WHEN Mahatma Gandhi, the internationally acclaimed Indian Philosopher who lived between 1869 and 1948 said “It is the reformer who is anxious for the reform, and not society, from which he should expect nothing better than opposition, abhorrence and mortal persecution” he must have had an idea of days like these in the history of Nigeria.

To Stella Oduah, a sworn reformist, her role as a Minister in the nation’s aviation ministry has handed her a beautiful script similar to the creation of Eme Isong, arguably Nigeria’s most celebrated scriptwriter. In the lead role bestowed upon her by fate, Stella Oduah is hanging delicately between persecution and achievements. As a heroine with visible achievements and transformational initiatives to her name and beautiful visage, the roar of her persecutors is shaking the earth under her feet because their manipulative efforts are fast turning the day into night, and falsehood so propagated to assume the status of truth.

The heroine in this theatre of the absurd is courageous and undeterred by the antics of her persecutors because of her belief in the meaninglessness of human existence when it is not for the general good of mankind. In the convoluted plot, infused with extreme farce, Stella’s logical arguments gave way to irrational and illogical affirmation, to which she should not respond.

However, the theater audience, moved by their awareness of the plot and the underlining truth, rose in defence of the heroine; a similitude of angelic intervention in the affairs of the mortals, registered their anger at the persecutions trailing the celebrated achievements of the heroine. I am in the theater audience, watching soulfully at the attack against Stella Oduah, the heroine in the intricate plot of the Nigerian aviation sector drama.

I had thought that the created and funded crisis in the aviation sector woven around Stella Oduah would subside with the commissioned investigations involving the House of Representatives and Senate Committees as well as the Presidential Panel of Inquiry but the publication of the snippets of House of Representatives Committee’s investigation before formal presentation of their findings to the larger House collapsed my confidence and indicated to me that the persecutors of this lady of achievements are legion and everywhere.

Not too surprised because a N2.5bn war against an individual should indeed create this type of results which include secret disclosure of investigation committee findings to the media. I will not yield to the suggestions my mind is making about the motivation for the leakage of the Committee’s report but rather make postulations with the facts that are obvious to everyone in the theatre called Nigeria.

It is an incontrovertible fact that Stella Oduah’s appointment as Aviation minister has brought about developments in the sector. The immediate transformation of the sector and strengthening of the agencies under her ministry are valid testament to her understanding of the nation’s aviation sector. Recently, Stella Oduah brokered Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the State of Israel. The agreement is expected to pave the way for direct flights between both countries on reciprocity by designated airlines of both countries.

This initiative by Stella Oduah will put an end to the plights of Nigerians travelling to Israel, including Christian pilgrims, having to stop over in neighbouring countries before being finally transported to their destination. It is also important to observe that this effort will boost bilateral ties between both countries and promote economic collaborations.

Even though Stella Oduah in her capacity as the nation’s Aviation minister and the driver of the landmark initiative did not execute the agreement on behalf of the nation as would have been expected, the fact that the country extracts a value of such magnitude from her service should be a lasting consolation for her. After all, there had been Aviation Ministers and none had thought of addressing the age-long challenge that kept Nigerians stranded in foreign lands for decades.

Stella Oduah’s midas touch in the Aviation sector is visible to all, even to her rumbling detractors and persecutors, who are gagged by their diabolic quest to hijack the sector and whose eyes are not blind to the beauty of her achievements in the sector. Really, persecution is the only ploy they have left when a woman is determined to revamp an ailing sector into a state that supports economic growth and national development!

Unlike her accomplishments evidenced by the remodeling and reconstruction of towers, runways, resurfacing and installation of new weather systems at 19 airports across the country, the designation of Perishable Agro-Cargo Terminals in Jos, Yola, Asaba, Enugu, Akure, Makurdi and Lagos and for expansion to Akure, Bauchi, Ibadan, Calabar, Jalingo, Kano and Owerri to help rural farmers reap the benefits of existence of facilities such as airports in our country and her aggressive investment in Aviation safety facilities which have boosted the ratings of the aviation sector by the international community, persecutions against her are rooted in allegations not visible to the discerning eyes but clear only in the conscience of looters fixedly gazing at the soul of the aviation sector.

•Bakare, a public commentator


http://ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/opinion/columnist/137953-bakare-stella-oduah-travails-of-hard-working-public-servant

So what do you guys think?

Only objective discussions, no tribal e warriors allowed.

Do you agree this whole crisis was hatched by some hawks afraid of Princess Oduah's legendary achievements in the aviation sector or she is guilty as charged ?

I like Stellah.

It is obvious that some mischievous wealthy people in the club of the Wale Babalakins and that ilk of shady businessmen cum politicians invested time and money to create a scandal for the aviation minister, in order to get her out or at least slow down her rapid transformation of the sector and so continue their business of benefiting from the mess and dysfunction of this vital sector of the economy as usual.

Unfortunately, Nigerians are much wiser now and will not simply lay down and take their manipulations and media war against the aviation minister Princess Oduah.

All over the world, when Ministers are appointed, it is clear that being career politicians they must depend on the permanent secretaries and Director generals who are professional civil servants with many years of experience on protocols to do their job. What happens when these director generals go hand in gloves with faceless opposition politicians and con business men to frustrate the fabulous transformation in the aviation sector so as to return us to the status quo. Which is a shameful state of everything in our aviation sector. Nigeria is such a difficult place to develop in spite of her massive wealth because there are vested interests determined to keep Nigeria undeveloped so that they can continue to benefit from the mess and misery of the hapless Nigerians.

While I commend Ms Oduah's uncommon transformation in the aviation industry,I belong to the school of thought that a good person deserves to be punished for any wrongdoing he perpetrates.
That Stella is hardworking does not give her the temerity to engage in illegal act. For those who say she's been haunted,did she or did she not have any fault in this saga?
Where did she derive the power to approve money above N100m? Did she act in the best interest of Nigerians buying these cars?
What value have those cars added to the Nigerian aviation industry?

Nigeria can't be a good place if we do things this way, a corrupt individual will be exonorated with excuse of their performance, tribal or religion.
No big deal if somebody performed and he/she also put something in d bank, but when u are caught pls face the consiquencies urself. If we keep compromising with corruption like this, how are we going to fight it.
Incubent caught will say that the opposition are trying to mere him/her, opposition will say the government is after him/her because he/she is an opposition. A thief is a thief irrespective of his/her status. So let us put sentiment apart.

Ask david petraus

I have bad news for haters. Stella Oduah stays! There is nothing anybody can do about that.

Those who insist Stella Oduah should be sacked should ponder on the following:

1. How come there is suddenly billions of naira for the ministry of aviation to embark on the massive projects we can SEE at all the 22 Airports across the nation? Where was all these money going into in the last 2 decades that we SAW NO activity in the aviation sector?

2. The NASS did not approve any fund for Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the year 2013 but SEC has been running smoothly through its internally generated revenue. So if SEC can spend its internally generated revenue without NASS approval, why not NCAA? That notwithstanding, we now know that the NASS approved N240 million or so for NCAA to buy vehicles in 2013. We also know that NCAA has spent only about N52 million for the purchase of vehicles so far based on the funding arrangement with First Bank. The controversy now is that armoured cars was not expressly stated in the budget or that the procurement did not go through BPP or FEC.

3. What is the definition of corruption? How does the purchase of armoured cars amount to corruption? Does the breach of any law amount to corruption? Never! Corruption is used only when laws are breached to ensure personal gains. And as far as we know, all the vehicles bought by NCAA, FAAN, etc were bought in the name of the various organisations and NONE in the name of the minister. Also, the vehicles are meant for the operations of these agencies. So those who are in a hurry to nail the minister and crucify her should stop ABUSING the word "corruption".

4. Is there any proof that the cost of the 2 armoured was inflated? None. In fact, what we've seen so far are people desperate to nail the minister comparing the prices of apples and oranges.

In the conclusion, the minister of aviation may by guilty of administrative lapses or improper supervision as it concerns the purchase of those vehicles but she is NEVER guilty of corruption. If she is sacked today or tomorrow or she steps down anytime, she'll never go with vehicles bought or registered in the name of NCAA or FAAN. Oduah Stella is not synonymous with NCAA. NCAA armoured vehicles belongs to NCAA, not Oduah.

Spot on @article.
STELLA STAYS.

Mumugerian

Laja Laba: Mumugerian

What is mumu in what he said?

You are the one that needs to take the hatred out of your eyes to see good in a non-yoruba.One must not be a yoruba before you can acknowledge their good works. It is indeed a shame how yoruba people tried to gang up on Princess Oduah merely for doing her job and achieving great things that blocked their loop holes of stealing funds from the hitherto dysfunctional aviation sector.
You guys started with blaming her for the plane crash, then switched it to saying she called for the crash by saying it was an act of God, then quickly switched it again to say that she forced NCAA to purchase pleasure cars for her use. Only God knows the next lie you guys are cooking up right now in your infinite bag of tricks and lies.

Mind you the analysis was made by a detribalized yoruba man, most unlike you.

Make i book space now.

Ore_MI_22: So what do you guys think?

Only objective discussions, no tribal e warriors allowed.

Do you agree this whole crisis was hatched by some hawks afraid of Princess Oduah's legendary achievements in the aviation sector or she is guilty as charged ?

What do I think?

The author is a hungry person that has been paid.

Except one can get the author, who claims to be called Oluwole Bakare although I suspect that might not be the real name, to come on NL and debate with me, then there is no point debating further than that. Just accept the author is a cretinous person.

Sincere 9gerian: I have bad news for haters. Stella Oduah stays! There is nothing anybody can do about that.

Those who insist Stella Oduah should be sacked should ponder on the following:

1. How come there is suddenly billions of naira for the ministry of aviation to embark on the massive projects we can SEE at all the 22 Airports across the nation? Where was all these money going into in the last 2 decades that we SAW NO activity in the aviation sector?

2. The NASS did not approve any fund for Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the year 2013 but SEC has been running smoothly through its internally generated revenue. So if SEC can spend its internally generated revenue without NASS approval, why not NCAA? That notwithstanding, we now know that the NASS approved N240 million or so for NCAA to buy vehicles in 2013. We also know that NCAA has spent only about N52 million for the purchase of vehicles so far based on the funding arrangement with First Bank. The controversy now is that armoured cars was not expressly stated in the budget or that the procurement did not go through BPP or FEC.

3. What is the definition of corruption? How does the purchase of armoured cars amount to corruption? Does the breach of any law amount to corruption? Never! Corruption is used only when laws are breached to ensure personal gains. And as far as we know, all the vehicles bought by NCAA, FAAN, etc were bought in the name of the various organisations and NONE in the name of the minister. Also, the vehicles are meant for the operations of these agencies. So those who are in a hurry to nail the minister and crucify her should stop ABUSING the word "corruption".

4. Is there any proof that the cost of the 2 armoured was inflated? None. In fact, what we've seen so far are people desperate to nail the minister comparing the prices of apples and oranges.

In the conclusion, the minister of aviation may by guilty of administrative lapses or improper supervision as it concerns the purchase of those vehicles but she is NEVER guilty of corruption. If she is sacked today or tomorrow or she steps down anytime, she'll never go with vehicles bought or registered in the name of NCAA or FAAN. Oduah Stella is not synonymous with NCAA. NCAA armoured vehicles belongs to NCAA, not Oduah.

You are a person!

So a Minister with such, as you claimed, "administrative lapses or improper supervision" should stay and manage the, as you claimed, "billions of naira for the ministry of aviation to embark on the massive projects"?

You are a person!

So we should leave such an irresponsible person (whom you claim is not corrupt, just incompetent) to waste more billions by paying 4 times the true value of the projects?

What i LOVE so much about Princess Oduah is that she did not give in to blackmail and intimidation from a segment of the press. Although she was already a multimillionaire before she agree to serve under GEJ's government, if she had resigned out of anger or her ego, the faceless proponents of the media blackmail would have won and they will then be emboldened to continue to use that tactics against any public office holder who they didn't approve of.

[size=15pt]GOD BLESS YOU PRINCESS ODUAH FOR PUTTING THEIR EVIL PLOTS TO SHAME![/size]

Chima_Agbalajob: What i LOVE so much about Princess Oduah is that she did not give in to blackmail and intimidation from a segment of the press. Although she was already a multimillionaire before she agree to serve under GEJ's government, if she had resigned out of anger or her ego, the faceless proponents of the media blackmail would have won and they will then be emboldened to continue to use that tactics against any public office holder who they didn't approve of.

[size=15pt]GOD BLESS YOU PRINCESS ODUAH FOR PUTTING THEIR EVIL PLOTS TO SHAME![/size]

You are a person!

Sagamite:

You are a person!

So a Minister with such, as you claimed, "administrative lapses or improper supervision" should stay and manage the, as you claimed, "billions of naira for the ministry of aviation to embark on the massive projects"?

You are a person!

So we should leave such an irresponsible person (whom you claim is not corrupt, just incompetent) to waste more billions by paying 4 times the true value of the projects?

Where were you, a still-born maggot, when goons such as Fami Fani-Kayode and Olusegun Agagu were the ministers of aviation? These moronic dingbats were not only pitifully incompetent but publicly acclaimed corruptive characters.

Screwballs such as you and bloody ilk who knew nothing about basic denotation of the word-corruption had failed to hang the silly tag over Stella Oduah's neck. Now it seems noteworthy for jackasses to explore the lanes of incompetence. What a hammerhead.

DerideGull:


Where were you, a still-born maggot, when goons such as Fami Fani-Kayode and Olusegun Agagu were the ministers of aviation? These moronic dingbats were not only pitifully incompetent but publicly acclaimed corruptive characters.

Screwballs such as you and bloody ilk who knew nothing about basic denotation of the word-corruption had failed to hang the silly tag over Stella Oduah's neck. Now it seems noteworthy for jackasses to explore the lanes of incompetence. What a hammerhead.

You are a pure person!

Why are you telling me about Fami Fani-Kayode and Olusegun Agagu, cretin?

/\/\/\
Shebi i made it clear that i want objective analysis here. Only coconut heads use foul language on other people because they cannot articulate their argument.

Please those who have nothing upstairs should stay away from this thread. I just want the intelligent people on both sides of the argument to dissect the issues raised in the article.
I thank una o!

seunfly: Nigeria can't be a good place if we do things this way, a corrupt individual will be exonorated with excuse of their performance, tribal or religion.
No big deal if somebody performed and he/she also put something in d bank, but when u are caught pls face the consiquencies urself. If we keep compromising with corruption like this, how are we going to fight it.
Incubent caught will say that the opposition are trying to mere him/her, opposition will say the government is after him/her because he/she is an opposition. A thief is a thief irrespective of his/her status. So let us put sentiment apart.

200 gbosa for u
expecially for the bolded part

Ore_MI_22: /\/\/\
Shebi i made it clear that i want objective analysis here. Only coconut heads use foul language on other people because they cannot articulate their argument.

Please those who have nothing upstairs should stay away from this thread. I just want the intelligent people on both sides of the argument to dissect the issues raised in the article.
I thank una o!

You are a person!

If you think you can come here as a paid agent, I will send you back to you employers to tell them "E be like say this job go hard for NL o".

These schmucks are at it again. We know she did this and that but let me ask you, did she do all the afore mentioned with her personal money? No! She is simply doing what she was chosen to do. I know most of the mo.rons who come here to shout "stella must stay" only do so to make the yorubas angry.

kolawaxxy: These schmucks are at it again. We know she did this and that but let me ask you, did she do all the afore mentioned with her personal money? No! She is simply doing what she was chosen to do. I know most of the mo.rons who come here to shout "stella must stay" only do so to make the yorubas angry.

This guy said it all:

https://www.nairaland.com/1506744/indian-bosses-nigeria-bad/11#19498986

To products of a failed education system, mediocrity is an achievement. And that fucktardism is what the paid author of this article is trying to play on.

kolawaxxy: These schmucks are at it again. We know she did this and that but let me ask you, did she do all the afore mentioned with her personal money? No! She is simply doing what she was chosen to do. I know most of the mo.rons who come here to shout "stella must stay" only do so to make the yorubas angry.

@ the bolded,
[b]You know, Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country of 170 million people and over 250 tribes and languages. Why is it always only the YORUBAS that must be angry? Are they the only group in Nigeria? Why not Ijaws, Igalas, Idoma,Igbira,Berom or Efik? Why ALWAYS YORUBAS?

Why are Yorubas opposed to any other Nigerian who is not from yoruba tribe being the country's aviation minister? What are they really scared of and what are they hiding from other Nigerians ?

Your statement alone goes to confirm without any doubt that the entire so called N255 million bullet proof scandal was entirely planned by the yoruba cabal in the aviation sector and blamed it on the minister in order to force her to leave or be sacked, so that they can continue to ruin the aviation sector. unfortunately for you, Nigerians know better now and aren't easily deceived by your antics and the faceless liars at sahara lie-porters or your ilk changing monikers at NL from sagamite,agbameta to kolawole or whatever.[/b]

cjrane:

@ the bolded,
[b]You know, Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country of 170 million people and over 250 tribes and languages. Why is it always only the YORUBAS that must be angry? Are they the only group in Nigeria? Why not Ijaws, Igalas, Idoma,Igbira,Berom or Efik? Why ALWAYS YORUBAS?

Why are Yorubas opposed to any other Nigerian who is not from yoruba tribe being the country's aviation minister? What are they really scared of and what are they hiding from other Nigerians ?

Your statement alone goes to confirm without any doubt that the entire so called N255 million bullet proof scandal was entirely planned by the yoruba cabal in the aviation sector and blamed it on the minister in order to force her to leave or be sacked, so that they can continue to ruin the aviation sector. unfortunately for you, Nigerians know better now and aren't easily deceived by your antics and the faceless liars at sahara lie-porters or your ilk changing monikers at NL from sagamite,agbameta to kolawole or whatever.[/b]

You are a person!

What survey did you take to come to the conclusion Yorubas are angry and other tribes are not?

Cretinous product of a failed education system.

^^^^
@Sagamite
No man, you sound more like a product of a failed education system. Screaming you are a person on every speech is a sign of improper education.
You know it's been long found by qualified research that folks with very low IQ are more likely to make use of derogatory terms. Clearly, the more profanity, the lower the IQ.

But, I sincerely don't think you have a low IQ. I think you just lacked love as a child. Must have had a hard life growing up.

PapaBrowne: ^^^^
@Sagamite
No man, you sound more like a product of a failed education system. Screaming you are a person on every speech is a sign of improper education.
You know it's been long found by qualified research that folks with very low IQ are more likely to make use of derogatory terms. Clearly, the more profanity, the lower the IQ.

But, I sincerely don't think you have a low IQ. I think you just lacked love as a child. Must have had a hard life growing up.

You are a person!

When I call people fucktards, do you think I am wrong?

It is not profanity, it is assistance in self-discovery. It is an avant garde and efficient approach in educating Nigerians like you. I do it consciously. Your IQ is lower than my age divided by 3.

well, why is it only when a particular sector starts performing that allegations corruption starts coming to the public domain.

it happened to Prof. barth Nnaji, the sec boss oteh, farouk of the house of rep to an extent and now it's Stella.

the truth is that there's some vested interests in this sectors that the reformation is affecting and their only way of barking back is pulling down the reformers.

don't get me wrong, corruption is a bad thing that should be eliminated but when it is targeted at ppl leading reformations in different sections of the economy then there's something wrong.

obayaya: well, why is it only when a particular sector starts performing that allegations corruption starts coming to the public domain.

it happened to Prof. barth Nnaji, the sec boss oteh, farouk of the house of rep to an extent and now it's Stella.

the truth is that there's some vested interests in this sectors that the reformation is affecting and their only way of barking back is pulling down the reformers.

don't get me wrong, corruption is a bad thing that should be eliminated but when it is targeted at ppl leading reformations in different sections of the economy then there's something wrong.

Why can't a person lead reformation and not be corrupt simultaneously?

Does it make sense in your head that a person fighting corruption and trying to stop corruption engage is corrupt and shady businesses?

Such person should now turn around and blame "victimisation" for their own downfall after they are caught for corruption?

Sagamite:

You are a person!

When I call people fucktards, do you think I am wrong?

It is not profanity, it is assistance in self-discovery. It is an avant garde and efficient approach in educating Nigerians like you. I do it consciously. Your IQ is lower than my age divided by 3.

Don't worry. I don't get miffed at your insults. I actually do sympathize with you. Cos I imagine the kind of environment you must have grown up and how it must have molded your outlook. Fight because your neighbour is trying to take your bathing water. Curse because you neighbour's toilet is leaking into your bedroom. I can really imagine.
However I am sure you are in a better place. But if you are still struggling with hardship, I'm pretty sure things will be well with you soon as the economy is looking up.

PapaBrowne:

Don't worry. I don't get miffed at your insults. I actually do sympathize with you. Cos I imagine the kind of environment you must have grown up and how it must have molded your outlook. Fight because your neighbour is trying to take your bathing water. Curse because you neighbour's toilet is leaking into your bedroom. I can really imagine.
However I am sure you are in a better place. But if you are still struggling with hardship, I'm pretty sure things will be well with you soon as the economy is looking up.

You are a person. I am not lying.

I know people like you will struggle with the unknown. You only understand what you have been told to do before.

Sagamite:

Why can't a person lead reformation and not be corrupt simultaneously?

Does it make sense in your head that a person fighting corruption and trying to stop corruption engage is corrupt and shady businesses?

Such person should now turn around and blame "victimisation" for their own downfall after they are caught for corruption?

I get your point but the truth is most public office holders in this country engage in such excesses.