UMAR SHEHU YAR'ADUA GETS PDP CANDIDACY, Good luck Jonathan a stroke of good luck for Vice.
GOVERNOR Umar Musa Yar’Adua of Katsina State virtually clinched the nomination among the 12 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirants participating in the party’s presidential primaries for PDP convention last night. The Katsina governor was clearly in the lead as most of the votes counted as at 10 p.m. were cast in his favour.
General Aliyu Gusau, Brigadier-General Buba Muhammed Marwa and Professor Jerry Gana were trailing behind while the eight other presidential aspirants who remained in the race after the party’s seven governors pulled out of the contest on Friday virtually had no votes. The other aspirants at press time include Mrs. Sarah Jibril, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe and Mr. Bitrus Sawa. Others are Major General Mamman Kontagora, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe and Chief Rochas Okorocha.
Analysts were already looking beyond victory for Yar’Adua in the PDP presidential primaries last night as the next assignment for the ruling party leadership, according to them, was how to find a suitable running mate for the Katsina governor ahead of the 2007 presidential election. The vice presidential candidate will invariably come from the South. But whether the running mate will come from the ranks of the PDP governors as has been done in the case of Yar’Adua is another thing altogether.
As the counting of votes continued at the PDP convention yesterday, facts emerging on the primaries indicated that the pursuit of a soft landing may have informed the decision of the party’s governors to adopt the candidacy of Yar’Adua for the presidency on the eve of the convention.
Sunday Vanguard also gathered, as exclusively published by Vanguard last Thursday, that the choice of consensus candidacy as adopted by the governors stemmed from the tactics of arm twisting adopted by the Presidency.
Penultimate week had seen the arrest of some officials of Rivers State government. Infact, just last Tuesday, the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who had also been alleged to have muscled Odili into adopting him as the sole gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the state for the 2007 polls was arrested by men of the EFCC. As at press time, he was still being held.
The choice for a running mate was also decided, names considered included candidate from the South South and South East regions, it included Charles Saludo governor of the central bank, Mike Akhigbe, Donald Duke of Cross River State, Edmund Daukoru Petroleum Minister, Andy Uba presidential aide, and a score of other unnamed candidates, which included many governors from Peter Odili of River State, to James Ibori of Delta State, Sam Egwu of Ebonyi. With all the chips down, the loyal disposition of the Bayelsa State governor Goodluck Jonathan was the choice of Umar Shehu Yar'Adua and the party elite. The stage is now set for the show down in 2007.
Gibson Says 'Get Over It'
By Marco R. della Cava
"You got me at the wrong time. I'm probably a bit surly in the morning," Mel Gibson says. "I'm surly early."
Though as mornings go, Thursday cast a soft light on a man more accustomed to glare: Gibson's Apocalypto had just gotten a Golden Globe nomination for foreign-language film and was riding the week out as box office champ.
"Ah yes, the Golden Globes, it's nice, flattering," says Gibson, tweaking the awards' name.
He added that he's not concerned by his film's modest $15 million take. "I knew it wouldn't be like Passion (of the Christ, which earned $360 million worldwide), so this will just take a little more time to make its money back," he says. "I think it's lucky it got to No. 1. It was a soft weekend."
If Gibson sounds vaguely humble, don't be fooled. The director leaves no doubt about his feelings for those who assail his movies or his actions. When it's suggested that perhaps he move away from Hollywood, Gibson doesn't hesitate: "They can move."
Gibson and Tinseltown have been locked in an awkward dance since his double-Oscar triumph for 1995's Braveheart. First came his controversial take on Jesus' final hours and, more recently, a drunken-driving incident in which he railed that Jews were the cause of all wars. Now, with Apocalypto, come charges of excessive violence.
"I don't understand all the heat," says Gibson. "It's less violent than Braveheart, and yet they're calling it blood porn. To make it personal against me, that's a low blow."
Gibson concedes that his pre-Columbian chase scene-cum-love story does have nasty turns, as when a man gets his face chewed off by a jaguar, "but it's appropriate to the subject matter."
He dismisses charges that the film doesn't linger long enough on the cultural contributions of Mayan civilization. "That's on the History Channel, right?" Beat. "Seriously, I show you glyphs and temples and incredible architecture. It's there if you look. In the end, though, the main objective is to tell that story."
With Apocalypto's current success, Gibson's own Hollywood story remains on track, despite calls from the likes of super-agent Ari Emanuel for him to be shunned.
1 climber found dead in 2nd snow caveAstronauts prep for fourth spacewalkColo. may limit oil and gas emissionsPaparazzi sues celeb blogger for $7.6MTomlinson breaks Hornung's single-season scoring record "This place isn't like a club where you're in or you're out," says Gibson. "It's a sprawling place that you make of what you will. It's not a glee club, that's for sure."
He says he feels some empathy for Michael Richards, whose recent comedy club tirade against blacks finds him in the entertainment community's cross hairs. "He snapped, what are you going to do. … You don't always have to be picked to be off the hook."
Gibson says his next project is unknown ("It'll germinate"), and though he'd consider acting, "I'm not really anxious to jump up there again. … Maybe I'll just go get a dartboard tattoo on my chest."
The non- sequitur is revealing; Gibson's thoughts often return to the shake he's getting in his field.
"I'm doing well," he says. "But how many people do you know get a DUI and are kicked around for six months? It's out of proportion. I'm not saying I wasn't at fault. Hey, we're not perfect, we're all human, get over it. I've apologized, done the right thing, now get the hell over it. I'm a work in progress."
NORTH OR SOUTH PDP QUEST DOWN TO 17
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PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday declared that he would tell his delegates to the PDP presidential primaries slated for Saturday in Abuja who to vote for among the array of contestants. Addressing the delegates at the gubernatorial primaries at the MKO Abiola Stadium Abeokuta, Obasanjo said that he would be meeting with delegates from Ogun to the national convention to tell them who to vote for.
“Next (this) week, I don’t know whether I am going to meet those of you coming to Abuja because I don’t know how the programme will be. But I will tell you the right path and the one which is the bush”.
Receiving a huge applause from the delegates, the president, who stated that yesterday’s meeting with the delegates would not be his last, said that he would definitely meet with them before the convention.
He explained that he had been apprehensive that no one would contest against Daniel which he said would not have been good for the democratic process. “I am happy today. You know why? I was afraid because I did not want a one horse race.
Atiku, Babangida and Buhari
Atiku Abubakar, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari. The three were together in Minna, the Niger State capital. They needed to be there. The issue at stake had become a common but pathetically mutually exclusive nature.
For whatever any Nigerian politician may say today, the only political party of the Nigerian hue which has the largest collection of individuals (and preponderantly so) is the PDP.In fact, from what politicians themselves say, only an incurable optimist would still be in doubt as to which political party in Nigeria would form the government next year.
Where will the party zone the ticket? Which part of the country would produce the next presidential candidate of
PDP? This is coming after Obasanjo’s two terms of eight years.
Today, Atiku is not so much of a member of the PDP as he would of any other political party.
Even George, just last Wednesday, made it clear that the vice president would never have anything to do in the party again. Atiku is on suspension from the PDP.
The courts, just on Friday, declared that his suspension from the PDP is null and void. But, typically, the PDP would carry on.
2006: One ticket too significant
There are still flickers that the ticket may be open. However, with developments in Rivers State barely 48 hours to the gubernatorial primaries and some nine days to the PDP presidential primaries, the insinuation that the presidency is backing Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to take over next year may be real.
In terms of reach and networking, he has demonstrated that for every human endeavour, there is always a time to reap the benefits of labour. But, with the storming of Port Harcourt by the indefatigable men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, last Thursday, market place rumour is that Odili is being muscled.
Although there is General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, a man described as a spy of global standing, who served as Obasanjo’s National Security Adviser from June 1, 1999, to June 1, 2006, whose campaign has also been reaching for the skies, the sudden swooping on Rivers State is instructive.
There are 30 presidential aspirants in PDP - 14 from the north and 16 from The list of viable candidates have actually dropped to about 15 candidates and it spected to drop further to about 7 candidates going to the Saturday event in Abuja.
Prof Jerry Gana (N) Godson Nnaka (S) Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd) (N)
Gen Mohammed Marwa (rtd) (N) Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd) (S) Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd) (S)
Gen Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) (N) Gen Mamman Kontagora (rtd) (N)
Governor Abdullahi Adamu (N) Governor Umaru Yar‘Adua (N)
Governor Peter Odili (S)
Governor Victor Attah (S)
Governor Donald Duke (S)
Governor Achike Udenwa (S)
Governor Sam Egwu (S)
Governor Ahmed Makarfi (N)
Governor Adamu Mu‘azu (N)
The southern and northern charge is zoning the cart before the horse.
Which one should come first: Redressing the real injustices of the past decades; or sticking to a supposed pact which does not have any proof of life or agreement? But, this is the PDP where, as a party, it only came into existence in November 1998.
But PDP operates in Nigeria and is, therefore, expected to take cognisance of happenings within the country.
The topsy-turvy presently characterising the debate in the PDP over which part of the country should produce the next president in 2007 is quite healthy but if mismanaged may create its own problems.
Now, the questions are:
First, should Nigerians just be fixated on a zoning arrangement that may end up not doing the country any serious good?, or should they focus on the candidate.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK, SELECT A CANDIDATE AND GIVE YOUR COMMENTS.
EMAIL: editor@transatlantictimes.com
VISIT WWW.TRANSATLANTICTIMES.COM
Her are results PDP GOVERNOR PRIMARIES
1. BUKOLA SARAKI - KWARA STATE
2. GOODLUCK JONATHAN - BAYELSA STATE
3. ALHAJI KASHIM IMAM - BORNO STATE
4. DANJUMA GOJE - GOMBE STATE
5. GBENGA DANIELS - OGUN STATE
6. SEGUN AGAGU - ONDO STATE
7. ANDY UBA - ANAMBRA STATE
8. CHIBUIKE AMECH - RIVER STATE
9. OSUNBOR OSI - EDO STATE
10. MARTIN ELECHI - EBONYI STATE
11. OLAGUNSOYE OYINLOLA - OSUN STATE
ABIA, BENUE, DELTA, PLATEAU, NASARAWA, NIGER POSTPONES
WHILE EKITI, KATSINA, LAGOS INCOMPLETE
OTHER STATE ARE STILL PENDING.
Add Your Comments, click here to send your comments.
Iraq Study Group: U.S. Policy 'Not Working'
by Jackie Northam
A long-awaited report by the Iraq Study Group paints a bleak picture of the situation in Iraq. The 10-member, bipartisan panel says the situation in Iraq is "grave and deteriorating" and could provoke a slide into chaos. The report, handed to President Bush and Congress Wednesday morning, lays out 79 recommendations to try to pull Iraq back from the brink.
The opening line sets a sober, grim tone: "There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq."
It describes those problems as enormous: Violence in Iraq, fed by an insurgency, militias and crime, is increasing in scope and lethality. The Iraqi military and security forces are ineffective and corrupt. About 2,900 U.S. soldiers are dead so far, with another 21,000 wounded. There's no sign the situation will change anytime soon.
The panel's co-chairman, James Baker, the Republican who once served as a U.S. secretary of state, makes it clear the Bush administration's handling of the war is not working.
"We do not recommend a 'stay the course' solution," Baker said Wednesday. "In our opinion, that approach is no longer viable. "
In its report, the study group lays out three key recommendations.
First, the United States must help Iraqis take responsibility for their own destiny.
Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, the Democrat from Indiana who serves as the other co-chairman of the group, says that the Bush administration must send a strong message to Iraqi leaders to make substantial progress on national reconciliation, security and improving daily lives of Iraqis.
"If the Iraqi government does not make substantial progress toward the achievement of milestones, the United States then should reduce its political, military or economic support for the Iraqi government," Hamilton said.
A second recommendation calls for a renewed, immediate push by the United States on the diplomatic front, including reviving Arab-Israeli peace talks and opening a dialogue with Iran and Syria.
The Bush administration has steadfastly refused to enter into talks with either country. Hamilton says both countries have enormous influence in the region and a lot of impact in Iraq.
"We will be criticized, I'm sure, for talking with our adversaries," Hamilton said. "But I do not see how you solve these problems without talking to them."
Hamilton and Baker are skeptical that Iran will come to the negotiating table. Baker holds out more hope for dealing with Syria's leaders.
"They could... be in a position to help us and might want to help us," he said. "But we're specific in the report. There must be 10 or 11 or 12 things... that we will be asking of Syria... We're talking about tough diplomacy."
And the study group also recommends that the United States make a fundamental change in its military operations by gradually shifting its troops from combat missions to training and advising the Iraqi army.
The commission suggests a five-fold increase in the number of U.S. troops embedded to train Iraqis. That would mean 20,000 U.S. trainers instead of the current 4,000. If all goes well, the report suggests, combat troops could begin leaving Iraq in early 2008.
Study group member Charles Robb -- the Democrat who served Virginia as a U.S. senator and governor -- says "embedding our forces at greater levels in the Iraqi military" will create "more capacity, more trust, more capability in the Iraqi forces."
Robb says a number of U.S. military officials agree that more trainers are needed.
The Pentagon, State Department and the National Security Council are due to release Iraq strategy reviews sometime in the next few weeks. President Bush has said he will look at all options before making any decision on Iraq.
Panel members on the Iraq Study Group said their plan didn't offer any guarantees, but that it would certainly improve the chances for success in Iraq.
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