₦airaland Forum

[size=14pt]10 Northern Governors Move to Back Jonathan[/size]
•Arewa youths converge on Kaduna for mass protest
From Imam Imam in Lagos and John Shiklam in Kaduna, 07.26.2010

Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting of the 19 Northern Governors, the wave of support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged 2011 presidential aspiration in the North is on the upswing, though he has not officially declared his interest in the race.

THISDAY checks revealed that no fewer than 10 of the region's 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are now rooting for the President to contest next year.

But thousands of Northern youths under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Youth Groups and Associations insisting on zoning have converged on Kaduna for a mass rally tomorrow against any attempt by the 19 Northern governors to trade off the zoning agreement in exchange for their selfish political gains.

The governors are expected to meet at the Government House, Kaduna to deliberate further or possibly take a position on the raging controversy over the zoning of the presidency between the North and South.
During their meeting last month in Kaduna , the governors had resolved to further consult stakeholders in their various states over the matter.

THISDAY, however, found out that while some Northern political leaders are openly canvassing the retention of the PDP zoning of presidency to the North, some of the region’s governors are rooting for Jonathan to contest the 2011 poll.
Governors known to be proffering support for Jonathan’s alleged ambition are Jonah Jang (Plateau), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Danbaba Suntai (Taraba), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto). Others are Ibrahim Idris, Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).
THISDAY could not clearly figure out where Governors Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Bukola Saraki (Kwara) and Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi (Zamfara) stand on the issue.

But the only PDP governor from the region to publicly declare his opposition to Jonathan’s presidential ambition is Dr. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State .
Aliyu who is also the chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum has thrown his weight behind the presidential aspiration of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.

However, the three All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Governors Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano, Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe and Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno have made it clear they have nothing to do with the zoning arrangement, saying zoning is a PDP affair.
They also said they would not be drawn into the debate on whether to support Jonathan or not.
Other Northern governors are said to be watching the situation and probably waiting for the President to make his decision to contest known before they could declare their stand.

Information available to THISDAY showed that most or virtually all the PDP governors seeking re-election in the North are in support of the President, ostensibly to clear the way for them to return to power next year.
Sources said both Goje and Saraki are yet to make up their mind because they are believed to be weighing the options, whether to also throw their hats into the ring for the presidential race or support Jonathan.

Efforts by THISDAY to confirm the real position of the governors on the issue were unsuccessful last night.
Shinkafi, on his part, has in the last few weeks given contradictory views on zoning. Speaking with journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos , the governor was quoted as saying that zoning promotes mediocrity.

However, few days later, in a statement made available to reporters in Gusau, Shinkafi said he was in support of calls to open up the political space “and allowing everybody, including General Ibrahim Babangida, to contest.”
But various pro-Jonathan groups have swooped on the North, canvassing support for their principal and as well urging him to contest next year's poll.

Among the leading politicians from the region to proffer support for Jonathan is a staunch loyalist of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Hassan Zurmi, whose New Nigerian Forum is reaching out to woo support for the President.

Zurmi told THISDAY in an interview that Jonathan's candidature, if it becomes a reality, "will not be difficult to sell in the North."
"This is because the whole noise about zoning is coming from the same people who were in power in the past but did nothing for the region. The ordinary people are suffering while others are reaping from their sweat. Rather than insist on producing the next president, the North should support the President based on some conditions, like improving roads, healthcare delivery system and the economic potential of the region," Zurmi added.

THISDAY learnt that the youth groups with members drawn from the various states in the North arrived Kaduna at the weekend for the rally to drum up support for zoning and to mount pressure on the governors to insist on the agreement.
The Co-ordinator of the coalition, Barrister Ibrahim Waya, in an exclusive interview with THISDAY yesterday in Kaduna said Northern youths were worried about the ongoing campaigns against the zoning of the presidency after the south had taken its turn for 8 years.

He said “the idea behind the mass rally is to drum up support for the principle of zoning” because “we have not forgotten that there is a subsisting agreement of the zoning of the presidency to the North in 2011”.
Waya maintained that there was no reason why midway through the agreement, some people would be saying it should be breached, stressing that as politicians, “we feel it is very very bad and we are setting a bad precedence to the younger generation of politicians who are looking up to us as leaders”.

According to him, the youths are seriously disturbed and deeply concerned that people who are supposed to be role models reached an agreement but they are now turning round to say it should be discarded.
He said: “This rally is to caution northern governors not to trade off subsisting agreement in exchange for their continuity in office. This is something we find seriously unacceptable. It doesn’t matter which part of the North the president may emerge, but we want power retained in the North.

“By 2015, the North will have completed its circle of 8 years and they can make the election free for all if they decide to discard zoning. At least by then, the two sides would have had their turn of the zoning arrangement.
“We have done this rally in Katsina, we have done it in Minna, Maiduguri, Bauchi and now will do it in Kaduna on Tuesday until these governors realized that they owe a responsibility to the people of the North who voted for them to make sure that the subsisting zoning agreement is upheld.

“We do not have any candidate that we are supporting, our concern is that power should return to the North in accordance with the zoning agreement. We have a galaxy of youths who are capable of leading this country; any of them can be picked.

“All Northerners will decide who will be the presidential candidate in 2011, but what we are seriously insisting on is that the zoning agreement should not be discarded and the Northern governors who are likely to be our last bastion of hope at the moment should not sacrifice the political destiny of the north in the name of discarding zoning.

“You cannot give Obasanjo 8 years and give the north 4 years. In fact we have not had a term right now as we speak. It is the Yar’Adua/Jonathan ticket that the incumbent president is trying to complete. So let the North be allowed to complete its turn for the sake of fairness and unity.”

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=179169

Delta state is about the best in Nigeria, despite being one of the youngest.
The state runs unbeatable services, from various free health schemes to very high standard transport. We've got to give it to our governors for doing a good job (except Ibori spoilt what would have been a great record by stealing).
Uduaghan has plodded on quietly; his greatest error is not having a polished PR machine like Fashola. While there is no excuse for corruption (and without doubt, there have been excesses), development has been visible and quantifyable.
Anybody who last visited Delta state some 5 years ago would almost get lost in a lot of places, while anybody who last visited 10 years ago will likely collapse and die!

The sore thumb in Delta state development is relatively poor coverage of small towns and rural areas. Thats got to change, so after Uduaghan (2015), we should get someone from a deprived area into the seat.

^
Thanks for that PDF, you were right about the population order.

Abagworo:
no igbo has ruled delta state.osadebe only ruled mid-west long before most of nairalanders were born.as for population it is majority urhobo followed by igbos and not ijaws.everywhere i go from abuja to usa to portharcourt i mostly encounter urhobos and igbos from delta.isoko is almost thesame with urhobo in language and culture.

becomerich should however be ignored.he is not a yorubaman but an agent of destabilization.delta people should accept one another as equal and ignore becomerich's maps.i asked him if akahia an esan town is igbo?

Ruling the state politically is quite different from running the governorship.
This is the list of Delta state govs and administrators from 1991 to date;

Luke Chijiuba Ochulor (Igbo) 1991 - 1992
Felix Ibru (Urhobo) 1992 - 1993
Abdulkadir Shehu 1993 - 1993
Bassey Asuquo 1993 - 1994
Ibrahim Kefas 1994 - 1996
John Dungs 1996 - 1998
Walter Feghabo (Ijaw) 1998 - 1999
James Ibori (Urhobo) 1999 - 2007
Emmanuel Uduaghan (Itsekiri) 2007 -

[quote author=Me_Aboki link=topic=484821.msg6447778#msg6447778 date=1280100813]Please explain how you arrived at that conclusion (in bold)
. . .[/quote]Cause Kaita has said as much several times.

Any unbiased onlooker would easily conclude this zoning issue is being made up by certain Northerners to look like North vs South; almost like we are separate nationalities. But we are all Nigerians, not separate countries, so why the division?
What is most ridiculous is that there is no "South". There are the SE, SW and SS, so anyone claiming North vs South politics is simply engaging in intellectual voodoo.

Old Northern politics has been tribal for too long and is dragging the country backwards. Thankfully, something new is growing and needs to be nurtured, we are seeing a new kind of politics that is refreshing, forward thing and progressive taking root in the North and we wish the process all Gods blessings.

EzeUche:
I don't believe you. Even though I am an Aro Igbo, I feel for my fellow Igbos in Delta State.

Beaf, I already know who you are more aligned with! Remember we have battle on this board before. Let us not end our truce, because you know how I feel about your people.

My dear, your choices and your "battles" are yours.

Like I said, fiction makes you your own worst enemy.
Urhobo and Igbo have ruled Delta state since its inception. Go find out.

Katsumoto:
Alonso is quite easily the most hated man in sport now. That guy pisses me off; such a whinging crybaby.

. . .And Alonso hates the World right back!

This pic sums up a lot;

EzeUche:
And I don't care who run Delta state politics. Every Igbo in Alaigbo understand that our cousins have been marginalized in Delta State. That is why there is a need for Anioma State. I don't believe these numbers. Whenever, it comes to counting the Igbos, it seems like authorities like to slice our numbers by at least 30%

You can believe what you like, but always make sure it is grounded in fact. Fiction makes you your own worst enemy.
The cry for Anioma state started long before Delta state was created, so you clearly have no clue of what you are talking about.

It should be the Ijaws claiming marginalisation, they have a huge population and their lands vastly enhance the GDP of Delta state (same as a couple of other groups). However, it is the Urhobo and Igbo that traditionally ally to rule Delta state.

EzeUche:
I question those numbers. Does the Delta Igbo include the Ika and Ukwuani since these two groups sometimes not considered Igbo, even though their language is Igbo by all accounts.

And it seems that if you look at the map I just presented, the Delta Igbo clearly have the most land in the state. I don't know the population density, but it would seem that they have a great influence.

Maybe Delta Igbo numbers were cut in half since it was them who suffered the most during the civil war. Whole villages being wiped out.

And would the Isoko be lumped in with the Urhobo who are all descendants of the Bini?

Forget about those questions and conjurations. The facts on the ground are plain and they state that; "Urhobo's are the largest ethnic group in Delta state by a very large margin. The next largest is Ijaw, before Igbo. Isoko is the smallest, followed by Itsekiri."
Those facts run Delta state politics.

There were actually some folk very comfortably walking or running barefoot on the tar! De tin no burn dem!
Damn! Gone are the days of "harder" men!

EzeUche:
Na wa o! I did not know Becomrich0 was a tribalist. I thought he wanted his Yoruba brethren to secede from Nigeria and join the Benin Republic even though most of the people in that country are descendants of the Dahomey!

Now he is trying to say that there are not many Delta Igbos in Delta State. The Igbos of delta state are by the far the largest group in the state. They are just not united so that is why the gov't haven't given them their own state. Once they speak with one voice, ANIOMA STATE will be created and you will see the true number of the Western Igbo. We Igbos are not just East of the Niger, we are also West of it. Just like there are Igbos in Benue State and Cross River.

Urhobo's are the largest ethnic group in Delta state by a very large margin. The next largest is Ijaw, before Igbo. Isoko is the smallest, followed by Itsekiri.

Here is Hamiltons test (really nice interview);

[flash=640,385]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpUQY-zoFnE&hl=en_GB&fs=1[/flash]

Heres some other not so new stuff.
Rubens topped the formula 1 drivers chart for the top gear test in a reasonably priced car (broadcast after the Silverstone race).
Up Rubino!

[flash=640,385]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFMWJMZfNig&hl=en_GB&fs=1[/flash]

Times for all F1 drivers tested so far
1.1:44.3 - Rubens Barrichello
2.1:44.4 - The Stig(II)
3.1:44.6 - Nigel Mansell
4.1:44.7 - Lewis Hamilton (Wet & Oily)
5.1:44.7 - Jenson Button(I) (Hot)
6.1:44.9 - Jenson Button(II) (Falling Snow)
7.1:46.0 - The Stig (I)
8.1:46.3 - Damon Hill
9.1:47.1 - Mark Webber (Very wet)
10.DNF - Michael Schumacher

. . .The fastest ever guy (faster than all F1 drivers) with 1:44.2 is Tom Cruise!!!!!!!

^
I hope Ferrari get banned a few races, as well as the drivers points docked.

doyin13:
how come you were able to post in the middle of the race?

How Ferrari can still have fans after all this is beyond me.

Alonso just keeps coming off like a real prat with each race.

. . .Multi-tasking.

As for Ferrari, they've always been like this; in fact they were far worse in Schumi's time, but they've always had faithful followers. Its sad. Even sadder, Alonso too, will always have his diehard fans.

[quote author=john_blaze link=topic=474746.msg6395558#msg6395558 date=1279280059]The world is not what you think it is, it is much more deeper. It takes people of extra-ordinary gift to really understand what happen behind the scene.[/quote]Yeah, we the "extra-ordinarily gifted", have looked "behind the scene" found the illuminati.
This one is saying, "helloooooo john_blaze, helloooooooooooooooooooo!!"

[img]http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~trouille/EYH/pics/435px-Alien.png[/img]

Lwandle:
BEAF you still trying to enlighten our brothers and sisters?

Some are beyond redemption so dont tax yourself lol.

It is tough, but you, me and other proud Africans have got to open their eyes, if even just a little at a time.

Breaking news; both Ferarri drivers (Massa and Alonso) have now been summoned by the race stewards. . .

Edit. . .  Ferarri have been fined $100,000 and referred to the World Motor Sport Council for a further display of FIA wrath (on a long overdue charge of bringing the sport into disrepute).

Otio. . . This is serious. . .Undoubtedly Nigeria needs the arms,but Jonathan must take charge and make sure not 1kobo of this contract is awarded to IBB

And what is the likes of Dambazzau still doing in the Niigerian Army.  .
The guy should be retired immediately like OBAMA dealt with Mcchrystal

How i miss OBJ sometimes . .that guy does not take any nonsense

Uncle JOE i beg u ,  .retire that nicompup dambazzau and his ilk
and drop kayode and Yahale ahmed

where is BEAF come and defend your man,cause i don tire for this nonsense oh ,   .  

Why me? But, na, Uncle Joe doesn't need defending. He is a sheep among criminals, murderers and demons, but he has to be a master of the long game, which requires wisdom, intelligence and patience. Jonathan has consistently shown the right qualities and that he see's the bigger picture, not just the crude power levers we are accustomed to our "leaders" (or agbero's) displaying; and that is a strong benefit for the country, there has to be a different way of doing things for Nigeria to be reborn.

We cannot discount that one of Nigeria's greatest problems is unnecessary aggression. Lets give Jonathan  the support he needs to overcome these criminals and the prize would be everyones to reap; especially the prize of credible elections, which will finally deliver us credible leaders at all levels.

As for watching his back against Dambazzau  and his crew. . . Maybe Dambazzau  needs to watch his back instead? Afterall, someone close and pretty high up must have delivered the confidential info for pointblank news to publish!

Colonel Mustapha Onoyiveta is already facing investigation, its a chess game that the gra gra agbero's are bound to lose.

Breaking news; Ferarri bosses have been summoned by the race stewards. A ban for the team and points deduction for Alonso are in order.

I hope Alonso crashes
Massa has been ordered to let him through. Rubbish.
I hope the FIA get Ferarri. This is not what F1 is about.

Go Massa!

Nice race, anyone watching? Beautiful start from Lewis, very very supid start from Vettel.

Jakumo:
Dang, that female cop won't need handcuffs to restrain suspects - she can just slap them between those massive butt-cheeks, and hold them there, until they confess to all they never did.

[quote author=Ileke-IdI link=topic=481415.msg6408813#msg6408813 date=1279510133]The cop in this pix, male or female? Has hips and azz![/quote]

To the best of my knowledge, there are no exact global statistics with which to rank the prevalence of the kidnapping in different countries

No statistics? I really don't know if this dude is really any sort of security expert.

Yakubu Lame, Nigeria’s minister of police, said in July that 512 kidnappings had been reported in the first half of this year, compared with 353 for the whole of last year. Nigeria is in the world’s top eight kidnapping hotspots, alongside war zones and failed states such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, according to U.S. security group Clayton Consultants.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/nigeria/091217/nigerias-kidnapping-culture

The countries with the consistently highest risk of kidnap remain Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines and Somalia.

http://energy.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/897143?UserKey=

[size=14pt]Only good governance can stop kidnapping [/size]
By Ifedayo Adebayo
July 19, 2010 01:58AM

John Uwaya, a Security and Investigations system expert speaks on the increasing spate of kidnappings in Nigeria and how the situation can be arrested. Excerpts:

Nigerian kidnappers in the context of global criminality

To the best of my knowledge, there are no exact global statistics with which to rank the prevalence of the kidnapping in different countries. However, Mexico is notorious as being first in the world for kidnapping and they are closely followed by Phoenix, in the state of Arizona in the US. With the spate of the scourge here, Nigeria could soon be anywhere between those two territories if drastic measures are not taken to abate the vice.

The link between kidnapping and poverty

From the apparent trend of ransom running into millions of naira, anyone without a relatively high hostage value cannot be kidnapped. However, except in the South East where I learnt a ransom that is as low as N300,000 was paid in a particular case and a place in Delta State, where N200,000 was demanded, I do not think the poor has anything to fear in other parts of Nigeria. Therefore, from majority of recorded kidnap cases, one can safely conclude that kidnapping could continue to be a scourge of the affluent

Combating this recent scourge

Yes, it is possible to stop kidnapping with both long and short-term strategies. For a long lasting solution, there should be good governance to assuage the citizenry’s socio-economic anxieties, which give rise to crime. For immediate results, that is to abate the present scourge of kidnapping, our security apparatus as a nation should be overhauled and; more than ever before, individuals should be more security conscious. Yes, kidnapping is alien to our culture and because politics is about governance, one can safely conclude that the way we play politics in this part of the world has collapsed our internal security system.

First, owing to perceived economic marginalization, militant agitations gave rise to kidnapping in the Niger Delta. After the militants embraced the federal government’s amnesty, political thugs who appear to have been used and dumped by do or die politicians picked up the vice and by the day it appears the army of unemployed youths are further swelling their ranks.

Weaknesses of the security agencies

Judging from the rate and speed at which we resolve kidnap episodes, one can conclude that as a nation, we do not as yet have a system to sustain or confront the menace. Perhaps that is because the plague is relatively alien to our culture. So, let us hope that our government at the three tiers are learning and formulating policies to abate the scourge.

How Nigerians could protect themselves

In the past, the rate of crime and sophistication were relatively low and we never gave much thought to security as a people. But now, every citizen of this country should be more security conscious until the present tide of crime assuages. In a little more detail, individuals should have an eye for what are normal and abnormal activities, movements and people in their immediate environment. Actions that constitute security lapses should be avoided at home and on the road. Vigilante groups or neighbourhood watches can be formed. Of course, all security measures aimed at self-defence or protection should be within the laws of the land and anchored on the Police - the government agency for internal security. Considering that majority of kidnap victims are the wealthy, my advice for Nigerians is to eschew ostentatious living or open display of wealth, at least, during this relatively trying period.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5595588-146/only_good_governance_can_stop_kidnapping.csp

Nigeria, bush leaders, great nation!