by Emma Chidiogo
It’s been another eventful/dramatic week in the world of politics in Nigeria.
Here, we present the top 10 political quotes that caught our attention.
“Orji Uzor Kalu is not member of PDP. The fact that he visited some friends at the national secretariat of party in Abuja and later took photograph with some unsuspecting national officers and former political office holders as published in two national dailies does not make him a member of the PDP.” – Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Vice Chairman, South East zone, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), reacting on rumours concerning Orji Uzor Kalu’s return to the party
“We have noted with surprise, the unnecessary hue and cry raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other bigoted critics of the Jonathan Administration over the claim that the President is “hobnobbing” with the former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who was recently accused by the Australian, Stephen Davis of being one of the chief sponsors of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
“Although Senator Sheriff himself has already given the lie to that claim through his Media Adviser, the Presidency wishes to affirm, for the purpose of emphasis, that the former Borno State governor was not on President Jonathan’s delegation to Chad.” – The Presidency speaks on the accusation made by the APC over GEJ’s picture with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, an alleged Boko Haram sponsor.
“PDP is afraid of the will of the people that gave us their mandate. They used their antics to subvert and steal the will of the people and I know God will punish them for what they have done.” – David Umaru, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Niger East Senatorial by-election, Niger State.
“I also appeal to my boss not to be too hard on me as I promise to stop knocking him. Let us talk politics, especially the development of the state.” – Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, on his reconciliation with former governor of the state, George Akume
“The festering Boko Haram attacks on the North East and massacre of innocent citizens is a concrete proof that Nigeria has no government.” – Former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, questions the FG’s competence
“May we remind him that he has lost his credibility, if there was indeed any, and he has lost the trust, confidence and respect of Nigerians. We do not need the lenses of prophets to remind Prof. Jega that he is spending overtime on the INEC chair, having shown his tendencies for ethnic bigotry, partisan parochialism and primordial chauvinism.” – Southern elders question the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega, over the proposal of new polling units.
“My own idea is this; if you understand the ways of God, you will know where Jonathan is coming from; a tiny village, which was why they (the PDP leadership) had the confidence to pick him as deputy governor because they believed he could not rock the boat. From there he became governor; from there he became a person looked down upon as the Vice-President; from there he became President without election; and then an elected President, and he has done better than any President of Nigeria in our living memory. Who would stop him from continuing in 2015? Tell me.” – Third Republic Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, speaks on the state of the nation, and the 2015 general election
“So you see the posture and unfortunately, I am not happy about it, but that is why Buhari is in a deep shit because he did not move to the APC with the real CPC structure. It is a naked fact that Buhari is greatly disadvantaged and no matter what anybody says, he would not win under a free and fair primary.” – The founding National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Senator Rufai Hanga on Rtd. Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s chances of picking the APC’s presidential ticket
“We really have no apology to offer to anyone in our mission of showcasing the verifiable landmark achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan. We expected the opposition to fault us on that score but because of the dearth of evidence against what we are heralding; they now choose to chase shadow by dishing lies to Nigerians.” – Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), respond to criticism from the APC over its campaign rallies across the country
“I will repeat what I said, when I was sworn in as governor in 2007. I said, if the Federal Government refuses to provide legitimate source of livelihood for Nigerians in our state, Nigerians will provide for themselves illegitimate source of livelihood. And that include kidnapping, robbery, stealing by people who will hire or provide police or military uniforms. And that illegitimate source of livelihood becomes its own economy which automatically frightens the legitimate economy.” – Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi
