.

^^^^^^
like u said let's not derail the thread but ignore mugabe's gra gra. I dislike leaders who can't own their failures. If Mugabe is such a great leader why is Zimbabwe not doing better than the all inclusive south Africa.

GEJ's list of crimes against the Nigerian people keeps getting longer and is making me seriously uncomfortable. For a man who came in following popular agitation against the Turai regime, he has been a huge disappointment in standing up for the truth and rule of law.
Here are some of the major failures of this young regime and we are sure more will come:
1.) Retaining and refusing to carry out the court-ordered investigation of the customs boss who has a case of forgery and examination fraud hanging over him
2.) Foot-dragging and refusing to prosecute the key actors who were involved in the Halliburton bribe scheme just like his predecessor.
3.) Refusing to call his wife to order after she insulted and embarrassed a sitting state governor in Okrika, Rivers State
4.) Ordering the purchase of 4 new aircraft even when many key sectors of the economy need serious attention
5.) Allowing the various excesses of his wife to go unchecked, for example, the rice distribution tragedy at Abuja International Conference Centre, shutdown of Abuja because she was launching an NGO, etc
6.) Not fulfilling his promise of evaluating the performance of his ministers and presenting a scorecard when he told them "to hit the ground running" after he appointed them earlier in the year.
7.) Unpresidential flip-flopping and condoning the illegal actions of the minority faction of the Ogun State House of Assembly for political reasons and refusing to provide police protection for them to sit ostensibly because he needs the support of Gbenga Daniel to pick the PDP ticket.
8.) Condoning the police disruption of the planned meeting of south east leaders and releasing the tame and insulting statement that he does not instruct the security agents on how to do their job.
9.) Unpresidential statement exonerating MEND from the October 1 bomb blasts
10.) For a leader continuously proclaiming his commitment to free and fair elections to surreptitiously insert an anti-democratic clause into the Electoral Act (whose only ground for review was to accommodate the timing of electoral activities to favour INEC) is not only selfish and hypocritical, it is actually dangerous.

Sometimes I pity Jonathan's supporters as he continues to let them down and keeps making indefensible blunders no sooner than they have recovered from a previous one. I think it is obvious that GEJ is weak and indecisive.

Jonathan is weak, one question for buhari, were you that strong when you were in Power?

We all know who was doing your job then.

So what Buhari is trying to tell us is that any bill he sends to the national assembly must be accepted or he will show us that he is not weak. Guess he thinks we are still in the military era.

This is one of the reasons why he can rule this nation again, he thinks it is okay to want to jail every corrupt individual in the country, he is yet to understand what democratic tenets are and is yet to understand the laws of power.

thanks marvix for your post # 28 partly quoted above.
Buhari, IBB, Gusau and OBJ being ex-military dictators only understand BULLYING tactics.
We must say NEVER AGAIN to these BRUTES.
Jonathan;s main selling point is that his body languagae is that of a democrat as much as possible within the 9ja context hence the gradual opening up of the democratic space to allow dissent and discourse on national issues. the era of na-oga-know-all don dey pass.

Osama10:

Jonathan is weak, one question for buhari, were you that strong when you were in Power?

We all know who was doing your job then.

Actually, it can be argued that it takes a person with strong leadership traits to do what you are implying there that Buhari did -- allow his VP power to run the nation, while he was president. Remember what IBB did to his own deputy? Remember what became of Atiku when he spoke up against OBJ?

jason12345:

gbam
SO WHAT?
if a president is strong like abacha, is that better for us?
a president we can't not voice out to because he is strong does that even make sense
if he is weak, we love it like that. at least he can relate with us(the mass) 
nigerians!!! u ppl don't know what u want

It matters a whole lot because, if you have been able to put two and two together by now, you would have realized that a strong leader will ensure progress while a weak one will only take us another turn on the wheel, and no progress to show for it all. I am not sure if you are claiming amnesia or something but remember Yar adua? Yeah, that is what a weak leader does to a nation -- he takes you on a rollercoaster ride to nowhere, and by the time you realize you are four years older, you find out also that your life and situation has not improved much in that time. If going another turn is what you want at that, then feel free to continue convincing yourself that there is nothing wrong with having a weak leader.

By the way, STRONG in no way means DESPOTIC. Abacha was not a strong leader -- he came in at a time when Nigerians were at their weakest and he took advantage of that to his own benefit. Compare Abacha's crimes to IBB's and you would quickly realize he was not really as bad but he instilled more fear by pretending to be worse.

@ leadership qualities, Buhari is right _ Jonathan is weak!

Kobojunkie:

It matters a whole lot because, if you have been able to put two and two together by now, you would have realized that a strong leader will ensure progress while a weak one will only take us another turn on the wheel, and no progress to show for it all. I am not sure if you are claiming amnesia or something but remember Yar adua? Yeah, that is what a weak leader does to a nation -- he takes you on a rollercoaster ride to nowhere, and by the time you realize you are four years older, you find out also that your life and situation has not improved much in that time. If going another turn is what you want at that, then feel free to continue convincing yourself that there is nothing wrong with having a weak leader.

By the way, STRONG in no way means DESPOTIC. Abacha was not a strong leader -- he came in at a time when Nigerians were at their weakest and he took advantage of that to his own benefit. Compare Abacha's crimes to IBB's and you would quickly realize he was not really as bad but he instilled more fear by pretending to be worse.

I feel very bad at the bolded section.

Yaradua did a lot for this country that we are together as a nation is an achievement of Yaradua.

Yaradua in his weakness made the courts stronger, insisting that all their orders be obeyed no matter what, never interfering in their activities especially when you consider from the background we were coming from he even insisted that EFCC obey all court orders and follow due process in prosecuting their case, this to me is a solid foundation for the rule of law in the land.

A weak Yaradua was able to reverse the evils that Obj left us by selling refineries that are working now under d govt, reversed prices of petroleum products with a promise never to increase it unless labour approves and agrees with the increase this promise he kept until his death, the VAT increase was reversed.

Yaradua played politics without bitterness as we dint hear of high profile assasination of opponets while he was there, He was a listening president ever ready to go back on any decision he makes once there is a better arguement.

Yaradua is the father of modern democracy in Nigeria because he lived by the principles, he never abrogated too much power to himself or the presidency.

The president is weak in this context according to Buhari because a bill that had his selfish interest was thrown out by the senate.

He could have made the bill to also favour the senators say for instance include that senators wives and girlfriends become automatic delegates to conventions and pass across some ghana must go to the id1. ots that congregate in the NASS then we could perceive him as strong.

All the people who send bills to the NASS either as NGOs or civil societies always have something in it for themselves even the senators always treat bills that they stand to gain from with expediency, this is obvious.

Buhari actually does not understand democracy he thinks the president is all in all, but in democracy that is not supposed to be, If buhari understands politics and governance and he is really interested in serving the people he would ask his people to send him to the Senate or he would have asked Yaradua to allow him take charge of the anti corruption unit when Yaradua was asking for a govt of natnal unity.

All being said the President is a human being and if he has the power to increase his leverage y shouldnt he?

And you guys still seriously believe that Jonathief earned his Ph.D the right way

guddsid:

when Obama visited Ghana he said something really really deep "Africa doesn't need strong men it needs strong institutions" . Buhari can be rambo for all i care but the country sucked while he was in Power , This few months with GEJ there has been some improvement . Thumbs up GEJ .

Your arguement contradict and defeats itself. Nigerian political Parties are institutions also. If anything , many will argue that Political Parties are the bedrock institution of democratic nations because they produce those who lead the nation. What , to you, does a strong political Party mean as a fundamentally important Nigerian institution? Surely,  strong political Parties are not created through Jonathan's anti-democratic, self-serving and downright condemnable action. You guys should try to see the big picture . Democracy would have being weakened with Jonathan's actions because , even as Mr. President was thinking selfishly, it would not be him alone that would benefit unfairly. Governors would too. When we then have a scenario where Nigerians can gain the wrong Governors and President I really don't see how anyone can fail to see that Jonathan's action was dangerous, unpatriotic, anti-democratic and indefensible. Jonathan was  , exactly like OBJ and as many of us have argued, happy to assist Nigerians gain usurping misrulers everywhere as long as he gets what he wants . That is a very dangerous consideration for the democratic agitations of Nigerians.

How do the likes of Alao Akala retain power when they are unpopular leaders who are actually hideous misrulers? It is because they perpetuate themselves in power , like GEJ is attempting to do, through partisan and cynical use of the power of executive incumbency. Are you fans of jonathan not at all concerned that when Jonathan had the chance to strenghten our democracy he chose to jeopardise it by acting selfishly and entirely for his own gains alone? Is this the man to take us forward?

.

guddsid:

No they are not ! Its the lies of the politicians that have made most Nigerians think that political parties are National institutions and that's why these days people clamour for their "turn " in being the chairman of a political party and then make reference to their zone being marginalized , like the political parties are now national issues . Pres. Obama statement is directed to Financial institutions , educational institutions , judicial institutions and medical institutions , basically if the institution makes your life better then thats the Institution Mr Obama is talking about and except if you are involved in the nations politics then i don't see how Nigeria's political "Institutions" makes your life better , Political parties are not to be mixed up with National Issues / Institutions

You GEJ fans are always interpreting issues partisanly to suit your blind defense of a highly flawed candidate. An Institution is defined as:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/institution

an organization or establishment founded for a specific purpose, such as a hospital, church, company, or college

Political Parties are therefore institutions , important ones at that, set up for specific purposes. I am surprised that , in the need to argue GEJ's case, you have now developed mind-reading skills that enables you to fathom Obama's thoughts to know conclusively that a politician will not include political Parties in his analysis , as pertinent institutions, when he talks of better Governance through strong institutions.

then i don't see how Nigeria's political "Institutions" makes your life better , Political parties are not to be mixed up with National Issues / Institutions

Can you become a Governor or President without votes? No !!!! You must join a political Party and then be screened. Political Parties are therefore very important institutions to Nigerians with how , if they are truly democratic, only the best individuals should become candidates to contest for lofty positions. All Nigerians want political Parties to be strong institutions that facilitate the emergence of the best leaders. Jonathan wants to undermine that consideration so that mediocrity may perpetuate itself in power to the detriment of Nigeria. Many , in the past , have acted like Jonathan and gotten away with it. It is the reason why Nigeria has so many misruling usurpers in power.

If GEJ is weak what is Buhari? A man who was led by his deputy; no intelligence, no focus. Buhari & Idiagbon unleashed a reign of terror unrivalled by any Nigerian leader in the annals of history. Jamace, guddsid & some others have said it all. Its a natural process of democracy if the President's bill is not assented to. The few months GEJ came on board heralded some improvement. He runs one of the most open, transparent governments we have witnessed. Can this be said about Buhari's Administration? That nitwit that does not know his left from his right dare refer to someone as weak, when his own deputy was at the forefront & himself always trailing behind like the ode, olodo, that he is. To worsen matters, he is strategising with Ibb, the man who sent him packing from office, to try to pull GEJ down. Does that not tell you Nigerians this can never be your leader? Of course they who are pulling stunts to make GEJ unpopular have failed. If God says GEJ should come in as President come 2011, all who are fighting him will bury their sorry heads in shame. Long Live GEJ.

If GEJ is weak what is Buhari? A man who was led by his deputy; no intelligence, no focus. Buhari & Idiagbon unleashed a reign of terror unrivalled by any Nigerian leader in the annals of history. Jamace, guddsid & some others have said it all. Its a natural process of democracy if the President's bill is not assented to. The few months GEJ came on board heralded some improvement. He runs one of the most open, transparent governments we have witnessed. Can this be said about Buhari's Administration? That nitwit that does not know his left from his right dare refer to someone as weak, when his own deputy was at the forefront & himself always trailing behind like the ode, olodo, that he is. To worsen matters, he is strategising with Ibb, the man who sent him packing from office, to try to pull GEJ down. Does that not tell you Nigerians this can never be your leader? Of course they who are pulling stunts to make GEJ unpopular have failed. If God says GEJ should come in as President come 2011, all who are fighting him will bury their sorry heads in shame. Long Live GEJ.

@Gbawe, your dislike or want for Ribadu to be president is making you very unobjective in your comments.

The president was approached by INEC that they require an amendment to the act and would want him to assist, the govs and others who have something to gain and wanted leverage came seeking that he includes the appointees as delegates to party primaries and he goes ahead to oblige them.

This is only a democratic process.

Did the national assembly not sponsor a bill for an increase in their allowances and within 24hrs got it through the 1st, 2nd and 3rd reading and got it approved, the NASS are only serving their interest not national interests, this is obvious because they have ambitions to contest either as govs of their states or president in the future and dont want to be handicapped.

To conclude in your words that political parties are institutions because they are platforms for bringing about leaders is a fallacy.

Gbawe Ribadu can also be frustrated by NASS when he wants to fight corruption if he ever makes it to the presidency.

Jonathan is not weak, he is only being political and a very good student of the Laws of Power.

This was the same way a lot of people condemned him as weak in the wake of the Yaradua saga yet he went on to become president and no one could quarrel about it or riot against his acsension, if it had been a Buhari, Atiku or Ribadu they would have bungled it and set this nation on fire just to interpret the constitution that none of them wrote.

Delegates no matter how they get to the primaries are always buyable, and no law has excluded the appointees from seeking nominations as delegates from their constituencies and with promises of appointments and contracts and outright sharing of cash which Jonathan can do very well with little effort he would get all the delegates.

Politics is not about good or bad because the opposite of good is not always bad in politics so also the opposite of bad is not always good in politics there are in betweens a lot of compromise and concessions.

If you can not compromise you have no buisness in politics just stand aside and be a Judge

GEJ is not weak, i was only careful to get what he want first
Buhari said the wrong thing.

@Gbawe
@yungichou
@jabbok
@Mr Duerulu
@globalaid
@HAH
@greateros
@fredoooooo
@keemness
@pappij
@orbaxy
@Ikengawo
@hercules
@OKEYCHIVIV
@yomalex
@Kabikala
@Osama10
@azeezengr
@akwaowoudo
@marvix

You have all spoken (written?or posted?) well.

you guys seems to be in touch with the reality that can help save and shape this country for the better.

genuine progress has eluded Nigeria because of our collective inability to face reality where it matters most.

we feel threatened by reality so we make every excuses, in most cases starting with accusations (and outright attack) of perceived opponents (enemies), whipping up sentiments on simple issues to garner sectional or tribal sympathy(ies), crying wolf where there is none, covering a clear atmosphere with dust of selfish sentiments; masking the main issues and finally loosing track of the real situation that need to be corrected - thereby making bad situations worse, just to keep our kin in (or on ?) power.

what is the result? all of us are paying for it.

backlog of unsolved issues, more confusion, weak leadership, weak followership, sycophancy, weak institutions, manipulations, corruption, laziness, buck passing, retrogression, illiteracy, unemployable graduates, unemployment, poverty, hunger, begging, thuggery, area boys (also area fathers, papas, babas, and mamas) unpatriotism, lying, accusations and counter accusations, militancy, rigging, ballot snatching, religious crises, ethnic crises, stealing in churches and mosques, robbery, bribery, bombing, kidnapping, molestation of innocent citizens, brutality, killing, self-pity, cheating, injustice, poor renumerations, strikes, death traps in place of roads, diseases, religion without spiritualism, unrighteousness, unfaithfulness etc, etc, ,  (excuse my use of verb tenses here).


The earlier we turn to reality, face it, do the do ables, accept our weaknesses and work on them, the better for us collectively; otherwise we would just wake up one day (if we are lucky -or unlucky- to be among the living) and Nigeria, the country we have built on falsehood, deceit and fabrications will be no more; it has been overtaken by reality. Then it will be too late to turn back the hand of time.

Remember, deceit can only make flowers but can not bear fruits! you blind supporters of gej (and others) please be warned.

pls go back to history Buhari could ve b best candidate ds country cud ever had! there is no doubt that our incubent president is very wk! plpe complain abt Yar'Adua can u see hw wk is succesor is, it require alot of hard words and iron hands b4 one can control this country to some xtent.

Is this a question of weakness?
Its ALL about desperation. it shows wat people (JEG & OBJ)
can do to retain power.
who doesnt no dat dis is OBJ's brain plus EFFC's list of a tin.
JEG or JEGA all na Birds of a feather

Anybody who think Jonathan is weak, please tell us what you would have done if you were in his shoes.

My friend Mallam Buhari is a very very strong leader! When he contested in 2003 he bullied Rochas Okorocha who was the frontliner in their party, ANPP; he did not allow any democratic process complete its course in the selection of presidential candidate in ANPP back then. Currently, my friend is the sole presidential candidate of his part, the CDC, where no congress has been held and he is already the candidate. Were he in GEJ's shoes, he would have decreed that all NASS members be arrested for throwing out his bill. He would have silenced all dissenting voices and closed all media houses, including NL, and clamp all NL posters in jail without trial. Mallam Buhari would have decreed SHARIA as the only law in Nigeria. My friend Mallam Buhari is a strong leader indeed!

Kobojunkie:

Actually, it can be argued that it takes a person with strong leadership traits to do what you are implying there that Buhari did -- allow his VP power to run the nation, while he was president. Remember what IBB did to his own deputy? Remember what became of Atiku when he spoke up against OBJ?

+1

@Gbawe
@yungichou
@jabbok
@Mr Duerulu
@globalaid
@HAH
@greateros
@fredoooooo
@keemness
@pappij
@orbaxy
@Ikengawo
@hercules
@OKEYCHIVIV
@yomalex
@Kabikala
@Osama10
@azeezengr
@akwaowoudo
@marvix

You have all spoken (written?or posted?) well.

you guys seems to be in touch with the reality that can help save and shape this country for the better.

genuine progress has eluded Nigeria because of our collective inability to face reality where it matters most.

we feel threatened by reality so we make every excuses, in most cases starting with accusations (and outright attack) of perceived opponents (enemies), whipping up sentiments on simple issues to garner sectional or tribal sympathy(ies), crying wolf where there is none, covering a clear atmosphere with dust of selfish sentiments; masking the main issues and finally loosing track of the real situation that need to be corrected - thereby making bad situations worse, just to keep our kin in (or on ?) power.

what is the result? all of us are paying for it.

backlog of unsolved issues, more confusion, weak leadership, weak followership, sycophancy, weak institutions, manipulations, corruption, laziness, buck passing, retrogression, illiteracy, unemployable graduates, unemployment, poverty, hunger, begging, thuggery, area boys (also area fathers, papas, babas, and mamas) unpatriotism, lying, accusations and counter accusations, militancy, rigging, ballot snatching, religious crises, ethnic crises, stealing in churches and mosques, robbery, bribery, bombing, kidnapping, molestation of innocent citizens, brutality, killing, self-pity, cheating, injustice, poor renumerations, strikes, death traps in place of roads, diseases, religion without spiritualism, unrighteousness, unfaithfulness etc, etc, , (excuse my use of verb tenses here).


The earlier we turn to reality, face it, do the do ables, accept our weaknesses and work on them, the better for us collectively; otherwise we would just wake up one day (if we are lucky -or unlucky- to be among the living) and Nigeria, the country we have built on falsehood, deceit and fabrications will be no more; it has been overtaken by reality. Then it will be too late to turn back the hand of time.

Remember, deceit can only make flowers but can not bear fruits! you blind supporters of gej (and others) please be warned.

The bolded are cancers caused by previous regimes. It will take time to heal them.

Those saying GEJ is weak should seriously educate themselves on the differences between a democratic government and an autocratic or dictatorial style of governance.

GEJ can not act like RAMBO in a democratic set-up.

I can bet you that by febuary next year jonathan will have imposed himself on pdp against the will of the northan faction of the pdp. when that happens be sure that the north will vote buhari.all buhari needs is northan votes and he will be home and dry. jonathan will never be president!

kcng:

I can bet you that by febuary next year jonathan will have imposed himself on pdp against the will of the northan faction of the pdp. when that happens be sure  that the north will vote buhari.all buhari needs is northan votes and he will be home and dry.

Nobody can be president with only the northern votes, according to the present constitution a presidential candidate most be voted for by 2/3 of the states. 2/3 of 36 is 24. The last time I checked there were less than 24 states in Northern Nigeria.

[Quote]jonathan will never be president![/quote]

What is he now?

jaybee:

@Gbawe
@yungichou
@jabbok
@Mr Duerulu
@globalaid
@HAH
@greateros
@fredoooooo
@keemness
@pappij
@orbaxy
@Ikengawo
@hercules
@OKEYCHIVIV
@yomalex
@Kabikala
@Osama10
@azeezengr
@akwaowoudo
@marvix

You have all spoken (written?or posted?) well.

you guys seems to be in touch with the reality that can help save and shape this country for the better.

genuine progress has eluded Nigeria because of our collective inability to face reality where it matters most.

we feel threatened by reality so we make every excuses, in most cases starting with accusations (and outright attack) of perceived opponents (enemies), whipping up sentiments on simple issues to garner sectional or tribal sympathy(ies), crying wolf where there is none, covering a clear atmosphere with dust of selfish sentiments; masking the main issues and finally loosing track of the real situation that need to be corrected - thereby making bad situations worse, just to keep our kin in (or on ?) power.

what is the result? all of us are paying for it.

backlog of unsolved issues, more confusion, weak leadership, weak followership, sycophancy, weak institutions, manipulations, corruption, laziness, buck passing, retrogression, illiteracy, unemployable graduates, unemployment, poverty, hunger, begging, thuggery, area boys (also area fathers, papas, babas, and mamas) unpatriotism, lying, accusations and counter accusations, militancy, rigging, ballot snatching, religious crises, ethnic crises, stealing in churches and mosques, robbery, bribery, bombing, kidnapping, molestation of innocent citizens, brutality, killing, self-pity, cheating, injustice, poor renumerations, strikes, death traps in place of roads, diseases, religion without spiritualism, unrighteousness, unfaithfulness etc, etc, ,  (excuse my use of verb tenses here).


The earlier we turn to reality, face it, do the do ables, accept our weaknesses and work on them, the better for us collectively; otherwise we would just wake up one day (if we are lucky -or unlucky- to be among the living) and Nigeria, the country we have built on falsehood, deceit and fabrications will be no more; it has been overtaken by reality. Then it will be too late to turn back the hand of time.

Remember, deceit can only make flowers but can not bear fruits! you blind supporters of gej (and others) please be warned.

Don't make use of my identity to garnish your ill-intent drive. Most of the qualities you've rendered aren't that of Jonathan but that of past leaders mostly from northern extraction. I make bold and say that the major problem with Jonathan is that he is scared of some self-assumed sacred cows. Thus, he is afraid of those behind the mask and as such renders him ineffective. Instead of messing around, i opine he goes on leave and use the period for leadership orientation. My words!

akwaowoudo:

Don't make use of my identity to garnish your ill-intent drive. Most of the qualities you've rendered aren't that of Jonathan but that of past leaders mostly from northern extraction. I make bold and say that the major problem with Jonathan is that he is scared of some self-assumed sacred cows. Thus, he is afraid of those behind the mask and as such renders him ineffective. Instead of messing around, i opine he goes on leave and use the period for leadership orientation. My words!

Men get out of here, GEJ is the most incompetent president Nigeria ever had, i don't even know where he bought his Phd from. Did you ever heard of him during Yar Adua when he was vice President? The man has no clue and will dearly fail this country, i agree he has luck but his luck is a bad one for this country. Moreover it is high time you motherf8ckers stop blaming the north since GEJ himself has found himself surrounded with Niger Deltans who used to be Northerners arss lickers. ie: Edwin Clarck . Jonathan needs to thank the northerners who made him who he is today, cause they the ones who made him governor and vice president.

Gayigaskia:

Men get out of here, GEJ is the most incompetent president Nigeria ever had, i don't even know where he bought his Phd from. Did you ever heard of him during Yar Adua when he was vice President? The man has no clue and will dearly fail this country, i agree he has luck but his luck is a bad one for this country. Moreover it is high time you motherf8ckers stop blaming the north since GEJ himself has found himself surrounded with Niger Deltans who used to be Northerners arss lickers. ie: Edwin Clarck . Jonathan needs to thank the northerners who made him who he is today, cause they the ones who made him governor and vice president.

If the North made an incompetent man to be president then the North must not be given the opportunity to decide who rules this Country ever again.

Gayigaskia:

. . . since GEJ himself has found himself surrounded with Niger Deltans who used to be Northerners arss lickers. ie: Edwin Clarck . Jonathan needs to thank the northerners who made him who he is today, cause they the ones who made him governor and vice president.

Waoh! You mean the not-even-one millitary ruler from the north that could speak good english and or the northerners mending shoes at my place? Or the northern sugar cane hawkers found everywhere in N'delta and or the northern herdsmen found in the south? Which?