I Congratulate President-Elect YarAdua, President Obasanjo, the People and Government of Nigeria!

I congratulate President-Elect YarAdua, Vice President-Elect Jonathan Goodluck and President Obasanjo, the people and government of Nigeria on the election of a president and vice president respectively.

President-Elect Umaru YarAdua, Vice President-Elect Goodluck Jonathan and their PDP campaigned throughout Nigeria. They campaigned vigorously, even with a very hectic and rigorous campaign schedule. The president and vice president elect, traversed the entire land space in Nigeria.

Conversely, the opposition political parties vacillated and procrastinated. The opposition political parties swung between platitudes and threats of violence and anarchy, as they told Nigerians and the entire world many stories that were clearly at variant with reality! The opposition political parties stated too many mutually exclusive positions, amongst which are:

(A) The opposition political parties stated that the elections will not take place because President Obasanjo is unwilling to leave the political scene at the end of his constitutionally permitted two terms of four years per term.

(B) The opposition political parties also threatened to boycott the elections

(C) The opposition political parties at some point, also promised to present a fusion or common presidential candidate to fight the PDP and its candidates for the elections.

(E) The opposition political parties, in their last-ditch desperation, sought by means fair and foul, to have a postponement of the elections. But they failed woefully on every count

And of course, the elections proceeded as planned. The opposition political parties apparently do not like the outcome of the just concluded general elections!

(E) They, the political opposition parties now say, the election results should be cancelled, just because they have lost? Why did the opposition political parties lose the elections? Why did they have such poor showing and outcome?

Their loss was of course expected! They did not campaign, they did not have ANY focus or sustained strategy... they were always in flux and their position was always, always, always so fluid! Why are they then surprised that they have lost? I am at a loss!

The opposition political parties have been threatening violence, anarchy, coup, lawlessness instead of trying to convince the Nigerian electorate as to what their various political parties would do differently, compared with the ruling party, the PDP.

Nigeria and Nigerians do not need violence! Nigerians need good government and good governance. A government and a leadership that improves lives and delivers on its promises and follows through with policies and programs upon which campaigns and manifestoes were based.

Nigerians do not need violence. Anyone who foment violence, would, and should expect to be consumed by same. And such fomenter of violence, must not take Nigeria and Nigerians with them into self-destruction. Those headed for the precipice, much go alone!

Those who were unsuccessful at the just concluded elections, should embrace the rule of law, due process and democracy. Those who have genuine grievances should head for petitioning at various elections tribunal and Nigerian courts for redress. So long as they have credible evidences and proofs of irregularities or frauds. The burden is on them.

No one must resort to self-help or extra-judicial means or methods. All Nigerians must be reminded that the best cure for imperfect democracy is more democracy! Even as old as American democracy is, when there are elections irregularities or frauds, the Americans rely on public hearings, elections petitions and the judicial process! The current federal government of America was produced through such a process. The presidential elections between President George W. Bush and the former Vice President Al Gore was deadlocked and was eventually decided by the Supreme Court of the United States!

I applaud President Obasanjo, President-Elect Umaru YarAdua and Vice President-Elect Goodluck Jonathan, for a gallant election battle and the resulting victory.

I call for national reconciliation and unity for Nigeria's rapid ascent to Nigeria's pride of place on the world stage and global scheme of things.

Nigeria's national interests is clearly above the interests of individuals or political groups.... when it is all said and done, it is all about... NIGERIA, NIGERIA & NIGERIA!

God Bless NIGERIA!

New York, United States

Robot  Villager

# 1 I Congratulate President-Elect YarAdua, President Obasanjo, the People and Government of ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 24.04.2007 16:31

ithinkbetter  Villager

# 2 (E) The opposition political parties, in their last-ditch desperation, sought by means fair and foul, to have a postponement of the elections. But they failed woefully on every count And of course, the elections proceeded as planned. The opposition political parties apparently do not like the outcome of the just concluded general elections! (E) They, the political opposition parties now say, the election results should be cancelled, just because they have lost? Why did the opposition political parties lose the elections? Why did they have such poor showing and outcome? paul adujie, total confused mind...you can't even differentiate b/w E and F...see the highlighted alphabets in red in quote...!:( :( :( Posted by ithinkbetter| 24.04.2007 17:06

abidde  Villager

# 3 FOR THIS ESSAY: Be glad you are my friend. I would have called you unprintable names...thrown you to the dogs...call for your exile from Nigeria...deport you from the US...send the SSS after you...ask your villagers in Patani to disown you...tell my underworld friends to show you shege...extract 10 pounds from your skin...laugh at you...and ask my errand boys to make you cry. Are we going to go through another 4 years of "OBJ/Yar'Adua can do no wrong...they are angels...God-sent..." blah-blah-blah-blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Haba, Paul...take am easy ooooo Be Well and Be Safe Sabella Abidde Posted by abidde| 24.04.2007 17:07

What?  Villager

# 4 While the parties that lost are in court, I would like them to tell us what they will do differently as Yar'Adua unfolds his plans. Support based on taking primordial revenge against Obasanjo, and scrapping EFCC so everyone can "chop" is not enough. No manifesto, no program, no philosophy, nothing. What exactly are we supposed to be supporting? Aside from the ADC exactly what manifesto and programs do they plan to implement? In the last 8 years we can count the Governors that have been effective on one hand while excoriating Obasanjo for the sins of all. Now we are about to repeat the process while screaming Yar'Adua. People have been bitterly complaining about certain soon to be EX-Governors. Watch as these same people will embrace these men and soon start longing for imagined "good old days". People accuse Mr Aduije Esq of blind support while blindly supporting the hapless opposition for the only reason that they are against Obasanjo. Exchanging Lenin for Stalin is what would satisfy their quest for revenge. The most befuddling cry is that for the intervention by violence; The election was un-democratic(meaning-They did not get their way), the cure is for unelected soldiers with a taste for violence and disregard for the chain of command to pursue an un-democratic act and foist a clique in control of the country. Of course men who choose to murder their CO's are kind benevolent souls in the mould of Jesus Christ and Buddha. The men who will instigate the civilian populace and finance this coup will be Saint-like figures who made their fortunes selling prayer books and will expect nothing in return. Trying to cure the sins of Lenin with Stalin. Posted by What?| 24.04.2007 17:51

omoba  Villager

# 5 Mr Adujie please send me your resume ASAP. Seriously i know someone who know someone who know someone who know Yaradua. You have worked very hard and should be compensated. You demonstrated such tenacity and unflinching loyalty that is very uncommon in this time and age. I salute your courage at defending the indefensible. You are a study in the demonstration of desperation for an invitation to "come and chop". I think you should be rewarded. Posted by omoba| 24.04.2007 17:52

killerboy  Villager

# 6 bombastical, ewu nama, anu oya. Posted by killerboy| 24.04.2007 21:40

Free Publius  Villager

# 7 New York Times Editorial Betraying a Democratic Legacy Last Saturday’s presidential election should have marked a major consolidation of democracy in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and biggest oil producer: the first free choice of one elected civilian leader to succeed another. Instead, it was an ugly travesty — not just procedurally flawed, but completely lacking in basic democratic plausibility. That, sadly, is the verdict of an impressive array of neutral observers, including the United States State Department, the European Union and Nigeria’s own Transition Monitoring Group. Election monitors report that ballot boxes were stuffed and stolen, ballot papers missing or late, and voters unable to mark their choices in private. That capped a campaign marked by violence and intimidation and government-inspired efforts to keep credible opposition figures off the ballot illegally. Nigerians are understandably angry and frustrated. But the last thing the country needs now is yet another in its long line of military saviors. It will now be up to Nigeria’s judiciary, beginning with the special election tribunals, to try to repair as much of the damage as possible. Nigeria’s courts have recently demonstrated a willingness to stand up to government meddling. By tackling the postelection confusion swiftly and judiciously, they can help restore public confidence and hold the military at bay. Most of the blame for this disgrace goes to Nigeria’s outgoing president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who tried to amend the Constitution to be able to run for a third term and has since been willing to manipulate Nigeria’s fragile democracy to keep his party in power. What makes it all the more poignant is that Nigerians — and much of the world — once admired Mr. Obasanjo precisely because he knew how to exit from power wisely and gracefully, becoming the first of Nigeria’s military rulers to organize an admirably democratic civilian succession. The quality of Nigerian democracy is not a theoretical issue. Nigeria’s sharp ethnic and religious divides have been at the root of decades of corruption, violence and dictatorship. Only a scrupulously fair and transparent federal democracy offers any hope of steering Nigeria on a healthy course. Posted by Free Publius| 25.04.2007 01:30

Auspicious  Villager

# 8 Thanks, Free Publius, for sharing the NYT artcile above. Thw world is watching..in consternation! Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 25.04.2007 04:26

ikechukwu  Villager

# 9 Paul never knew Yaradua prior to November 2006 apart from knowing that he is a governor of one of the northern states. Until he was declared President, Paul could not even judge him on any ground. But Paul likes him, not because his kinsmen either in Imo, Anambra, Benue, Cross Rivers or Rivers state were allowed to vote in the presidential election, but because Obj wants him. For an educated man (at least) like Paul to take that stand I don’t know who needs to look for a zombie. Paul wants us to clap for Iwu for declaring that 80% of us voted for a man we barely knew, Paul wants us to thank God that we have a president that nobody excepts obj knows. God will save us from people like Saul sorry Paul. Posted by ikechukwu| 25.04.2007 09:19

abdulmumin  Villager

# 10 Why don't you just come out clean Paul and say you are looking for a job? Posted by abdulmumin| 25.04.2007 09:55

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