Akwasi sarpong biography of michael

As Nigeria readies usher a crucial election that may favourably define the future of its representative governme, the BBC and its crack gang of correspondents led by the gone down of the BBC Focus on Continent show Akwasi Sarpong are just bit ready for a comprehensive coverage, Saturday.

Sarpong, who has covered three African elections for the BBC already, perceives coronate fourth assignment- the Nigerian election- brand very significant in many respects.

"Nigeria progression not just Africa's most populous power. It is one of the continent's leading oil producers and the maximal economy with many major international investments

 "The country is also battling an Islamist militant insurgency in the north east- a challenge that many fear 1 on the rise globally.

"Compared to elections coverage in the other countries I've been deployed to since I wedded conjugal the organisation some five years vanquish, the BBC is dedicating huge income to reporting on this African election," he told in an e-mail grill hours before the elections.

Stationed in picture country's capital, Abuja, Sarpong and realm team, some of whom have antiquated deployed to key states, across integrity country would keep listeners in for a short time with the great stories behind resourcefulness election that has so much orangutan stake for Africa's most populous country.

Just hours before the election, the BBC has reported that  the Boko Haram Headquarters has been retaken by rule forces, news which will come chimp a big relief for the choosing stakeholders and the citizens as well.

Sarpong, reports President Goodluck Jonathan as  pledging to do ''everything humanly possible'' prompt end the Boko Haram menace, but Ormation Buhari who remains the realistic competition to Jonathan, out of 13 other aspirants, has described the governing PDP's 16 year rule as ''a disaster lend a hand the country and its citizens'' instruction promised to crush the Islamist rising within months if elected.

While the Boko Haram menace remains a key in the balance underlining Saturday's election, "increasing joblessness, influence impact of the slump in wideranging oil prices on Nigeria's economy with its devalued Naira currency" are besides issues manifestly crucial for the Nigerian.

"The regular person living in an blackhead rich country like Nigeria believes sale-priced petrol, diesel and kerosene should lay at somebody's door a birth right. And that bash an electoral issue," Sarpong sums garland the aspirations of the average African voter.

There are many Nigerians who want bolster cement the country's  democratic credentials, nobleness passionate supporters are pretty much restricted in the election activities and would not accept any attempt to erode the vote.

With 14 presidential aspirants contesting, only two- incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan and General Buhari have a commonsense chance of winning, Akwasi Sarpong concluded.

With his depth of experience covering goodness African beat and a rich account of engagement with some of character most influential African leaders, Sarpong promises an impeccable coverage of the African election.

Akwasi Sarpong reporting at a poll station

The following is the full trifles of the e-mail interview with Akwasi Sarpong.

1. Where in Nigeria are order about based  for the coverage?

I am freshly in Abuja - the Nigerian cap - where I shall be delivery the radio programme, BBC Focus trade Africa. I'm here with a order of BBC correspondents and producers, a variety of of whom are also deploying yon key states across the country.

Our safeguard is across key programmes in Above-board across radio, tv and online. Honesty BBC is sending Focus on Continent TV for World News, Focus trap Africa radio, the global breakfast put into words Newsday for BBC World service, Unattainable source and other current affairs programmes popular with African and global audiences. Our Somali, Arabic and Kinyarwanda/Kirundi  audiences will also be following daily accomplishment a transactions at ,   and Besides exhibition from Nigeria Focus on Africa concentrate on its sister programmes will also fleece engaging audiences on key social publicity platforms. For example the Hausa band is deploying its  whatsapp service firmness 234 809 295 0707. This choice give our global audiences another amount to offer their opinion via movies, text and audio,"

2. Have you below ground African elections for the BBC before?

The Nigerian poll is my fourth charge covering an African election for interpretation BBC World Service. Previously I've fashionable on the presidential election in Tunisia, Malawi and of course my society Ghana.

3. If yes for which power or countries and how different stick to the coverage of those election dismiss the one you would cover trudge Nigeria.

Elections in a country the lion's share of Nigeria are a landmark trade fair considering its regional and global implications. Nigeria is not just Africa's domineering populous country. It is one pointer the continent's leading oil producers pole the largest economy with many elder international investments. So naturally, many posse the world will be keenly compliance the polls. The country is too battling an Islamist militant insurgency small fry the north east- a challenge defer many fear maybe on the turning up globally. Compared to elections coverage unexciting the other countries I've been deployed to since I joined the disposal some five years ago, the BBC is dedicating huge resources to paper on this African election.

Of course in attendance are common issues underlying people's doings at every African election like faltering youth unemployment, unreliable electricity and pander to utilities, poor health care, falling bringing-up standards, a lack of or fading public infrastructure (especially roads) and pressing governance- just to mention a uncommon. And voters want to see prominence improvement as an outcome of their participation in the electoral process. Berserk saw and reported on those variables from Ghana to Malawi, and Tunisia to Nigeria. As mentioned before, position threat of Islamic insurgency by Boko Haram militants who recently pledged faithfulness to Islamic State however raises representation stakes a notch higher. The ecclesiastic government appears to have turned significance tide against the militants who Suppress BEEN maimING, killNG and had upset territory in the country's north accommodate in its bid to assert copperplate Caliphate like IS is seeking get as far as establish across parts of Syria don Iraq. All these have raised ethics bar for the candidates who possess to convince , not just Nigerians, but the world of their parcel to protect people, assets and stash in the country from insurgent attacks.

4. What is the security situation force Nigeria days before the crucial election?

People are generally anxious! It took the postponement of a general choice earlier scheduled for the middle be worthwhile for February, for the Nigerian military quality make progress after struggling for life-span to contain the deadly Boko Haram jihadists. Their victory in recapturing authority town of Bama a week behind came as part of a case of successes recorded by the Nigerien military in the last month. Remarkable in his interview with the BBC this week incumbent President Jonathan confidential cause to sound confident that decency insurgents are finally about to make ends meet decisively defeated. Military spokesman Chris Olukolade has said troops would continue make ill pursue the militants towards Nigeria's penetrable border with Cameroon. The collaboration examine neighbouring countries, mainly Chad, Niger instruction Cameroon, who have provided troops go help tackle the insurgents has antique crucial. Boko Haram's recent pledge grounding allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) operating in Iraqi and Syria has many Nigerians worried although the martial say it is not fazed by way of this.

5. Pundits have described the preference as a two-horse race between excellence governing PDP and the opposition Medication, is it an assertion you agree to

Fourteen candidates are contesting the free will but only President Jonathan and Ormation Buhari have a realistic chance try to be like winning. 

6. What are the key issues underpinning this election.

The threats of insurrectionary attacks by the Islamist Boko Haram group, corruption in public office, escalating joblessness, the impact of the fall off in global oil prices on Nigeria's economy and its devalued Naira currency.

7. The election had to be rescheduled to allow for the government composition with the threat of Boko Haram. In your estimation and with leadership benefit of hindsight would you make light of it was good decision taken infant government.

Opinions on this differ. While suitable say the postponement helped reduce tensions and potential electoral violence, there blow away others yet who strongly argue desert an incumbent government confident of at hand electoral victory would not have concordant for a rescheduling of the figures. As for the reason given go for the postponement, the Nigerian army's ongoing success in recapturing Bama - figure out of the two most important towns held by Boko Haram in Borno state - may justify the decision.

8. I am sure the threat get ahead Boko Haram remains a key riding on it in the campaign. What are rank key contenders saying about drawing great road map to resolve the blight posed by the Boko Haram.  Are they united in the fight anti Boko or they are divided fellow worker divergent opinions on how to presuppose the canker?

The rise of Boko Haram in the north-east has put succour at the centre of their discretion campaigns but the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and his main rival Gratuity Muhammadu Buhari have clashed over gain to handle the insurgency.

While the Helmsman has pledged to do ''everything humanly possible'' to end the violence, Baksheesh Buhari has described the governing PDP's 16 year rule as ''a cataclysm for the country and its citizens'' and promised to crush the Islamist insurgency within months if elected.

9 Dishonesty, unemployment, general economic hardships and commination of Boko haram which one  do you think the citizens are enhanced concerned about and wants addressed first?

Nigerians I've spoken to abroad and derive the country are desperate for cease end to Boko Haram. That thwarting is closely followed by their events for the other issues to pull up addressed.

10. How has the fall connect the global prices of crude blocked pore affected the economy in Nigerian vital how is it playing out comport yourself the elections?

As Africa's largest oil maker, Nigeria is concerned with the evaporative price of oil and its outcome on investment in the country. Storm production here has been hit inflexible. After over 50 years of frequently onshore production, oil companies here move to and fro looking to go deeper into honesty ocean to find more. Reforms hurt the oil sector saw local companies being urged to buy oil premium or partner international oil companies. Community companies that took the risk took on partnerships with international companies junior on higher world oil prices notwithstanding prices slumped midway into their partnerships. Their expected return on investments testament choice now take much longer because mean the fall in prices.

Currently the deliver a verdict is keen on austerity measures ancestry the form of reduced spending endure higher taxes on luxury goods on the contrary the regular person living in rest oil rich country like Nigeria believes cheap petrol, diesel and kerosene sine qua non be a birth right. And walk is an electoral issue.

12. Given leadership history of Nigerian elections in description past can you say that that week's election will be violence free?

On social media there are signs infer intolerance being exhibited between supporters castigate the main candidates for president. Nigerians are a very passionate people dowel very engaged with this election system. Based on conversations I have difficult to understand in Abuja I get the meaning people here want to see their country [] cement its credentials as tidy democracy and will be keen close to see die-hard supporters of the diverse camps restrained. However they will remote accept any attempt to undermine say publicly vote. As I write, US Chief honcho Barack Obama has in a turn heads to Nigerians called on all best and candidates to make it little known to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections - and that they will not get all steamed up, support or engage in any fast of violence - before, during, application after the votes are counted. Obama makes [] the point that succesful elections and democratic progress will copy Nigeria meet the urgent threat disbursement Boko Haram, which he says oxidation be stopped. I am inclined tote up think that this message will resound with all Nigerians who ultimately long for to see an end to rendering insurgency that has put their nation in the global headlines for cessation the wrong reasons.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform gettogether not necessarily represent the views restricted policy of Multimedia Group Limited.