The Save Nigeria Group (SNG) a coalition of civil society and religious bodies in Nigeria is to hold a mass rally on March 10, the date of the next meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF), in Abuja to protest against the current political situation in Nigeria.
In a press release titled, “Now That They Have Exhausted Our Patience..” the Save Nigeria Group said it plans a series of actions to “retrieve the country from the iron fisted clutches of the cabal” and “Other forms of nationwide civil disobedience measures to put a final closure to the shenanigans of the cabal and enforce electoral reforms to ensure that we are no longer deal with in the old ways”
The group criticized the secrecy around President Yar’Adua’s return from Saudi Arabia and his continued absence from the public's eye with a spokesman saying, “Had we not been vigilant, they would have continued to lie to us by using his name to issue all sorts of directives which the ailing President is not privy to,”
The group led by the SNG leader, Pastor Tunde Bakare, met with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan who received them and promised to get back to the group.
The delegation also included Mr. Femi Falana, President of West Africa Bar Association, Mr. Tanko Yinusa; Mr. Tola Ayo-Adeyemi, Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Mr. Willy Ezeugwu; Mr. Osita Okechukwu, Nagatu Moha-mmed, Shehu Sani, Salisu Lukman, Raymond Dokpesi, Buba Galadima, Hajia Jinatu Mohammed, Osita Okechukwu, CNPP spokesperson, and Mr. Jimmy Agbaje, the DPA Lagos gubernatorial candidate
"The views and opinions expressed in these comment(s) or article(s) do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of NGEX, its partners or its affiliates."
lola thomas Pisa, Italy March 09, 2010
It is difficult to belief that the destiny of the citizens of Nigeria, the so called "Giant of Africa", is in the hands of a half-educated woman that does not know the differnce between a Republic and a Kingdom.
This woman and many of the so-called "First Lady" of all the States of Nigeria belief the election of their partners/husbands confers on them some executive powers, not knowing that these men are only theirs` only on their private properties. These elected governors are only tenants of the State House in which they are living and from which they could be ejected after their term/s of office.
The way Mrs. Yar`adua has handled the husband`s situation should open the eyes Nigerians how the "First Ladies" think about power.
OMOTAYO, J. A. Lagos, NIGERIA March 09, 2010
Our national problem is much more fundamental than the change of guard stuation that mass rallies have achieved over the years from the sixties till date. At a time, it was the view in Yoruba West that a if one of our sons could be made the president, then Nigeria would witness a new dawn. Our Mr. Shonekan was there but nothin changed. Our Mr Obasanjo was equally there for another 8 years but nothin changed too. Our problem is not limited to tribal lords as we would have been made to belief. Rather, our problem lies in the hands of our elite who seek personal benefits above national gains.
The rally to be held has not indicated how the poor will be and the needed will be cared for, how the roads will be repaired, how the hungry will be fed. There are over a hundred million Nigerians who are hungry, homeless or jobless. No leadership has addressed these issues in the last thirty years (i.e. 1980 till date). But all we hear is give us power supply, provide security at the airport, etc. These are not the problems facing the majority of Nigerians, if the truth must be told.
It is funny to rally round that something that Mr. Omotayo holds in his left hand should be changed to the right hand because we want to express our feelings. Of what gain is changing the thing from Mr. Omotayo's left hand to the right? Absoultely nothing. Those rallying should take the plight of the poor and the needy into consideration.
No nation has developed through the path of governance that we have implemented, the government of the elite. No consideration for the education of the children of the poor as we elite have all our children in private schools. No good public hospital for the poor as the elite have private hospitals at home and abroad to visit. No cheap food in the market as the rich can import anything to kill local production and farming. The list is endless.
God bless Nigeria.
Larry Jones Columbus, Ohio, USA March 06, 2010
I do not believe that Turai is powerful, I just think she is power drunk and foolish. For what she has done, she lost fhe respect from Nigerians and other right thinking people from the international community. The demonstration should go ahead. Turai and the cabal will know that Nigerial is not a banana republic.
SBAKARE Manchester, UK March 05, 2010
I can't believe that Turai {Fisrt lady} is more powerful than Nigeria as a country. This is a joke she refuse to allow even the vice president to see the president of the country and other senators.
Nigerians should ask themselves where is the second wife of Yar'adua? Turai sent her parking. Further more, Nigerians should ask themselves why is it that Yar'adua is the first Nigerian president whose 3 daughters are married to Governors serving in the present government, these are all the work of powerful Fisrt lady {Hajia Turai}
