It will be tougher to win now, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday maintained that he deserves the votes of Nigerians as his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  has done well in many sectors in the last four years.
Dr. Jonathan was answering questions on an  African Independent Television (AIT) programme, Kaakaki.
Stressing that PDP still has the most formidable structure among the political parties,  he said he was not worried about the possible outcome of the forthcoming presidential electon.
He said: “I believe Nigerians should vote for me and I want Nigerians to vote for me because we have done well. Sometimes, as a government, we are busy working and we don’t advertise what we have done.”
“Sometimes, it appears not much (is done). Nigeria is a very big country…If you assess what we have done in a number of areas, we have done quite well and I believe that if Nigeria is linking up to where we were before and what we have done over these four years of government, they will want us to continue to make sure we at least complete some of the ongoing programmes.”
“We believe that in several areas, we have tried and we are working very well and if encouraged in the next four years, at least Nigeria will be able to stabilise in various sectors.”
The President however admitted that it will be tougher to win the election now than it was in 2011.
He said: “In 2011 there were four strong parties. The PDP was strong, the ACN was strong, the CPC was strong and the ANPP was strong. So we had four strong political parties presidents sharing the votes of Nigeria. Yes I agree with you it was easier in 2011 but PDP is still the dominant party.
“In 2011 we had three presidential candidates against the PDP it was easier. But if these three have come together no matter how strong, in politics coming together also has a cost. As a second term president, globally in 70 per cent of the cases it is most challenging for the President to secure a second term than first term.”
He noted that people from the PDP that gave the opposition the strength it currently enjoys, adding that if the PDP elements were to leave the opposition, they would crumble.
He said: “Even the opposition will tell you if they are realistic. Who has strengthened the opposition? Are the not the PDP elements? If you remove the PDP elements from the opposition, they will just crumble like a pack of cards.”
“Why are people aggressive towards the PDP to the extent that even the presidential convoy is stoned? Why do you show that aggression? If you are comfortable, you will not do that.” he said
Jonathan maintained that the increasing victory against the insurgents close to the election period was not political as the military had just started receiving about 65 per cent of the required  equipment to fight the insurgents.
source: onlinenigeria.

6 ways your wears/packaging could cost you your dream job

                                                                         HR Talk 

                                                                             with

                                                 Moruf Kolawole Nasir (Experienced HR Practitioner)

Like man, the cooperate world is moved by what it sees, be it in terms of profit projection or prospect of a product/service; which most often is hinged on packaging ability;  which of course determines the acceptability or otherwise of  a product/service or project. This mentality also has its effect on the modus operandi of formal organizations; hence the idea of formal dress code in establishments and certainly on how applicants for positions in a going concern are perceived, thus the idea of FORMAL DRESS CODE for interview.

Unfortunately most job seekers missed their chances of leveraging on this when the opportunity arises, and costing them their dream jobs. This sometimes is out of ignorance and at other times circumstantial, yet in other it is the care-free attitude of the applicant. Whatever the reason, it can never be enough to justify the loss such candidates may suffer. 

I have put together some of the ways applicants wrongly package themselves for interviews which has cost many their dream jobs. 

FACIAL WEAR: There is a saying that the most important of all your wears is your facial wear; this is by no less true even at job interviews; that informs its inclusion in this list. However, at job interviews, it is just one of the wears that present you well for interviewers’ assessment, not necessary the best of the wears. Remember the power of first impression, even if the interview start late (sometimes deliberate), your reaction to such situation will go a long way to helping you win the minds of the panelists, and remember also your first reaction shows when you get called in-that is your facial wear, unfortunately most job seekers show their annoyance or anger when they are called in for interview, thus ruining their facial wear.  

YOUR SUIT:  Yes your suit. In my many years of interview experience I have seen all manners of suits from applicants. Some are big enough to put interviewers off that some of them immediately write you off, especially in places where they give high importance to corporate image; and believe me, most organizations do. Though funny, it is not a crime to wear very large suit to your places of worship or your personal dates, even when the weather is intensely hot (Lol); it only becomes an issue when those funny suits are the only ones you have to package yourself for interview. It should be noted that wearing suit for interview is not a must for all positions (if you don’t have fitted one, get a very nice shirt and tie). Although, not properly suited for some positions will reduce your score on dressing. Wearing over-sized or unfitted suits will, on the other hand present you to the panelists negatively. It is never a crime to borrow suit from a friend to attend interview, just make sure the suit is FITTED, NOT expensive.   

YOUR TIE:  wearing a tie in itself does not automatically makes you formal in your appearance; how you wear it go a long way to telling if you are formal or rascal. A tie does two things for you: it either presents you as a gentle man or an un-serious person. I don’t know of any company who will like to hire an un-serious person. Believe me, all those funny Tie styles we see around us, some very short almost like a bow tie turned vertically, and some others long enough to barely go past the chest, are knotted that way by some applicants for interviews. I can’t understand what their understanding of formal meetings is. The panelists will be going too far if they are looking at your patterning combinations, but doing the right combination will make you stand out just as colour rioting will be a put off to anybody.

YOUR SHIRT: In one of my recent interviews with four other panelists in a well reputable organization, for the post of Technical Officer, one of the panelist- a senior management staff of the company had to instruct an interviewee to button up his shirt properly. This is a graduate job (not drivers’ job) and not one of those unserious companies, yet a graduate, at this stage attended interview without tie and still not button up properly; yet they complain of not getting jobs, who will engage such a person? It is obvious, packaging makes no meaning to him. This is an extreme case; common cases among applicants are wearing of un-straightened shirts, oversized shirts, and other kinds of shirts that are better worn to the market place or to hang out with friends, yet they are competing with other applicants who have taken their time to package themselves well for the interview.  

To be continued next week.

We want to use this medium to apologize for the break in the publication of HR Talk for some weeks, this is due to some circumstances that were beyond our control. Thank you for always looking forward to read HR Talk.

At Last, Nigeria's Govt to Shift Elections?

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised alarm over what it described as the relentless scheming by the Jonathan Administration and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to push for another postponement of the general elections and called for imposition of global sanctions on whoever scuttles the polls.

In a statement issued in Dubai on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the multi-pronged efforts to scuttle the elections as rescheduled include the use of some 23 portfolio political parties to seek a further shift in the election dates and the destabilisation of INEC’s election plan through the orchestrated removal of its Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.

It said the same 23 satellite parties of the PDP that were used to push for the six-week postponement of the elections have again started testing the waters by pushing for a further shift in the elections in the six-states of the North East, ostensibly to allow the conclusion of the counter-insurgency battle and also to allow those displaced to return home.

‘’The plan is to use the same bogey of insecurity in the North East to push for another postponement in the elections. The signs are ominous indeed. The body language of the President and his party does not support the holding of elections. They are mortally afraid of losing because the use of PVCs and Card Readers have thwarted their rigging plans,’’ the APC said.

The party said while the 23 parties are pushing for the elections to be further postponed, the Jonathan Administration and the PDP are simultaneously forging ahead with their plan to remove Jega and replace him with a malleable acting Chairman whom, they believe, will do their bidding.

‘’Once they remove Jega, his replacement will either seek more time to organise the polls or simply jettison the plan to use Card Readers, thereby opening the door for those who have been buying up PVCs to use them.

‘’Is it not interesting that the same Administration that has been flaunting free and fair elections as a key achievement has now gone for the jugular of the same man who organised those polls? Is the man they don’t want not the same person who organised the 2011 polls which the Administration has described as free, fair and credible? What has now gone wrong between them and their poster boy for successful elections?” it queried.

APC warned that the consequences of another postponement of the elections would be dire indeed, “because it will create a constitutional crisis that is capable of endangering the country’s democracy and destabilising the country in its entirety.”

The party called on Nigerians, especially the civil society, to be very vigilant in the days ahead, as the cloud of uncertainty becomes thicker and the vultures begin to circle.

It also called on the international community to consider imposing stiff sanctions on key members of the Jonathan administration if they force another postponement or scuttle the polls.

‘’We believe that Nigerians themselves bear the utmost responsibility for the success of their nation’s democracy and the survival of their country, and we commend those who have stood up to be counted in the ongoing battle to have free and fair elections,” the APC said.

Meanwhile, a member of National Assembly, Senator Babajide Omoworare, has shed light on why the  PDP was planning to relieve Jega of his position before the rescheduled general elections.

Omoworare representing Osun-East Senatorial District of Osun State said while fielding questions from newsmen on a television programme that President Jonathan and PDP were not comfortable with the uncompromising attitude of the INEC chairman and so want him out.

He explained that Nigerians should not be surprised at the plot noting that it is an indication the President should no longer be taken for his words particularly on the rumoured plan to sack Jega.

He warned that any move to relieve Jega of his appointment is unconstitutional and undemocratic, adding that Sections 153 and 157 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria affirms the independence of INEC and procedure for appointment and removal of its chairman.

An APC senatorial candidate for Lagos West Senatorial District,  Solomon Adeola, at the weekend also said the PDP and the Presidency should stop deceiving Nigerians that they have no plans to sack the INEC chairman.

Adeola said the plan to sack Jega had been perfected and would be unfolded to Nigerians in few days.

Adeola, currently member of the House of Representatives representing Alimosho Federal Constituency, stated this when a team of U.S. Embassy officials paid him a courtesy visit at his Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja office.

While warning that further attempt to shift the polls wouldlead to constitutional crisis, the lawmaker added that the APC Senators who raised the alarm over Jega’s sack last week got the information from a very high ranking government official.

In another development, the Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, has accused the APC in the state of training thugs that would cause electoral violence.

He made allegation while speaking to newsmen in Makurdi at the weekend even as he noted that the party was perfecting plans to rig the elections.

“They (APC) are also training thugs for the same purpose. This coming election is a complete different ball game,” he stated.

Suswam who observed that the APC also had plans to rig the election said the four suspects recently arrested by the Benue State command of the Nigeria Police with about 13,000 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) last Thursday were members of the APC.

“Security reports available to me indicate that APC is planning to rig the forthcoming elections in the country.

“Four APC members were arrested by the Benue Police Command with a lot of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) few days ago,” he stated.

The governor described as “unfortunate” the situation where “some politicians are gathering PVCs with the aim of rigging the coming elections which is not just possible.”

He also condemned the actions of politicians intending to hijack card readers, insisting they were wasting their time as the machines cannot be manipulated.

Suswam therefore charged the leadership of the PDP at the three tiers of government to embark on massive voter education on the voting processes during the elections.

Daily Independent

Organizers of Chatham House Event are corrupt- Femi-Fani Kayode

The Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the organizers of the Chatham House event that hosted Nigeria's main opposition candidate General Muhamadu Buhari of corruption. He also Said PDP would prosecute the General over post election violence in 2012. Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode who gave the hint at a press conference in Abuja also alleged that Chatham House, London, accepted financial gratification from the APC before it allowed General Buhari, to appear at its Forum last week.

Femi Fani-Kayode also raised alarm that his life was being threatened by APC stalwarts for verbally attacking Bola Tinubu last Friday at a press conference.

The ruling party also alleged that the Chatham House event was organised by the APC at the cost of N5 billion, including crowd rental.

Fani-Kayode described the Chatham House public speaking of Buhari as a “monumental failure”.

He said Buhari was never listed to speak at Chatham House but that the APC having paid the management of Chatham, were able to get an engagement for him to speak.

Fani-Kayode insisted that the questions were selected and drills held for Buhari days ahead of his appearance at Chatham House so that he would not fumble while answering questions.

“Buhari’s appearance at Chatham House was a last minute decoy to divert the attention of Nigerians and the whole world from the fact that his trip to London was mainly to seek medical attention and care.

“The point we are making is that General Buhari was not originally scheduled to go to Chatham House but in order to divert attention from the real purpose of the trip; the Chatham House speaking engagement was hurriedly put in place.

“There are some interesting facts about the Chatham House outing that Nigerians should know. The event was organised only two days before it took place and well after Buhari had arrived London.

“The questions that were asked were given to him two days before the event and the answers were prepared for him and given to him to rehearse.

“The programme lasted for only 55 minutes and only five questions, which were all planted, were asked.

“The people in the Hall were sponsored; 1,500 persons applied to attend the function but only 200 were allowed in.  The audience was carefully selected.

“The APC mobilised many students from the Republic of Ireland, who were all on scholarship courtesy of the Rivers State Government, to embark on a pro-Buhari rally outside the Chatham House,” he alleged.

He said the students were threatened that their scholarships would be withdrawn if they refuse to participate in the rally.

“This was the show of shame that General Buhari has got himself involved in. Sadly Chatham House offered its prestigious platform to sell a bad product to the world.

“The APC leaders begged for the speaking engagement and we are reliably informed that they paid for it.

“The information at our disposal indicates that not less than N5 billion was budgeted for the London jamboree.

“This amount was wasted on General Buhari’s Chatham House speaking engagement, numerous foreign consultants, air tickets for the huge delegation, the contingent of governors, hotels bills, the purchase and renting of vehicles and other logistics.

“We challenge the APC and its leaders to contradict this information,” he stated.

Fani-Kayode said General Buhari admitted it when asked by the selected audience that he sought medical attention in London and declared: “I am fit. My doctors have declared me fit.”

“Yet his minders and publicists had claimed that he was not going to London for medical attention.  That is how illogical General Buhari and the APC can be,” Fani-Kayode further stated.

He noted that since Buhari could appear at Chatham House, he must agree to participate in an open debate with President Goodluck Jonathan here in Nigeria.

He reiterated the ‘arrangee’ Chatham House event was another ploy, like the purported London interview, to hoodwink Nigerians and prevent General Buhari from debating in Nigeria.

“But we insist, General Buhari must debate in Nigeria. As a party, we are happy over this latest development as it will no longer give Buhari any excuse not to debate when he returns to Nigeria.

“The APC no longer has any hiding place, but to put General Buhari through a similar coaching course like in the U.K., to debate in our beloved country on any media of choice with our candidate, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” he said.

While insisting that the 2011 post election violence was instigated by Buhari, newsmen at the event raised a question on the capability of the Jonathan administration to implement the nation’s law without fear of favour.

Fani-Kayode, however, responded that though the Justice Lemu Panel of Inquiry into the post- election violence found Buhari guilty of instigating the violence, the Jonathan administration opted not to prosecute him then because of the political tension such a move would generate.

He, however, assured that the issue would be given a serious thought this time around when Jonathan wins the March 28 presidential election.

He said further that already a case is awaiting the APC presidential candidate at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and that two case files have already been opened for him.

“And after General Buhari’s rejection at the poll, General Buhari may have to prepare to face charges of human rights abuses and criminality filed against him before the International Criminal Court on account of the 2011 electoral violence in Nigeria.

“According to the African Herald Express report on the issue published on February 20, 2015, Dutch lawyers – Prakken d’Oliveira, a Human Rights Law Firm based in Amsterdam, said it had filed a criminal complaint against General Muhammadu Buhari at the ICC.

“Prakken d’ Oliveira, led by Prof. Sluiter, Lawyer and Partner, is said to be acting on behalf of the Nigerian Northern Coalition for Democracy and Justice and two individual victims.

“The full version of the criminal complaint is available on the following links in two parts @ Criminal Complaint Against Gen. Buhari 1 and Criminal Complaint Against Gen Buhari 2.

“The complaint, according to the report, alleges that General Buhari incited and orchestrated the electoral violence in Nigeria in 2011, which led to the violent murder of over 938 and 735 injured, many of them children, women and young men.

“The complaint, the report further said, “presents factual evidence including the names and descriptions of a sampling of those who lost their lives in the violence.

“These include youth corps members who were killed in Giade, Bauchi State, in the 2011 post-election violence,” he said.

Speaking on the alleged death threat issued on him, Fani-Kayode, said he received a Short Message Service (SMS) from one of Bola Tinubu’s media manager with a warning that if he does not stop attacking Tinubu, he would be severely dealt with.

He however, said he does not fear for his life neither can anyone kill him before his time.

“The other day I got a text from Idowu Ajanaku, another known minion of Ahmed Bola Tinubu, ….that makes two of them, Lai Mohammed and the other minion, Ajanaku is on my phone now, saying stop this attack on Bola Tinubu because we are going to deal with you.

“My name is Femi Fani-Kayode, and nobody can”funsho-williams” me. Nobody can kill me before my time. Nobody can cut me short and I habour no fear of violence and I do not take threats lightly. Neither do I fear for my life.

“Before anybody begins to consider killing me, because  I have never shed blood and I do not believe in violence,  the angel of the Lord will strike that person dead before they point a gun at me in Jesus Name,” he said.