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Chukwuemeka Ezeife

Third Republic Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, tells TOBI AWORINDE that former President Olusegun Obasanjos endorsement of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), may not be worth its salt

What do you think of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who helped found the Peoples Democratic Party, endorsing the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)?

Unusual and unconventional things keep happening in Nigeria. I dont know whether the solidarity of the military is so strong that it compels people to do such things. Is there a military caucus made up of a different breed of Nigerians such that an officer must support another officer? I hear that Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) is also supporting Buhari, to my greatest surprise. The military caucus, perhaps, is the strongest one in the (political) system. An endorsement by Gen. Obasanjo can be a kiss of death for any political figure. I dont know how much is left of Obasanjos credibility to endorse somebody and if it can have a positive effect.

But Obasanjo also endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. Are you saying the President didnt profit from that vote of confidence?

You are right, Obasanjo brought out Jonathan and endorsed him in 2011, even when he (Jonathan) was contesting against Buhari. So, what has changed? Or is there another caucus of the North and northern supporters? What happened to (Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru) Jega is also happening to other northerners. But some Hausa/Fulani Muslims have taken a decision to return power to themselvesthe born-to-rule peopleand everyone seems to be endorsing Buhari for that reason. The ways of Obasanjo are sometimes inscrutable, but I pray that, for him and for all of us, the will of God will happen. Jonathan is a tool in the hands of God, chosen to do Gods purpose for Nigeria. If he has finished that purpose, he will leave. But if he has not finished Gods purpose, he will be there and no man born by a woman can remove him.

Is it normal for an elder statesman of such prominence to go against his partys mandate and endorse a member of the opposition?

A former head of state is a human being and has human rights. I dont think anything is wrong with that. But if you are in a party and you endorse another partys candidate, it means you are indulging in anti-party activities. In honour, he should therefore resign from the PDP.

Are you, therefore, in support of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayoses proposition that the party suspend the ex-President over inter-party activities?

Let me tell you something: we dont have parties. After the presidential elections, we will work to build two parties in Nigeria. The two-party system has been demonstrated to be what Nigeria needs; what works for and integrates Nigeria, crushing religiosity and tribalism. We have one of the parties already surfacingthe Social Democratic Party. We will define the ideology of the SDP properly and the people who want to be on the other side will define their ideology. That way, we would give Nigeria a two-party system. After the presidential elections, even with Jonathan as president, the PDP may have to go. Look at how they cause all kinds of problems for themselves. One is not sure where a member of the PDP is heading. You can see that the President is a member of the PDP. But some people say even the PDP chairman is not with the party. The PDP may eventually leave the scene, even with the President in office.

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Obasanjos support for Buhari, kiss of death Ezeife

Thomas Paine and His Importance to Progressives
The Center for Progressive Urban Politics had the pleasure recently to sit down with actor, Ian Ruskin who is preparing to begin film production of his one-m...

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Thomas Paine and His Importance to Progressives - Video

Who were the Progressives? What did they believe?

The Progressives were reformers in the late 19th and early 20th century who believed that in order to address modern problems, America needed to abandon the old ideas of the Founding in favor of a new expansive conception of the role of government. Progressives paved the way for modern liberalism and politics, and their core ideas are still the mainstay of todays liberalism.

Some Progressives were prominent journalists such as Herbert Croly (co-founder of The New Republic), some were distinguished professors such as John Dewey and Woodrow Wilson (president of Princeton before he was President of the U.S.), and many were political leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt and Robert La Follette. Progressives could be found in both political parties: Wilson was a Democrat, Roosevelt was a Republican.

The Progressives were united in their contempt for what they called the individualism of the Founding. Instead of a government that protects natural rights through limited, decentralized powers, they envisioned an expansive government, a living and evolving Constitution, and the rule of experts in nationally centralized administrative agencies.

For more on the subject, see the First Principles essay by Thomas G. West and William A. Schambra The Progressive Movement and the Transformation of American Politics.

The Progressives derived their political ideas from European thinkers. The seeds of Progressivism were first sown by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (born in Geneva, lived in France) who wrote that citizens ought to be forced to be free and that the general will should govern the individual wills of citizens, placing individuals in the service of the collective will of society.

These ideas made their way to Germany in the early 19th century, and had an important influence on the German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel. Hegel incorporated them into what he called a philosophy of History, in which ideas, society, and humanity itself are evolving toward a higher form of freedom. This progress is achieved, Hegel argued, by abandoning the antiquated ideas and traditions of the past, and embracing a new form of freedom, where individuals give the government unlimited authority over their lives.

Many of the American Progressives studied in Germany, and were taught by students of Hegel. They brought the German model of education and German political ideas back to America with them and established Ph.D. programs in several areas of study, producing a new generation of professors and students who sought to replace the principles of the Founding with the new Progressive teaching on politics. These ideas, mixed with Darwinism and a deep faith in science, form the roots of modern American Liberalism.

For more on the origins of Progressivism, see R. J. Pestrittos First Principles essay The Birth of the Administrative State: Where It Came From and What It Means for Limited Government.

Whereas the Founders believed the government had a well-defined and limited role to play in the lives of citizensessentially leaving people alone to lead their livesthe Progressives favored a much more active role for the government in overseeing civil society, regulating the economy, and redistributing wealth.

Link:
Progressivism and Liberalism - The Heritage Foundation

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation has described the claims by the President Jonathan-led administration that a high speed Abuja-Lagos rail service will begin operations within three years as a hoax.

According to the organisation, having an effective rail service would reduce the cost of moving goods and services within the country.

The campaign organisation however said although the envisaged Lagos-Abuja line, as proposed by the Minister of Transport, was most desirable, it was the height of irresponsibility for a senior member of government to tell such outlandish lies and give false hope to score cheap political points.

This was contained in a statement by the campaigns Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday.

Shehu explained that a Public Private Partnership agreement to build and operate a rail line would take at least two years to negotiate and bring to financial closure.

He added that the Jonathan government had yet to even start negotiations with anybody on the project.

The statement partly read, Before they can start construction, they will need to secure the right of way and pay land compensation along that corridor. This could take years to accomplish. Then they will have to construct the line. But a look at the governments record only confirms that this is nothing but a pipe dream. Just 186km Abuja to Kaduna, an ordinary standard gauge line, has taken six years to construct and it is not even finished yet, regardless of their false claims of completion. Ajaokuta to Warri has taken the government nearly 30 years. Just the last 27km has taken this government six years and it is not finished yet. Rehabilitation of existing rail lines, which they promised would take 10 months, took them four years and they are still not finished yet. The campaign organisation added, Is it the 600-km electrified rail tracks that they can build in three years? Then they have to order the rolling stock and operations equipment. These are not off-the-shelf items. They will need to be manufactured, over say another two years. A high speed rail line means electric trains, so they will need a dedicated IPP with transmission and distribution. When will that come together? What about the gas supply and infrastructure or they will import more expensive diesel? So how are they going to build a 600-km electrified high speed line and put it into operation in just three years?

Shehu pointed out that it was either the minister did not know what he was talking about or he was deceiving Nigerians.

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Lagos-Abuja high speed rail, a hoax APC campaign

The All Progressives Congress has said the partys leadership and members will not be intimidated by the latest antics of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to harass and intimidate the party, especially in the run-up to next months general elections.

In a statement in Lagos on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the recent military siege toAPC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubus residence and the Imo State Government House and the police harassment of APCs Presidential Campaign spokesman Garba Shehu, fit perfectly into this emerging pattern.

The party said, As the elections approach, we know the harassment and intimidation will be stepped up. We know our leaders, including the National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Timipre Sylva, Senator Bukola Saraki and National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are under surveillance and their phones being hacked.

We are aware that several of them, especially the National Publicity Secretary, have been marked down for arrest in the days to come. We know there are evil plots to frame some of them on trumped-up charges. We know our lives are in danger. But these and more will not deter us from continuing to act in the national interest or from seeking to effect change through the ballot box.

Yes, we are alerting Nigerians that if anything happens to us, they should know where it is coming from, but for us, there is no going back because we are resolute.

APC commended Nigerians for their immense and unwavering support, especially since the postponement of the elections, which the party argued was aimed at dampening the enthusiasm of the citizens, urging them not to relent.

We are glad that instead of weakening the resolve and enthusiasm of Nigerians, the Presidency-orchestrated postponement has further galvanised them to be more determined not only to vote but also to defend their votes.

Nigerians must demand and insist that the elections be held as rescheduled, that there will be no interim government or tenure elongation. Nigerians have the power to forge change with their voters card and no one must deny them that right, the party said.

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You cant intimidate us, APC tells Jonathan