₦airaland Forum

The reforms needed therefore include increase in the percentage of derivation concept in revenue sharing, a review of the revenue sharing formula in favour of states and local governments, stripping of Federal Government’s roles in lower and medium level education and health, creation of state police and creation of new states to address imbalance in representation within the National Assembly. The day the nation genuinely reduce the over-bearing influence of the centre, typified by its unitary hold on the nation, will be the era of true federalism.

There is nothing clever about the above paragraph. The states and LG's need to produce their own money instead of relying on Abuja for survival. It is also foolishness to even consider creating new states to address a so-called "imbalance."
That so-called "imbalance" simply means closeness to oil money and more rounds of vicious corruption.

If the states and LG's still want to rely on the FG in this day and age, then Nigeria will never ever develop. We need to weed out these funny folk who preach the incredibly annoying and ignorant falsehood that true federalism means more oil money. It doesn't, it means greater self reliance, greater autonomy and the tools to move away from our id!otic oil dependence to developing functioning economies.

We have way too many loudmouths in the country, spouting stuff that is dangerously foolish.

[size=14pt]A president on constitutional offensive [/size]
Written by Olawale Rasheed Monday, 21 November 2011

https://www.tribune.com.ng/images/stories/website_images/250by250%20goodluck.jpg
President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has inaugurated a presidential advisory panel on the amendment of the constitution. Regional Editor (News), Olawale Rasheed, delves into issues and politics of  constitution reform in Nigeria.

The many structural challenges facing the nation, indeed, demand a fundamental restructuring of the national constitution. This fact, accepted by successive administrations in the country has, nevertheless, been a hard nut to crack, due to entrenched regional and geopolitical interest. President Goodluck Jonathan has however vowed to break the jinx to ensure a far-reaching review of the constitution in the life of his administration.

While the last National Assembly, in reality, amended the constitution, the review did not touched on fundamental issues which many citizens count as imperative for the continued existence of the nation. It was thus not surprising that the president, under his transformation agenda, priotised the amendments and is prepared to expend political capital to realise the dream. Prior to the recent empanelling of a body of distinguished Nigerians, many had questioned the approach adopted in communicating the proposed amendments to the public.

This is particularly so in the case of the single tenure presidency which ran into severe controversy, even before the bill was drafted by the presidency. The storm which greeted the hint dropped on the single tenure proposal has, however, made the administration smarter in its handling of the amendment politics. President Jonathan recently openly admitted that his proposal was misunderstood by some Nigerians.

The perception of hidden motive, referred to by the president, is mostly seen by many observers as the fault of the administration in doing the first thing last. The inauguration of the panel of distinguished and eminent Nigerians to collate view on the proposed amendments, and possibly prepare draft amendments bill, was the needed first thing capable of dousing the flame of suspicion by placing the issue before the public. If this was done originally, the issue of single tenure and others would not have brought about that controversy.

The panel has a daunting task at hand, as the public space is already energised due to the controversies of recent times. The first issue for the committee is to restore public confidence by affirming, as repeatedly as possible, that no issue is already predetermined. As the ultimate powers of amendment rest with the legislature at states and national levels, no issue should be regarded as decided, because the politics of amendments may be complicated, if such impression is entrenched in the mind of the public.

The basic reality which most Nigerians are not disputing is that the constitution needs amendment. As the chair of the panel, retired Justice Alfa Belgore, put it, the 1999 Constitution was hurriedly put up, hence its many lapses and the need to amend it to address subsisting national challenges. This view is a popular one, but the attendant issue is possible fatigue of citizens’ participation.

The impression that government has failed to make effective use of previous reports of constitutional conferences may elicit public fatigue. For example, the 1994 conference on political reform was one of the most exhaustive and far-reaching confab on Nigerian constitutional development. Best of Nigerian minds from all walks of life were direct and active participants. The late General Shehu Yar’Adua, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Dr Olusola Saraki, late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Dr Oluremi Atanda and many others were deeply involved in the conference which directly addressed many touchy issues. Many of the proposals are waiting to be lifted into an amendment bill. The same thing happened to the 2005 political reform conference.

To address issue of neglect of previous reports, the president has also specifically charged the committee to review previous reports and integrate relevant amendment proposals into a draft bill. This singular directive to the panel may serve to tell the public that the new exercise will not go the way of previous ones as the new exercise is structured to be holistic and integrative of all previous efforts at constitution review.

The panel is however restricted in certain respect. According to the president, its focus should be on areas of common agreements in the amendment process. Here, the panel is to focus more on agreed issues in constitutional review while an enlarged panel to be put up late is to expand the net of consultation and address touchy issues. Hence, the directive to the panel to eschew sensitive and controversial areas is seen by some analysts as a great drawback.

There is a perceived problem when it comes to determining what are agreed and contentious areas. Agreed, there are some minor areas in the constitution, which are not controversial. But the unsettling reality is that amendments needed to stabilise the polity and address federalist challenges are controversial and touchy. The Belgore-led panel should have been asked to address all the issues and prepare an amendment bills which can now be deliberated upon by an enlarged consultative body. This has the capacity to fast-track the process.

When the government addresses issue of constitutional amendment, the citizenry are keenly interested in specific areas which affected their lives. The issue of true federalism is now a challenge the government can no longer shy away from addressing. Restructuring the federation to strengthen the states through devolution of more powers and funding is an amendment required to maintain national unity and stability.

Such specific amendments demand the review of the legislative list to unbundle the exclusive legislative list which presently confer too much powers and responsibilities on the Federal Government. More worrisome is the concurrent legislative list which, again, gives the Federal Government so much say, even in matters that should be left to the states to handle. Many constitutional experts are always quick to note that Nigeria is operating a unitary constitution under the tag of federalism.

The reforms needed therefore include increase in the percentage of derivation concept in revenue sharing, a review of the revenue sharing formula in favour of states and local governments, stripping of Federal Government’s roles in lower and medium level education and health, creation of state police and creation of new states to address imbalance in representation within the National Assembly. The day the nation genuinely reduce the over-bearing influence of the centre, typified by its unitary hold on the nation, will be the era of true federalism.

Of course, the president’s baby-single tenure presidency is also one of such fundamental issues the nation must address. The president is apparently determined to effect the amendment and his team may have to do everything necessary to achieve such. However, that the goal may now necessitate horse-trading with those opposed to the idea  may kill such initiatives as state police and sound a death knell of true federalism.

There are those who believe the present constitution is deliberately crafted as it is due to the peculiar nature of the Nigerian state. A strong centre is believed to be a condition for the continuous existence of the nation. What the late Head of State, General Aguiyi Ironsi, experimented with and failed was later successfully implemented by successive leaders who saw reason in enforcing a unitary Nigeria due to the fear of regional break up and national instability. A Nigerian nation with a state police and states with strong financial base is seen as a potent trigger for national disintegration. But how true is this?

Many national leaders have faulted that line of thought as they reasoned that the best way to remain a happily united entity is to ensure the practice of true federalism in the country. Anything short of that is considered to be a deliberate waiting on edge and a concealed invitation to national implosion.

Recent developments in the polity have however opened the eyes of many to the need for constitutional reforms. Tackling security challenges cannot be solved without a state police. The current insurgency is a testimony. The Federal Government is over-bloated. The near insolvency of the states is a pointer. Jerking up the derivation factor in revenue sharing formula is unavoidable. The clamour for fiscal federalism is an argument. Creating new states is not about viability alone, it is about balancing the existing imbalance which gives the core North superior representation in the National Assembly.

The above are at the centre of the nation’s quest for sustainable political structure. The creeping fear is that politics of single tenure may cloud the realisation of this key reform. The president is, no doubt, very keen about a single tenure presidency and if such amendment were to be successfully passed, the Bayelsan politician would have made an indelible mark on the nation’s constitutional history. Interestingly, the president is also passionate about his desire to effect the amendment, as he believes it will go a long way to resolve part of the nation’s political malaise.

As the process is now kick-started with the advisory panel, issues likely to be thrown up by the geopolitics of the amendment process are multi-various. For a start, there is an expected block of opposition to certain aspects of likely proposed amendments. For one, there is an eternal fear of state police and derivation formula. The president’s single term tenure is already a contentious issue.

To get the process moving, most amendment bills are likely to be subjected to geopolitics with regional interests battling to retain certain aspects of the status quo considered favourable to them. For example, the position of the North is predictable with respect to certain aspects of likely proposed amendments. Higher derivation formula in revenue sharing is expectedly contentious for the North. Summing up the northern perspective is to simply note the fear of the South angling to structure the federation to gain advantage in national politics.

The South is sure to push for in-depth amendments; the North is sure to oppose certain provisions; the North-Central can resolve the face off. What is more, Senate President David Mark is expected to be the jinx breaker. With his deft spirit and commando-like hold on the upper chamber, he will be a strong ally of the presidency in this respect. If the presidency will consent to a new state, the Senate may be taken for granted as a support base.

For the House of Representratives, the House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, represents a fresh block. He is however said to be amenable to amendments considered to be in the national interests. The problem is, who defines that national interest and what constitutes national interest in this circumstance? What can the presidency do to tame or conciliate with the House caucus known for its entrenched position and perspective? How will the presidency engage the North seen as the bulwark against fundamental amendments to the constitution?

Many watchers of the expected battle are worried about possible compromises and horse trading among the power wielders. If the North opposes derivation formula and accept single tenure presidency, a dangerous horse-trading would have occurred. Put differently, if the core North accept single tenure presidency in return for the dropping of state police and revenue derivation, how will the presidency react?

The reality is that horse trading is a normal part of political life. If the president is not disposed to such option, there will be many within the inner caucus who will prevail on him to accept the compromise. In any case, the single tenure issue is about the only provision the president has expended political capital. However, the amendment process can only have meaning, if it resulted in the emergence of true federalism.

An amendment which enthrone single tenure presidency may satisfy a presidential agenda, but will fall short of what is needed for national harmony and stability to be sustained. Many Nigerians will be happy seeing more funds and responsibilities going to the state and local government levels, with correspondence improvement in their lives. Increased derivation percentage will finally pacify the oil producing communities and state police will appease those angry about porous national security situation.

The president, nonetheless, deserves commendations for bending backwards to satisfy the clamour of the citizens for a broader consultative process to deliberate on the contentious aspects of the reform. The agenda he gave the panel is also a manifestation of his responsiveness to public yearnings. The panel and the subsequent one that will follow thus have the heavy task of justifying presidential confidence by conducting their assignment in public rather than parochial interests.

The journey to a new constitutional life for the nation has begun.  Many only hopes the exercise will be driven by the interest of the citizenry, rather than the agenda of the power elite.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/31490-a-president-on-constitutional-offensive

Java anti-virus? LOLZZZ!
Java needs a virtual machine to function, how can you write anti-virus software with that?

Patrick Obahiagbon speaks pidgin english and he does it very well.

. . .after Yar’Adua’s decomposing corpse was finally wheeled out of the seat of power. . .

Only an irredeemable fool with zero morality would publish a gutter article where even the dead are spat on.

[size=14pt]I didn’t study journalism, I studied Geography….I am just doing my best…[/size]

New York [RR] New York—this is the full text of the “inconvenient truths” of the mesmerizing interview that has Omoyele Sowore/Saharareporters complaining of harassment. This interview was conducted by Carlisle [Carl] Umunnah at Republicreport.com. Republicreport.com is an online News Agency.

Republicreport: Hello So…this is Republicreport.com, yes we called you thismorning [August 2, 2010] and left you two messages in your answering machine, how are you?

Sowore/Saharareporters: I expected you to call me on a personal level, what is this Republicreport.com?

RR: we are a media outfit, we uncovered serious allegations against you and we are going to press, and we felt it’s necessary to contact you to get your side of the story….

Sowore/SR: congratulations… but, why didn’t you call my attention before you publish the first one?

RR: that is why we are calling you now to get clarifications, get your side of the story, because we have investigated the alleged corruption… how junior officers at Nigeria Washington D.C. Embassy make over $350 [thousand] unaccounted dollars monthly, our investigation will continue, especially with respect to your alleged 1.55 million IRS tax-Return, and Ephraim E. Ugwuonye unpaid monies… are you aware there are several contracts agreements between the Federal government of Nigeria and Ephraim E. Ugwuonye, in addition, he alleged he’s been owed unpaid back monies for over 7-years to his firm for services they provide to the federal government?

Sowore/SR: so you now write together with Ugwonye… with corruptpeople…is that how you ended up… Do you have the contract papers… we have the contract papers and we published them… Can I put you on tape?

RR: Oh,  really you now write with Bolaji Aluko from corrupt family of Sam Aluko who worked with corrupt Abacha regime that stole billions of dollars from national treasury….yes Bolaji Aluko… the Alukos… Go ahead….and put onn, all your tapes… as many as possible…

Sowore/SR: which law firm are you talking about…and what is the name of the law firm?

RR: One ECLAW…you already published it at Saharaereporters and we at Republicreport.com published it… so, why are you asking about it again….?

Sowore/SR: caught…. He has two law firms that go by the moniker—ECLAW, you don’t know how to do research and you want me to send you the contract papers….

RR: My friend listen-up, I called you, you didn’t call me. So I don’t know how to do research… really, apparently you  are the one that knows how to do reach…amazing, my friend, these are serious allegations against you…What is your relationship with Blair a convicted criminal by US Justice Department, we learnt that you, [Sowore], Aluko, Sobo, and discredited former Ambassador Rotimi, etc, partner together to rubbish people …this orchestrated in your nocturnal meetings with Rotimi, because Mr. Rotimi couldn’t put his fingers in the 23.5 million generated from Real Estate sales of Nigeria properties in Washington D.C.

Sowore/SR: You are making an accusation against me…

RR: I am not accusing you… like I said, these are allegations leveled against you and others and we just want to know your side of the story and your relationship with a convicted criminal…. [Blair], before we go to press…

Sowore/SR: I have my own attorneys who are specialists in libel cases… I can defend myself… I am not afraid…

RR: what is your relationship with IBK…?

Sowore/SR: I don’t know anything about IBK….and I have no relationship with him…

RR: On August 23, 2010, you published that Ugwuonye’s case was allegedly dismissed by Maryland Court, the court allegedly tossed the case because it said, “It’s Frivolous Lawsuit meant to intimidate commentators”, then on August 26, 2010, the same court in Maryland dismissed Aluko’s counter-suit” but you, Sowore/Saharareporters refused to publish it… why is that?

Sowore/SR: we published it…

RR: when did you publish it?

Sowore/SR: this morning August 2, 2010…

RR: So you belatedly published it because you heard Repubicreport.com is going to press…

Sowore/SR: we don’t have to publish everything…you have your own website…so you can use your outfit to publish what you think we didn’t publish…I am only doing my best…

RR: these cases are interconnected or related… it beats me, why you would publish the one that is favorable to Aluko, but absconded and/or ignored to publish the one that is favorable to Ugwuonye, this kind of journalism questions your credibility and morality, in our own estimate, and of course, by any standard….

Sowore/SR: I didn’t study journalism, I studied Geography….I am just doing my best…

RR: I didn’t study journalism either, but balanced journalism is distances the profession from “gutter journalism”,  than this kind of grandstanding and display of biasness at reporting… again what is your relationship with Aluko whose lawyer is a convicted criminal, RR gathered that you folks were calling him [Blair] even while, he was in jail to get some information from him against Ugwuonye….

Sowore/SR: I can’t tell you my relationship with Aluko…I have never called you before to ask you your relationship with people, including Ugwuonye…Carl, Carl, Carl, I respect you, we worked together during June 12, 1993; we fought Abacha regime together… I expect you to give me a personal call…

RR: but these are serious allegations against you…reports alleged that Bolaji Aluko uses/ed his connections in Nigeria government to collect top government officials phone numbers, emails, contact addresses, which he hand-over or give them to you, and you use these contacts et al, to call-up these top government officials telling them that you have dirt on them that they either pay up or they will be rubbished by publishing them at Saharareporters.com

Sowore/SR: Carl, you are harassing me… you live in New York City, and you know what the law in New York City says… you cannot force me to tell you my relationship with someone…you are harassing me… I have to go…

RR: Harassing you…?,  the allegations states that you are the one harassing people/government officials through contact you gained access to via Bolaji Aluko…adding that you also sometimes pass the nights at Aluko’s home in Washington D.C.

Sowore/SR: hangs the phone….

RR: after some minutes or seconds, we called Sowore/SR again…there is children’s noise at the background…

Sowore/SR: ….move back… go back… [Speaking in the background] to possibly his kids… we can’t be doing this shouting…

RR: are those your kids… how many are they, how old are they…? 

Sowore/SR: Is that why you are calling…I expected you to call me on personal level…

RR: this is one is on a personal level, but you can put me on your tapes, if you like… but what is your relationship with Bolaji Aluko, Blair, Sobo… reports say, the man [Ugwonye] has been owed for the past 7-years of unpaid back monies for the services his law firm provided for the Federal government of Nigeria and its Embassy in Washington D. C. and other services, and you folks are here trying to rubbish him because of envy and jealousy…sources told RR, via alleged “campaign of calumny”. I mean your credibility and those of your partners are questionable here…Aluko is your friend but you claimed you know how to do research, but you unable to do research on the Alukos and his lawyers… what manner of research is that… whose credibility is questionable here, I  mean…talk of credibility.

Sowore/SR: go ahead and publish whatever you want to publish I can defend myself… I have to go…

RR:  it is all well and good but he that seeks equity must come with clean hands… if we are talking about credibility… you and Aluko are not the right people to talk about credibility on this score.

RR: It seems you are too busy now, can we send you email or call you back…, ?

Sowore/SR: like I said whether you send me email or call back, it won’t change anything; I will not answer any… further question….

More here. . . http://www.9jabook.com/forum/topics/sowore-sahararepoters-complaining-of-harassment-i-didn-t-study-jo
He is a criminal, thats why he finds it easy to falsify documents with photoshop.

sheyguy:
If the oil subsidy should go what is the guarantee that new and ambitious thieves wouldn't hijack the fund saved and misappropriate it like is already commonplace in Nigeria today? the escape route from subsidy removal has been compromised already. the system is too corrupted already. they should give the public those names behind these heinous activities first.

The biggest difference is that it will be debated in a transparent way; it will not be the current opaque curtain, that you and I will know how it works would be a major disinsentive to corruption. What we have now was handed down by military fiat.
Behind those companies mentioned, are several ex-generals.

Until we can remove the influence of the ex-generals from the petroleum sector, we will never make a dent in the fight against corruption. Can you see the sort of figure they share daily? N2.4billion! The share size of that booty drops like a thudding roll of thunder; Nigeria is being bled dry.

May his soul rest in peace. The Ibru's are a very illustrious and humble family.

Olalekan 0:
The ACN is fllooded by PDP old boys;AMOSUN,ARARUME,NGIGE,ATIKU,UDOEHEHE et al, they are by no means different from the PDP.

They certainly have no moral claims and might even be worse.
The greatest divider between ACN and PDP is captured in Bafarawa's words below:

“The effect of what I stated above is that ACN consolidated as a regional party. Those of us from the North wanted to be members of a party with national spread. This unfortunate trend continues till date. Some people feel the party is their personal estate, designed for the amassing of power and wealth to the detriment of members and Nigerians,” Alhaji Bafarawa concluded.

The major oil marketers are Mobil, Conoil, Total, Forte Oil (formerly AP), MRS(formerly Texaco) and Oando Plc.

For independent petroleum marketers, firms like NIPCO, Folawiyo Energy, Capital Oil, Obat Oil, Rahamaniyah, among others, are also deeply involved in importation of petrol.

I am slowly coming round to believing that the oil subsidy should go. It is quite clear from the names mentioned and the sort of sums involved, a staggering N2.4billion daily that only radical action can save the oil sector.

A few of the names involved in the importing jamboree are also involved in politics, which means that they will never ever act on the side of the common man, not when there is a filthy N2.4billion cake to divide every day.

We need more informative articles like this one.

Try Eloquera object database, with it, you don't need to even write SQL. Read about object databases, its wonderful stuff.
As an additional benefit, if you use it in desktop mode, it would just be a file you can store in any folder, your users will never know you have a db; all your config work can be done in code.
http://eloquera.com/

You could also try SQL Server CE 4.0 (ignore 3.5 downwards), its an embedded database you can use for both desktop and web. You would need to write SQL for this alternative. If you have Visual Studio 2010 SP1, then its already installed on your system, otherwise get it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=17876

You might also look up Firebird and SqlLite.

^
You are right about the need for private sector involvement; the FG has indeed, sent a bill to the NASS to allow for PPP on the rail system. But until the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act 1995 is changed, people like Aregbesola are telling porkies. I can Bet that his MOU is on paying the farmers fares for their Lagos trips on the FG's trains; not some tall tale like acquiring 40 wagons and 40 coaches, or building train stations, tracks and the like.

Crap 28!

ifebosco:
beaf just respect your self.at least some people are trying to change the way things are being done in our useless institutions

beaf, what have you done for nigeria?? apart from supporting gej even when his wrong for money

What have I done for Nigeria? Lol!
I have done far more than Sahara Reporters will ever be able to and I believe I am blessed with great potential to multiply that several times over. What have you done, bruv? Aside from post shockingly unintelligent crap like the above?

This is a project me and a couple of other guys have been working on: http://www.afrosciencecommunity.com/
I hope to be able to contribute much more in future. Can you and your hot air remotely match what that website offers?

Dunce.

Lol! And the usual crew have now changed track rather sharply, from the lie borne by the thread title; "Osun Farmers Head For Lagos . . .in Aregbesola's Trans."
Whatever "trans" means.

Aregbesola has never bought any train and is just a liar, squatting on an FG project, because there is an absolute zero to his name (aside from the degrading tale of the 19 busloads of deported aluta howlers).

When will the man stop telling tales, pack home from Lagos and get cracking, so that Osun states long suffering workers who are owed several months salaries can finally get paid. They deserve to have a good xmas and new years holiday pay like their counterparts in the rest of the country, instead of these weak-headed high stories of buying trains for the FG.

[quote author=Kilode?! link=topic=807307.msg9593608#msg9593608 date=1321749983]There is a great need for fearless investigative reports in Nigeria. Saharareporters, despite their little faults represent that

Saharareporters is not a tabloid publishing birthdays, chieftaincy titles and celebrity divorces. Our journalists should be ready to step on toes, that's a major part of the career they chose.[/quote]Bruv, telling lies is not a little fault, in fact its like stealing.

jason123:
Thanks for the revelation. What if he asked for the minister's permission before embarking on such, that is, he worked hand-in-hand with the NCR to actualise it. Do he not deserve a bit of credit? Maybe the MOU was to subsidize the transportation fare? Anyway, Nigerian politics can be tiring. Too much propaganda and falsehood.

He did not ask the ministers hand. All he is doing is telling lies. The whole World is watching the sad antics of Aregbesola in utter bemusement.
Why does he have to lie?

[quote author=Omo_Tier1 link=topic=807133.msg9593431#msg9593431 date=1321744831]You know for real, I do not have the time for butt lickers like yourself, know all over NL as a blind apologist that can only exist from what trickles down the pockets of his pay master!

You rather should be ashamed of yourself for blindly supporting a man who gave you a thief as a governor but decided otherwise not having one as his own governor! If GEJ feels He has the peoples power behind him why did He not allow the four political heavy weights in the race to slot it out in the primaries?

The last laugh may yet be had by Sylva as what happen in ogun may yet repeat itself in Bayelsa!

Need I remind you to focus on the substance and leave the shaff to the wind?[/quote]Slyva Sylva

Dude, you sound very bitter like you had a personal stake in the tussle. You can burst your veins wishing for ill luck and bad news, but you will only be hurting yourself.
Sylva has lost and it is hard to see a future outside jail for him. If that happens, will you go and share his cell in your ridiculously warped idea of democracy?

Keep to the stuff you know.

For me, I am very happy with serious papers like the Vanguard, Guardian and Nation. There is no need for the tabloid style trashiness that Sahara Reporters have sprung on the nation.

@Jason123
Dude, all that is just long talk. The FG is solely in charge of the railways. Aregbesola is telling his usual ridiculous porkies.
I don't know how anybody can believe that anybody can buy trains to run on FG tracks.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation Act 1995 puts NRC business as 100% FG, there is no leeway for so-called MOU's that supply 40 coaches and 40 wagons or any other tall tale.

Aregbesola is a liar who is owing Osun states workers several months salaries and hitching a ride on FG projects, cos he has exactly zero attached to his name. Everybody is watching him incredulously now and when the time comes, it will be easy as ABC to eject him.

How can a governor lie that an FG project is his? Wonders will never cease!!

There is no scope within the law to accept Aregbesola's tall claims. As the excerpt below plainly states, nobody can do any business at all on NRC lines except the federal govt minister approves it. Nobody can walk into the NRC offices and claim to have signed MOU's with it when the minister of transports stamp from Abuja is absent:

The Nigeria Railway Act exclusively places railway business under the domain of the central government. This clearly excludes private investment. The Act makes it illegal for anyone without the consent of the railway corporation to construct or operate a railway for the public carriage of passengers or goods within Nigeria15. One of the consequences of the railway acts is its restriction placed on the extension of railway lines. It states:

“Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore in this part contained, no extension of the route kilometer of the railway shall be undertaken by or on behalf of the corporation without prior sanction of the minister if such:
(a) exceeds eight kilometer in length; and
(b) is intended for the public carriage of passengers;
and no extension exceeding eight kilometers in length of the route kilometer of a railway shall be used for the public carriage of passengers without such sanction as foresaid.”

What is more, by implication the Act forecloses private investment in the rail business. Investors are always on the look for opportunities. Five years ago, a Canadian firm put forward a proposal to construct a 3-hour Lagos-Abuja rail line. The Oodua Group had also planned to construct a 20-minute Lagos-Ibadan rail track. The Lagos State government last year signed a $240m Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lemna Incorporated, a U S-based firm, for the construction and operation of a light rail under build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement.
These laudable projects are bound to face the major hurdle. The Nigeria Railway Act clearly confers monopoly powers on the Nigerian Railway Corporation. The Act stated that it should be unlawful for any person, without the consent of the corporation, to construct or operate a railway

http://www.ippanigeria.org/Nigeria_IPPA_Policy_Brief_07.pdf

youngmonie:
THISDAY for sure does!!!, Hate them all you can still better than the corrupt ones here in Nigeria

I cannot vouch for any section of the press, regardless I know that none (outside the likes of Ovation and Osun Defender) have reached the lows that Sahara Reporters regularly dredges. Bruv, will you take the challenge of providing evidence of anyplace where ThisDay has photoshoped a pic and used it as news evidence? Lol! Of course, you won't!

Happy birthday Mr President, keep the good job going and may God Bless you with wisdom, health and joy.

NB: Tomorrow is GEJ's birthday not today.

[quote author=Kilode?! link=topic=807307.msg9593441#msg9593441 date=1321745049]^
Beaf Oniyeye 

You know you want people like Sowore to succeed, he will probably save your Bottom from these visionless looters one day.[/quote]You can be certain that I don't.
I might deslike Tinubu intensely, but the Nation is generally good quality if you excuse the partisan stuff, I quote them all the time and will continue to do so. Sahara Reporters on the other hand, is just foul smelling trash.
A liar is next to a thief and Sahara Reporters is an organisation that trades in lies.

That pic and the story at the end of the link, speak a thousand and one ugly words.

lukkie:
@Beaf
What are you driving at? Nothing special there. It's the same picture duplicated laterally. The men are Benue trial drummers.

How many news agencies do you know aside from yourselves that manufacture news, tell lies and use photoshop? The picture is fake and is used as evidence in a false "news" story. Period.

Sahara Reporters are liars and scum.

This is another foolish thread. How can anybody hail an FG project as Aregbesola's work? Its mind boggling!
Aregbesola is owing several months salaries to Osun state workers, probably because he used the money to sponsor elections in Alimosho LGA, Lagos as well as various massive aluta trips (eg the one that saw 19 busloads of howlers arrested).

What will Aregbesola claim next, that he is fixing 3rd Mainland Bridge?

Disgusting.

You can see how the monster disguised himself as a Tuareg in the vid below.

[flash=560,315]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9jJIOz13k[/flash]

Lol! Crap 28, spewing shyte as usual!

@topic
The guy will be tried in Libya and swiftly executed, there is no way he is going to the ICC. Before that, he will be made to suffer inhuman torture like his father and younger brother before him. The signs ain't great for Saif.

Why is it that those who are so mouthy end up desperately seeking to preserve their lives like cowards? It seems to be something that runs in the blood of dictators and other monsters.

I would like to grace this page with some Sahara Reporters fairytale "news." Sahara Reporters? Best for lies, best for fake news.

http://saharareporters.com/photo/photonews-jonathans-declaration-when-jonathan-women-met-goodluck-men

www.nairaland.com/attachments/324341_SaharaReportersFakePicture_jpg69a0b6e4ad1c8831fa731bd73bb022d2

Iolo:
You've said it all man. You don't abide by an illegal/nonsensical injunction. But Nigerians once they hear injunction, it must be legal. Like the judge that gave Odili life immunity by granting a no-arrests injunction, that's just plain silly and that judge + Odili should be behind bars.

Judges are human too and most of them are very well part of the corrupt system in Nigeria.

Can you imagine? These things are examples of how our legal system is abused and subverted by those with access to filthy lucre.

[quote author=Omo_Tier1 link=topic=807133.msg9593352#msg9593352 date=1321743406]If anything, excuse my not getting his name spelt correctly and deal with the real issue, like your Godfather GEJ, you have no balls to handle weighty matters that counts towards the propserity of the majority.

Remind your Godfather GEJ that before elections He never had shoes to wear and that those that gave him shoes to wear with which He is now making troubles in the greeks will send him barefooted back home when the time comes. He will endure the 'dance of the rejected' just like Obj currently!
Disgusting slowpico and snakey![/quote]Slyva Sylva

The first sign that a person is spewing hot air is when they display zero knowledge. Your case is just like someone arguing strenuously about night spots in Lagos, but repeatedly spelling it as Ligis. Lol! It would be easy to conclude that such a person is plucking stuff from thin air.
Carry go! Bros, nutin do you!

kokoA:
Why aint we hearing anything about the opposition parties in that state? This is their oppurtunity to take over power because pdp is already devided. That Timi guy should have remained with Lapour Party, the election would have been a 'slam-dunk' for him,

There is no opposition party in Bayelsa. But Timi Alaibe would most likely have won it if he was left to remain as a labour contestant, that is why he was tricked to come unto the stronger platform PDP offers with the promise of a waiver. As one of Jonathans strong men, he would easily have won the PDP primaries with ease, however the spotlight was already on Seriake Dickson. That is why Timi Alaibe's bid failed at the 11th hour, because the waiver never came.

It was cloak and dagger stuff in Bayelsa, but it is expected that Timi Alaibe and the likes of Doukpula that lost out in the operation against Sylva will be adequately compensated.

For those talking about the useless court injunction, let them understand that a judge is expected to know the law. In fact, that judge needs to be thoroughly investigated to find out why he gave a ruling that was so impossibly id!otic that it broke the law. . . It is known that Sylva doled out a lot of cash.

[quote author=Omo_Tier1 link=topic=807133.msg9592527#msg9592527 date=1321734327]The Primary would not stand as INEC did not send any observer to the primary. Does it suprise any body that GEJ would handpick a candidate, ignore court orders, and send the rule of law to the gutters? Afterall, His political emergence can be traced thus. A despical individual with a pretentious look of humility but innately corrupt with every evil you can associate with PDP politics!

Isn't it ironic that barely six (6) months ago, this same despotic GEJ raised Slyva's hand as the man to turn Bayelsa state around? So what has changed between then and now?[/quote][quote author=Omo_Tier1 link=topic=807133.msg9592666#msg9592666 date=1321735630]Electoral act is not bigger than the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria and what the Slyva case would do most likely is test the validity of that aspect of the law so passed by the despotic 6th NASS.

Again, you need to study the grounds of Slyva's case and the reply filed by the PDP in court this week.[/quote][quote author=Omo_Tier1 link=topic=807133.msg9592935#msg9592935 date=1321738308]Again i repeat, it is not about slyva, it is about US, Nigerians and the ugly democratic foundation the likes of GEJ is laying for the unborn Nigeria. And your assertion that Dickson haven being a NASS member (mind you he is in the house of rep not senate) means He has followership wide enough to win him the governorship election is laughable. Where was Dickson when the last governorship primary in 2011 was conducted?[/quote][quote author=Omo_Tier1 link=topic=807133.msg9592633#msg9592633 date=1321735327]A pity your type still exist in Nigeria! You have no sense of reasoning to understand that it is not Slyva that is the bone of contention, rather it is the ABUSE of POWER and the threat to Democracy of the bastardly act of GEJ and His gang of PDP looters pose that is really the main issue.

By this singular act of the PDP concerning the primary and not following the rule of law, be rest assured that the election will be rigged big time 'cos if Slyva decamps to another party and contest, then it will be all out war in Bayelsa 'cos GEJ hasn't got the foot soldiers like Slyva in Bayelsa but the painful part of all this is that the ordinary Bayelsa wil suffer![/quote]You can't even spell Sylva, yet you are here arguing with so much heat? Lol! It just goes to show how some people burst their veins over what they know absolutely nothing about.
For your info, the mans name is Sylva, not slyva.