The Nobel Laureate stated this on Thursday at an event organised by Citizen Forum, held at the Freedom Park on Lagos Island, Lagos State.

Soyinka noted that it was time for the nation to move into a new direction different from that of the PDP or APC.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let me make my position quite clear because I don’t want any ambiguity; I Wole Soyinka will not be voting for either the two so called contesting parties [PDP or APC]. I find both of them worthy of absolute rejection,” Soyinka said.

“For a number of reasons which I will not go into here, I’m not interested in a comparative assessment. My position is simply that it is time for a totally new direction. And obviously, I’m not the only one, as I’m speaking, there is a coalition having its meeting in Lagos from which they hope to produce a consensus candidate.

“There is another group meeting in Abuja, also at the end would send us their consensus candidate. Things have been going on quietly in the background to try and change the direction of this nation in a very positive way, and to make the public understand that they do not have to be enslaved permanently to the old discredited order. It is my sole business in this election.

“I don’t believe in what is called negative vote which means, for me, throwing your vote in a wastebasket, I believe instead in a creative vote, not a protest vote, not a negative vote but a creative vote. And a creative vote means that the will to at least sow a seed through your vote that will germinate eventually. The pace of germination is beyond the control of everyone, but it is never too early to make a beginning. It has happened before in other societies. When a dark horse emerges from nowhere and trumps all the political juggernauts caterpillars and so on with their performers, worthless, their capacity for violence and treachery.”

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Governor Wike who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, said he will invite the President in October for the commencement of another leg of project commissioning in the State.

He noted that contrary to what he called the propaganda of the APC, he was not against the Federal Government.

He said that he was only committed to the fight against injustice, adding that the APC Federal Government had been plotting insecurity.

Wike claimed that the APC and the Federal government had been holding sinister meetings on how to take Rivers in 2019.

“That’s part of the misconception. I don’t stand up against Federal Government. I stand up against injustice and marginalization. It has nothing to do with the Federal Government. If this Government is not in place tomorrow and another government comes and they perpetrates injustice, I will stand up against them. It has nothing to do with Federal Government”, Governor Wike said.

“I am not interested whether EFCC backs off or not. A body that does not respect the rule of law. A body that is full of impunity. That is what the Federal Government is all about, impunity. You heard the President say National Interest supercedes rule of law. I am not against the EFCC fighting corruption, if at all they are fighting corruption.

“I was not here in 2007. Rivers State Government went to court against the EFCC to say the commission has no constitutional power to interrogate the finances, the expenses of the State Government. And the matter was adequately addressed and judgment was given against EFCC. Since 2007, EFCC has been struggling to appeal the judgment. EFCC has not succeeded up till now. What they are doing now is when they feel a government is not pro-Buhari, let’s do this.

“Nobody will appear before the EFCC until they follow the rule of law. This country must not allow personal interest of individuals. That is a coup against the interest of Nigeria. No wonder the EFCC will go to Benue State and seal the account of the State Government. No wonder EFCC will go to Akwa Ibom State to seal the account of the State Government”, he said.

“All their meetings, all their gatherings at the Federal Level, whether by hook or crook, they must have Rivers State. They want to use soldiers, SARS, DSS. All cries by the international community don’t matter. Just take Rivers State first.

“It is unfortunate for people who don’t have a sense of history. Mr Mbu was not here when I was elected governor”, he said.

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Buhari, who himself is seeking re-election, stated this when he hosted judges at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday night.

He attributed his victory in the 2015 elections to technology and urged governors to continue with voters’ education.

“I find it necessary to invite you because I don’t normally see you. I have to repeat what I said having heard what you said.

“I mentioned that when I was in the military and much younger, we believed things were going wrong and so when I came, I took from the president downwards, to Kirikiri against your advice and told them that they are guilty until they prove themselves innocent.

“But we proceeded to have various tribunals to investigate and I can still remember extremely good and fantastic Nigerians, they are few in the society that is why we don’t see the impact of fantastic people we have.

“I decided to put agbada and come back, I tried three times and then fourth time I eventually made it. Thanks to God and thanks to technology because this permanent voters’ card and card readers are fantastic. Those who went to their polling booths in their constituency and voted, their votes counted.

“Before, votes were disregarded and results written and there was nothing you can do before the justices to proof your case. But now with technology it has been made easy. That is why I keep appealing to the governors to embark on voters education, to please tell the people that their voters card is their national card so to speak.

“Let them vote for anybody they want across ethnicity and religion… I think that is why I am calling on and I am begging the governors to please continue with voters education so that people will take their permanent voters card seriously and make sure that they don’t loose it.

“I am bothering you with this because you are in a position of influence and you come from a constituency that is recognized and what you say will mean a lot to the people at your constituency,” Buhari said.

Why I criticised my husband’s govt -Aisha Buhari

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This happened at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, the Bauchi state capital, where the President, who is on a two-day official visit to the state, addressed a mammoth crowd.

Recall that the President had about a fortnight ago before departing to London ahead of 2018 CHOGM told the National Executive Committee members of his party – the APC – that he would be seeking re-election in 2019.

The President’s declaration was announced by Governors Simon Lalong, Nasir El-Rufai and a presidential aide.

Confirming his decision to seek re-election, Buhari told the Bauchi crowd, “When I came into power as a military Head of State during the military era, there was nothing like insurgency in the North East, although I re-contested several times during the democratic era and lost. I contested again in 2015 and God in his infinite mercy, gave me victory.

“I have already made my intentions known to Nigerians that I will still contest again in 2019 and I’m happy for the support you are already giving to me today,’’ the President told the people.

He said further, “I contested election for the first time, second and third times, but lost. I said good and contested election again for the fourth time and won. I am telling you, I am going to contest election again for the seat of president and I will win because I have never been found wanting.

“I served as a president, governor and chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), but never looted the treasury like Nigerian past leaders, who own 20 to 30 houses, while some Nigerians cannot afford one room to sleep in.”

Buhari finally breaks silence on Obasanjo’s letter

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