₦airaland Forum

IGBO KWENU

Since inception, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has been accused of impunity, usually caused by decisions and actions of the President, including those of his ministers and close associates.

Most of the glaring cases of abuse of power including reckless spending of taxpayers’ money have been carried out by the women in Jonathan’s cabinet. These women have proven to be more powerful than the number one citizen of Nigeria because despite public outcries that greet some of their decisions, they go scot-free.

Those who fall in this seemingly untouchable category are the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan; the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh; and the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

These powerful women have some things in common. They are all from the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones. Four of them had their higher education in the United States and two of them are daughters of traditional rulers. Needless to say they occupy some of the most strategic and ‘lucrative’ positions in the Federal Government.



PATIENCE JONATHAN

In Nigeria’s history, Patience Jonathan is believed to be the most powerful First Lady in terms of the amount of influence she has over her husband and his cabinet.

Mrs. Jonathan first gave a glimpse into the enormous power she wields in 2011 when she traversed the country, campaigning for her husband in a way that irked many Nigerians.

Several calls by individuals and groups to the President to restrain his wife yielded no result.

Also, in June this year, in apparent violation of the electoral act, Mrs. Jonathan reportedly started campaigning for her husband ahead of the 2015 elections.

Another show of impunity by the President’s wife is the way she cripples any town or city she visits with her long motorcade, including bulletproof limousines and scores of armed policemen.

She grounded Lagos in 2012 when she visited to say “thank you” to some women groups for their support in electing her husband.

Despite the protest by several Nigerians, who felt that their right to move freely in their country was violated by the movement of an unelected individual, the President’s wife was never cautioned, at least not publicly.

Instead, the Presidency rose to her defence, giving her the liberty to do more in other cities. Her visits and grounding of traffic in Port Harcourt and Warri were also greeted with wide condemnations.

To show how powerful she is, Mrs. Jonathan publicly admitted making attempts to dictate to the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, a move that largely precipitated the ongoing political crisis in the state.

In Aso Rock, where she resides with her husband, the fear of Mrs. Jonathan is the beginning of wisdom as she leaves no one in doubt that she is in charge. There is always a retinue of favour seekers waiting to see her daily.

Mrs. Jonathan, a native of Bayelsa State, was born in Port Harcourt on October 25, 1957 and holds National Certificate of Education in Mathematics and Biology from the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, and a Bachelor of Education degree in biology and psychology from the University of Port Harcourt.



NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA

Right from when the negotiation to bring her from the World Bank started, it was obvious that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was bound to wield so much power in Jonathan’s government.

With her position as the coordinating minister for the economy (a new position created for her) and Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala, who is currently 83rd on Forbes’ global list of powerful women, calls the shots as far as Nigeria’s economy is concerned.

While doing that, she has called the bluff of many including state governors and the National Assembly without any consequence.

The state governors, who have complained about the shabby way the minister treat them, have called for her removal while the Academic Staff Union of Universities has called her a ‘dictator.’ But no matter the protest, Okonjo-Iweala remains a darling of the President.

The sacking of Mr. Shuaib Yushau as the Head, Media and Information Unit of the National Emergency Management Agency, after he wrote what was considered a critical article against Okonjo-Iweala, further showed that the minister was not to be messed with.

The article entitled ‘Still on Okonjo-Iweala over Controversial Appointments’, published on March 6, called on the minister “to ensure that appointments into important positions should be done in credible and transparent manner that can withstand public scrutiny.”

Similarly, Mr. Lawrence Ani, was reportedly suspended indefinitely from his job as Saturday Editor of Thisday Newspaper for publishing a story that cited data that indicated a drop in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product under Okonjo-Iweala’s watch.

In 2011, against the opinion of the majority of Nigerians, Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, insisted on the removal of fuel subsidy, and literally ordered it on the outset of 2012, resulting in the Occupy Nigeria protest.

Okonjo-Iweala, who also served as finance minister and foreign minister under President Olusegun Obansanjo and as a Managing Director at the World Bank, was born on June 13, 1954 to Professor Chukuka Okonjo, who is the Obi (traditional ruler) of Ogwashi-Uku.

She graduated from Harvard University in 1977, and earned her Ph.D. in regional economic development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.

She is married to Ikemba Iweala from Abia State.



DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE

Virtually all sections of the Nigerian society have called for the resignation of the Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, all to no avail.

Most of those who sought her removal had cited several allegations of corrupt practices under her watch as reasons for their demand.

After the revelation of massive fraud in the fuel subsidy administration to the tune of N1.7trn, many had thought that heads would roll, including that of Alison-Madueke, who supervised the rot.

Some heads did roll, but not that of the queen of the Nigeria oil and gas industry.

Till date, the Presidency has not queried or probed Diezani over allegations against her and the indictment of departments under her by several panels, including those headed by Nuhu Ribadu, Farouk Lawan, and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as well as the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.

Diezani has also not explained to Nigeria, whom she was appointed to serve, what role she played in the massive corruption that led to the loss of huge amounts of public fund.

Apart from the demands for the Alison-Madueke’s resignation and prosecution by civil society groups, who led the Occupy Nigeria protest, the House of Representatives also demanded her removal as minister.

Despite this, the President did not suspend her, and gave no explanation for that. This shows how powerful she is.

Alison-Madueke is the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, and in October 2010 she became the first woman to head a country’s delegation at the annual OPEC conference.

She was also the first female Minister of Transportation, and the first woman to be appointed to the board of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria.

Alison-Madueke was born on December 6, 1960 in Port Harcourt.

She graduated from Howard University in 1992, with a Bachelor’s degree in architecture and returned to Nigeria to join Shell Petroleum Development Corporation.

About 10 years later, she earned an MBA from Cambridge University and was appointed as the first female executive director of Shell Nigeria.

In 1999, she got married to Admiral Alison Madueke (retd), one-time Chief of Naval Staff who was at different times military governor of Imo and Anambra states.



STELLA ODUAH

Not many are aware of the tremendous power of the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, in Jonathan’s government.

For her role in Jonathan’s 2011 campaign, she was reportedly rewarded with a ministerial appointment to the aviation ministry, even though she had no prior training in the field of aviation.

Many believe that the President feels indebted to her for her role as the Director of Finance and Administration of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation and in the establishment of Neighbour-to-Neighbour outfit, which reportedly spent billions of naira on adverts and media propaganda in favour of Jonathan, especially while the Occupy Nigeria protest lasted.

Considering this relationship with Jonathan, it should not be a surprise that Oduah’s response to critics after the Dana and Associated Airlines crashes reeked of arrogance.

The latest revelation that she forced the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to buy her bulletproof vehicles has again elicited calls for her removal and prosecution but considering the way the President has treated public outcries against these powerful women, Oduah is likely to remain minister till the end of Jonathan’s administration.

Princess Stella Oduah was born on January 5, 1962 to Igwe D.O. Oduah of Akili-Ozizor in Anambra State on January 5, 1962.

She got her Bachelor’s degree in accounting and MBA from American universities.

Oduah joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in 1983 and in 1992, she established a petroleum products marketing company, Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Limited.

She was married to the former Minister for Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi.



ARUNMA OTEH

Through her battles, the Director-General of the Securities Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh, has sufficiently earned the name ‘Iron lady’ even beyond her official sphere of influence.

When she clashed with the House of Representatives Committee on the Capital Market, it was the chairman of the committee, Mr. Herman Hembe, that got hurt.

The committee had accused Oteh of fraud and misappropriation of funds. She fired back, accusing Hembe of demanding bribe from SEC.

The SEC board suspended Oteh in order to investigate the findings of the lawmakers, who probed the capital market and indicted her. She immediately petitioned the President and Okonjo-Iweala.

After two months, the President returned Oteh to her position, following the auditor’s report that said her offence amounted only to ‘administrative lapses.’ The directors and staff of the commission, who had protested Oteh’s alleged high-handedness, were advised to calm down and obey their boss.

On the other hand, Hembe was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and also stepped down as chairman of the committee.

The crisis led to an intense battle between President Jonathan and the House of Representatives. The House demanded the sacking of Oteh but Jonathan refused.

The passage of the 2013 budget was delayed because of the fight. Eventually, the lawmakers insisted on zero budget for SEC to force the President’s hand, but he did not budge.

Calls for her removal by civil society groups also fell on deaf ears.

Oteh, who is an indigene of Abia State, is also a British citizen.

She graduated with first-class degree in computer sciences from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.

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be right back searching for 13volts

A retired lieutenant colonel, who was said to have led the Boko Haram attacks on Damaturu, Yobe State, on Thursday was arrested by security forces during the encounter.

The retired army officer is being detained at a military facility.

It could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report if he has been moved to Abuja for interrogation or not.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim, had put the casualty figure on the part of the insurgents at 70 in a statement that was silent on the number of soldiers killed in the attack.

It was however, learnt that nine soldiers including a lieutenant and four policemen lost their lives in the attack.

“The retired lieutenant colonel was properly discharged from the Army and it was a big surprise when he was arrested and identified by those who knew him as a former officer,” an Army source said.

It was further learnt that the attack on security formations in Damaturu was to avenge the seizure of a truck containing military uniforms and arms by security forces.

The truck was seized last week when the driver objected to a search of the vehicle and he tendered a memo purportedly from the Defence Headquarters directing that the truck should not be searched.

The driver and other passengers were detained and the truck was impounded and parked at the Police Area Command, Guija Road, Damaturu, when the army camouflage and weapons were found inside it.

SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered that members of the sect are holding a medical doctor who was abducted while on duty at the Sani Abacha Hospital during the Thursday attack.

They also carted away drugs that were in the pharmacy of the medical facility and took away two ambulances belonging to the Damaturu General Hospital.

Security operatives are said to be looking for the doctor who is feared to have been taken to one of the enclaves of the sect in the North-East.

A security source said on Saturday that the Boko Haram members might have taken away the drugs for the purpose of giving medication to injured fighters of the group while the medical doctor might have been seized for the purpose of rendering medication to their injured members.

Meanwhile, the military on Saturday relaxed the 24 hours curfew imposed on Yobe State to nine hours.

When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, he said, “Whatever you call it, we are capable of dealing with it decisively.

“We will continue to do the required adjustment both in approach and structure to respond appropriately and ensure that our duty to defend the country and the citizenry is discharged effectively.”

Punch.ng

Desola: Why concern yourself about Yoruba when you have your region to concern yourself with?

We don't like each other, we have nothing in common culturally and linguistically so why must Yorubas stay to carry on being your crutches!

Enough is enough! We are too distinctly different and share different moral ethics and ideologies. An ibo person has no business with a Yoruba! We must part ways!

Best comment you have made on forum. Everybody should mind their business and split this hell call Nigeria. If Haiti can be a country, Chad, Niger and even Malawi, then All tribes, zones, and region in the current landmass call Nigeria will do just fine separated.

sheniqua: [size=18pt]Sheik Gumi and all the host of demonic angels against GEJ
die die, die[/size]

I say fall down and die eeeee

Goodluck has given this people high blood pressure for ever. Look at a Nigerian president at temple mount

Private individuals in Lagos have been capitalising on government’s failure to provide link bridges and good roads for its people and this has gone on from generation to generation.

For over 40 years, such investors have constructed wooden bridges, popularly called pako bridges, across the state and tolled users in return. The rush by investors to go into the business has, however, reached an unprecedented level in recent years.

In places where the toll bridges exist, pedestrians are tolled N30 each, while motorists pay N200 per vehicle. Besides, each occupant of the vehicle aside from the driver, is also required to pay N30. Meanwhile, the feeling has been mixed for users and residents that benefit from the linkages provided by such bridges.

While most users cringe at the weight of the tolls imposed by the investors, nevertheless, they identified with the important roles played by the toll bridges in connecting communities and opening up new areas. Many of the bridges are constructed over swamps, where only brave residents dared trudge across prior to the construction of the bridges.

So, in spite of the heavy tolls on the communities, some of which are poor, residents have resigned to fate, particularly with the government not showing interest in their situation.

Some examples of the toll bridges are found in Alimosho Local Government Area, linking Ashipa, Ayobo-Ipaja community to Igando community; Lanre through Sanni Thomas Street to Igando New town; Igesu and Egan communities; Baruwa inside community and Diamond Estate; Obadore and Ijagemo communities; Abegunrin and Idowu-Egba; and Pako community to Ketu community.

A visit to some of the bridges showed a similar mode of construction but varying physical conditions and modes of operation. Each bridge also posed its own peculiarity based on the environment it is sited.

The bridges at Ashipa-Igando and Lanre through Sanni Thomas Street to Igando New Town were estimated at around 300 metres each, while the Igesu-Egan bridge was estimated to be around 540 metres.

A small neighbourhood market had formed at the foot of the Ashipa end of the toll footbridge connecting the community to Igando. Residents descending the bridge into their community or transiting beyond Ashipa could get groceries, pepper, vegetables, and other items like footwear. Commercial motorcylists have also turned the feet of the bridge into major parks.

A resident of Ashipa, Mr. Lukman Mudasiru, said the bridge was constructed some 20 years ago.

“But before then, we used to tread the water or practically swim to cross over to the other side, even though, it was deep. Only the brave could try it then. Many people would pull off their clothes and put them on their heads to prevent them from getting wet,” he said.

Mudasiru said the other option was to spend a much longer time to reach a community just across the swamp, adding that the infamous bad roads in the area has continued to give the bridge relevance. According to him, the bridge also serves people coming from or going as far as Ogun State from Lagos.

He said, “The bridge has opened up this area and aided development. The route is shorter for people working in Ikeja or even Lagos Island and living in far distances like Ejigbo, Olorunisola and Ishefun. Instead of spending hours going through Ayobo-Ipaja, which has very bad roads, they come through here.

“Even people living in places as far as Ota, Aiyetoro and Lafenwa in Ogun State or returning there after work pass through here. The only problem is that it’s a pedestrian bridge; we need one that will accommodate cars.”

Human traffic is often busy on the bridge, especially during peak hours. A number of beggars, also attracted by the number of users, sit on the bridge to solicit help.

The bridge is open between 4 and 12am everyday and has a gatehouse, where users pay tolls. It is understood that the bridge ought to open officially between 5am and 11.30pm, but for the pressure of users who wake up early to beat the morning traffic. So, electric bulbs supported by wooden stands and cables run the length of the bridge to provide light when it is dark.

“The bridge is always busy and there is a generator which is used to power the bulbs, so we see one another at night,” added Mudasiru.

But not everyone shared Mudasiru’s enthusiasm for the bridge.

Another resident, Alani Ogunlade, said the situation could get tricky for someone who could not afford the toll.

He said, “It’s not every time that people have money to pass, so sometimes, it can cause a serious issue. Some could decide to stay at home while some would want to force their way through.”

The traditional ruler of Ashipa, Baale Ayemojuba of Ashipaland, Chief Mudasiru Amusa, was even less enthusiastic about having a toll bridge within his community. He said the community had laid planks on the swamp before the bridge construction, but, however, admitted the overwhelming volume of the water, particularly during rainy seasons.

Amusa said he often suffers “heartaches” seeing his people being tolled on the way to and from their community.

He said, “It saddens me every time to see my people suffer like that, having to pay each time they leave the community or come in, but there is nothing I can do. I pity people who have to pay N60 to leave their home and come back and even spend more when they need to go out more than once.

“What we want is for the government to come in and build a concrete bridge for us so that people can enjoy the service without being ripped off. The queue in the morning on the bridge is massive. Many of such bridges are springing up in Lagos now. Many people are going into the business because of the huge profit in it. All the people working there (at the bridge) have grown big tummies.”

The bridges are either directly managed or contracted out to someone under an agreement to remit a certain amount daily to the investor.

It was learnt that Ashipa toll bridge was contracted out and investigation showed that about N250,000 is being remitted daily by the managers to the investor.

“About three years ago, it was N180,000 that was being remitted daily but today, it’s around N250,000. The police also come on Fridays to get their share from the managers,” a source close to the managers of the bridge, said.

However, the workers at the bridge declined to comment, insisting that the manager was not around.

Normally, the operation of the pako toll bridges involves identifying the communities in need of a linkage, usually separated by water or swamp, buying the land from the land speculators (omo onile) and putting the construction in place. Then the bridges have to be periodically maintained to prevent any mishap.

Investigation showed that one of the major wooden materials needed in large quantities for the bridge construction are the 4 by 2 hardwood and the 4 by 12 ft plank, locally called ‘Eki’ wood. It is said to be the best under the circumstance because it grows in water.

There have been reported cases of disputes over control and ownership of some of the bridges, particularly when the investor has to deal with more than one family (omo onile) in the process of buying the land or when too many people are involved in its operation.

A classical case is the multi-use wooden transit bridge at Lanre, which could accommodate automobiles. Some parts of the bridge appeared to be badly depressed, giving motorists undulating rides.

Investigation showed that the bridge was being managed by Mr. Oladipo Omojolowo, but that there was a dispute over its ownership and control, which were said to be in court.

The Chairman, United Ifesowapo Community Development Area and aggregate Chairman of Igando New Town CDAs, Mr. Sanni Thomas, said the dispute was responsible for the poor maintenance of the bridge.

He said, “The person managing the bridge now doesn’t want to fix the bridge since the case is in court and no one knows what the outcome will be.”

Thomas added that the idea of putting the bridge had sounded noble to community members, but that eight years on, the community had experienced more pains than gains.

He said, “Ordinarily, it could have been a very good business and it could have helped the community. Initially, what they (investors) told the community was that they wanted to link the road so that our children could go to school on the other side. So, the initial impression was that it would benefit the community but we’re not benefiting from it. The bridge brings a lot of traffic to the community that sometimes, we can’t even get into our own houses.

“The traffic damages our road quickly and it’s the CDA that’s taking care of the road without any support from the people collecting tolls from the bridge. It’s the same community that’s paying the security men patrolling the area and overseeing the bridge as well. It’s wrong that they toll the people and make so much from the community, and yet, can’t assist with grading the roads in the community. And the development and markets we thought it would bring did not happen; people don’t stop here, they go straight to Lanre. Same for the commercial motorcyclists.”

Also, Thomas said that vehicles sometimes fall off the bridge inside the swamp, spending days before they are removed.

Another resident on Sanni Thomas Street leading to the bridge, David Adigun, called on the government to “come to the aid of the community and construct a proper bridge.”

Enforcement seemed to be harder on the multi-use pako bridges since the attendants have to deal with pedestrians, motorists, motorcyclists and tricycle riders.

It was observed that to enforce payment of tolls, particularly from motorists and motorcyclists, attendants often had to close the gate to stop stubborn vehicle owners from passing through.

A mild drama ensued when a woman who identified herself as Alhaja Rasida, refused to pay for her children, none of who was older than seven years old. She insisted that she would not pay “a kobo” more than the N260 she was willing to pay for herself and two adults in the vehicle.

She later told Saturday PUNCH after about five minutes of having a tussle with the attendants, which she won. “How could they say they would collect N90 on these little children too? It’s N200 for a vehicle and N30 for each occupant apart from the driver, but I’d never agree to pay an additional N90 on these little children. The money is too much; it’s killing us. What kind of rubbish is that? Who gave them the rubbish permission to stand here and collect money?”

A source in the community said the bridge generates about N400,000 daily.

However, a lady at the office of Omojolowo, which was in the neighbourhood, said her boss was “not in town at the moment.”

Many owners and managers of the toll bridges live big in their communities. For instance, residents said Omojolowo’s house and office, which sit opposite each other on Oladipo Omojolowo Street, Igando New Town, easily dwarf other buildings on the street.

Residents, meanwhile, said Omojolowo’s fortune changed about seven years ago when he got into the business.

A resident who did not want to be named, said, “He used to work as a caretaker and later started selling palm-wine. His house was even draped in polythene bags. But things looked up for him when he linked up with others to start the tolling business.”

Meanwhile, a new multi-use pako toll bridge had just opened at Igesu, linking the community to Egan. A source in the area said the owner had invested about N33m in the project.

The bridge was new, so it was firmer and looked much neater, with modern lights to aid visibility for motorists at night.

A resident, Akeem Olawale, said going to Sango, Ogun State, from Egan would not take more than one hour using the bridge, while the other known alternative would not take less than two hours, if the traffic is light.

He said, “The bridge assists us to beat traffic. The road around here is very bad, so if you’re not taking the bridge to Sango, for instance, it will mean going round from Egan through Iyana-Ipaja and that could take close to more than two hours if there is no traffic.”

Efforts to reach the Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, in which many of the bridges fall, Mr. Israel Adekunle, were unsuccessful.

He did not answer his phone nor respond to a text message sent to his mobile line.

The State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, however, told our correspondent that private initiatives were an important part of the environment.

He said, “Private initiatives are always necessary in all human endeavours in all societies. That is why there are private hospitals, schools and all others. As long as there are options, private initiatives will always be available.

“Remember, the state is adding to her infrastructure portfolio regularly. Can the deficit be eliminated in a year? No. So we have to keep attacking, which is exactly what the state is doing.”

The tale of toll bridges and roads in Lagos already appears to be twofold. While the wooden bridges on one side, service a section of the state that is largely dominated by modest dwellings, the tolled Lekki-Ikoyi suspension bridge and the Lekki-Epe Expressway are servicing another section believed to be living in more affluence.

For instance, the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge which opened to the public in May 2013, did so amid controversies. Motorists are required to pay N250 toll on each car to use the suspension bridge, which the state government said it had handed over to a concessionaire. The proposal to toll the bridge had generated a prolonged debate by the state lawmakers at a plenary session, but the state government went ahead to open the bridge nonetheless.

Earlier, the controversial tolling on the 49.36km Lekki-Epe Expressway was also stiffly rejected by residents when the first of the toll gates was introduced at the Lekki Admiralty Way area in 2011. The state government claimed that the tolling was necessary because the reconstruction of the road was done under a concession deal with a private company. The controversial agreement signed between the parties was worth N50bn, with motorists paying N120 and N150 as toll on each car and SUV, respectively.

However, the state government recently said it had bought back the deal from the Lekki Concession Company Limited ahead of the 30-year period stipulated in the design, build, operate and transfer concession agreeme

Delafruita: the ignorance of you folks is astounding.our nation recognizes palestine and our president is on a jamboree in isreal

Do we have an embassy in Israel

Desric: Nigerians will never cease to amuse me, of what purpose does GEJ tourist visit to Israel serve his Religious belief? It is a known fact from time immemorial that Muslims all over the world as a matter of compulsion in fulfilment of the laws and demands of Islam must visit their holy land of Makkah if they can afford it, just like baptism is to the Christian fold.
What the President and his cohorts have done is a big show of shame and disgrace, if he so loved to visit that land, he should have done that quietly and not in this jamboree and wasteful nature. If I may ask, who sponsored this journey and who approved the bill? Anyway, its like the Igbos are part of this jewish tribe, because they are always dependant like parasites, not having a say of their own always hiding under someone's cover, Hypocrisy, Mediocrity and sycophancy is their birthright and trade mark. Nigeria must be better someday if we do not break and divide that's my believe.

The Jamboree, are billions we spend sending Muslims to mecca yearly. The day we break this country up, 95% of Muslims will stop going to Mecca. Because that jamboree stops.

Wsdm: No Muslim hurl direct insult to an elderly Christians in the age of Gumi. That shows the level of training and self discipline between the two.
Back to the issue; If Jonathan visits that place on personal religious ground, no problem. But his entourage is pointing at STATE-PILGRIMS-VISITS. And this should concern the adherents of other faiths because , he is not the president of a particular religion.

Why do you people like to lie. How many people followed Yaradua or Atiku to Mecca

He speaks for millions of muslim in this country and Apc e-rats agree with him. This was their country till Jonah came along.

https://www.nairaland.com/1493861/jonathan-assaulted-sensibilities-muslims-visiting#19110769

Most of the negative comments come from Gummi fans and followers

[quote author=nutty_hnic]A nigerian president in Jerusalem touching the walls of temple of whatever....Is that suppose to be an achievement? i don't get.
Am glad i dont understand how some of you people think[/quote]It is not an achievement, but in this country call Nigeria, the symbolism is priceless.

fctguy: this is my first time on this honorable forum and i want to use this medium to express my views about how the country Nigeria is being run by GEJ.
i work in fct and i can confidently tell you that the fct administration is broke and completely in debt to its contractors.
presently, the fct minister in a move to reduce recurrent cost in salaries, has decided to suddenly stop the salaries of about 3000 workers in the fct whom he termed "ghost workers"
it is evident that the fct who has refused to release the promotion exercise carried out early this year due to inadequate funds, is hell bent in cutting down cost in the fct on issues that would not affect his interests.
the fct is currently groaning under severe lack of funds; all the agencies in the fct can attest to this. contractors are being owed for well over two years, almost all projects within the fct are abandoned due to non-payment of contractors.
what is GEJ doing to us? is he so much concerned about 2015 that he has forgotten his promises to Nigerians?
what is happening in Nigeria now?

You are a ghost worker. Which contracts are abandoned in the FCT, please name them and provide pictures.

Only if he went to mecca. the e-rats will be singing his praises. The man is in Israel the HOME OF THE JEWS. IN JERUSALEM, THE CAPITAL OF THE JEWISH STATE. DEAL WITH IT. HE SAW THE TOMB, WHERE JESUS CHRIST LAID FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE RESURRECTION, HE WALKED ON THE SAME STREETS CHRIST, WALKED ON, AS HE CARRIED THAT CROSS FOR ALL OF YOUR SINS. A NIGERIAN PRESIDENT TOUCHING THE WALLS OF TEMPLE OF KING DAVID AND WEARING YARMULKE. IT DRIVES YOU PEOPLE CRAZY, TOO BAD.

Ex-Minister of State for Works, Chief Chris Ogiemwonyi, is the former husband to embattled Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah. When they went their separate ways a couple of years ago, having Ogiemwonyi removed as part of her surname became an issue between them. To date, her names could still be gleaned in some publications as Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi.

When Saturday PUNCH got across to the former junior minister on the telephone on Wednesday in Benin, he said he had not seen his former wife since 2011. He also said he had nothing new to add to what is already in the public domain about the car scandal.

He however did not offer any opinion regarding the action of NCAA and his former wife’s likely role in the country’s show of profligacy, saying both had not seen since she became minister.

The former minister for state said Nigerians know of what has been happening and that he had nothing to say or add. He however empathised with her.

Said Ogiemwonyi, “What concerns me about her? We have been separated and since she became minister, we have not seen. You know the time when the issue of dropping my name came up. We have not seen since then. We all read comments in the papers, everybody is listening and even the National Assembly, on the blogs; they are all full. But all I can tell you is that I last saw Stella in May 2011; that was when I saw her last. Since she became minister, I haven’t seen her. All I can say is that I wish her well, but there is nothing more I can say.”

Asked whether he was not bothered about the controversy generated by the minister’s predicament, he said that was the least of his problems.

Both Ogiemwonyi and Oduah were said to and become friends when they were working for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. While the former husband was a young engineer, Oduah was with the account department of the oil corporation. Their friendship blossomed and they later became husband and wife.

A blue-blood, Stella Oduah is the daughter of Igwe D. O. Oduah, Akili Ozizo of Ogbaru in Anambra State. She was born on January 5, 1962. After her studies at St. Paul’s College, Lawrence Ville, Virginia in the United States in 1983, Oduah joined the Nigeria National Petroleum Company.

Speaking in an interview three years ago, Oduah explained why she joined the government-owned corporation.

She said, “I wanted to be in oil and gas, and I felt my first leg should be in a national company and NNPC happened to be the in-thing at that time. It was either NNPC or banking and I just didn’t go into banking. I wanted oil and gas and so I was lucky I passed the interview at NNPC and I went in.”

In 1992, she floated Sea Petroleum and Gas with a reported N200,000 bank facility. Her reason: “I don’t think I left NNPC to set up SPG.

“I left NNPC because I wanted to do something more challenging. I left NNPC because I wasn’t getting enough job satisfaction. That’s why I left.”

A beautiful woman with a fearless gut that could make so many men question their masculinity, Oduah’s SPG, with a dodgy track record, has become an octopus in the oil and gas.

Not trying to get involved in your fight. But I know for a fact, Nigeria exports cements, Iron rods, plastics,plywood,tons of beers and paints to west Africa countries.. Just go to seme border and see the trailers crossing with Nigerian goods.

Nigerian restaurants outside Nigeria are just expensive. Why should I spent $10 for a meal,and still need to drink 2 cups of water to fill the gap in my stomach, while the Chinese buffet is 5.99 all you can eat

The problem of big government. Abuja does too much in our lives, the sooner we reduce this central administration style, the better. There are never any positives, just a truckload of negatives.

Desola: Basa ko, nasa ni.

Those people went to Israel to sign arms deal for the impending civil war over Niger delta secession!

Who do they think they are kinding?

Awon oloriburuku.

Good you know the truth.

Now that the central govt has won this case. I hope the govt, will return this money back to delta. Ibori had no other means of income, than delta state money.

payless: Tambuwal is ready to help the executive meets its obligation through apppropriation. This shows there is money for executive to fufill its obligations to ASUU.

That agreement calls for 26% yearly allocation to education. Can Tambuwal tell us where that money is coming from Speeches are fine, but ASUU seeks a NTrillion. Tambuwal should show us the money.

Jonathan wants N’Assembly to approve $600m loan for Lagos
UNLIKE the Senate which has dismissed the agreement between the Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as unrealistic, the House of Representatives is ready to approve a budgetary intervention to end the dispute.
During a debate on the strike in the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday, Senate President David Mark said that government officials who approved the agreement to meet ASUU’s demands were ignorant.
The Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who was briefed by the Aminu Suleiman-led House Committee on Education tasked to investigate the conflict, specifically appealed to both parties to consider the interest of the students and the educational future of the nation above all other considerations.
He said the parliament was willing to approve a request for funds for ASUU with a view to speedily resolving the crisis which, according to him, has dragged on for too long.
His words: “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to both the Executive arm and the authorities of ASUU to please quickly resolve the problem. And if there is need for any appropriation, the House will expeditiously assent to it in the interest of our students and the nation.”
The chamber also mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Federal Road Safety, and Justice to investigate the desirability or otherwise of the Biometric Central Motor Registration (BCMR) by the Nigeria Police.
The police last month announced the introduction of BCRMR, which they claimed would help them to fight terrorism, kidnapping and car theft. For this, motorists, tricycle and motorbike owners would be made to pay N3,500 into the coffers of the Nigeria Police.
But, adopting the prayers of a motion on the matter introduced on the floor by Hassan Saleh and 26 other lawmakers, the House expressed concern that the police were seeking to duplicate what the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) was already doing.
While noting the idea as laudable, especially in the wake of the high rate of crime in the country, the parliament, however, said the police could not use the claim to justify the scheme that they were seeking to implement, as the FRSC was already capturing the biometric data of all motorists in the country.
Saleh had while introducing the motion pointed out that “ordinarily, any measure that will enhance security of lives and property ought to be welcomed,” but that the venture by the police was unnecessary.
According to him, government owes Nigerians the sacred duty of protecting them from any form of exploitation.
“While Nigerians are grappling with how to come to terms with the high cost of obtaining the new driver’s licence and renew their old number plates whose cost is on the high side, the police pretend to be unaware that the FRSC is presently collating biometric details of all motorists in the country,” he said.
The House mandated its committees on Finance, Appropriation, Loans and Aid to conduct a one-day public hearing where the minister of finance, heads of revenue agencies, Debt Management Office (DMO) and related organisations will appear and present to Nigerians the full status of the country’s account.
The chamber expressed worry that in the past three to four months, there had been a disagreement between the minister of finance and state governors over partial releases of the amounts due to the states.
Moving a motion on the need for full disclosure of the state of account of the federation and economic situation of the country, Bimbo Daramola told the parliament that some state governments were already unable to meet their statutory responsibilities such as the payment of salaries, thereby inflicting pains on the people.
The House expressed dismay at the recurrence of oil spills and other forms of environmental degradation in the country, particularly in the Niger Delta region.
Consequently, the chamber, which adopted a motion brought by Pronen Maurice representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency of Rivers State, directed its Committee on Environment to investigate the matter and report to the House within three weeks for a further legislative action.
It urged the Federal Government, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) whose duty it is to oversee and check oil spills and environmental pollution to be alive to their responsibilities and take immediate remedial measures to cushion the effects of the Baraobara/Nonwa Tai oil spill.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has requested the approval of the National Assembly to incorporate a $600 million loan for Lagos State Development Policy Operation 11 (Budget Support) into the 2012-2014 Medium Term Borrowing Plan.
In a letter titled “Request for Inclusion of Lagos State Development Policy Operation 11 (DPO) into the 2012-2014 Medium Term Borrowing Plan of the Federal Government,” Jonathan said the admission would enable the state to consolidate the gains of the first tranche of the operation.
He, however, explained that the inclusion would not affect the borrowing plan since the $200 million had earlier been approved in 2010.
In the letter, Jonathan explained that the World Bank had approved a Development Policy Operation (Budget Support) for $600 million to Lagos in the 2010 appropriation to be implemented in three tranches of $200 million each.
The first tranche of $200 million was earlier approved by the National Assembly in the 2010 Borrowing Plan while the Development Policy Operation One was implemented in 2011.
Jonathan noted that the second phase of the project was not captured in the 2012-2014 Medium Term Borrowing Plan.
“However, given the importance of the second tranche to the success and sustainability of the first tranche, I wish to submit it for your consideration for inclusion in the current borrowing plan but with no additional request”, Jonathan said.
He added that the World Bank-supported Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, which was approved by the National Assembly (NASS) in the 2010 Borrowing Plan with a total credit amount of $315 million, had only disbursed $15 million after about two years of project implementation.
“The World Bank has therefore embarked on restructuring of the project in the face of current realities in a manner that would release $200 million for allocation to Lagos Development Policy Operation 11.”
Jonathan said the $200 million would enable the state to complete some critical projects, including an ultra-modern burns centre and cardiac and renal centre at Gbagada General Hospital, a 27-kilometre light rail along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway corridor to Marina as well as the completion of the 70-million gallon per day Adiyan water facility.

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