₦airaland Forum

dayokanu:
Egypt has the right to avoid a refugee crisis but not Israel?

What are you talking about?  
Did you pluck that from thin air? Because I never said or implied any such thing. Please lets be rational in our responses.

Mariory:
The Israeli's boarded with paintball guns and handguns. They clearly were not expecting a fight. however, they got one and escalated their response. It's now clear to me that the ship in question was carrying a number of Islamic hardliners who were intent on a fight.

All that said, you are right about this hurting Israel diplomatically but, I see that happening only with Turkey. I do not even think Jordan or Egypt will change their friendly relations with Israel. Definitely not the US or the EU. Definitely not Russia or China. And definitely not the AU if Israel at all gives a crap about the AU that is.

Massive concessions absolutely not. Compensation is also not going to happen. Turkey will make a lot of noise and that will be it. We go back to square one and wait for the next provocation/crisis.

One thing I can't get over is why is no one asking Egypt to open it's borders with Gaza. Afterall, Israel is not the only one that shares a border with Gaza. I don't blame the Israeli's for the siege mentality they sometimes have. They have trusted the world before and have been burned rather badly.

The Egyptian border is closed because, Egypt has diplomatic relations with Israel and is cooperating to keep the Palestinian population behind bars; they also want to avoid a refuge crisis. Perhaps, Egypt will now be pressured to open its borders.
About the rest of your arguments, we shall see. You seem to be underestimating the depth of World disgust at the Israeli action;

European allies were less circumspect. France and Spain quickly concluded the Israeli use of force was excessive. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he "condemns a disproportionate use of force." Spain called the Israeli actions "unacceptable."

The European Union called for a full enquiry. The U.K. called for Israel to drop its blockade of Gaza.

The international censure could endanger some of the key foreign-policy aims of Mr. Netanyahu's government, analysts said. Those include Israel's stated top strategic priority: keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703703704575277632709673018.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories

[quote author=Tudór link=topic=454471.msg6127297#msg6127297 date=1275360803]*YAWN*

I do not see daft questions like yours in that statement. . . .
[/quote]==Ignores a fool==

Mariory:
Err no Israel does not own international waters but, the ship in question had already very well publicised it's intended destination. Plus the ship was on a specific heading. Approaching a cordoned military zone and refusing to alter course and follow the instructions of the enforcing Navy means you are asking for military action.

In boarding the ship, Israel acted in accordance with principles guiding naval conflict so no crime there.

I think you have hit the nail on the head! There are rules of engagement in armed conflict; response must be proportionate. Those were civilian boats and that is why there is such an outcry from World leaders and diplomats. Israel has really put its foot in it this time; I don't see an easy way out. Compensation will be paid in millions and massive concessions will be made on the political front. No two ways!

If the Israeli army had attacked fellow Israeli's with helicopter borne commando's, there would have been a strong outcry from the World, but it would have been tempered to an extent by the fact the it was an internal matter. However, attacking a multi-national aid flotilla in international waters is a totally different kettle of fish.

Mariory:
Israeli navy signals the ship to let it know it is approaching a military zone and that it should follow instructions to land at Ashdod. The ship's response is apparently "Negative" "Negative"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6jDIQr59Sk&feature=related

They were right to answer "negative", because they were in international waters. Israel does not own international waters, so it has committed quite a serious crime.

Mariory:
Dude you posted a quote from a draft text as the UN position on the matter to demonstrate that the UN agrees with you in condeming Israel (and therefore you are not anti-semetic). I was pointing out that draft texts do not represent the UN's position.

Jesus!
I did not quote a draft UN text; I quoted a news article from the BBC. The BBC reporter had been speaking to diplomats at the UN. Surely the link is there for you to click on?
The anti-semitic thing came from Tudor, not you. You and I have been civil to each other.

[quote author=Tudór link=topic=454471.msg6127254#msg6127254 date=1275358734]slowpoke, where did the UN high commissioner ask daft questions like the thrash u posted?

ask smart questions, and if you're mentally challenged no one would take offense but it becomes a problem wen u try to pass off your stupidity as intelligence.[/quote]Inadequate people are quick to call others mentally challenged. You sound so much like another one of my "smart" footmats.

Ok, so the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is not an anti-Semite in your foolish books? Thank goodness! But what do you say about the Secretary General? He condemned Israel and he wasn't simply asking questions?

International leaders also spoke out harshly. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “I am shocked by reports of killing of people in boats carrying supply to Gaza. I heard the ships were in international waters. That is very bad.” He called for a “thorough investigation.”

-Ban Ki Moon

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=177063

Mariory:
A draft text is not a resolution. A draft text hasn't even been debated upon. The daft was probably written by Turkey. What do you think a draft text written by Israel would say? You see my point?

I never said the UN was passing a resolution.

Turkey or Israel write a draft statement for the UN Security Council? What are you talking about?
I like to believe we have an understanding of how the UN deals with issues. Do you realise that the UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting as we speak?

But analysts warned that the assault by the naval Shayetet 13 commando unit was likely to carry a significant political price. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said he was "shocked" by the killings, stressing that the boats had been in international waters.

The UN Security Council was in emergency session last night seeking to agree a formal statement.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9117a738-6d15-11df-921a-00144feab49a.html

@Tudor

"But, the current situation falls far short of what is necessary for the population to lead normal and dignified lives," she said. "Today, I am also registering my shock at reports that humanitarian aid was met with violence early this morning reportedly causing death and injury as the boat convoy approached the Gaza coast."

-The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay

Of course, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights is an Anti-Semite in your books too. Daft.

[quote author=Tudór link=topic=454471.msg6127203#msg6127203 date=1275356795]. . .
My friend, just come out and say, I'm Anti-Semitic  nobody will kill you . . .instead of passing off your hate like afam does as pseudo ''intelligent'' critique[/quote] . . .The "crowning glory" of foolish statement after foolish statement.

The text below provides an informed feeler on the opinion of United Nations diplomats and "Anti-Semitic" experts;

BBC's Barbara Plett reports from the UN headquarters.

Diplomats say the draft text condemns the Israeli raid, requests immediate release of the impounded ships, and calls for an international investigation, our correspondent says.

Washington will face pressure to join the international condemnation of Israel, she adds.

There have been demonstrations against the Israeli operation in cities around the world and several countries summoned their Israeli ambassadors demanding an explanation for the violence. . .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10200351.stm

hbrednic:
the IDF comandos did the right thing,
the silly aid workers has been too provocative,now they've got what they want
serves them right.

Do you think the rest of the World is like Nigeria where life is cheap? . . .From Odi to Gbaramatu to Jos, from Benin-Lagos express way to stray bullets and a life expectancy of 49 years?
But then, you might not even understand what I'm talking about. Change your thinking style, it is primitive; There is a new Nigeria that is leaving the detritus of its recent shameful ways behind. Join it.

I have a few simple questions;

[list]
[li]Is it normal for armies to storm aid flotilas?[/li]
[li]If the answer to the above is yes, would commando's be the right branch of the army to storm civilian aid ships?[/li]
[li]Does Israel have a customs service that has boats?[/li]
[li]If the answer to the above is yes, why were commandos dropped by helicopter, why weren't boats and loud hailers used (as is standard)?[/li]
[li]Were helicopters employed for maximum intimidation against harmless civilian aid ships?[/li]
[li]Why was the mission carried out at night?[/li]
[li]Why couldn't Israel simply wait for the boats to dock and then arrest everyone involved?[/li]
[li]If shooting 9 Aid volunteers is legal, can we expect machine guns, missiles and the full Israeli Airforce, if another team attempts to deliver aid?[/li]
[/list]

. . .Questions, questions, questions!

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Two_F-22A_Raptor_in_column_flight_-_%28Noise_reduced%29.jpg/220px-Two_F-22A_Raptor_in_column_flight_-_%28Noise_reduced%29.jpg
Act II Scene II - Airforce against aid and volunteers

denzel2009:
The programme is pointless, how can bbc commission this?

They can do what they like, especially when so many of us worship them. BBC is Africa's enemy, commission your own documentary.

benzine:
My question is this;
"Let's assume Jonathan does not contest in 2011 - if a northerner takes over and runs again in 2015, will u call the Israeli Mossad to blow up Aso rock?

Nobody is against Northerners, so lets avoid simplistic arguments.
Those "leaders" in the class of Tanko Yakasai, Isa Yuguda, Yerima, IBB, Kanti-Bello etc DO NOT represent the average Northerner. Those men and their type represent all that is corrupt, backward and wicked about Nigeria. In the 40 years they have been in power, what have they achieved even for their own people? Everyone knows that the North is the poorest and by far the most deprived of Nigerian regions; yet all young progressive Northerners and other future detribalised leaders have been witch-hunted, criminalised, hounded into jail, or forced into exile (in a democracy ). Masari, Ribadu and El-Rufai easily come to mind.

The North is more of a hostage to these men than Nigeria in general (judging by the incredible degree of backwardness they have levied against their own people). At this point in time, the North actually needs the South to save it from the bloodsuckers, paedophiles and vampires that have siezed her instituitions of power and are plotting ways to extend their territory across the country. The North deserves a fresh and better set of rulers, leaders and opinion shapers than they currently have. . . Nobody deserves the likes of Yerima and his 13 year old "bride".

presido1:
Who cleared a Know and CONFIRMED criminal(according to you) to contest for Governor is my QUESTION. Until we have a system that stops them before they get there we gonna see many Iboris in the helm of affairs in Nigeria
@Beef
You keep on skipping the question above and thats the problem with Nigeria. Tackle the main issue and not chasing shadow.
Hahahah you guys will never fail to disappoint, Face jail in UK? I laugh again in Ibori. Look UK value just one of their Citizens in Niger Delta more than 180 million Nigerians. You think they care for you?. They will rather send Ibori back to Nigeria to protect their business interest in ND and tell us he disappeared like willy willy.

Power will one day swing to favour the criminal(Ibori) again, then all the saints now in Govt will turn to criminal and we will start shouting jail them in UK, USA, Saudi Arabia and the rest.
Our System is flawed and it will keep on breeding the likes of Ibori, IBB,OBJ, Ribadu, Rufai, GJ wife, and many more. I say tackle them head on and not hand piking the once that fell out of favour.

Take away the pillars that hold up the building and it will crash down. There is a project in process. . .
Shine your eyes.

wirinet:
Mr Beaf, you are being unfair to us Delta State indigenes, Delta State itself and Ibori. Ibori was imposed on us in 1999, because the Name was an unknown entity prior to that. By the time the Delta people recovered and found out his back ground, we complained about his unwholesome past. Ogboru to the case of a convicted criminal all the way to the supreme court. Since the case span over to the end of his first term, we were hoping he would not be allowed to contest again for the second term, but Alas! what happened? the supreme court acknowledged that that yes one Onanefe Ibori was convicted, but since the all relevant documents related to the case has mysteriously gone missing, it cannot be proven that this same Ibori was that Ibori, Even though the judge that actually convicted Ibori came to court to Identify Ibori the governor as the Ibori he convicted. So on the eve of the 2003 elections, Ibori was clared by the OBJ led supreme court to run.

I say that you are being unfair to Ibori, because he had been used as a tool by the powers that be to achieve their aims, he was used first by Atiku, then had to switch over to OBJ for obvious reasons, then he was used by Yaradua - Jonathan), so just because he went over board in his support of Yaradua and opposition to Jonathan's presidency means he had suddenly become the devil?.

Does Jonathan's war on corruption start and stop with Ibori?, since Ibori's sel;f exile, will the war on corruption be put on hold?, What about all the other past governors, what is happening to Dariye?, what about ALL the present Governors - are there not numerous allegations hanging on their head?, What about even Uduaghan? Are the Delta State indigenes doing better than when Ibori was governor?

You people shouting crucify Ibori does not understand how Nigeria works,Power play in Nigeria is usually between two power blocks, and eventually they always reach a compromise, Ibori's faction will just buy time until they can reach a compromise with Johnathan's group . It is a family affair - remember?

As i said Ibori's major problem is in England and not Nigeria.

I too am from Delta state and grew up in Warri. I do not for a second believe that Delta state indegenes would have supported a character like Ibori as their leader. We all know how flawed the 2007 Selections were. Ibori was imposed.
As for being unfair to Ibori, how can pointing out the fact that he is an international convict and godfather of the cabal be unfair? These things are known facts. Ibori is a danger to Delta state and Nigeria.

At a time that the Niger Delta is crying about marginalisation, how can there be support in the region for a man that represents oppression and theft? How can there be support for a man that was a tool in the hands outsiders for the oppression of ND people? How can there be ND support for a man who was the conduit of ND wealth to the coffers of outsiders, who used that same wealth to kill, ra'pe and maim us? . . .Odi, Gbaramatu, Tombia etc, etc?

[quote author=paddy_lo link=topic=454471.msg6124806#msg6124806 date=1275319450][b]@AFAM.EYODAD. . ALL THE MISGUIDED SUPPORTERS

People in the Palestinian territories have a substantially higher life expectancy than Turks, 73.4 years for Palestineans and only 71.8 years for Turks. Perhaps this "aid flotilla" should have stayed in Turkey?Afterall.

Here's a list of life expectancy by country for 2010. Similar figures are given by the UN and others:

109 Hungary 73.69 2010 est.
110 Gaza Strip 73.68 2010 est.
111 Malaysia 73.55 2010 est.

[url]https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2102.html?countryName=&countryCode=®ionCode=r[/url]
MeanWhile average life expectancy in SSAfrica is 51.5 years,

I swear the day Black ppl mind their business and only go for their economic interests
the day they will start to advance economically. . .

U guys are there worrying about gaza,and turkey. . meanwhile this is just a publicity stunt
as ppl in Gaza have higher life expectancy than in turkey or Africa,so why didnt they send those goods to darfur or turkey
Nonsense[/b][/quote]You are so right in your analysis. Most Nigerians have an identity crisis (nice way of saying inferiority complex) that makes them "know" more about foreigners than they know about themselves. We laugh at Zimbabwe (but the average Zimbabwean is better off and more educated than the average Nigerian); we know about Chelsea and Arsenal, but little or nothing about who plays for Eyimba. . . As you pointed out, life expectancy in Gaza is 73.68, in Nigeria it is 46.94.

^
Discredit you? How does one discredit a fact bender, lier and rumour forger?

Don't flatter yourself that foolishness is somehow wisdom or that bare faced lies are somehow acts of morality or rumour forging is somehow hard nosed logic.
You ought to be ashamed for at best spreading false rumours or at worst, telling obvious lies; but here you are defending yourself by attacking Jonathan yet again. Except in your obsessed mind, Jonathan has nothing whatsoever to do with Dukes story (the real one told by Duke himself or the false one concocted by those like you).

Donald Duke has told his own version of the story, which makes yours a really strange lie. Donald Duke didn't mention Jonathan even once; so what's your sick obsession? Do you think it is healthy for a grown man to tell obvious lies and spread false rumours? I really fail to understand. My friend these are the signs of either malicious intent or mental issues.

[size=32pt]Israel is an apartheid state and a monster.[/size]

[quote author=metal-gong link=topic=454424.msg6122237#msg6122237 date=1275277555]No body is preventing Jonathan from contesting the 2011 presidential election. The crux of the debate is that he should respect the PDP zoning arrangement which the founding members of the party agreed upon. However, if he thinks that he can win the election fair and square without the PDP rigging machine, then he should decamp to other political parties like AC or ANPP that might be more willing to field him as their candidate.[/quote]In the above, I think I smell the "it will be Igbo turn next, if we allow the North". Well, well! Kanti-Bello, that obnoxious "Northern leader of thought" thinks otherwise. He believes zoning should end in 2015 (after a "Northerner" for 2011 of course). Where exactly does that leave your hopes?
The East and South South were never factored into zoning, so please think fast. The Hausa Fulani do not own Nigeria and cannot by any stretch, claim to be the "North". Fight for your rights, your region produces a lot of money but are simple water carriers in the Nigerian scheme of things; why sweat to maintain a rotten status quo?

udezue:
Commendable idea. If we in the East don't back him up who do we expect? Charity begins at home.

Udezue my brother, you have hit the nail on the head. Jonathan has Northern, Yoruba and SS support, so why not Eastern support? Jonathan's home state falls within the former Eastern region and he has already shown good tendencies toward empowering every Nigerian back into the political fold; no more will the East be ostracised from Nigeria. The SS, SE SW, Northern Christian and Middle Belt alliance is natural, lets push it.

Time to fish out all parasites. The petroleum sector has been so opaque in the past that it was impossible to audit; its time to bring sanity to that sector.

[size=14pt]FG Orders Audit of Federation Account, Oil Sector[/size]
•Siemens: Makoju, others for questioning this week
From Kunle Aderinokun and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 05.31.2010

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved a comprehensive audit of the Federation Account by the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) to find out whether the revenue accruing to the country from petroleum and solid mineral sectors are fully remitted.

Also, investigation into the 17.5 million euros Siemens bribery scandal has continued with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) inviting former Managing Director of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Joseph Makoju, former Managing Director of Nigeria Telecom-munications Plc (NITEL) Albert Mashi, former GM of NITEL E.C. Ossai and former Director of PHCN Shuaibu Maigida for interrogation this week.

Another intention of the Federation Account probe, it was gathered, is to ensure that monies allocated to the various tiers of governments actually get to the people.
Chairman of the Governing Board of NEITI Prof. Asisi Asobie who spoke at the just concluded NEITI transparency sensitization road-show for the states in the North-West said Jonathan had also approved the award of contract for the audit of the oil and gas sector from 2006 to 2009.

He said NEITI intends to use the audit to unearth the reasons why states and local governments have been unable to drive development up to the rural areas.
“Fortunately, the President has approved that the contract for the audit of the oil and gas sectors be awarded for 2006 to 2008, while that of 2009 should be advertised because we have it in the budget, so that by the end this year we will be up to date,” he stated.

“What our audit is going to focus on in the next exercise is the way and manner monies that accrued from the Federation Account through the state government to the local governments fail to reach them. And when it gets to reach the local councils, it never reaches the communities. So, while you are distributing money to these three tiers of government, the communities do not get the benefits,“ Asobie said.
He explained that the audit of the Federation Account is to be conducted in collaboration with the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) being the agency with the primary responsibility over revenue accruing to the Federation Account.

“We want to ensure that when you now allocate the funds to the various tiers of government that it is properly administered; the civil society will ensure that it is expended on priority projects that would promote development, not on issues like having twenty special advisers or thirty assistant special advisers."

Speaking on the powers and mandate of the organisation to undertake such a high-level audit, Asobie said everything about the activities of NEITI is backed-up by law. He added that one of the key mandate is to ensure accountability and transparency in the application of resources earned from the petroleum and solid mineral sectors.

“There is a clause in the law establishing NEITI that said we should ensure accountability and transparency in the application of resources in the country and that is what we are pursuing. We plan to carry out a special audit that has never been done before to find out how much actually goes to the Federation Account. Is it all that is declared? Or does everybody concerned pay its own share fully? How is it allocated? Is it done according to the provisions of the law?”

Explaining the nature of the audit, he said under the NEITI format, the templates are first discussed with those entities to be audited along with the civil society before agreeing on the template to be adopted. Secondly, NEITI will then ask the entity to fill the template and return in order to certify that what would be released to the public are acceptable.
On the proposal of the Federal Government to allocate oil shares to host communities, Asobie said the plan would likely lead to a more stable business in the petroleum sector.

“If you have a share in an organisation, it is going to achieve two things; you are going to have interest in monitoring its operations so that it is well managed and it also means that you will have a sense of responsibility and the frequent incidence of vandalization will be reduced,” he argued.

Aside from this, he said one of the major focuses of the PIB is to ensure that Nigerians participate more effectively in the oil and gas production process. The plan is to have a situation where the communities will be co-owners of the oil company with active interest on how it operates.

On what impact NEITI audit has brought to bear on the affairs of the petroleum industry, Asobie said the transparency campaign has resulted in an improved revenue generation of $2.17bn in 2003 and by 2007 it was $7.6bn for the country.
In his address at the Road-Show, Asobie said states in the North-west are particularly worst-hit by the low development index as was evidenced in a paper delivered by the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Soludo which noted that although the national poverty level was 54% in 2007, the three geo-graphical zones of the North had much higher levels of poverty, with North-east having 72.2 per cent, followed by North-west 71.1 per cent and North-central with 67 per ent.
However, he said in contrast, the other three zones in the South had poverty levels which were considerably lower that the national average, with South-west having 43.05 per cent, South-south, 35.1 per cent and South-east with 26.6 per cent (the lowest in the country).

Asobie stressed the need for states and local governments in the North to imbibe transparency and good governance ethics. He also observed that while the South-south zone comes first among the six zones of the federation, in terms of the size of allocation from Federation Account, the North-west comes second.
He said there is no correlation between the proportion of revenue received from the Federation Account and the reduction of the level of poverty for each zone.

“The first lesson is that transparency and accountability are very important for effective resource management. Then you transform the resources into improving the well-being of the people. Secondly, the good thing about NEITI is its multi-stakeholder approach, a situation where bring the private sector to partner with government and discuss on how to develop initiatives rather than just the government doing it alone“, he said.
He said NEITI is pursuing a multi-stakeholder approach towards institutionalisation of transparency ideals in the handling of the country's affairs.

The NEITI chairman explained that it is not enough for the people to know the amount they are receiving but to focus on how the money is used.
Meanwhile, Makoju, Mashi, Shuaibu and Ossai who were invited for questioning by the EFCC in relation to the Siemens bribery allegation would be at the agency's office between tomorrow and Friday.

The remaining are still serving – CEO Mtel Edwin Momfe, CEO PHCN S.M. Mahmood, Permanent Secretary Power and Steel Ministry R. Olusanjo, Secretary, NITEL Tender Board Allah Bamulafiya, Director, NITEL Samson Olabiyi, NITEL Legal Adviser.
When contacted, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi confirmed the invitation of the government officials.
EFCC Chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri had last Tuesday during the visit of Senator Smart Adeyemi to her office, hinted that former managing directors of PHCN and NITEL were to appear before it any time soon for interrogation.

As part of investigation of the Siemens scam, former Minister of Communications, Major-General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd.) was last Wednesday grilled for more than seven hours at the EFCC headquarters but was later released on bail.
But Olanrewaju’s interrogation was not before he had failed to honour the invitation of EFCC on two occasions.He had been previously invited by the EFCC along with Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Haliru Mohammed Bello and another former Minister of Communications Chief Cornelius Adebayo.

Siemens was involved in about 1.3 billion euro bribery in some countries between 2001 and 2004.
The scandal was uncovered in 2009 by the German police after invading the headquarters of the company in Germany over allegation of bribing some Nigerians, Libyans and Russians in its bid to get contracts.

Two senior officials of Siemens convicted by the German court on April 20, 2009 had implicated top Nigerian officials, when they confessed that they bribed their way through to win telecommunications contracts in Russia and Nigeria.
Out of the amount, 17.5 million euros was allegedly given to some Nigerian ministers and government officials as bribes during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Based on the admission of guilt in Germany, Siemens was fined 201 million euros by a Munich court on October 4, 2007.
Waziri had said the commission would apply for the certified true copy of the Munich court judgment.
She had also said the agency would get to the root of the scandal and prosecute those found guilty.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=174562

[size=14pt]Kalu Seeks Ndigbo’s Support for Jonathan[/size]
05.31.2010

Former governorship candidate of the All progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Onwuka Kalu, has challenged the Igbo people to stand up and take a stand on where they belong as far as the 2011 presidency is concerned, saying Ndigbo cannot afford to sit on the fence in the face of present realities.


"My advise to Igbo leaders is that they should urgently raise a team, preferably a non-partisan team, comprising Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alex Ekwueme, Ebitu Ukiwe, Arthur Nzeribe, Emannuel Iwuanyanwu, Ken Nnamani, Sunny Odogwu, Peter Odili , Godwin Ndubisi Kanu, Pat Utomi, B B Apugo, Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, Pius Anyim, Ogbonnaya Onu, and others to meet Goodluck Jonathan and urge him to contest the 2011 Presidential Election," Kalu said.


In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, Kaslu said there were so many “reasons why I wholeheartedly urge Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to throw his hat into the ring for the 2011 presidential elections. He should contest. If he contests, I believe majority of Nigerians will vote for him and I believe he will win by the grace of God. His victory will ensure continuity and completion of the lofty programs his former boss, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’ardua had started. In 2007,


“Yar’ardua and Jonathan were voted into Aso Rock as a package. From all indications, that package could have gone for a second term had the late president lived till 2011. Unfortunately and regrettably, one half of that package is gone.


I think it is only fair that the remaining half is given the opportunity and the support to continue and complete the eight years. Anything to the contrary is against natural justice.
“ To those who are against Jonathan running in 2011, my question is: are you saying that the Niger Delta is only good to produce the wealth of the Nation but not good enough to produce a President – a manager of that wealth?


Kalu added that there was nothing in the constitution of Nigeria that “precludes Goodluck Jonathan, or Ibrahim Babangida, or Atiku Abubakar or Orji Kalu or Bola Tinubu, or Muhammed Buhari, or Ebitu Ukiwe, from contesting for the presidency in 2011 if they are nominated to do so by a political party.” According to him, there in nothing to show that election rigging in Nigeria is primarily instigated by a sitting president.

“So, those who are opposed to Jonathan’s candidacy on this score are wrong. They have ulterior motives. I would argue that much as a sitting president would have a say in who becomes the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission – INEC, there is no proof that the person will take instructions from the president to commit a crime as heinous as electoral malpractice. The president must simply ensure that only a reputable person is appointed to that exalted office of INEC chairman in accordance with the recommendations of the Uwais Report. It is upto the person so appointed to ensure that he is a true umpire in an election where the president is also a candidate.


He noted that our recent experience in Ghana, Republic of Benin and Siera Leone has shown that all it takes to conduct a credible election is an independently minded umpire who is prepared to conduct election according to the law of the land and declare true results which may not always be in favour of the sitting president. An umpire who will call a spade, a spade, irrespective of whose ox is gored.

“Before we open our mouth too wide to support or oppose Jonathan for 2011, we must pause and ponder about the role of God in the life of our nation and in the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as our president. If you study the life of Goodluck Jonathan very closely, you will know that he is one of those people God has been using to teach us lessons,” Kalu asserted;

According to him, "Ndigbo should discuss our strategic interests with him and obtain concessions for them, and in return back him up. We should be seen to be championing his bid to the 2011 presidency. Ndigbo should not wait for others to take the lead and then start reacting."

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=174547

I weep for Nigeria. Words fail me.

tausi:
Beaf don't forget Schumi (Schumacher)

I love it when he blocks everyone behind him, or rather gives them a really hard time to overtake him,

No, not schumi! That guy is a gate crashing pensioner.

Anyways, enjoy this. Its the Webber - Vettel crash.

[flash=640,385]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQL1ACRscOE&hl=en_GB&fs=1&[/flash]

presido1:
Ibori was all these you mentioned yet somebody cleared him to contest for gov, Can't you see where the problem comes from. I asked that question of who cleared him you by passed it. If EFCC was not around when he was preparing for the first term what of the second term? You will skip it again.

Who cleared a Know and CONFIRMED criminal(according to you) to contest for Governor is my QUESTION. Until we have a system that stops them before they get there we gonna see many Iboris in the helm of affairs in Nigeria. After they must committed all the looting some of us will run to NL to talk rubbish.

Mark it somewhere Ibori will receive a Presidential welcome one day to become a presidential adviser just like Danjuma. That will tell you that the problem of Nigeria is not Individual rather the system.

As if any of them up there care for Nigeria.

The system is made of individuals, and until recently, Ibori was part of it. Now that he is likely to face jail time in the UK, the system is one godfather weaker. We now need the likes of IBB and Abba Ruma to pay their dues.

Chop the forest down one tree at a time.

kanti bello: I don’t know how to tell lies against anyone or any issue. I say the truth always. It is a minus to me but I can’t change. That is how Allah made me.

. . .Yet asked whether he knew Yar Adua was ill, his reply was;

kanti bello: Honestly, we didn’t know because for the almost two months that we went around the country, he was never sick. His doctor was always with us and I never suspected that he was a sick man and might not be able to complete his tenure. The only time during the campaign was when he had a cold and he went to the hospital and before you knew it, they’d packaged him to Germany. I said they packaged him because they did not even allow him to change his clothes.

[size=14pt]Reps Plan to ambush Bankole [/size]
By Festus Owete
May 31, 2010 12:56AM

Tomorrow, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole, and his deputy, Usman Nafada may face their toughest battle yet, as members of the House square up to press for a raise in their quarterly allowances. The angry lawmakers will also be insisting that Mr Bankole and members of his team explain how the closed-door discussion they held on the matter, three weeks ago, was leaked to the media.

Members said the reports gave the impression that lawmakers were insensitive to the economic situation of the country, and portrayed Mr. Bankole as a prudent leader. Mr. Bankole was away at the last sitting when the matter came up for discussion but will be in charge of the proceedings tomorrow.

Last week, the papers were awash with reports that the representatives want the entire capital budget of the House converted into additional allowances for them, thus raising their quarterly take from N27.2 million each to N42 million. If the Speaker accedes to this request, the total amount for allowances will come to N15.1 billion.

Who is the leak?

At the resumption of the plenary session last Tuesday, a member, Independence Ogunewe demanded for an executive session to discuss the source of the publications, but Mr Nafada disagreed and urged him to make his complaint openly or see him in the office. At the executive session which was subsequently convened, aggrieved members accused the leadership of leaking the discussion on the allowances to the media. Mr Nafada was said to have pleaded for understanding until the Speaker returned.

NEXT source, who refused to be named said at the weekend that the lawmakers will still demand that the leadership accounts for the leak of a meeting held behind closed doors which ended with everyone agreeing not to speak of it to the media.

It was gathered that members will request for another executive session this week to discuss the matter as part of the pressure on the Speaker to bow to their request. However, the aggrieved members are being careful to avoid unnecessary antagonism as they pressure the Speaker to yield to their demand.

“This matter has not actually ended as you people are suggesting, because I am aware that some of our colleagues are still warming up for another executive session to discuss it,” the source said. “You know that Bankole was not present at our executive session on Tuesday (last week) and so he has not been confronted directly. We will still bring up this matter. Our demand for increase in allowances is justified.”

Minister envy

Part of the grouse of the lawmakers is that ministers, who did not win elections, are allegedly collecting allowances close to N80 million quarterly. It was learnt that the same reason informed the demand by senators to have their allowances increased to between N50 million and N100 million quarterly.

Our source said as part of the move to make the Speaker bow to their wishes, the lawmakers are planning to dig up sundry issues, including the decision of the leadership to purchase certain items which were neither necessary nor purchased at the right price. It was learnt that members are not happy that items such as foot mats, torches, and palm tops were bought at exorbitant prices when more critical items remain in bad shape.

Bankole baulks

But Mr Bankole however appears unmoved by this resort to subtle blackmail. Although he was said to have apologised over the media reports, insisting that he did not instigate them, he was reluctant to approve the new allowances because the move may backfire someday.

The Speaker is said to be afraid that he will somehow be made to account for such an illegal action, and a mischievous member may even drag him to the anti-graft agency over the matter once there is a crisis in the House.

The House spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh and the Speaker’s media aide, Musa Ebomhiana could not be immediately reached for comment. When contacted, Idowu Bakare, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, merely said, “I thought the matter is over,” and refused to speak further.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is the only body empowered by law to fix allowances for the lawmakers. Mr Bankole is apparently not willing to play into the hands of the lawmakers as he allegedly did on the N2.3 billion car purchase in 2008, which was later used against him by some members.

On the orders of late President Umaru Yar’Adua in February last year, the revenue commission reviewed downwards, the salaries and allowances of the legislators, alongside those of other political office holders.

Mr Yar’Adua predicated his order on the global meltdown and unprecedented economic crisis. The commission had only cut down the allowances of the lawmakers, leaving their salaries intact.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5574330-146/reps_plan_to_ambush_bankole_.csp

presido1:
If you truly believe in the highlighted why don't you suggest that GJ starts this his charity from his wife. Or is she not the one caught with huge hard currency trying to leave the country. Oh maybe that's her monthly salary as wife of Governor.
Ibori is thief yes just like other Govs during his time and present. Ibori stole from Delta state which have no affect to me as am not from that state, why fighting him with federal resources while we have federal thieves that stole what affects us all.
This is Nigeria, Ibori will return to Nigeria one day like Ribadu and Ruffai to take up one federal position.
Ibori committed fraud in UK before running for Gov, Who cleared him to contest, wasn't EFCC around when he was contesting for second term?
Everybody is shouting jail him kill him this and that do not be suprise when he become minister or ambassador by next yr. Anything is Possible in Nigeria.

Enh!!
You need to know that Ibori graduated from stealing sheets of zinc roofing in Nigeria to shoplifting and credit card fraud in the UK; from "consulting" for Abacha to stealing from Delta state, becoming Yar Adua's godfather and the cabals mentor / financier. How much more federal can that get?
The smallest thief with access to power is a danger to the whole country. Thats the lesson of Ibori.

I hate it when people employ strange and diversionary arguments in defense of those that have looted us blind. Why mention Rufai or Ribadu? Its just so off-point and shambolic and illogical. Even if all the people you mentioned are found to be the worst criminals (which they aren't), how would that affect the arguments against Ibori? Would that somehow make him innocent?

No! How! Noooooo! He wasn't arrested?!

[size=14pt]. . .But Gbawe has been claiming that Duke was arrested as part of a campaign of harassment from Jonathan! Someone is lying shamelessly.[/size]

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-453453.0.html#msg6113403
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-453453.0.html#msg6114059

Why are some of us so mischievous or lacking in morals?

seanet02:
@beaf. I am not here to insult you so dont insult me. My question to you is this, on which map did ogun and ekiti share the same boundary to warrant being merged together? Just answer before blasting grammar here.

I am guessing you missed something in my earlier post (or you don't know where Ondo is). So here it is again:

Check the bolded part of my post (reposted again below, just for your benefit.
Halliburton? ==shakes head in sadness== If only, reading had been your easiest skill, you wouldn't be practising needless rudeness now.

. . .And the user name is Beaf, not beef. Thank you.

Beaf: Simple solution, scrap the state.
Merge it with Ekiti (another state waiting to blow up)[size=14pt] and Ondo[/size]. There are too many states in Nigeria.

Why create states that can't fund themselves? Whats the rationale?

FL Gators:
Excuse me?

And you know this because? Anything to support your claim?

I've ruffled elegant feathers!

Its news stories like the one at this link that have informed my opinion http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11117:ekiti-government-to-get-bank-loan-to-pay-salary-arrears&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

I believe its best to merge states until economic output justifies splitting on ethnic or other grounds. 90% of the states in Nigeria today were created prematurely; a little more time would have served indegenes and the nation much better.

The truth about state creation, is that its a tool to bribe criminals (by bringing the loot nearer their ugly paws), as well as intensify debates and conflicts of ethnicity. Otherwise, whats the point of creating states in areas that are not yet economically viable? If the intent was to boost the regional economy, then a well thought out and sincere action plan would have been the obvious option. State creation has been (and will continue to be) a serial failure across Nigeria.