affected areas with some undisclosed billions of Naira, Sanusi Lamido still lamented that #50b cannot restore the damages Boko Haram activities caused the State and that was just Kano alone.

     Anyone who visits some of these affected areas would not need a soothsayer to tell him or her that North is dying and gradually may become history. Killed by the Northerners themselves and not Jonathan or PDP. Why? Because a Northerner started Boko Haram and most prominent people that have been arrested so far in connection with these killings are core Hausas. Kabiru Sokoto, Nuhu Mohammed even a serving Senator Alli Ndume linked to this dreaded sect are all from the North. It's possible original Boko Haram may have been hijacked by foreign forces but why start a war when you cannot predict the end in your own soil?

  Things are getting worst everyday over there; over 200 kidnapped school girls are still in the custody of the dreaded Boko Haram, businesses are closing down, textile companies are dead, factories closed; students can't go to school for fear Boko Haram, still, everyday people get killed. If head counts is taken today in all the affected states in the North, I am sure more than 10million would have gone yet the killings hasn't stopped. Indeed the North has murdered its own sleep.
   This is the same North that can boast of extremely powerful and rich individuals many of whom are ex-rulers and are still relevant in governance today. None of these individuals in the area has moved into the trench to assist in efforts to stop Boko Haram. These are people who made their names, fortunes and positions due to their geographic area of origin. Atiku for instance, owns one of the best private universities in Nigeria with several other giant investments all over Nigeria; Aliko Dangote, the richest black person in Africa is from same region. What about the powerful and super rich retired military generals, T.Y Danjuma, Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari?
  These are persons with quality pedigree and enough clout to rouse the North into action against Boko Haram. Babangida once threatened to fight whoever preaches disintegration in Nigeria but his region is being troubled today and the old general doesn't seem to be moved.

  If elders in the Niger Delta made the militants to dropped their guns, these individuals and the so called Northern elders and Arewa should be proffering solution to the incessant killing of innocent Nigerian by Boko Haram instead of concentrating of anything of lesser values while innocent folks get killed everyday.
   Few months ago, a report has it that in one of the communities in Borno State, there has been several cases of some families losing almost all their family members to these killings. If things continue unchecked, many families in the North will be wiped out almost completely!
   This is therefore a wake up call to the Northern elites to swing into action before the North gets wiped out. If the sincere intervention of the likes of Atiku and Buhari could stop this large scale killings, they would have saved thousands of lives, which is far better than the badly dreamed-of Presidency.

LASU FEES REDUCTION: BEFORE STUDENTS START REJOICING. Written by Saint-Olawale Jimoh

    The recent reduction in tuition fees of the State-owned Lagos State University surely call for celebrations among the students. This is understandable given the fact the battle that lasted for almost nine months eventually ended in their favour. So you can't blame the students for throwing a party and doing a thorough boogie down when the news broke out.
 But the real question the students should have asked Fashola, instead of celebrating, is until when because quite frankly, this sudden decision calls for suspicion?

   The decision to return to the old fees regime of about N25,000 (minimum) was announced by Governor Babatunde Fashola at the 19th graduation/convocation of the school which held at the main campus, Ojo last Thursday, after almost two years of running battle, punctuated by agitations and protests by students, lecturers and non academic staff. Before now, the fees were raised to N192,000 for arts courses and N350,000 for sciences (medicine). The announcement by Fashola while delivering his address at the convocation sparked off wild jubilation among the students and staff of the school.

 Indeed, the reversal is a good development no doubt but I personally see this gesture as a ‘Greek gift’ which shouldn't be trusted. Anyone familiar with trend of events lately in this nation will undoubtedly agree the decision is politically motivated and aim at appeasing parents and students who might have resolved have resolved to vote APC out of Lagos in forthcoming due to its anti-people policies. I had written earlier that these armies of boll weevils and termites called APC can do anything to get people's votes in the forthcoming general elections. The gesture is momentary, deceitful and politically-induced rather than being in good faith.

 My advice to the students is to postpone their celebrations until after February next year. If APC wins Lagos State and the fees remain untouched then, they could go about celebrating the fees reduction but right now, it would be unnecessary!

 On the contrary, if Fashola had done it in good faith, why has he ignored public outcry in the first instance, thereby causing irredeemable losses in the system? How is he going to make up for students who were unable to attend school for the three years that the policy had been in place?

I think Fashola needs to tender an apology to the students, who had been victims of school fees policy for the past three years, and their parents for the trauma they went through.