Fuel: Lukman defies VP’s order, travels to Austria
By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja, Published: Friday, 25 Dec 2009

Petroleum Resources Minister, Dr. Rilwan Lukman.
In what may look like the first major test about who really is in charge in Abuja, following President Umaru Yar’Adua’s continued absence, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, on Thursday defied Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan’s no-Christmas holiday order on him and three other ministers by travelling to Vienna, Austria.
Jonathan had on Wednesday given an order that Lukman; the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia; the Minister of Power, Mr. Lanre Babalola; and the Minister of State in the Power ministry, Alhaji Nuhu Wya, should stay back in Abuja during the Christmas holidays for a series of meetings aimed at finding a lasting solution to the lingering fuel scarcity in the country

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20091225328095

That's bad!

[size=18pt]JONATHAN NOT NIGERIAN ENOUGH TO BE PRESIDENT, THAT IS THE MESSAGE FROM THE KATSINA MAFIA[/size]

Monkey dey talk baboon dey chop - Who the hell is Jonathan? As far Nigerian is concerned Jonathan no power

I bet you nothing will happen

Do not rule that out completely. For him to have issued such stern order means he's got guts.

Johnpaul88:

Do not rule that out completely. For him to have issued such stern order means he's got guts.

Historical records clearly confirms nothing will happen . Mess goes on/

Johnpaul88:

Do not rule that out completely. For him to have issued such stern order means he's got guts.

Not at all. Jonathan is only playing to the gallery. Jonathan is colourless and uninspiring. The greatest consideration for him has always been to please others and display slavish loyalty. Nobody fears or respects Jonathan. Simple as that. Let him surprise us , if he has the liver, now that Lukman has defied him .

Power is valuable if it can be harnessed,if not its absolutely nothing.Jonathan is trying to show off but he got the wrong person to make his victim.

I know that nothing will happen, the north establishment knows that Jonathan is weak and that is why they are clamouring for him to be made acting president now, the guy is too dull for my liking, he is a 'yes sir' kind of person

He made himself a weak element, nobody did that to him. Had the order come from Atiku back when he was VP, I doubt Lukman would have left without at least providing some explanation. But I will wait and see what happens next, though I seriously doubt anything will.

globalaid:

I know that nothing will happen, the north establishment knows that Jonathan is weak and that is why they are clamouring for him to be made acting president now, the guy is too dull for my liking, he is a 'yes sir' kind of person

True. Other political leaders know that as well. They know they can always trust Jonathan never to get above his station. A seasoned hand like Lukman would , at most , have found Jonathan's stay at home warning very amusing.

na nigeria we dey oh, everything happens.

Stange things dey happen for naija - has been like that for years sha. Anyhow, I'll just keep my fingers crossed and watch for now.

but this guy could have taken xcuse from th v.p. lets wait till we get reaction from him

anything can Happen, Never underestimate your superiors,

what does it cost to be civil and responsible? We think that Only the VP has been insulted.
You better think well. In the past we (the Country) has been operating in a system without a system; right now we are sitting on a thin sheet of ice. God have mercy on this country.

Weak or not, i dont think that is exactly the issue, it just tells how fickle we are as a people ignoring the substance and go afta irrlevant issues.

The issue is a petroleum minister that does not know his responsibility, he is irresponsible enof to leave the country when the establishments he oversees cant provide the very minimum expected of them.

He should be forced to resign or sacked, whether the VP has power or not is irrelevant, its the  Nigerian people dat can give him power by frowning at such silly selfish irresponsible acts.

I dont care  if its Goodluck, mumu or even i.d.i.o.t,there is a constitution that should be followed and its only the people dat can demand it.

For those that think the VP is a yes man, it tells of how little u undastand political power, power corrupts and absolute  power corrupts , , let him be given power and den u will c d yes man in him

I know Lukman is an old man who has seen it all and would probably not care if he is replaced. However I think a lot of us are underrating Jonathan. Just watch what he will do with power for one year when he assumes full control.

na_so:

I know Lukman is an old man who has seen it all and would probably not care if he is replaced. However I think a lot of us are underrating Jonathan. Just watch what he will do with power for one year when he assumes full control.

Who cares if he has seen it all, if that is the case thats the more reason why he should be sacked. He is such an irresponsible man. I really dont know how these men get to such positions and to think that he is supposed to be one of the most xperienced petroleum professionals we have its really sad, the guy has no values, he is so irrespnsible.

How are we sure he has not gone in search of a solution for the lingering fuel crisis!

I don't thin Lukman left without the VP's permission.

He must have explained why he had to travel.

Such an irresponsible thing to do,if story is true.
Stayin' back will not remove the long queues in the filling stations as well as boost our power production overnight.
The Minister must have realised that VP was tryin' to grandstand.
Stupid bunch of people if you ask me.

johndexter:

what does it cost to be civil and responsible? We think that Only the VP has been insulted.
You better think well. In the past we (the Country) has been operating in a system without a system; right now we are sitting on a thin sheet of ice. God have mercy on this country.

You have rightly said it, majority of these political appointees are unruly, irresponsible, disrespectful and arrogant!

Supposing he flouted his orders, supposing Jonathan becomes President, then what happens to him?

Nigerians are not smart folks at all. Nairalanders especially!
So we just read an article and without digging deep into the articles, we just jump to very shallow conclusions.
Haba people! Read between the lines.

Jonathan and the FEC knew Lukman planned a trip to Austria long before the announcement across the press that the ministers had been barred from taking holidays.
It is obvious that they used this opportunity to set the proud and arrogant Lukman up for a fall. They all knew he would defy the order that is why the FEC made that part available to the press. The man Lukman is proud and foolish.

Come next week, the FEC and not Jonathan alone, would issue a warrant for the sack of Lukman!! It's all a plan peeps. Always read between the lines.

The real reason behind his sack would be the silly arrogance he is using to go about the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Jonathan is a weakling!

To me Jonathan does not look like a weakling. He is just smart and wise. He is proving to all of us that he is not power drunk. But on this Lukman matter,I bet you people will fight lukman for Goodluck's sake. And I am sure if he were the acting president, lukman would have been fired.

check this out:http://72.32.176.2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4612:2009-12-24-02-04-50&catid=81:external-contrib&Itemid=300

On his part, Jonathan appears to have adopted a strategic aloofness. He has so far refused to append his signature to bills coming from the National Assembly and to the list of National Merit Award winners, insisting that he couldn’t do anything without a constitutional backing in place to guarantee the legality of his action.

A source revealed that Aondoakaa’s questionable letter was meant to railroad Jonathan to accept a constitutionally fake role of “acting President” so that, if a coup is successfully carried out, Jonathan could be easily brushed aside and accused of engaging in illegality and unconstitutional acts – a constant refrain of coup plotters. Also, the role sought for Jonathan would enable him sign bills that could quickly cater to financial interests of Turai and some other members of the "kitchen cabinet" who are engaged in contract awards running into billions of naira.

Our sources said Jonathan was livid with rage over Aondoakaa’s letter. He reportedly made it clear that he would not accept to discharge any presidential duties on the basis of a letter he considered absurd.

In order to placate the fuming Jonathan, Aondoakaa appeared in Jonathan’s office today in the company of the Benue Governor Gabriel Suswan. We were unable to confirm the details of the meeting, but a source briefed by Aondoakaa said the AGF tried to explain why he took the action. In return, Jonathan reportedly expressed displeasure in strong terms about the way Aondoakaa and his group had been degrading him and his office.

na_so:

I know Lukman is an old man who has seen it all and would probably not care if he is replaced. However I think a lot of us are underrating Jonathan. Just watch what he will do with power for one year when he assumes full control.

No one is underrating Jonathan. Fact of the matter is that , as a politician, Jonathan has no pedigree or sagacity. He has done nothing of note all his political life. He is known to be unambitious with a distinct satisfaction for playing loyal second fiddle. Many feel that OBJ selected Jonathan because of his lack of ambition i.e our former President did not want an Atiku type VP for Yardy. Jonathan , on his own, would probably not have become a Governor let alone a VP and now, possibly, a President !!!!

The constitution says Jonathan should become President if Yar Adua cannot continue. I believe that is what we all want to see but let us not begin making Jonathan what he is not. He is not a politician able to command the respect of others. My main concern is that no one will tak him seriously.

Gbawe:

No one is underrating Jonathan. [/b]Fact of the matter is that , as a politician, Jonathan has no pedigree or sagacity. He has done nothing of note all his political life. [b]He is known to be unambitious with a distinct satisfaction for playing loyal second fiddle. Many feel that OBJ selected Jonathan because of his lack of ambition i.e our former President did not want an Atiku type VP for Yardy. Jonathan , on his own, would probably not have become a Governor let alone a VP and now, possibly, a President !!!!

The constitution says Jonathan should become President if Yar Adua cannot continue. I believe that is what we all want to see but let us not begin making Jonathan what he is not. He is not a politician able to command the respect of others. My main concern is that no one will tak him seriously.

I seriously disagree.
ND people, especially Ijaws tend not to be talkers, its a cultural thing; so in a nation where bravado is the norm, they might look weak. . . Then surprise you very sharply. That is the why Andoakaa is fallen face flat, perhaps we will soon also soon understand why a man who has no power to sack mere secretary's could have had the temerity ordered ministers not to go on holiday. Contrary to what people think, he deftly engineered Alams out of government and installed himself governer, it was no mysterious stroke of luck. Lukman don fall mugu. . .

Nigeria does not know Goodluck Jonathan.

I really pity Rilwan Lukman, he has shown himself to be absolutely uncaring. The fuel qeueues might extend from here to Jerusalem, he doesn't give a damn, he's in Austria in the lap of luxury. As far he is concerned, we can all crumple up and die, just keep the oil money coming.

lets watch and see as the drama unfolds. i guess its a power tussle/flexing going on now.