"The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible, and achieve it, generation after generation." -  Pearl S. Buck.

I have elected to bequeath this effort as a priceless Yuletide gift, to my generation, to the old and indeed to all of humankind, if by Jove we can torpedo the deceit in the public space that seeks to undermine the Youth, placing undue premium on the concept often referred to as 'experience'. Who says 'experience' is the preserve of age, nay old age?

I have read unresearched writings, and listened to debates where some proudly declare that to move our Country, and indeed any nation out of the woods, the age debate must be jettisoned. Plausible as that sounds, it is however true in human history, whether you elect to assess ancient historicity in leadership, or you elect to research on contemporary leadership normative, the world, and indeed our universe owe her greatest feats in leadership to Youth.

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Now that there is a sweltering harmattan of discontent amongst the Youths regarding the failure of leadership in Nigeria, you hear such questions and refrain, 'It should not be about age?', 'The Youths are not prepared', 'The Youths do not have the experience', 'Governance is serious business, for which experience is needed', 'The Youths need mentorship', and so on, and so forth. Assuming but not conceding that the concern so expressed is true, who failed?

Read these words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 'We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future', unfortunately everywhere across the Nigerian space, we have elders who have failed in mentoring the youth, who otherwise should cover their faces in shame telling us that the Youths are not ready. We have men and women in their mid-fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties who cannot point at a mentee of theirs, and rather than accept that they are failures, they blame the YOUTHS.

Everywhere in the space, we see the old whose experience in governance is looting, thieving, nepotism, cronyism and prebendalism, seeking to school us on why we must wait and be mentored, mentored perhaps in corruption and malfeasance. Need I ask, why are we where we are as a nation? Your guess is perhaps as good as mine, the failed leadership superintended by those who seek to mentor us, brought us to this sorry trajectory, pure and simple.

A nation almost sixty years old, rumbles from ravenous rape and continues to bleed unendingly, seeking redemption, and we are told that it must be gradual. We are told that we must be mentored by those who raped her directly or indirectly, and by those complicit in the impish rape of our nation. God forbid. Now is the time to stop the rape, now is the time to heal her wounds, and now is the time to make real the promises of nationhood. The time to rise up and answer the Redemptive call is now. To the Bridge, Dear Friends.

Taking you back to the opening quote of Pearl S. Buck supra, would you rather the 'experience' of the old as we have them today, or 'the not enough prudence of youth that makes them attempt the impossible, achieve it, and have made generation after generation better'? Have you forgotten how our Creative/Entertainment Industry was practically lethargic, mediocre and at best nostalgic, until young men and women in their twenties, thirties and forties, rose to the challenge, birthing and berthing what has become one of the fastest growing Movie, Music and Comedy industry in the world. Remember Gabe Okoye (Gabbosky), Zeb and Chico Ejiro, Fidelis Duker, Innocent Idibia (2Baba), Don Jazzy, Jimmy Jatt, Alli Baba, and others too numerous to mention.

What of the Banking Industry? Remember how 'old school' our Banks were, until young men and women between the ages of twenty and forty rose to the challenge and revolutionized the Banking Sector. On my mind are Fola Adeola, Femi Pedro, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Pat Utomi and many others.

The Internet is awash with prolific, profuse and profound news of our young men and women breaking old records and setting new feats in various fields of human endeavour, and yet they say we must wait awhile and be mentored, but I ask, what is the scorecard of the leaders who should mentor us? Please tell me?

Another hubris almost always bandied across the space is the most ludicrous, 'what has he done for his people, community or Country?', and when this refrain is thrown up, the narrative is often pecuniary, financial and mundane, undermining the many patriotic and selfless service many young men and women render the nation and society, sadly the undiscerning and uninformed benchmark hardworking young people with looters who pillage our collective patrimony, giving crumbs as social empowerment projects to a few. THINK.

The Not Too Young To Run  movement and the several Youth vanguards that bestride our space seeking a NEW DEAL come 2019 is not only a question mark on our collective conscience but an indictment of the present class of leaders. Our young people are saying to the present, having ran down Nigeria, having destroyed our Country, having sold our national assets to yourselves, having divided our nation on many fronts with ethnicity, religion and region as devious tools, having left our nation mediocre and her infrastructure comatose, and having made our Country a laughing stock, please give way and let us try the seemingly impossible.

Our young people are saying that a NEW AND A BETTER NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE. Our young people are saying in the words of Albert Einstein, 'that to attempt to solve a problem the same way it was created is insanity'. Our young people are unwilling to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism anymore. And our young people are saying that our Country can ill-afford the luxury of cooling off, as nothing but a peaceful ballot based ORDINARY PEOPLES revolution come 2019, and a system rework can redeem Nigeria.

I am inclined to this position without an ounce of equivocation, because I was taught by my late Dad, Chris Nwaokobia Snr., to dare a new course where the usual, where the old, and where the known has left one with little promises, such is today's leadership and such is today's Nigeria. A new order, a new tendency, and a new Paradigm is thus inevitable. #YESWECAN. It will always be #COUNTRYFIRST.

God Bless Nigeria.

To be continued...

-Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr, a legal practitioner, is the Convener, COUNTRYFIRST MOVEMENT

President Muhammadu Buhari, accused by the opposition PDP of appointing a dead man into a board. 

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday described as an unpardonable national embarrassment, the appointment of deceased persons as members of various federal boards by President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration.

Daily Post reports that PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan in a statement said the development has further confirmed PDP’s position that the APC administration is completely confused, disorganized and grossly incompetent, adding that Nigerians can now see the level recklessness and shoddiness inherent in the management of the nation under the APC.

The party noted that the situation has further exposed why the nation’s economy has been in shambles under the APC and wondered how a government which cannot tidy up a routine issue of board appointment for over two years can successfully take on complex issues of governance.

The statement read: “Nigerians can now see why the nation’s economy has been in shambles in the last two years. When we say that this government is completely inept, some Nigerians did not know to which level, but now they do.

“This inability to tidy up a simple issue of list of 209 appointees has completely exposed the extent the APC government is bereft of simple organizational skills to manage a country like Nigeria, which is in dire need of development.

“How on earth can a government that cannot compile a common list handle intricate issues of national planning and budgeting; issues of health, education, aviation, agriculture, infrastructure and management of the huge civil service?

“How can they possibly initiate and successfully implement national and international instruments for national development in today’s competitive world?

“This also explains why nothing has been working under the APC government. Furthermore, the mix up in the list also exposes the corruption in the APC government.

“The fact is that the government of our dear country has been in wrong hands in the last two years and the situation will continue to worsen unless the nation is rescued from them in 2019.

“Finally, we urge Nigerians to disregard the lame excuses by the APC government and hold them responsible for the woes that have befallen our country under their inept and undesirable regime.”

George Opong Weah, Liberia's President-Elect.

Former football star, George Opong Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change, CDC, has been declared winner of the Liberia’s rerun elections. He defeated the incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai of Unity Party, UP, in an election that was keenly contested in the October 10th first round, to emerge winner.

Weah clinched 12 of the 15 counties across the country of 4.6 million people with 2.1 million registered voters. His opponent, 73-year-old Joseph Boakai, who has been the country's Vice President under incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirlief for the last 12 years, got only two counties to vote for him.

Following his victory, Weah took to his twitter handle (@GeorgeWeahOff) to thank Liberians for electing their choice through a popular mandate, saying he plans to liberate the country.

On Boxing Day, after casting his ballot in Monrovia, the country’s capital, he had spoken to kjournalists covering the election, exuding confidence at the polls. “It is with deep emotion that I want to thank you, the Liberian people, for honoring me with your vote today. It is a great hope.” 

The 51 year-old former AC Milan striker thus becomes the 25th president of the country. 

 

President-Elect, George Weah and his Vice, Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor (left and right).

While the world is celebrating the victory of George Opong Weah as he becomes the 25^thPresident of Liberia, it is imperative to take a look at the factors that played out to enhance his victory at the poll.

When critically examined, it would be glaring to note that only George Weah’s popularity was not enough to swing victory his way. At the first round of the elections on October  10^th  2017, he failed to clinch the mandatory 50% of the total votes cast to make him president as required by the relevant electoral laws of Liberia. Hence, I need to outline some of the potent factors that aided his victory.

THE JEWEL HOWARD-TAYLOR FACTOR

Liberia’s President-elect, George Weah, no doubt has his running mate, Jewel Howard-Taylor, the ex wife of the Liberian warlord, Charles Taylor to thank for his victory. This 56 year-old lady began life in politics as First Lady to former Liberian leader, Charles Taylor, but has since established herself as a formidable political force in her own right.

Going by the popularity she enjoys following her exploits at the Liberian Senate over the years, it became clear that her choice for Vice-President on the ticket of the footballer turned politician was a deft move, though many had expected her to run for the top job herself.

Her National Patriotic Party was formed in 1997 by members of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia — Charles Taylor’s rebel fighters — to allow him run for president in hopes of ending a civil war that began in 1989.

She married Liberia’s most powerful warlord just before he was elected in 1997 by a population weary of conflict, and was granted a divorce in 2006, while Taylor was living in exile in Nigeria with another woman.

Her political career began in earnest when she was elected in 2005 as a senator in Bong County, the nation’s third most populous county, and has since built an image as a resilient hard worker in Liberia’s male-dominated politics.

She was once quoted as saying “The first thing I’ve done is to believe that I am able to make the changes I talk about.  I have made promises I have fulfilled in education, healthcare and infrastructure development, and so I hope over the past 12 years Jewel Howard has become her own person working for peace, working for prosperity and working for development.

And this “become her own person working for peace, working for prosperity and working for development’ has been seen as a major boost in her alliance with George Weah. Her NPP party agreed to form a coalition with his Congress for Democratic Change during the build-up to the election earlier in 2017, on the condition Howard-Taylor could run as Vice-President.

She enjoys so much popularity, especially in Bong County, the third largest voting population in the country.

However, the ghost of Charles Taylor’s nefarious war crimes in Sierra Leone had continued to hang around no matter what she does to distance herself. Her proximity to the ex warlord remains a talking point, and in a nation where the ex-President is still revered by many, her presence was largely an asset for Weah.

For example, the former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain football star won just 10.7 percent of the vote in Howard-Taylor’s Bong County when he stood for President in 2005, but in the first round of voting in 2017, his share of the vote shot up to about 40.6 percent, a significant improvement, which many saw as the Howard-Taylor factor.

All Weah needed was the support of the Grand Gedeh County, a traditional stronghold for supporters of Samuel Doe, that President Taylor overthrew in a coup. His 74.9 percent in the first rounds of the elections from Grand Gedeh County remained a major boost for him, as he was a clear favourite in the area despite running with Howard-Taylor at his side.

THE COALITION SUPPORT FACTOR

Interestingly, when it became clear that a runoff was imminent after the October10th first rounds, some executives of the Liberty Party, had pledged their support to Weah. In fact, they were more powerful executives for that matter—Chairman Benjamin Sanvee, Vice Presidential candidate Harrison Karnwea and Chief Campaigner Musa Bility.  Surprisingly, it was the Unity Party that stood alongside the same LP to file a prohibition to the Supreme Court against the National Elections Commission (NEC) for a rerun of the October elections. But the volte-face of these top executives was seen part of the pivot on which Weah would coast home to victory.

THE CHANGE VERSUS CONTINUITY FACTOR

The desire to have a clean sweep form the old order also played a prominent role in Weah’s victory. Seen as an anti-establishment, Weah became more trusted as one that can bring a change in governance, particularly as the Johnson Sirlief’s administration has been accused of corruption and doing a little to attract infrastructure development to the economy, which has been battling with falling prices in iron ore in the intentional market.

Major opposition political parties opted to form a unity opposition in September 2016 in Ganta, Nimba County to end 12 years of rule by the Unity Party. This became even more glaring when Weah coined his infamous “Change for Hope” phrase. To Weah and his supporters, now was time to change leadership for a new beginning.

THE YOUTHS AND INDIGENE FACTOR

Both Weah and Boakai are native Liberians and enjoy the support of the majority native voters although it is Weah who enjoys more of their demography. Weah enjoys quite a huge following among the youths, who form about 70% of the voting population, and with 52% of registered voters being between 18 and 32 years.

Weah has a huge following in poor communities that comprises 54 percent of the population, according to the World Bank. That explains his popularity in Montserrado that has many slum communities. They identify with Weah who grew up in Clara Town but conquered the world with his football skills. They see him as an embodiment of what late President Tolbert would have said, “from mat to mattress”. In him they see that their own dreams and aspirations can come true.

The CDC merger with the blood-stained National Patriotic Party (NPP) worked very well. Weah decided to look for interest rather than seek humanity’s potential. The NPP evokes the dark days of former President Charles Taylor, 250,000 killed in the civil war and the despair of a once hopeful people.

CONCLUSION

Weah preferred to turn a blind eye to that and opted to gain the popularity of the NPP in its traditional strongholds, including the rural communities.

Weah’s supporters have always looked for signs to prove that their man is ordained by God. They have summed up numerological clues to prove their point. In each of the elections he has run for President, they have tried to look for numbers and their links to him.

In 2005, Weah was placed on #14 on the ballot. They say that represented the number he wore on his Lone Star kit while playing for the national team. Because #14 could be reversed to be #9 when counting from the bottom to the top of the ballot, they saw it to be a spiritual reference to his number on his A.C. Milan kit.

They also saw the five in 2005 to have evoked 1995, the year Weah scooped African, European and World best player awards. And they are up to it again. They don’t see Weah being #17 on the ballot as a mere coincidence with 2017. It is a sign that this is Weah’s year.   

Democracy in Liberia has come a long way since the failure of the political system, amplified by the civil war.

Twelve years of uninterrupted peace and a significant improvement of the rule of law, freedom of speech and social liberties under Ellen has buried the despotic, dark days of Taylor.

I personally wish Weah and all Liberians well in their new march to consolidate a democracy that is 12 years old and counting.

President Muhammadu Buhari, toasting to his 75th birthday recently.

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as “national disgrace” President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration that he had all the while believed he was 74 years.

Reacting to this in a statement in Osogbo Tuesday, PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said that not a few Nigerians and the international community must have been shocked the President of a country in the 21st century has no knowledge of his actual age.

Prince Diran Odeyemi’s statement reads in part, “How many other inconsistencies are in Mr. President’s biodata submitted to INEC? We are sure there are more. And the world is waiting on the body to give details about our President. We therefore advise INEC to act now by revisiting those forms President Buhari filled in all elections he had participated in, especially those he filled before 2015 elections to unravel other inconsistencies therein.

“In a normal clime, the electoral umpire would have set in motion verification modalities to avoid further national embarrassment and expose Mr. President. Come to think of it, a leader that does not know his real age, could not be said, to have sound knowledge of the people and country he governs, let alone knowing the peculiarities of the governed. This is simply not the kind of president Nigeria needs at the moments.

“Not too long ago, Nigeria became laughing stock with the inappropriate designation of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel as President of West Germany by President Buhari. We recall President Buhari once admitted that his age would slow down his performance in office. For a country that could fall into an emergency situation anytime, like the present government-failing induced fuel scarcity, we don’t need a president that forgets things easily.

Prince Diran Odeyemi  said his party was thus advising Mr. President to consider turning in his resignation letter to avoid further slowing down the country because of his age, and to also save the country’s corporate image in order not to be seen by the international community as a country that had a President with occasional memory failure.

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce.

The self-styled “Common Sense Advocate” and Founder, Silverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, has lamented low patronage at his Silverbird Galleria located along the Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The complex which houses a number of highbrow stores, a cinema hall, as well as his radio and television stations, is usually a beehive of activities during the yuletide.

In a series of tweets on Christmas Day, the Senator, a member of the People's Democratic Party, who currently represents the Bayelsa East constituency, at the Senate, laments how the current fuel crisis in the country has affected business at the galleria.

He said, “Well, since we are not seeing crowds at this Yuletide, we may as well show the documentary the Presidency is releasing tomorrow to showcase the President’s greatness. It may attract the crowds from fuel stations and make them come to Silverbird cinemas nationwide.

“This is the first time in my life that I have not seen long lines of vehicles and people coming to @SILVERBIRDCINEM during the festive season. I hope other businesses are faring better.”

He blamed the APC-led government for most of the wrong policies that have adversely affected the economy in the country, wondering why the government would continue to seek help from within the APC only when there abounds a lot of individuals with the requisite experience to help the government get the country moving.  

“A problem I see with this administration is that it has limited its search for solutions to APC members. It should not be so. We should be indiscriminate in the search for solutions. We should care less about the political inclination of the person who can come up with solutions.

“The mistake the APC made in my opinion is that they were desperate for power, but they were not desperate to govern. In fact, they prepared for power, but did not prepare to govern.

“How did we get to the point in the year 2017 where a Nigerian earning the minimum wage of ₦18,000 can’t even fill up his fuel tank with his monthly pay. Can’t buy a bag of rice with his salary. Can’t buy a one way ticket to his hometown for Christmas with his wages. How? Why?” he wondered.

Senator Hope Uzodinma

• The volume of petroleum products imported into the country can serve motorists till  first quarter of next year.

If anyone could proffer solution to the lingering fuel crisis at this yuletide season, Nigerians would no doubt hail them. But if anyone claims to know those who are behind the crisis, then it remains to be seen what this might portend.

The Chairman of Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has blamed petroleum products’ dealers and tank farm owners over the current fuel crisis in the country.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Senator representing Imo West senatorial district of the southeast state disclosed that some petroleum products’ dealers and tank farm owners were playing politics with the distribution of petroleum products through hoarding.

He said the scarcity, which was coming at a time Christians were about to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, indicated that it was “a great sabotage.”

The lawmaker, according to daily post, added that from statistics available to his committee, “the volume of petroleum products imported into the country can serve motorists till first quarter of next year.

“Christians all over the world and indeed Nigeria hold the Christmas period dear to their hearts and nobody or group of persons should be seen to be sabotaging this all important feast.”

He called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to carry out a thorough investigation into the scarcity, with a view to sanctioning erring dealers.

According to him, since the increase in pump price of fuel in the last two years, there has been steady supply of petrol in the filling stations. He asked why the scarcity was coming during Christmas.

He further called on NNPC to consider extending its searchlight on possible sabotage within its management to fish out those bent on frustrating government efforts.

While appealing to Christians in the country to remain calm and have faith in God, Uzodinma said dealers and tank farm owners were giving the Federal Government a bad name for political reasons.

President Muhammadu Buhari.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday disclosed that what he saw when he became President of Nigeria was shocking.

He was quoted as making this comment by his media aide, Femi Adesina when he received the Governance Support Group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.

According to him, “Some of the things I saw here were unbelievable. I still shudder and wonder how a country can survive under such abuses. It is only by an act of God that we survived. I want you to maintain your steadfastness. We have gone through the worst of the times. We lost elections three times and I learnt a lot along the way.”

The President told his supporters that he was aware of the personal risks and investments that brought in the All Progressives Congress-led administration, stressing that the long-suffering, commitment and sacrifices of all his supporters over the years will be remembered by posterity.

Hear him, “I can never forget your sacrifices and I am grateful for all. You never gave up when things were bleak, and we needed to survive. I can’t express my gratitude enough. In spite of the environment you found yourself, you kept believing and pushing. Some of you were really exposed to risks. My consolation is that you voluntarily threw in your lot with me.”

He concluded by saying some of his supporters exposed themselves for his sake through their sacrifices.

“I am aware of this,” he told them; admonishing them to still stick to their principled ways of doing things so that Nigeria will be the better for it.

Cristiano Ronaldo (r) and Lionel Messi are arch rivals.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made a huge demand to Real Madrid which also involves arch-rival, Lionel Messi

Ronaldo scored a free-kick which went through the defensive wall to break Gremio’s brave resistance and give Real Madrid a 1-0 victory in the final.

It secured Real their second world title in a row, the third in the last four seasons, and ended Gremio’s hopes of pulling off what would have been a huge upset.

Ronaldo currently earns £18.5million a year at Real but arch rival Messi, the man he beat to this year’s Ballon d’Or, is on £26.4m.

That followed a new huge contract that Messi signed with Barcelona last month.

Spanish newspaper Marca put a huge picture of Ronaldo on their front page this morning with the headline: “Cristiano quiere mas”. That translates to “Cristiano wants more.”

They state that Ronaldo now wants the same salary Messi or Neymar which would equate to a near 50 per cent pay rise.

The front page of Marca today claimed Ronaldo wants a pay-rise. Marca state, however, that Real will not yet open negotiations.

Ronaldo signed a new five-year deal last year but he insisted then that would not be his last.

The Portuguese superstar, 33, was hailed by his team-mates after firing Real to Club World Cup success.

Substitute Lucas Vazquez told his club’s official website after the Abu Dhabi success: “Before the game, I told Cristiano I was sure he was going to score and that’s why he ran to me for the celebration.

“We’re thrilled. It’s a team success and I hope we can improve on it in 2018.”

Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka

The romance of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, of the Adoration Ministry with incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari appears to have ended if latest utterances of the clergyman on 2019 are anything to go by. The fearless clergyman whose open support for Buhari as candidate for  the All Progressives Congress, APC during the 2014 president, has declared that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is the new blessing for Nigeria.

He said Abubakar has what it takes to “put smile on Nigerians suffering different marginalization,” if given the opportunity to rule the country in 2019.

Speaking in Enugu, the fiery preacher said the Waziri of Adamawa was advocating a “new order, a new paradigm shift in the government.”

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Mbaka said, “Every political relationship is open for negotiations, without pre-set outcomes. Atiku do(sic) not fear negotiations, as democrat and businessman that is what reasonable human beings that love(sic) his people do(sic). This is even more important if a stubborn resistance against negotiations can lead to unsavory outcomes, which the present governments have demonstrated!

“For the Nigerian State to have a soul, the constituent parts need to renegotiate and rework the union. It is what will reduce to the barest minimum the feelings of injustice and poverty among Nigerians. It is what will make Nigerians believe that they chose this union willingly, ending effectively the theory of Lugardian contraption.

“It is a perfect antidote for peace. The times call for new ideas for creative solutions, for restructuring, for people to be happy, for people to have means of living, for people to love Nigeria again!

“Atiku is the only person that has contested and is still contesting for Nigerian presidency that loves the youths more and has created more jobs for the youths to prove that more than most state government!

“Imagine what he will do when he has the power and resources to do more! Let’s pray that the blessing and protection of God to be with him to put smile in Nigerians suffering different marginalization!”

Source: Daily Post

Ex Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has pledged his readiness to get Nigeria to work again through the provision of gainful employment for her teeming youths across the country. The ex-number two citizen stated this Saturday at the official opening of Chicken Cottage quick service restaurant at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja. The company founded by Atiku is aiming to become the number one chicken restaurant in Nigeria in the next few years.

Hear him: “You can be sure that having at least one chicken cottage in every state will help get Nigerians working again. We will provide gainful employment to thousands of Nigerians who would be earning living wages which in turn contributes to reducing unemployment in Nigeria.

“As part of our objectives, we aim to be the number one chicken restaurant chain in Nigeria. After this outlet, we intend to open several other outlets in strategically important locations in Nigeria.

“Our target is to have at least one chicken cottage restaurant in every State in Nigeria. Ultimately, we intend to develop chicken cottage Nigeria as the regional hub for all operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Towards this end I have given approval to the management to commence talks with Chicken Cottage International.”

Vanguard reported that he promised to source foodstuff locally as a way of empowering local farmers in their agrarian business saying, “My ultimate joy will be to patronise our local farmers and see them have their produce bought and used here in Nigeria and Africa thereby empowering them. Furthermore, the multiplier benefits of this enterprise would extend to transporters, beverage suppliers, appliance manufacturers, Artisans, Furniture makers, etc.”

The ex Vice President was accompanied to the event by some of his political associates, including the lawmaker representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Senator Ben Murray Bruce.

To the propagandists fouling our space…

Have I not said that all the data and statistics that the APC throws up to validate the blame game after almost three years in the saddle is hubris?

I am also saying that all the PDP says today regarding her repentance and readiness to right the wrongs of the APC are but hokum and propaganda.

A painstaking look at the politricktians that dominate our space and their propagandists throw up seas of lies targeted at deceiving the uninformed and the gullible, all they seek is power. All they seek is to continue the thieving. They are one.

I have my thinking cap Compatriots, dust up yours. We cannot continue to live in the past. Do you not know about Abba Kyari and Buhari's dealings with the TSA, or have you not read about how 50b was instructed to be kept outside the TSA account?

Have you forgotten so quickly the less than transparent dealings of Maikanti Baru the GMD of NNPC and the NNPC, concerning  25b Dollars and the mucky contracting protocol?

Do you not know how this government has introduced an evil trajectory in our national narrative, now we know and have a new narrative, 'orphaned funds', ditto funds without owners, of course those who own them are not spirits but sacred cows. Or are you deceived?

We know that Babachir Lawal and Oke belong to that class. We know that those who looted over 56b Dollars from our collective till in the various Energy/Power Sector scam since 1999 belong to that class. We know that MAINA of the Pension Scam fame and the syndicate in government and out of government, are sacred cows, don't you know?

Do you not know about Abba Kyari and his many corruptive deals, or have you also forgotten the story of the 500m from MTN, and his role in the directive to the NNPC to keep 50b naira outside the TSA Account? But he is clean because he is an APC thief. Do you think otherwise?

Some say I am negative because I criticize with vehemence a government I helped to power, a government that came to power with so much promises, alas it promised all, albeit perfidiously, just to grab power for the reasons we now know, or don't you?

I am proudly NEGATIVE because God will forbid I buy into the :positives' that translates to lies, deceit, propaganda and perfidy.

A government that takes 1b dollars from less than 3b Dollars in the Excess Crude Account, outside due appropriation protocol, to fight an insurgency that it says has been degraded, is that government not as corrupt as the one it vilifies?

A government whose language is 'we will, we shall, Government is going to do this and government is going to do that' etc, and never accomplishing much, cannot blind me with propaganda and perfidious inveigle. Are you blinded by their falsehood and treachery? Wake up.

It should and must be about patriotism over partisanship, if we truly must make this Country great again. And for me it will always be #COUNTRYFIRST.

To those who insist that the present is better than the past, I don't know what you see, I see what is on the ground. I see corruption everywhere, from the Aso Rock Clinic and the billions budgeted yet without medical supplies and syringes, to a total One Trillion naira (500b budgeted for two straight years) for social empowerment with less than 10 States covered, to the Power Sector with endless tales, and with almost every project 'ongoing' rarely completing any in almost 3years. What do you think?

May God give Nigeria men and women of truth, and people who for the good of Country can speak truth to power, knowing like Uztaz Uthman Dan Fodio noted in 1805 that 'Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal'. I'm therefore saying to cheerleaders, Court-jesters and praise-singers that in the service of the God of Truth, I do not and cannot see what the partisans and propagandists see, I see a nation calling for redemption. I see a people in search of a NEW DEAL.

The foul and odoriferous stench of Mainagate runs from the PDP to the APC. To those who hail the present watch for a mediocre and lethargic fight against corruption, please tell me who brought back and reinstated MAINA into the Federal Civil Service, until we cried out against it? Was it not your saintly President and his 'Association of saints'?

My narrative is about the hubris that the PDP and the APC seeks to recycle as they eye 2019, I do not defend one thief against the other. God forbid. Wisen up Countrymen and women, there is indeed no difference between six and half a dozen, the one percent that runs roughshod in our space are united, indiscriminate of whether they be in the APC or the PDP. So we must repudiate their deceit and chicanery, and unite to save our Country.

We must begin to think about our Country and posterity, we must repudiate the narrative that the merchants of power, and the merchants in power trade, and we must stop pandering and dancing to the deceitful tunes of politricktians.

Do not reference and reverence thieves? Do not buy into the APC/PDP deceit, gibberish and tommyrot. For like the PDP like the APC. Like Dasuki like Abba Kyari, like Metuh like Lawal, and like Jonathan like PMB, their interest is power for egocentric ends.

We must change the narrative Compatriots, and put our Country and indeed the ORDINARY PEOPLE first. On this note I announce my resignation from the All Progressive Congress APC and I cease to forthwith function as the Director General of the CHANGE AMBASSADORS OF NIGERIA CAN. I shall from this day completely dedicate myself to the COUNTRYFIRST MOVEMENT as we network with allied groups in the pursuit of the Nation we seek.

Countrymen and women, we MUST organize rather than agonize, we MUST work together to secure a NEW DEAL for the ORDINARY PEOPLE, and we must interrogate the past and the present watch, as we pursue the cause of a peaceful ballot based ORDINARY PEOPLES revolution come 2019.

A NEW AND A BETTER NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE.

God Bless Nigeria.

- Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr, a legal practitioner is a social critic, commentator on national issues and Convener Countryfirst Movement