Tambuwal’s defection, Boko Haram’s rampage, Keshi’s return… 10 leading stories of last week

Boko Haram insurgency, defection of Aminu Tambuwal, speaker of the house of the house of representatives, from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) and events surrounding 2015 election largely shaped the news in Nigeria last week. Here is a summary of the leading headlines.

OBASANJO VS BUHARI

The week began with a strong warning from Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, against fielding candidates and running mates of the same faith in the 2015 elections. Obasanjo was responding to Buhari, former head of state, who had told TheCable in an interview that he was open to the possibility of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any political party to be toying with Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture,” Obasanjo had said, further advising politicians to work towards the progress and development of the country.

WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS RETURN?

Nigerians, especially the people of Chibok in Borno state, were expecting the return of the abducted Chibok girls on Monday in line with announcements that the federal government had reached a ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram. News of the ceasefire deal was ‘confirmed’ on October 17 by Alex Badeh, an air chief marshal and chief of army staff; and Mike Omeri, coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC).

Some parents and relatives of the abducted girls had appealed to Boko Haram to fulfill its promise of releasing their daughters. However, whatever embers of hope that remained were extinguished at the weekend when Boko Haram released a new video debunking the ceasefire claims and disowning one Danladi Ahmadu who had been claiming to represent the group in negotiations.

MUCH ADO OVER TAMBUWAL’S DEFECTION

Aminu Tambuwal, speaker of the house of representatives, has finally announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tambuwal registered as an APC member on Monday, October 20, 2014, shortly after attending the party’s stakeholders meeting in Sokoto but he didn’t make it public until Tuesday when he made the announcement after the plenary of the house.
He thereafter adjourned sitting to December 3, 2014 seemingly to enable members prepare for the 2015 elections.

However, observers believe the adjournment was a deft move to pre-empt any move by the PDP to unseat him. All the same, his defection has generated furore, PDP claiming the defection would cost him his position as the Number 4 citizen of the country while the police have also withdrawn his security aides. Tambuwal is expected to challenge the action of the police in court.

KWANKWASO JOINS PRESIDENTIAL RACE

On Tuesday, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the governor of Kano state, formally declared his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Describing APC as the only party that can stop “this misrule of the PDP and also to reverse the stinking rot and decay that is suffocating” the country, he urged voters to unleash their anger on their ballot papers by voting the PDP out of power in 2015.

“We must be very angry with what is happening in our country; we must be very angry that an inept government is presiding over our affairs,” he had said. “I therefore call on all Nigerians to unleash their anger on their ballot papers by voting the PDP out of power in 2015.”

The declaration, which took place at Old Parade Ground, Abuja, was graced with the presence of top APC members, including Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state; Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos state; Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti state and George Akume, a senator and former governor of Benue state.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR JONATHAN’S REELECTION BID

We knew it already, but President Goodluck Jonathan finally said what everyone knew about his reelection bid when he picked his nomination and expression-of-interest forms on Thursday. And as if his adoption as consensus candidate by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not enough, he also got donations totalling N100.5m to support his reelection ambition, according to a breakdown given by Reuben Abati, his special adviser on media and publicity.

“President Jonathan is greatly encouraged by the overwhelming outpouring of goodwill and support, as well as the confidence of the generality of Nigerians in his ability to continue to transform the country for the good of all its people,” Abati said in a statement issued on Wednesday. The opposition has continually painted Jonathan as a weak and non-performing president, yet the PDP decided to field him as their sole candidate in the 2015 presidential election “because of his remarkable achievements.” Paradoxical, isn’t it?

IS BOKO HARAM GETTING STRONGER?

Since government announced a ceasefire on October 17, the frequency and intensity of Boko Haram attacks have increased, further dampening confidence in government’s capacity to contain the insurgency. Last week alone, the insurgents seized Mubi, second largest town in Adamawa state and caused a bomb blast at the Gombe Line Transport Service (also known as Central Park) in Gombe. The Mubi attack has triggered an exodus of residents while the Gombe incident killed “more than 30 people”, according to a rescue worker.

However, the Nigerian military said that the insurgency is being brought under control with highly-coordinated air strikes to repel the unwarranted attacks on citizens, especially in Adamawa and Borno states, with land forces also conducting mopping-up operations. Also, Cameroonian troops reportedly killed about 39 Boko Haram insurgents in a serious battle that pushed the insurgents out of the country’s borders. Three vehicles belonging to the militants, several machine guns and explosives were also said to have been destroyed during the operation.

KESHI BACK AS SUPER EAGLES COACH

Stephen Keshi, coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles who was sacked by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), has been invited to resume his job. Sources close to the NFF told TheCable that Keshi’s return is in compliance with a directive of President Goodluck Jonathan. “The president categorically told Pinnick (the NFF chairman) to recall the Big Boss, saying he didn’t deserve to be sacked,” one of the sources said.

According to the source, Keshi is glad to return and serve his country but he is quite apprehensive about working with the NFF, which had sacked him only to recall him at the orders of the president. Meanwhile, many soccer fans have expressed surprise at Keshi’s readiness to return after making us believe that his services were in high demand in many countries.

APC AND PDP IN CHARACTERISTIC WAR OF WORDS

At its mini convention held to amend parts of its constitution, especially to allow for the choice of consensus candidate in the 2015 presidential election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government of incompetence, impunity and corruption that have made the country “worse off today than it was in 1999”. John Oyegun, national chairman of APC (pictured) also held the PDP responsible for “unparalleled lawlessness”, which he said had been fuelled by “unprecedented impunity” in President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

Responding to the accusations, PDP, speaking through Olisa Metuh, described APC as an enemy of democracy. PDP said APC lacked direction and was unprepared for governance, to have had to amend its constitution only few months after its creation. Continuing the reprisal verbal attacks on the credibility of APC, Olisa Metuh said: “Nigerians have noted that the PDP remains the only steady and stable platform for the growth and progress of democracy” in Nigeria. With the constant bickering between the two parties, one wonders if each party is seeking to establish credibility by promoting its superior ideals or by painting the other party in bad light.

NIGERIA RISES IN 2015 WORLD BANK RANKING

Nigeria rose by five positions in the 2015 Doing Business report released by the World Bank, ranking 170 out of 189 countries. Nigeria ranked 175 in 2014. In its reaction, the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN) observed that even though the improvement was marginal, it was a move in the right direction, which would form the foundation for future improvements.

Nigeria’s upward movement (+5) compared compared favourably with the BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India and China – (Zero), other MINT nations – Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey – (+2) and Sub Saharan Africa (+2).

THE END OF COMPAORE

Last week, Burkina Faso was embroiled in a crisis which led to the ousting of Blaise Compaore, the country’s president who was seeking to extend his 27-year rule. Compaore’s attempt to have the legislature amend the constitution to allow him seek another five-year term met with stiff resistance by Burkinabes who embarked on protests especially in Ouagadougou, the nation’s capital. After two days of violent demonstrations, Compaore announced his resignation on Friday, calling for a transitional government to conduct a free and fair election.

“In order to preserve the democratic gains, as well as social peace, I declare a power vacuum to allow the establishment of a transition leading to free and fair elections within a maximum of 90 days,” he said in a television broadcast.

Afterwards, Honore Traore, a general and the country’s army chief, announced he had taken over governance of the country. However, on Saturday, Isaac Yacouba Zilda. a lieutenant-colonel, emerged the favourite of the military to serve as interim president until elections are held.