Pulse List 2018: 11 Politicians we don’t want to hear from in 2019

<p class=””><strong>2018 will go down in history as one of the most eventful years in the Nigeria political space.</strong></p>

<p class=””>With just two months to the 2019 general elections, Nigerian politicians were (still are) in their element. It was a year of defections for party tickets, attacks and counter-attacks, some politicians totally lost it in 2018.</p>

<p class=””>As we countdown to the end of 2018, here are some politicians that should focus on making less headlines in 2019.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Dino Melaye</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”left”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/MDM7MDA_/1aaa437c139babf380ae7329cdc18211.png” alt=”Senator Dino Melaye”> <figcaption>Senator Dino Melaye</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>If there is any politician who needs to organise a special thanksgiving at the end of 2018, it has to be Kogi state lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye.</p>

<p class=””>It takes divine intervention to jump off a Police van on high speed en-route Kogi state for your arraignment in court over criminal charges bothering on gun-running; sit on the floor and threaten to kill yourself then get the hospital hours later lying lifeless on a stretcher; survive hunger in the <strong>Intensive Care Unit (ICU)</strong> of the <strong>National Hospital</strong>, Abuja; poisoning in Kogi and still come out a strong critic of the Buhari administration.</p>

<p class=””>Divinity at work.</p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/YTE7MDA_/e22d1dc314f21fc8f3496858739d4e51.jpeg” alt=”Senator Dino Melaye wheeled into an Abuja hospital on a stretcher”> <figcaption>Senator Dino Melaye wheeled into an Abuja hospital on a stretcher</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>As a lawmaker, Senator Melaye should get credits for his meaningful contributions in terms of motions and comments on the floor of the red chamber.</p>

<p class=””>Other than this, Senator Melaye should take a chill pill in 2019 and not go around cleaning Senate President Bukola Saraki’s seat before plenary.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Adams Oshiomhole</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/ODI7MDA_/d0966a2f27a736fbdf642dd60d05d08d.jpeg” alt=”APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole”> <figcaption>APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>After emerging unopposed as chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), former governor of Edo state, C<strong>omrade Adams Oshiomhole</strong>, has been all over our faces.</p>

<p class=””>Prior to his election, some party members had hoped that Oshiomhole’s emergence would lead to a more united APC given his antecedents as a President of the Nigeria <strong>Labour Congress (NLC)</strong>.</p>

<p class=””>Rather than address grievances and infighting within the APC, Oshiomhole resumed his duty with weeks of <em>‘Saraki-must-go” </em>campaign shortly after the Senate President defected from the ruling party to the <strong>Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)</strong>.</p>

<p class=””>On one occasion, Oshiomhole described Governor Samuel Ortom as an <em>“important member”</em> of the APC. Days after Ortom dumped the APC for PDP, Oshiomhole described the governor’s exit as <em>“relief”</em> to the ruling party.</p>

<p class=””><em>“I am relieved as national chairman, and I believe that the leadership of the party in Benue is also relieved that Ortom has left the party and returned to the club he belongs,”</em> Oshiomhole told journalists on Friday, July 28, 2018.</p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/MGE7MDA_/e56d45162ec27a063ff1c8ccf7d1adcd.jpg” alt=”Oshiomhole and Ortom when the going was good.”> <figcaption>Oshiomhole and Ortom when the going was good.</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””><em>“We now have a clean platform to search for a clean and credible candidate from Benue, a candidate that can provide leadership that the great people of Benue state deserves. And not someone who seeks to make political capital out of human graves and celebrating the death of his own people.”</em></p>

<p class=””>Oshiomhole soon realized that the governor had not carried out projects in Benue state.</p>

<p class=””><em>“Whereas the President and Vice President had visited other states to commission projects, they had only visited Benue on condolence visits.</em></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/MWU7MDA_/3bbc1adc3fa86550099a28d94891a885.jpeg” alt=”Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, with President Muhammadu Buhari”> <figcaption>Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, with President Muhammadu Buhari</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””><em>“It is OK to lament that there is no federal presence. Where is the explanation for the absence of projects in Benue State?</em></p>

<p class=””><em>“Ortom’s argument is that he had diverted a lot of funds to security issues,”</em> Oshiomhole said.</p>

<p class=””>Regardless of the anti-corruption posture of the APC, some party chieftain accused Oshiomhole of receiving bribes in billions of dollars to impose candidates on the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.</p>

<p class=””>This led to his invitation by the <strong>Department of State Services (DSS)</strong> for questioning and subsequent vacation days later.</p>

<p class=””>Just when we though we have had enough, Oshiomhole declared himself the <em>”Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the APC”</em>.</p>

<p class=””>Whatever that means.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Femi Fani-Kayode</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/YTI7MDA_/195aa40d22b023b62c00246148d7f366.jpeg” alt=”Femi Fani-Kayode”> <figcaption>Femi Fani-Kayode</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>As an opposition politician, former Aviation Minister,<strong> Femi Fani-Kayode</strong>, crossed the line with some of his inciting comments on social media.</p>

<p class=””>From accompanying former Ekiti state governor, <strong>Ayo Fayose</strong>, to the headquarters of <strong>Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)</strong>, FFK also took direct shots at <strong>President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Yemi Osinbajo</strong>, and served governors subs on <strong>Twitter</strong>.</p>

<figure class=”embedded_application” align=”center”> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>When self-acclaimed leader of the <strong>Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)</strong>, <strong>Nnamdi Kanu</strong>, dropped that myth of a Buhari body double called <strong><em>Jubril</em></strong> from Sudan shortly before his disappearance in 2017, no one took him serious.</p>

<p class=””>FFK has promised to provide further details on Jubril who is allegedly occupying <strong>Aso Rock</strong> as Nigeria’s President.</p>

<p class=””>While some Nigerians anticipate details of this ground-breaking investigation by the ex-minister who is currently facing corruption charges in court, the larger number of us are tired of such senseless and trivial conversations in view of the challenges that the country is grappling with.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Rochas Okorocha</strong></p>

<p class=””>Imo state governor, <strong>Rochas Okorocha</strong>, entered 2018 with a list og well thought-out plans.</p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/YjY7MDA_/9ee3ea1ef1113ece68ad02fce96c9e0e.jpeg” alt=”Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha”> <figcaption>Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>First, move from the <strong>Imo State Government House</strong> to the <strong>Nigerian Senate</strong>.</p>

<p class=””>Next, install his son-in-law, <strong>Uche Nwosu</strong>, as his successor by all means possible.</p>

<p class=””>Oshiomhole’s resistance to this plan led Okorocha and other governors to begin an <em>“Oshiomhole must go”</em> campaign.</p>

<p class=””>Accused of not delivering on his campaign promises to the people of Imo state, a mentally unstable man believes Okorocha would go to jail.</p>

<figure class=”embedded_application” align=”center”> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>Okorocha was not just in the news for some wrong reasons this year, he taught us a new word – <em>Iberiberism</em>.</p>

<p class=””>Don’t ask me what that means.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Ayo Fayose</strong></p>

<p class=””>For former Ekiti state governor Ayo ayose, 2018 was a year of “severe pains”.</p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/NjI7MDA_/82b091ac1c3c6a48fb9040732d29f666.jpeg” alt=”Former Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, on the ground after he was allegedly attacked by policemen.”> <figcaption>Former Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, on the ground after he was allegedly attacked by policemen.</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>The opposition politician experienced pain and defeat, yet, maintained his criticisms of all that the federal government does.</p>

<p class=””>Fayose’s attempt to pick his successor as Ekiti state governor was opposed at the polls with <strong>Kayode Fayemi</strong>’s victory.</p>

<p class=””>Unlike other governors who sneak into the EFCC headquarters, Fayose announced his scheduled visit to the anti-graft agency on social media. <em>EFCC I’m here”</em> read inscriptions on his navy-blue shirt.</p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/MjE7MDA_/0bc767f2217c511b093c2badae96fcd9.png” alt=”Ayodele Fayose at EFCC headquarters in Abuja”> <figcaption>Ayodele Fayose at EFCC headquarters in Abuja</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>Accompanied by <strong>Governor Nyesome Wike</strong>, Fani-Kayode, <strong>Mike Ozekhome (SAN)</strong>, <strong>Deji Adeyanju</strong> and other supporters, Fayose marched into the EFCC facility alleging that his trial was a plot to silence the opposition in Nigeria ahead of 2019.</p>

<p class=””>Except Fayose is named a presidential candidate of any party that we are yet to know, Nigerians would appreciate it if he enjoys his retirement from active politics in peace.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Lai Mohammed</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/MDQ7MDA_/9775b513b07e59ee309577c886d5a453.jpeg” alt=”Lai Mohammed said the past government which shared money around left the country in a mess.”> <figcaption>Lai Mohammed said the past government which shared money around left the country in a mess.</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>One thing comes to mind when the name <strong>‘Lai Mohammed’</strong> is mentioned. Guess?</p>

<p class=””>Yes, you guessed right!</p>

<p class=””>Information.</p>

<p class=””>If you thought about anything else, then, you need prayers.</p>

<p class=””>As Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Lai never lies.</p>

<p class=””>In 2018, Lai came up with some mind bogging revelations.</p>

<p class=””>Who would have thought that feeding Shiite leader, <strong>Sheikh Ibrahim El-zakzaky</strong>, would cost Nigeria about N3.5 million monthly?</p>

<p class=””>Despite pictures, videos and confessions by soldiers of their maltreatment in the line of battle, Lai insists they are fed three times a day and paid all their allowances as at when due.</p>

<p class=””>The Minister has also promised to deliver Kwara state to the APC in 2019.</p>

<p class=””>While he is at it, Nigerians would appreciate he lets his achievements and those of the government speak in 2019.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Babatunde Fashola</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/OWY7MDA_/de54b42be2ee344c8e5738b0236be700.jpeg” alt=”Fashola clears the air on closure of Third Mainland bridge, Lagos.”> <figcaption>Fashola clears the air on closure of Third Mainland bridge, Lagos.</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>Surprisingly, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, <strong>Babatunde Fashola</strong>, made the list this year.</p>

<p class=””>As much as Fashola’s job description, the former Lagos state governor was in the news for some reasons Nigerians aren’t so comfortable with.</p>

<p class=””>With irregular power supply crippling businesses in the country and firms spending a fortune on alternative sources of energy, Fashola says Nigerians now run generators for fewer hours.</p>

<p class=””>“<em>It is indisputable that we have delivered on incremental power,” </em>Fashola boasted.</p>

<p class=””><em>“The evidence of our progress is not only captured in the last quarter of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report for Q2 of 2018 which shows a growth of 7.5 per cent in the electricity sector.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>“Previous quarterly reports from 2017, have consistently recorded growth, a clear departure from 2014, 2015 and proof of change.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>“And you now run generators for shorter periods compared to 2015 and you now spend less money on diesel to power your generators.</em> <em>As some citizens recently reported, they no longer have to iron all their clothes one week in advance as they previously used to do.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>“Because the supply is proving reliable and predictable even if not yet fully stable and uninterrupted.</em> <em>This is progress that we must move forward by consolidating on our mandate of change, we cannot go back.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>“As our policies on mini grids, Meter Asset Provider (MAP) Eligible Customer and liquidity sustenance and improved governance deepens, your experience with power supply can only get better”, he</em> assured.</p>

<p class=””>The irony is that this author writes from an office that runs more hours on diesel-powered generators than the one Fashola is talking about.</p>

<p class=””>The terrible state of power supply in Edo state made <strong>Governor Godwin Obaseki</strong> to walk out officials of the <strong>Benin Electricity Distribution Company</strong> from his office.</p>

<p class=””>The former Lagos state governor has also charged the South-West to vote generously for President Buhari in 2019 so that power can return back to the region in 2019.</p>

<p class=””>Does Fashola know something that we don’t?</p>

<p class=””>The Minister recently told Nigerians not to blame the federal government for the poor power supply to their home.</p>

<p class=””>Speak no more Fashola, Nigerians aren’t listening.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Yahaya Bello</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/ZjE7MDA_/6353e6473fba08f886c735fce8b096d4.jpeg” alt=”Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello”> <figcaption>Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>Call him the non-elected governor of Abuja and you won’t be wrong.</p>

<p class=””>In 2018, Governor Yahaya Bello showed up in more pictures in Buhari’s Aso Villa than the state he governs, Kogi.</p>

<p class=””>The governor was on ground to receive Yusuf Buhari at the airport upon his return from a hospital in Germany where he spent months trying to fix his fractured bones after a power bike accident.</p>

<p class=””>When President visited his campaign office in Abuja, he was in the picture waving two fingers in the air.</p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/ZTI7MDA_/4628f9d59059497788224169816a3a6c.jpeg” alt=”Governor Yahaya Bello says President Buhari would be reelected in 2019.”> <figcaption>Governor Yahaya Bello says President Buhari would be reelected in 2019.</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>With months of unpaid workers’ salaries and pensions, Governor Bello built a palatial house in his Okene country home.</p>

<p class=””>In 2019, Yahaya Bello is expected to get as much votes for Buhari from Kogi while preparing for his reelection later in the year.</p>

<p class=””>Nigerians hope that these would be enough to keep the governor in his Kogi and not the villa.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Shehu Sani</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/MTk7MDA_/519230e0725871613b20efbbf0447923.jpeg” alt=”Shehu Sani”> <figcaption>Shehu Sani</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””><em>“My President, I stand as Comrade Senator Shehu Sani”</em>, the Kaduna lawmaker would introduce himself at plenary before contributing to any bill, motion or raising a point of order.</p>

<p class=””>Earlier in the year, the lawmaker told Nigerians that Senators earn N13.5 million as running cost, alone.</p>

<p class=””>This excludes salaries, allowances and all the perks that comes with the job of lawmaking.</p>

<p class=””>A social media critic of the Buhari administration, Senator Sani was seen on many occasions sharing a laugh with the President.</p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/ZjA7MDA_/0289e232537b7186784515256d570707.jpeg” alt=”Senator Shehu Sani with President Muhammadu Buhari”> <figcaption>Senator Shehu Sani with President Muhammadu Buhari</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>The Comrade Senator would run into trouble with his state governor, <strong>Nasir El-Rufai</strong>, after his committee advised other Senators to turn down a loan request by his governor.</p>

<p class=””>Months after cryptic messages suggesting his exit from the APC, Sani dumped the party for Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). A move described by political watchers as a late.</p>

<p class=””>As 2018 winds down, Nigerians would love that the Senator tilts his cryptic tweets towards national development.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Gudaji Kazaure</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/M2U7MDA_/d81fe58fdbca55888602788d5bf0f799.jpeg” alt=”Gudaji Kazaure”> <figcaption>Gudaji Kazaure</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>Ever had a bottle of Coke made with borehole water?</p>

<p class=””>Well, Honourable Gudaji Kazaure has.</p>

<p class=””>During this year’s International Women’s’ day, the Jigawa lawmaker advised Nigerians not to vote for women <em>“too much”</em> so they do not take over the parliament from the men.</p>

<p class=””>Here’s how Kazaure puts it:</p>

<p class=””><em>”In my whole life I love women because when I go back to my home, my wife is taking care of my children, my everything at home; but what I observed is women need us to give them opportunities which is good, but not too much.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>”It is good for us to give the woman chance in terms of politics, opportunities, entrepreneurship, and others because they play a good role in our lives. They take care of our life, our children, cook for us and do everything for us, but I fear they control us (men) at home.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>”When we give them too much opportunity outside the home, they will capture everything. Most of the women are very intelligent. You can see a big man controlled by his wife.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>”If you give them more chance, one day, they will overthrow us. I came here (was elected) with almost 60% to 70% of my vote from women. So if women understand this thing well, they will vote us out.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>”We give them opportunity and assist them in any way they need, but we should not give them too much opportunities.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>”If you go to your constituency, majority of the voters are women. If one woman contests in your constituency, they’ll say ‘Let’s go out to support our sister’, they’ll vote for her and they’ll come here.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>”One day you will come here and find women everywhere in this chamber and they will mess up.</em></p>

<p class=””><em>”We are the one controlling them that is why God said they should come under us. We would marry them, they will serve under us. We do good to them, we do justice to them and then we, at last, should not give them too much opportunity.”</em></p>

<p class=””>In 2018, a representative of constituency in Nigeria should not speak this way.</p>

<p class=””>In 2019, we pray he doesn’t.</p>

<p class=””><strong>Ademola Adeleke</strong></p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/ODg7MDA_/c4674688bb2d54925640850075c00489.jpeg” alt=”Senator Ademola Adeleke”> <figcaption>Senator Ademola Adeleke</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>Soon after his election to represent Osun-East Senatorial district after the death of his brother, Isiaka,<strong> Senator Ademola Adeleke</strong> began nursing a governorship ambition.</p>

<p class=””>With the support of his nephew and music start,<strong> Davido</strong>, the Senator danced his way into the hearts of Osun electorates.</p>

<figure class=”image” align=”center”> <img src=”http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/YjE7MDA_/8e4774aeaeeee1277d30aa82fcba99be.jpeg” alt=”Davido dancing with his uncle, Senator Ademola Adeleke”> <figcaption>Davido dancing with his uncle, Senator Ademola Adeleke</figcaption> </figure>

<p class=””>Days after promising to <em>“dance into the Osun State Government House”</em>, Senator Adeleke was defeated by the APC candidate, <strong>Gboyega Oyetola</strong>.</p>

<p class=””>Although he promised to drop evidences of APC’s rigging of the Osun election <em>“one after the other one after the other gba-gam”</em> in court, very little has been heard of the lawmaker.</p>

<p class=””>Nigerians only hope he restricts his dance steps to the gym in 2019.</p>
Source: Politics

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