Louis Ebodaghe was based in the United States until a few years ago, when he returned to Nigeria to join politics in a bid to contribute his own quota to the development of his fatherland. A medical laboratory scientist by profession, Ebodaghe believes Nigeria is well endowed to be a world power if its potentials are properly harnessed. He is not contesting the forth coming general election, but he has floated an organisation, Nigeria Prosperity Project, to, among other things, educate Nigerians on their rights and privileges under a democratic dispensation. Ebodaghe tells Vincent Obia that President Goodluck Jonathan has performed well enough to earn re-election. Excerpts:

You have been around for a while now, what is your assessment of the political situation in Nigeria ahead of the next general election, particularly, in terms of the preparedness of the electorate?
The atmosphere is charged and Nigerians are enthusiastic about the elections. However, there is also apparent apprehension in the air, with preparation by INEC and the security agencies, and so forth. Based on all the relevant information so far, it appears that there would be no need for much anxiety. People are eagerly waiting for the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote. In this regard, I would like to encourage all those that are registered and are yet to pick up their permanent voter cards to do so as soon as possible. This administration had requested INEC to extend the period of this exercise. This is remarkable and commendable because all eligible voters will have the opportunity to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, adherence to the rule of law is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and faith in our democracy. Rain, not thunder, grows flowers. I think the present administration has not deviated on that focus. In a topical Nigerian scenario, there are two types of voters: “The educated voter” and “The non-educated voter”.

Could you expatiate on that categorisation?
The ratio of educated voters to the non-educated voters in Nigeria is estimated at approximately 90/10. The educated/non-educated refers to the basis on which voters will make decisions in this context.  Non-educated voters will make decisions based on the following: political party, religion and tribe.


Under this premise, the educated voter will make decisions based on the factors such as the economy, education, health, and general quality of life issues, etc., but will also question what impact the government or opposition will have on him or her.
Two eminent Nigerians are vying for the office of president. The choice is clear, that is why I expect Nigerians to rise above mundane issues in this election. It will not be based on religion, political party, or ethnicity, but based on record of achievement and focused leadership. President Jonathan of the PDP and General Buhari of APC are the major contestants. I believe that Jonathan is in a better stead based on his record of accomplishments. Buhari is an elder statesman who worked for the most corrupt leader in the history of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha and he once publicly declared that Abacha never squandered public funds. We all know better today.  His only democratic credential is that he toppled an elected democratic government in 1983.

Most Nigerians seem to be dissatisfied with the PDP-led federal government. How can you change this mindset ahead of the polls?
Let us not dismiss the achievements of this government on mere sentiments. Let us look at the facts on ground. For example the local content law, which has empowered Nigerian oil professionals and 30 per cent of oilfield services revenue, now goes to companies owned by Nigerians. This is projected to hit 50 per cent in 2015. For the first time in the history of this country, Nigerians quit the major oil service companies like Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Halliburton and joined companies owned by Nigerians and get better conditions of service. Engineering plants and companies that were hitherto dormant have bounced back. Interestingly, our local content law has been copied by Ghana, Brazil, and Angola.


Besides, the initiatives of the government have resulted in the following: Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) oil production has increased by over 300 per cent under this administration and, currently, produces more oil than most countries in Africa. SEPLAT, a company created due to the government’s policies, now employs over 5,000 workers and produces over 70,000 barrels of oil per day.

But Nigerians believe that the government has done little to improve on the economy.
That cannot be correct. We have surpassed South Africa and our economy is now the largest in Africa and the 26th largest in the world. GDP growth is at 7%per annum for the past six years, the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to a recent World Bank data, the Foreign Direct Investment in the first six months of 2014 stood at $9.7 billion. The moribund automotive industry has been revived. Cars are currently being assembled in Nigeria after over 20 years. Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot, Stallion motors and Innonson motors and several others, now assemble/manufacture cars and trucks in Nigeria. Food importation has been reduced by over 45 per cent as at the end of 2014. Food sufficiency through the growth of the agricultural sector is the ultimate goal. Before 2012, there was only one world class rice mill in the country, but between 2012 and 2014, over 18 world class rice mills have been established across the country. A sugar backward integration policy is now in place that will see Nigeria become self-sufficient in sugar production between five to 10 years. Cassava, apart from being used to partly supplement hitherto imported wheat for bread making, is now being exported to countries like China.


The railway system once moribund has been resuscitated and the Lagos-Kano line carries 14,000 passengers on a regular basis, with work ongoing on other lines. The policies of this administration are highly commendable as we have witnessed an increase in the number of passengers conveyed by rail, which stood at 1,285,000 in 2009, to well over 4,000, 000 in 2013. Projections for 2014 was for over 5,000,000. This growth is expected to be surpassed in 2015 and beyond as the development of standard gauge under Public Private Partnership (PPP) is implemented over the next five to seven years, covering a total distance of approximately 8,139 kilometres, in line with the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIMP) document.

What would you say for the power sector?
Accepted, we are not where we should be in electricity supply, but we are not where we used to be, as a lot has been achieved. Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was unbundled; 10 new power plants for power generation and distribution have been established. These include Geregu 1 and 2 located in Kogi State and the gas plants in Gbarain, Bayelsa State. A number of dams are also in the northern part of Nigeria, with a good example being the Zungeru Dam in Niger State. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, power generation, currently at about 4,500 MW, is expected to exceed 5000MW by the end of January 2015. However, recent vandalising of power generating infrastructure may upset this target. It is expected that appropriate measures would be put in place to mitigate this wanton behaviour. I, therefore, encourage Nigerians, especially, those in the affected regions to be more vigilant and support the efforts of this administration to achieve optimal power supply.

What is your assessment of the state of infrastructure in the country?
At the inception of Jonathan’s government, less than 15 per cent of the federal roads were motorable. Today, the number has increased to more than 65 per cent. It now takes three hours to travel from Lagos to Benin and the road is in the best shape it has ever been in the past 20 years. Passengers slept on that road before Goodluck came into power. The East/West road is about 70 per cent complete and this road has been on the drawing board for the past 30 years. The second Niger Bridge that was commissioned last year is a reality. Last week, the president took a working tour of the project. Upon completion, the bridge will improve the East/West access corridor for increased commerce, job creation as well as be a boom to the local economy of the region.

What is your take on the allegation that the government is handling corruption with kid gloves?
Let us look at the facts on ground: the Transparency International (TI) 2014 report shows that Nigeria is making significant progress in its rating, as it attained one of the best ratings since 2003. Also the rating by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington-based research and advisory organisation on illicit funds transfer and corruption, shows that between 2003 and 2012, the average amount of illicit money transfers from Nigeria averaged $15.7 billion yearly, while between 2012 and 2014, it dropped to an average of $7.9 billion yearly. These were due to measures taken by this government, which includes e-payments for all government financial transactions, cashless policy, electronic payment systems for all government workers salaries,  eliminating ghost workers and diversion of funds, e-wallet for fertiliser distribution to farmers and the implementation of a single treasury account to track federal government  finances 24/7, etc.

Unemployment in Nigeria is worrisome. What is the way out?
The government has made certain policies and taken actions, which are geared towards massive job creation and expects rightly that in the coming years estimates of two million jobs will be created annually. The policies and measures taken include Agricultural Transformation Agenda, where agriculture is now being transformed from rural activity into businesses with involvement of the private sector through the sustained programme of exploiting the full value chain in all agricultural produce.


Rice growing, harvesting for paddy rice, to full processing in world class rice mills to international standards and marketing is now happening in Nigeria. From only one rice mill in the country two years ago to over 18 mills currently operational with associated rice farms. Last year, the president inaugurated the 105,000 metric tones Integrated Rice Mill in Nasarawa State. What does this mean? It is a commitment to reduce the dependency on food importation. It is also to encourage and boost local productive capacity. This initiative will largely impact the economy of the local communities through job creation efforts, especially, for youths and women. With large commercial farms, the area will equally attract funding for infrastructural development. Thousands of people are engaged in this value chain alone and this has been repeated for cassava. For grains, storage silos are being built across the country for strategic storage and reserve purposes. Backward integration policy for sugar is in place and being pursued vigorously. Sugar plantation, processing and marketing will all be carried out within the country instead of imports.


On industrialisation, specific policies have been drawn up with clear actions that will lead to industrial awakening in the country. The gas monetisation projects such as the over $26 billion gas revolution industrial city to be sited in Ogidingben  in Delta State is expected to be launched soon, where world class fertiliser, petrochemical, methanol and other gas based industrial plants are to be built and expected to create over a million direct and indirect jobs throughout when fully operational.


It is important to note that learning from past mistakes, all these initiatives are designed by the government to be private sector driven, which means that 95 per cent of the funding will come from the private sector. The new auto policy, which has seen car and truck assembly plants being set up in the country in the last one year, is expected to create millions of jobs simply because this is one industry that employs directly and indirectly very large amount of labour. Furthermore, production line attendants, car battery manufacturers, car accessories manufacturers, seat belt manufacturers, manufacturers of components of the vehicle/truck assembly plants like bolts and nuts, cables tires, rims etc., will witness an increase. All these are expected to run into hundreds of thousands of jobs.  Power generation transmission and distribution with the transparent conclusion of the sale of gencos, and discos, and government clearing up all legacy issues in the industry and the successful completion of some of the major pipelines to feed the gas plants, generation and distribution capacity is climbing steadily and is expected to hit 5000MW very soon. With the start of construction of private power plants like the Azura plant in Benin and the expected private sector led service delivery in this sector, hundreds of thousands of jobs are expected to be created yearly also

ops i no read am finish o but make God bless the woman when born you

I LIKE THE WAY U THINK.........SHA FOR ME ITS BETTER TO VOTE A JONATHAN WE KNOW THAN A BUHARI WE ALL KNOW......GEJ UNSTOPPABLE...GEJ TILL 2019

President goodluck is personality that cannot be changes by the powers of his office; rather the ofice fortifies him for empowering the people.

As a president, he understands that serving the people is an extraordinary privilege for him and not the other way round.

President Goodluck jonathan is always willing to make a difficult compromise required to move our state forward.

Also, president jonathan understands the positive role of the opposition party, appreciating their role, because sometimes their reveals some fault.

President Goodluck Ebele jonathan listens to his people at alltimes, especially when ther is a disagreement.

jessymore70:
President Goodluck Ebele jonathan listens to his people at alltimes, especially when ther is a disagreement.

My pastor does the same only he is not putting himself forward for president. Please look for something better to say.

Director, Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, has raised 35 questions he would like the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari to answer within three days, failure which the PDP would conclude that he was guilty of all issues raised in the questions.

Some of Fani-Kayode’s 35 questions directed at Buhari:

“Is it true that Buhari gets massive covert funding from Hamas, ISIS, ISIL, Al Qaeda and various shady Middle Eastern interests? Is it true that he was once nominated by Boko Haram to be their spokesman in proposed talks with the Federal Government?

“What is the true health status of General Buhari? What is the situation concerning his certificate? Does he have it or does he not have it?

“Did he perjure himself and lie under oath when he swore to an affidavit that his certificate was with the military?

“What was his role in the killings on the night of July 29, 1966 when 300 Igbo officers, one yoruba officer and the former Head of State, General Aguiyi-Ironsi were killed in a military coup? Was he one of those who killed one or any of those people on that night and was he involved in the butchering of the primarily Igbo army officers?

“What was his role in the terrible and tragic events that took place in parts of northern Nigeria in 1966 when over 100,000 innocent Igbo civilians were slaughtered including women and children? Is it true that he was among those who supplied arms to those who slaughtered these Igbo civilians?

“What was his role in the massacre and genocide that took place in Asaba in 1969 after the Federal forces re-captured the town of Asaba from the Biafran forces and liberated it? This terrible incident occurred when every single young Igbo boy and elderly man that were left in the town were summoned for a role call at the town centre, were lined up in rows like lambs to the slaughter and were shot dead in cold blood. This was despite the fact that they were nothing but defenceless and innocent civilians and non-combatants. The question is this: what was Buhari’s role, if any, in that incident?

“Is it true that General Buhari personally ordered the retroactive application of military decrees which led to the death of many simply because he wanted to teach certain people from a certain part of the country a lesson during his reign as Military Head of State?

“Is it true that General Buhari applied a very selective form of administration of justice which sought to punish southerners more than anybody else when he was military Head of State?

“What was his role in the humiliation and denigration of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late and highly respected Leader of the Yoruba? Is it true that he personally ordered that the home of Chief Awolowo should be raided and ransacked and that the highly revered elder statesman be humiliated for no just cause? If this was the case does he not believe that he owes the Yoruba people an apology for that? Should he not be begging the Yoruba for forgiveness after traumatising their revered leader rather than asking them for their votes?

“What was General Buhari’s role in the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) scandal and is it true that he misappropriated the sum of N25 billion as the Haroun Adamu report, which was submitted in 2002, suggests? Is it true that 2.8 billion naira went missing under his watch when he was Minister of Petroleum in 1977?

“What was his role in the agitation for political Sharia in 2000 in northern Nigeria and does he still believe that Sharia law should be spread throughout the country, including the south? Does he still believe that Muslims should only vote for Muslims and that they should only vote for those who will protect their interest? Does he still believe that it is not the business of any Christian when Muslims cut off their limbs for crimes that violate Sharia law?

“Does he still believe that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north? Does he have a secret soft spot and closet affinity for Boko Haram? What are his views about the terrorist organisations known as Al Shabab, Al Qaeda, ISIS and ISIL, all of whom are allies of Boko Haram? Does he believe that they have a point and does he approve of their violent methods? Can he guarantee that not one dollar of Al Qaeda, ISIS or ISIL money has been used to support his presidential campaign? Does he believe in a secular state?

“Does he still believe that those who oppose his candidacy should be killed as he said just before the presidential elections in 2011?

“Does he have any apology to offer or remorse to express for the slaughter of hundreds of people, including some innocent youth corpers, by his supporters in the north after the 2011 elections?

“What are General Buhari’s views about same s*x marriage and homosexuality? Is it true that, if he is elected President, he is considering scuttling the anti-gay laws in our country and is he really committed to pushing through legislation that would allow same s*x marriage as some form of compromise to the Western powers in return for their endorsement and support?

“Is it true that he supported the late General Abacha to such a point that he actually suggested to Abacha that Ken Saro-Wiwa, the famous poet and Niger Delta activist, should be executed in order for his south-south supporters to be taught a bitter lesson?

“Is it true that he has resolved to teach the de-facto leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the lesson of his life by prosecuting him and sending him to jail if he is elected as President or, in lieu of this, compelling him to return 50 percent of the money and properties that he has managed to acquire from Lagos state over the last 16 years?

“Is it true that he has a secret pathological hatred for those who do not share his faith or those who come from the southern part of Nigeria?

“Is it true that General Buhari is a hegemonist and a man who is totally remorseless?

“Is it true that he defied his Commander in Chief, former President Shehu Shagari and tried to start a war with Chad simply because he has a blood lust and an insatiable thirst for violence and war?

“Is it true that his cruel and merciless policies and actions, whilst he was Head of State, led to the premature deaths of Governors Ambrose Ali of the old Bendel state, Bisi Onabanjo of Ogun state and so many of our other past leaders?

“Is it true that he had a personal hatred for Alhaji Umaru Dikko, the late former Minister of Transport, to the point that he personally ordered his drugging, kidnapping and crating from the streets of London?

“Is it true that he has disdain for women and that he believes that women have no place in public office or at the forefront of current affairs? Is it true that he wants to scrap the office of the First Lady? Is it true that whilst he was military Head of State he jailed and tortured journalists simply for writing the truth?

“Is it true that he has no idea about how to run a 21st century country and that he has no understanding about the administration of justice and the application of the rule of law in a modern state? Is it true that he derives pleasure in just locking up and jailing people?

“Is it true that he has the intention of destroying General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and all the other former Military Heads of State and junior army officers who opposed his rule and toppled his government in a 1985 military coup? Is it true that he is vengeful and unkind?

“Is it true that he has ordered his supporters that under no circumstance should President Jonathan be allowed any peace if he wins the presidential election? Is it true that that he will make the country ungovernable if Jonathan wins and that he will make sure that the baboon and the dog are both soaked in blood?

“Is it true that General Buhari has no intention whatsoever to accept the election results if he loses and that he is poised to unleash violence throughout the country in the event of his losing? Is it true that Radio Chanji has been established with his blessing and support and for the sole purpose of inciting people to violence and causing mayhem after he loses?

“Is it true that he is terminally ill and that indeed his health status is the kind that will give Nigerians cause for alarm if it were made public? Is it true that he has refused to release a report that was put together by his foreign doctors about the true state of his health to the Nigerian Public because they would be very alarmed?

“Is it true that he is incapable of running the affairs of this country and, in the event of his winning the election, that he intends to concede the administration of the country to others?

“Is it true that he is a closet Islamic fundamentalist? Is it true that he is a secret collaborator and supporter of Boko Haram? Is it true that Boko Haram is the armed wing of his party the APC and that the APC is the political wing of Boko Haram?

“Does his party the APC still believe that Boko Harm should not have been proscribed as stated by their spokesman, Lai Mohammed sometime last year?

“Is it true that his party is Nigeria’s equivalent of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood or the Sudanese supporter of APC?

“Is it true that General Buhari has disdain for Christians and that his secret desire is to bury the Church?

Fani-Kayode said these are the questions that the PDP would like General Buhari to answer over the next few days before the presidential elections, so that the Nigerian people will have a clearer picture of who and what he really is.

“If he cannot answer every single one of these questions and tell us the truth then we reserve the right to assume that the answer to every single one of them is in the affirmative and that these assertions are true,” he said, adding that it would compel the PDP to conclude that Buhari is not just a menace to the Nigerian people and an enemy of the Nigerian state but also unfit to rule the country.

As for me, I don't care what anybody feels or thinks. I have made my choice long ago.... Nothing is gonna CHANGE it.
Don't throw your gold to the Pigs.
Vote wisely.
Vote The Real Change.
Vote The People's Choice.
Vote Dr Goodlick Ebele Jonathan.