Blazay:

^
Atiku can end all that.

^
I have followed him for a long time now. From his days at Custom, to how he nearly scuttled OBJ's ambition in 1999 to now.
I like his doggedness.
He can do something, if he wants to, but I doubt it.

That said, he may never rule Nigeria, as long as OBJ is alive.
I still feel that IBB will find a way back to Asorock, if not in 2011, then 2015

Something tells me the next president is going to be IBB.

fstranger:

^
I have followed him for a long time now. From his days at Custom, to how he nearly scuttled OBJ's ambition in 1999 to now.
I like his doggedness.
He can do something, if he wants to, but I doubt it.

That said, he may never rule Nigeria, as long as OBJ is alive.
I still feel that IBB will find a way back to Asorock, if not in 2011, then 2015

Something tells me the next president is going to be IBB.

Something tells me IBB is gonna die a cursed, slow and painful death. The blood of the innocent will drag him into the abyss.

Now let us have a look at the man Jonathan.
Supposed to be better than Atiku huh?



http://www.onlinenigeria.com/links/LinksReadPrint.asp?blurb=640

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Ph.D



PROFILE OF HIS EXCELLENCY GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN Ph.D.



Dr.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (see CV), is a man of great honour and outstanding integrity. He is true statesman, whose meritocracy, selfless services and exemplary leadership qualities bear eloquent testimonies to his professional and political successes



His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a man with great quest for knowledge holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honours, University of Port Harcourt, Master of Science (M.Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy



(Ph.D.) from University of Port Harcourt respectively. He is seasoned administrator, an academic, a democrat, and an accomplished technocrat and indeed the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.



Dr.Jonathan holds an Honorary Fellowship of the Nigeria Environmental Society (NES), Fellow of the Public Administrators of Nigeria (PAN),



Fellow of the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA), Bona Fide Member Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON). awarded "Best Performing Deputy Governor", and conferred "Exemplary Leadership Quality and Good Governance Award". And recently, he was given an



Honorary Award for Democracy and Good Governance. A native of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State – Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was born November 20th, 1957, to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ebele Jonathan. He was amply endowed with intelligence, strength and tact right from childhood, even though his parents were of a humble social background. Young Goodluck started his primary education at St. Stephen Primary School (now State School – Otuoke) and later proceeded to St Michael Primary School – Oloibiri where he passed his First School Leaving Certificate honourably. In 1971, the young lad furthered his studies at Mater Dei High School – Imiringi and by 1975, he sat for the West African School Certificate and passed with flying colours.


Goodluck Jonathan was identified to be a great child right from his tender age because of his attributes and rare disposition. No wonder, his paternal grand mother "nicknamed" him "Azikiwe" as a striking simile to the great Zik to connote another great Nigerian to come in the nearest future.

Goodluck was appointed Class Prefect in class three in 1973, he was further appointed Secretary to the School Food Committee, because of his brilliant disposition. And in his class four and five, he was again appointed Masterson House Prefect while his fellow prefects unanimously elected him as Chairman of the Committee of Prefects.




With his sparkling performance and enduring milieu, young Goodluck soon secured a job as a Preventive Officer in the Department of Customs and Excise from 1975 to 1977.



However, because of his dogged quest for academic knowledge, Goodluck Jonathan promptly enrolled as a pioneer student in the department of Zoology at the newly established University of Port Harcourt, in 1977. He pursued his studies with impregnable zeal and by 1981 he graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) Second Class (Upper Division). As a Corper, he served Nigeria devotedly between 1981 and 1982 as a classroom teacher in Community Secondary School Iresi – Oyo State (now Osun State). After the mandatory service, Goodluck Jonathan was invited for a teaching appointment by the old Rivers State Civil Service Commission in 1982, he was however, appointed a Science Inspector of Education in the Ministry of Education because of his brilliant and intimidating performance at the interview.



Dr. Goodluck Jonathan always knew that he had a bond with the academia that he cannot dispute. Hence, he soon left the mainstream Civil Service for the College of Education where he took up an appointment as an academic in the Department of Biology in November 1983. Again, because of his disciplined nature and dedication to duty, he was elected as the Representative of Congress in the Senior Staff Appointments and Promotions Committee.

A position he held till he voluntarily left the College in 1993. To equip himself firmly ahead of the foresighted challenges, he enrolled again for a post graduate programme in the University of Port Harcourt.





He bagged a well-deserved Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Hydro-Biology and Fisheries Biology and Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology in 1985 and 1995 respectively.


More so, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan later picked an appointment as an Assistant Director in the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), in March 1993. He was deployed to the Directorate of Environmental Protection and Pollution Control where he was directing the affairs of the Environmental Protection Sub-Department.



Dr. Jonathan is a member of various professional bodies, including the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), he is a Fellow of the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA), a Fellow of the Public Administrators of Nigeria (PAN), and he was also awarded the prestigious Honorary Fellowship of the Nigerian Environmental Society, following his stride’s contributions towards Environmental Management.



Also, his dedication to service, eventful life devoted entirely to humanity and monumental achievements as an accomplished leader earned him the "Best Performing Deputy Governor Award in the Federation in 2002, by the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (IPAN). Similarly, the National Association of Women in Education Development further honoured him with the Award of "Exemplary Leadership Quality and Good Governance" in July 2003. In further recognition of his dedication to service, the NUJ Abuja Council conferred on him a prestigious Honorary Award for Democracy and Good Governance.



A humane administrator, amazingly simple minded and loved by his people, friends and colleagues, nobody ever expected he will venture into the dicey and precarious nature of Nigerian politics. Nevertheless, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan saw the need to boost the socio-economic with political interest of the common man as well as bridge the lacuna of ruralurban dichotomy of his people through the provisions of social infrastructure. Hence, he took to politics in the Fourth Republic and pitched tent with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was picked as the running mate to the Party’s flag bearer Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha. The duo emerged victorious at the polls in the 1999 gubernatorial election, and so, Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan became the first Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. After a successful tenure, Dr. Jonathan repeated the feat where he led Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha Campaign machinery popularly called ALAMCO. By the grace of God and the desire for Bayelsans to have a good government, the duo won the gubernatorial elections again, in 2003. And Goodluck Jonathan is thus, serving as a Deputy Governor for a second tenure.



All in all, one significant feat that has endeared Goodluck Jonathan to the Ogbia people is the peace he has brought to politics. At the inception of this Fourth Republic, the political activities were characterized with extreme violence and chaos. But he doggedly advocated for politics without rancor or violence and in his usual peaceful disposition without bitterness, Ogbia political silhouette is not only stable and homogenous but one of the most violent free clan in Nigeria today.



Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is happily married to Mrs. Patience Faka Jonathan. The nuptial union is blessed with two children.



Dr. Jonathan is a man well recognized for his cluster of achievements  and immense contributions to the polity, communal liberalism, growth, and general welfare of the people. Beyond these, he is a humble man, dearly loved and respected. He has remained in the consciousness of his friends and contemporaries, as a builder of human social bridges. He is a teacher, technocrat, a democrat, a man of transparent honesty and humility; a perfect gentleman, a tender loving husband and an unshakable believer in the unity, not only of Ogbia clan but also of Nigeria.

And people were insulting Emeagwali?


Mon dieu!
Obviously, this was designed by his wife.
I just love the word "dicey" .
Something tells me they came short of using the terms 'o di kwa risky'  up there.

Beaf:

Something tells me IBB is gonna die a cursed, slow and painful death. The blood of the innocent will drag him into the abyss.

We will all die, eventually, of one thing or the other, pianfully or otherwise.
Gani Fawehinmi died a painfull death, even though he does not have the curse of any "innocent blood" on his head.
Sani Abacha, with all his sins, died peacefully, while banging an Indian call-girl.

So what, why is it a big deal if he dies painfully. The most important thing is that he lived the way he wanted to.
His life story is simple inspiring.

He remains the only other person, besides OBJ, capable of "changing Nigeria," either for good or bad.
He still remains one of the best presidents ever produced by the country, And one of the most "untribalized" Nigerians in politics,living or dead, other untribalized Nigerians are, Okadigbo, Abiola, OBJ, Ekwueme etc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atiku_Abubakar

Atiku Abubakar



Born November 25, 1946 (1946-11-25) (age 63)
Adamawa State, Nigeria
Political party People's Democratic Party (1998-2006, 2009-present)
Action Congress (2006-2009)

Seal of the Vice-President of NigeriaAlhaji Atiku Abubakar (Turakin Adamawa), GCON (born 25 November 1946) was the Vice-President of Nigeria[1] from 1999 to 2007. He is a Muslim native of Adamawa State, and was an influential member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) until 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party. The former Vice President made a controversial return to the PDP in 2009. It was a return that some leaders who are believed to be against Atiku opposed.

Background
Abubakar came up the ranks of the ruling PDP primarily, due to the pivotal role he played in its formation. He was also an ardent opponent of General Sani Abacha, the late dictator.

[size=16pt]Atiku's source of wealth has caused some curiosity among Nigerians but that also goes for many other wealthy Nigerians. [/size]




He has said in a new biography yet to be published that he made his money, "through wise investments, hard work and sheer luck of being at the right place at the right time".

Atiku attended Jada Primary School, 1954–1960, Adamawa Provinsional School, Yola, 1961 to 1965, with Advance Level studies in Economics, British Economic History, Government and Hausa Language, School of hygiene Kano, 1966–1967, graduating with Royal Society of Health Diploma, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1967, graduating with Diploma in Law, in 1969

Atiku joined the Customs and Excise department in 1969, serving in Seme, Kano, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Ibadan and Lagos. He rose to the rank of Deputy Director (second in command nationwide), with a notably impeccable service record. Since then, he has attended courses in Leadership Management, Drug Enforcement and Control in Finland, Egypt and United States of America.

Business
Abubakar went into private business after his retirement, with interests in oil Services, agriculture, food and beverages, print media, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and education. His reported philanthropic activities have included building of schools and mosques across the country, sponsorship of local and foreign treatment of citizens with aggravated medical problems, as well as local/oversea scholarships to disadvantaged Nigerian students.

[b]Vice Presidency[/b]Since becoming Vice President in 1999, he has presided over the National Council on Privatization during which hundreds of loss-making and poorly managed public enterprises were sold off in a manner that has prompted more questions than answers. There have been wild allegations that Atiku engaged in unwholesome practices during the privatization of some of those previously State-owned parastatals. President Obasanjo's son, Gbenga, alluded to this allegation in an interview with an internet-based journal, Elendu Reports, where he insinuated that Atiku "sold Pentascope to himself".[2] These allegations yet again remain unproven, though many political analysts see him, rather sympathetically, as a man who is more prone to cook-ups than conspiracy.

The role played by Atiku in a 'state of emergency' invoked on Plateau State also gives credence to his support for fairness to people of other faiths.

In 2006, Atiku had in a face-off with his direct superior, President Olusegun Obasanjo, due to the latter's eventual failed attempts to amend certain provisions of the constitution in order to take another shot at the presidency (for the third consecutive time). It is unclear whether Atiku's opposition to President Obasanjo's inordinate ambition was altruistic or selfish. Nonetheless, Atiku had never hidden his interest in the coveted post. The debate and acrimony generate by the failed constitutional amendment momentarily caused a rift in the People's Democratic Party.[3] It also appears to have irreparably damaged both men's political and personal relationship, of which, Mr Abubakar, from all indications, is feeling the brunt of it. Despite the furor, the Nigerian National Assembly eventually voted against any amendments allowing Obasanjo to run for another term.

Personal life
Family
Abubakar's first and most senior wife Hajia Titi Abubakar, is believed to be an Ilesha-born Roman Catholic, hailing originally from the Togolese Republic; together they have four children and five grandchildren. He has three other wives: Rukayat (the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, an influential monarch whom her husband served as a ranking nobleman of his kingdom); Fatima, a lawyer based in Lagos (Kanuri From Borno State) and Jamila (Formerly Jennifer Iwenjiora, an Ibo woman from Onitsha, who was a former television newscaster and who attained her doctoral degree in the United States).

[size=16pt]As a result, political associates and critics tend to agree that Atiku is one of the most detribalized northern Muslim aristocrats. All together he has 27 children.[/size]

Controversy
In August, 2005 Abubakar surfaced in a report by the BBC World Service,[4] as the intended recipient of a bribe as part of a scheme involving United States Congressman Bill Jefferson to promote Nigeria's adoption of internet technology from the American firm iGate, Inc.

[size=16pt]According to the FBI, Jefferson allegedly told an informant that he would need to give Abubakar $500,000 "as a motivating factor" for business contracts, but there is no evidence that Abubakar received[5] nor sought[citation needed] such a bribe, which makes some skeptics think that Atiku may be a target of a witch-hunt.[citation needed] Jefferson had allegedly collected $100,000 from a business partner to give to Atiku, but $90,000 of the marked money was later found in the Congressman's house wrapped in a foil and neatly tucked away in a freezer. [/size] [5]


In August 2009, the court clarified that the former vice-president did not receive any bribe from Bill Jefferson. Atiku said he had consistently maintained that he had no improper relation with Bill Jefferson. Mr. Atiku also insisted that "it is now clear that the plot was hatched at the highest level of the Nigerian government then, in collusion with foreign agencies. The plot was not just to stop me from running for the Presidency; it was aimed at denying the Nigerian people the right to choose their own leader".

Presidential run
On 25 November 2006 Abubakar announced that he would run for President; he did not announce immediately which party he would represent, although he inaugurated a presidential campaign committee.[6]

On 20 December 2006, he was chosen as the presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC).[7]

On 15 March 2007, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list of 24 aspirants for the 21 April presidential election. Abubakar's name was conspicuously missing even though he is seen by many as the only 'credible' opposition candidate to the powerful ruling PDP party in the election.

In a statement released by INEC, it states that Abubakar's name was missing because he is on a list of officials indicted for corruption by a panel set up by the ruling government. The creation of this list is seen by many as a tool to weed out opponents of the PDP who may have a strong showing in the forthcoming polls.

[size=16pt]This school of thought is supported because officials like Andy Uba, a former presidential adviser to Obasanjo, is being allowed to contest in the polls despite a history of well publisised fraudulent activities, i.e. fake educational certificates and money laundering charges in the USA. INEC disqualified Abubakar even though there is a court judgement which states that INEC doesn't have the power to disqualify candidates. INEC appealed this court decision and this move has cast doubts on the neutrality of INEC as an umpire in the forthcoming elections.[/size]


Abubakar headed to the courts on 16 March to get his disqualification overturned despite a statement from the INEC chairman which says it will be impossible for him to contest even if he gets a judgement in his favour as it will be logistically impossible to reprint ballot papers and distribute them round the country before the April polls.

According to reports on 26 March on a Nigerian newspaper run website, Professor Iwu, the chairman of INEC may be prepared to adhere to a court ruling in the case of Abubakar but with the caveat that it has to be a ruling by the supreme court. His words “Yes, he (Abubakar) will run if the Supreme Court says so. This is where the logistics issue actually comes in. We must have our own fallback preparation. I am not the type that makes plan without having plan A, B, and C. If the Supreme Court decides that, we will obey the Supreme Court.” [1]

[size=16pt]The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on 16 April that INEC has no power to disqualify candidates. The ruling allowed Abubakar to contest the election, although there were concerns that it might not be possible to provide ballots with Abubakar's name by 21 April, the date of the election.[8] On 17 April, a spokesman for INEC said that Abubakar would be on the ballot.[/size] [9]

According to official results, Abubakar took third place, behind PDP candidate Umaru Yar'Adua and ANPP candidate Muhammadu Buhari, with about 7% of the vote (about 2.6 million votes).[10] He rejected the election and said that it should be cancelled and held again, describing it as Nigeria's "worst election ever".[11]

He said that he would not attend Yar'Adua's inauguration on 29 May due to his view that the election was not credible, saying that he did not want to "dignify such a hollow ritual with my presence".[12]

Atiku returned to the People's Democratic Party, a party he was a founding member. Since his return, the former Vice President has declared his intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On the 22nd of november, the Ciroma Committee selected Atiku as the Northern Consensus Candidate over former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, former National Security Adviser Aliyu Gusau and Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State.

Over to you "Beaf".
So, where is the "Beaf"?

We have to choose between an educated, almajiri lawyer from the North and a semi-illiterate almajiri from the South?

Nigeria, I hail thou.



Please, give me Atiku any day.

^^
A diploma in law does not make you a lwayer.
You still have to go to law school to be a lawyer

Atiku is an illiterate by southern standard; a very educated almajiri nevertheless, going by the standard in the north, and especially when you compare him with people like Salisu Buhari.

GEJ is as educated as the most educated leader in the west. That said, i still prefer Atiku to him. If i were to choose, I'd pick IBB

Give me IBB any day, any time!

@Blazay

Thank you for the posts.

It is clear to all, that while we can trace every hardworking step of Jonathans life, from very humble beginnings to the pinnacle of Nigerian governance, the same cannot be said for Atiku.

Atiku who was a customs officer at Seme border, has by some "miracle," grown stupendously rich. There are no obvious sources, nor is there verifiable history to his wealth. [size=21pt]Atiku, is a wanted man in the US for laundering $40,000,000 (Six billion Naira) stolen from Nigeria[/size], while people from his state make do without education, basic healthcare and wallow in abject poverty and deprivation.

fstranger:

^^
A diploma in law does not make you a lawyer.[/b]You still have to go to law school to be a lawyer

Atiku is an illiterate by southern standard; a very educated almajiri nevertheless, going by the standard in the north, and especially when you compare him with people like Salisu Buhari.

[b]GEJ is as educated as the most educated leader in the west. That said, i still prefer Atiku to him. If i were to choose, I'd pick IBB

Give me IBB any day, any time!

You may not be a lawyer by profession, but you are a lawyer by academia.(Hey, Nigerian standards apply here)
Atiku is an illiterate by "Southern" Nigerian standards?

At least literate enough to fight for his constitutional rights to keep him a presidential aspirant, by the Supreme Court.
Well, how about that?

I agree with you. Atiku is my first choice, then IBB.

No southern candidate qualifies imho.

Blazay:

You may not be a lawyer by profession, but you are a lawyer by academia.(Hey, Nigerian standards apply here)
Atiku is an illiterate by "Southern" Nigerian standards?
At least literate enough to fight for his constitutional rights to keep him a presidential aspirant, by the Supreme Court.
Well, how about that?
I agree with you. Atiku is my first choice, then IBB.
No southern candidate qualifies imho.

Atiku attended Jada Primary School, 1954–1960, Adamawa Provinsional School, Yola, 1961 to 1965, with Advance Level studies in Economics, British Economic History, Government and Hausa Language, School of hygiene Kano, 1966–1967, graduating with Royal Society of Health Diploma, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1967, graduating with Diploma in Law, in 1969

who spends two years in law school. No, he is not a lawyer; neither by academia nor by profession.
Check your facts!
Atiku would never have been admitted to any school in the south. He is not better than our "agberos."

fstranger:

Atiku attended Jada Primary School, 1954–1960, Adamawa Provinsional School, Yola, 1961 to 1965, with Advance Level studies in Economics, British Economic History, Government and Hausa Language, School of hygiene Kano, 1966–1967, graduating with Royal Society of Health Diploma, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1967, graduating with Diploma in Law, in 1969

who spends two years in law school. No, he is not a lawyer; neither by academia nor by profession.
Check your facts!
Atiku would never have been admitted to any school in the south. He is not better than our "agberos."

My interpretation. He is a lawyer to me o.
Give me a diploma in law from ABU from the 60s than one from Obafemi, Azikiwe or Igbinedion in the year 2011.

Beaf:

@Blazay

Thank you for the posts.

It is clear to all, that while we can trace every hardworking step of Jonathans life, from very humble beginnings to the pinnacle of Nigerian governance, the same cannot be said for Atiku.

Atiku who was a customs officer at Seme border, has by some "miracle," grown stupendously rich. There are no obvious sources, nor is there verifiable history to his wealth. [size=21pt]Atiku, is a wanted man in the US for laundering $40,000,000 (Six billion Naira) stolen from Nigeria[/size], while people from his state make do without education, basic healthcare and wallow in abject poverty and deprivation.

How is he different from Dangote the 'gbese' billionaire or Otedola the oil bunkerer?
Do we forget about Tinubiu too, the drug baron first class?

Blazay:

My interpretation. He is a lawyer to me o.
Give me a diploma in law from ABU from the 60s than one from Obafemi, Azikiwe or Igbinedion in the year 2011.

You don't get it!
First, ABU is a shyyty school, by any standard.Never was and never will be a good school
Second, your logic is faulty, southerners, and especially Yoruba, are better lawyers than any other ethnic group in Nigeria, and in fact in the whole of West Africa.
Third, even after studying law at Ife, you still have to go to Law school before you can become a lawyer.
So a diploma in law is just what it is; a diploma in some courses that deal with law, which is different from studying law as a profession.


Again, check your facts!

Beaf:

. . .Because Jennifer very hurriedly sold their Potomac mansion and fled the US for Dubai.

Let’s get something straight here. . . .there was no ‘court summons’ on Jennifer per se. The defence wanted to get her to testify so Jefferson could attempt to exonerate himself. The court did not request her to testify as she had done so previously.

Beaf:

What has Obj got to do with the matter? It is Atiku that's wanted in the US for money laundering. If you look toward the bottom of this linked document, you would find that the person on whom several attempts were made to serve a summons, was Jennifer "Douglas" Atiku, it surely wasn't Obj: http://www.valawyersweekly.com/vlwblog/files/2009/01/motion-e-mail-service.pdf
They chased her all over Abuja, but she had fled to Dubai.

Dude, try to make sense sometimes. Atiku is a criminal.

Atiku is not wanted for money laundering - this is a claim you’ve repeated a number of times, but without any evidence, beyond a statement that $40m was ‘reputedly’ laundered through Jennifer.

The case cited above refers to Jefferson’s trial and an attempt by his defence lawyers to get Atiku’s wife to testify again (she previously did so before a grand jury).

To surmise, the Jefferson case has nothing to do with the alleged laundering of $40m.

If confirmed this would be a terrible mistake on the part of the Federal Government as a “cease fire” with Boko-Haram would legitimize these death squads.

The Chadian Government who participated to the “mediation process” is the one harboring the Boko-Haram terrorists under instruction from Western military intelligence. The leadership in N’Djamena has an accurate idea of the Boko-Haram operations which are carried out from Chadian territory against both Nigeria and Cameroun.

"Operation Barkhane", the Western anti-Islamist operation headquartered in N’Djamena is actually a cover for the Boko-Haram destabilization campaign that is aimed at destroying Nigeria. It is with the support of the Western military advisers in Chad that the Boko-Haram death squads get their weapons, ammunitions and intelligence on the positions of the Nigerian soldiers.

FG must immediately declare the Chadian Government as an "enemy" and sever its diplomatic relations with this country until it stops to harbor terrorists attacking Nigeria.

With reference to Atiku Abubakar, there is every reason to believe that this unprincipled politician is part of “fifth column” within the Nigerian political class,who believes that they can benefit from the actions of the Boko-Haram death squads.

According to sources closed to Western intelligence, Atiku is actually the man favored by Washington and London to replace GEJ in 2015. Given the fact that he’s hiding so many dirty laundry, and that he owns multiple assets in the western world, he is considered as the most manipulable Nigerian leader they can get. Make no mistakes, Western countries love idiotic, ignorant and corrupt African leaders.