₦airaland Forum

In any sane country, the likes of evengalist Helen Ukpabio would have been in the electric chair. We are a lost country with people that will believe anything as long as religion is attached to it. Imagine a country in this modern age that can give birth to the likes of child witches and Boko Haram.

We are backward, even though the land is running over with talent.

Maybe we will soon start accepting cannibalism, as long as it is "justified" by religion.
While other countries are training their kids with pride as their future leaders in various positive sphere's; Nigerian kids are either at home due to one ASUU strike or something similar, or are simply labelled as witches and murdered. What an uncaring and wicked land. Where are we going?

Constituitional crisis revs to full volume from 31 December when a second crucial wing of govt, the judiciary becomes rudderless like the presidency.

The power hunger of our cabals, corruption moguls and oligarchs knows no bounds. Everybody needs to support the consituition in these dangerous times.

[size=14pt]Reasons Jonathan rejected Aondoakaa’s letter –Investigation[/size]

By Our correspondent, Published: Saturday, 26 Dec 2009
click to expand image

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

Contrary to his denials during the week, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, did write a letter to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to temporarily act as the President, Saturday Punch has learnt.

The newspaper has also unearthed the reasons why the Vice President rejected the letter when it was delivered to him by a special adviser to President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Yar’Adua, who was flown out of Nigeria on November 23, is spending his 33rd day at the King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he is being treated for acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane covering the heart.

[b]Our correspondent gathered authoritatively that Aondoakaa wrote the said letter and it was delivered to Jonathan, but the Vice President refused the AGF’s offer to assume presidential powers in acting capacity because he felt it was a trap by some powerful elements in President Yar’Adua’s kitchen cabinet.

Saturday Punch learnt that the justice minister had earlier sent the letter to members of the kitchen cabinet in Jeddah, where it was cleared and resent to him for delivery to Jonathan.

The source said, “Jonathan decided to ignore the letter because he felt that it was unconstitutional for him to act on a letter that lacked the seal of the presidency and did not follow the stated procedure in the 1999 Constitution.” The source added that Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution on which Aondoakaa based his advice was not strong enough and therefore not applicable in the face of the current constitutional challenge facing the country.

The source said the letter from Saudi Arabia, which the kitchen cabinet claimed to have been vetted by the President, was a faxed document whose original copy was not even shown to Jonathan. “This gave the VP the feeling that a trap was being set for him to commit a blunder ahead of an impending constitutional crisis,” the source added.

It was gathered that Jonathan’s aides were also suspicious of Aondoakaa’s letter, which was written shortly after the AGF had said that the President could rule the country from any part of the world.[/b]

They were said to have wondered why the AGF decided to change his position on the raging constitutional issue a few days after he made the controversial comment.

Our correspondent, however, gathered from a source close to the AGF that he might have written the letter to avert an imminent constitutional crisis.

For instance, the 2009 supplementary budget passed by the National Assembly could not be signed into law because of the absence of Yar’Adua and the inability of the vice president to act for his ailing boss.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi, will retire on December 31, and even though Justice Katsina Alu has been screened and approved by the Senate to succeed him, the vice president cannot administer his oath of office except Yar’Adua writes a letter to the National Assembly stating that his deputy should hold forte for him while he recuperates from illness.

“The conviction among some powerful elements in the government was that the best way out of the power vacuum the country faces was to give power to the Vice President on a temporary basis, and that was at the root of the document the AGF faxed to the Vice President,” Saturday Punch was told.

Absolving Aondoakaa of blame, the source claimed that the AGF wrote a letter to the President last year, asking him to hand over power to his deputy during his treatment abroad, but some powerful elements in Yar’Adua’s kitchen cabinet undermined the President and withheld the letter addressed to the National Assembly for selfish reasons.

“The truth is that Aondoakaa drafted the letter. He was probably concerned about the possibility that the next seven days may witness a constitutional crisis and leave room for reactionary forces in the military to cause crisis.

The source said, “The kitchen cabinet of the President believes that the best way to solve the constitutional crisis is to transfer power to Jonathan in a temporary capacity. He did a letter to the kitchen cabinet in Saudi Arabia; it was approved and faxed back. It was a photocopy of the faxed copy that was given to a top aide of the President who took it to the VP.

“It was a photocopied document and the part of the constitution cited in the letter could empower anybody to act. Even a Special Adviser could be asked by the President to act for him.

  “Based on this, the VP felt it would be unconstitutional to accept the responsibility without a true presidential approval. The VP felt that the provision cited was not strong enough. Also, the letter did not have the signature of the President. It was a photocopied document whose original was not sighted.

“The process was illegal despite the delegative powers of the President because the situation we are facing goes beyond such a whimsical delegation.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200912260152293

Kobojunkie:
No you can't!! You simply CHOOSe to believe that because you are unable to stand that I am not as BIASED as you come off. I am not going to go into details of my life abroad and in Nigeria to appease you because I know from experience it will never matter to you.  I make my points as you make yours. If you are unable to accept them as is, then fine. But coming up with ridiculous reasons such as the one above only shows you are desperately in trying to undermine my side of the debate.

[size=14pt]By the way, how do you know I am not a Niger deltan?[/size] Do you know where I am from? Or let me guess, because I don't have that HAUSAS ARE EVIL AND EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT AGREE WITH ME IS OF MY ENEMY's CAMP chip on my shoulder means I must be from the North or some other imagined enemy??

Try to step outside of that VICTIM box you have carved out conveniently for self there, you might be shocked to realize you may have been part of the problem from the start.

Nothing personal!!

9ja wannabe oyibo and born troway to be an ND person?
Rejected in the name of Jesu, Muhammad, Egbesu, Sonobruvwe, Oritse!!!!
www.nairaland.com/attachments/180447_ROTFLMAO_gif3d0c775232c7f27cf80592785b9635b6

Merry xmas!

Andre Uweh:
Ibadan region is hugely developed.

Is that a joke?

SEFAGO:
Na lie, I can maybe believe the south east- but also the south south  

Absolutely! After Lagos, there's not much.

SEFAGO:
Interesting statistics-

It could be possible that the mass migration of people in the South East and North to the South West, due to the significant economic opportunities, could have increased poverty in the South West, and consequently reduced poverty statistics in the South East. I would wager that there would be a larger number of people in the South East if such an adjustment was made to the methodology of this study.

My two cents

They go to Lagos. There isn't much else in the South West outside Lagos (especially with the likes of Alao Akala running around).
Apart from Lagos, the South East and South South are far more developed than the South West.

We should stop deceiving ourselves, the whole country is too damn poor.

Lukman and his ilk should be tried and jailed. They have been at the forefront of mega corruption in the country.

Gbawe:
I will wait to be pleasantly surprised.  As per the notion that Jonathan , due to some political dexterity, schemed out Alams, I disagree completely. What became of Alams was entirely and directly related to OBJ's  machinations . Jonathan was just the accidental beneficiary. That is why folks say he deserves his name - Goodluck. Don't forget that Jonathan and his wife would have faced the full wrath of the EFCC if OBJ , upon realising that the third term agenda was dead, had not decided to call off Ribadu as he had found the 'perfect' VP in Jonathan.

Like I said , I will wait to be pleasantly surprised by Jonathan. I am just a tad fed up with unprepared and undeserving politicians becoming our President only for Nigerians to begin trying to convince themselves  about how the new man is a "silent achievers" who will "surprise Nigerians". The same noise was made about Yar Adua . Has he not turned out to be a big fat zero? If people are silent most of the time it could just be that they have nothing to say or that they have no original thought in their head.

In all honesty, I really believe Yar Adua was material for an impressive presidency, if only he had been healthy enough. The country has been rudderless for longer than we realise, because for close to a year, Yar adua has been too weak to rule the country. The reigns of power have been wielded by a bunch of jobbers using Turai as their arrowhead. . . But thats another story sha.

We don't need to give anyone the benefit of the doubt this time around. I too hope that Jonathan will make a good number 1.

PS: who even knows if Rilwan Lukman is really running away and not going on holiday. . . make I no start rumour .

RICHIE BOI:
i wonder where all this crap news is emanating from?

It has very obviously been leaked from Aso Rock.

blacksta:
This is our i know the above news is rubbish and not credible - I can not envisage why tinubu would allow turai use his medium to broadcast propaganda.

SR at it again

Tinubu, the Saraki's and Ibori are best of friends and act in synch; they are the Yar Adua people with Turai as anchor. These things are common knowledge.

Epiphany:
True! Lukman seems to wield some very influential influence not just locally, but internationally too. He strikes me as someone that does not need the 'albatross' called Nigeria to survive so i cant understand why he holds on to that ministerial position. He should resign before he is sacked or embarassed.

However, i am waiting to see what Jonathan et al will do, now that he has disobeyed!

He has fallen into the trap of the constituitionally powerless VP. He is one of Nigeria's untouchables who is present at every vulture party.

Lukman is the most corrupt bureaucrat Nigeria can find. He has oil wells and is probably involved in enough illegalities to make IBB look holy. The man has been the conduit for the oligarchs and ex-generals whose fingers are always clutching our petroleum jugular.

E don fall mugu. Andoakaa next, then Ibori. . .

Kobojunkie:
Victor & Valiant loser? Pray tell, how did you turn this debate into a WINNER/LOSER case? Is that all these things are to you? How did you come to calculate that you won this one? By offering up movies, books to read and silly anecdotes meant to make one believe MEND is Nigeria's ANC?

---shakes head---
. . .And you would think ignorant white folk need books like hell to educate themselves. . . No?

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

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

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

Nigeria does not know Goodluck Jonathan.

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

[size=14pt]Yar’adua’s group considers a coup to stop Jonathan’s ascension to power, Sickly Nigerian leader not returning to Nigeria in 2009[/size]
Written by Sahara Reporters, New York   
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 21:00

Umaru Yar'adua
Members of Umaru Yar’adua’s kitchen cabinet are determined to stop at nothing in frustrating “Vice President” Goodluck Jonathan’s takeover of power in a constitutional manner, Saharareporters’ investigations have revealed. The new plot has been hatched in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and is anchored by Yar’adua’s wife, Turai, his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Yusuf Tilde, and his Chief of Protocol, Abba Gana.

Ensconced in Jeddah, the group is working tirelessly with other members in Nigeria, notably Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa and former Delta Governor James Ibori, to place hurdles in the way of Jonathan’s constitutional succession.

A group familiar with the group’s plot told Saharareporters that the kitchen cabinet is seriously considering instigating a coup, using Yar’adua’s younger brother, Lieutenant Colonel Audu Yar’adua an Assistant Director of Logistics of the Nigerian Army, to mobilize a cadre of middle level officers. “The whole idea is to organize these officers to say that they’re opposed to Jonathan’s ascension to power based on reasons of incompetence, illegality and corruption,” said our source.

The kitchen cabinet’s plots came to a head yesterday with Aondoakaa’s controversial letter that invoked Section 5 of the constitution to ask Jonathan to act as “president.”

Before forwarding the letter to Jonathan, Aondoakaa had first sent it to Jeddah for Yar’adua’s approval. Our sources said the letter never made it to Yar’adua, who is reportedly still too sick to attend even to basic tasks. Instead, his wife, Turai, and Yar’adua’s CSO, Yusuf Tilde, faxed a copy of the letter  from the Nigerian embassy in Saudi Arabia to an aide to Yar’adua in Abuja who reportedly made a photocopy of the letter and forwarded it to Jonathan asking him to act as “president.”

Our sources said the controversial letter, in invoking section 5 of the constitution instead of section 145 and /or 146, was meant as a trap for Jonathan. “If the letter had been based on section 145 and /or 146, the Vice President would be empowered to fully exercise the duties of the presidency and to enjoy the rights and privileges set out in the constitution,” said a source. He added: “The members of the kitchen cabinet know that Yar’adua is in no shape to return to Nigeria in 2009, so they tried to entrap Jonathan in an illegality – hence the kind of letter sent to him.”

Our source insisted that Turai and Aondoakaa are fully aware of Yar’adua’s continuing health crisis, and yet they constantly sponsor propaganda in Bola Tinubu’s The Nation newspaper to the effect that the sickly ruler may be home-bound soon.

One of our sources disclosed that the question of a constitutional transfer of power to Jonathan has become more valid and urgent in light of several issues of governance that require presidential approval.

“Nigeria is in a constitutional crisis, and it is deepening by the day,” said a source, a minister in the Yar’adua cabinet. He stated that, without a miraculous recovery to enable Yar’adua to return to the country, the country’s machinery is bound to grind to a halt soon.

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

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

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

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

Jolted by Jonathan’s strong reaction as well as by the fall-out from media leaks of the controversial letter, Aondoakaa and his advisors have decided to deny that he ever forwarded the letter to Jonathan.[/b]

Saharareporters had earlier reported that Yar’adua’s kitchen cabinet, which includes Aondoakaa and Ibori, had assured Turai Yar’adua that they could arrange for her to “serve out” her husband’s tenure in the event of his death or incapacitation.

Our source said the current stand-off was part of the agenda by the Turai-Aondoakaa coalition to retain and exercise power by all means as long as they can get away with it.

“The inner circle around Turai has decided to withhold all information about Yar’adua’s condition while using sections of the media to sell false reports of the man’s steady recovery,” said a source within the Presidency.

Other sources confirmed to Saharareporters that, contrary to several official claims, Yar’dua has not spoken with any government official, including “Vice President” Jonathan and cabinet ministers since he was flown out to Saudi Arabia on November 23.

A trusted source who spoke with one of the tiny few to have seen Yar’adua told Saharareporters that the imposed ruler “is largely unaware of his surroundings and has had serious bouts of dementia in addition to major organ troubles.” Saharareporters was first to reveal that Mr. Yar’adua was being flown on medical emergency to Saudi Arabia exactly a month ago.

In Yar’adua’s absence, a few forces and groups have emerged and are engaged in the political brinkmanship that has held Nigeria hostage.

The arrowheads of the crisis that now threatens Nigeria’s democracy and possibly its fragile unity include Minister of Agriculture, Abba Ruma, Yar’adua’s Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, a member of the House of Representatives, Shehu Inuwa Imam, representing Faskari/Kankara Sabu Wa Federal Constituency. Mr. Inuwa Imam who was recently in Jeddah where he participates in the strategy sessions of the inner circle.

Other players include Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, and Yar’adua’s Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa. Our source said Judge Awokulehin finally agreed to read his verdict acquitting Ibori of all counts of corruption after Aondoakaa assured the judge that their group has the upper hand in the power struggle “and that there would be no negative repercussions.”

Former Senator Abba Aji of Borno and National Security Adviser, Sarki Mukhtar, are also listed among those engaged in the plot to thwart Jonathan’s possible ascension to the presidency.

Sources told Saharareporters that four groups are arrayed against each other and jostling for the vice presidency slot. One group, led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is sponsoring two candidates, Jigawa’s governor, Sule Lamido, and Senator Jubril Aminu. Former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, is also proposing former National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau, while a third group led by Abubakar Umar and Muhammadu Buhari are said to be open to “any good candidate” from the North. The last group is the “Presidency group” which has championed Secretary to the Federal Government, Ahmed Yayale, as its candidate.

A number of the groups are said to be afraid that a Jonathan presidency would mean Obasanjo’s return to reckoning as the central source of power in Nigeria.

One source, a member of the Babangida group, told Saharareporters that “We’ll never allow Chief Obasanjo to sneak back to power through the back door,” adding that the various Northern groups recently decided to send a strong warning to Obasanjo “to stop meddling in our affairs.”

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

[quote author=tumfulu. link=topic=13227.msg5181538#msg5181538 date=1261698461]Look at yourself, responding to a post made in 2006? do u think the poster can read it now??[/quote]The topic is still relevant, who cares when it was first posted? And what makes you think a topic posted to a forum with a membership running to several thousand is for the benefit of the poster; that is twisted logic.

[quote author=tumfulu. link=topic=7177.msg5181532#msg5181532 date=1261698345]THis is topic about civil war posted in 2006, that i bumped to see which fools would open their mouths to give us opinion.[/quote]Think hard. You just abused yourself.

I watched the show and I was stunned. Can you imagine the silly replies Dora was making? Up till now, I'm still shaking in rage.

In a few short words her plea for innocence hinged on a plea of a combination foolishness and spinelessness.
According to her, it is not the ministers place to ask questions when the DG of NTA writes the president a letter, rather because civil servants can't deliver letters to the president, she simply puts it in her handbag and heads for Aso Rock. . . No questions asked.

To add insult to injury she reminded us that she wasn't there when the letter was drafted, nor was she part of any plan. . . Na wa!

. . .Yet we jail drug mules who claim someone gave them some luggage (which just happened to contain drugs) to travel with.

KnowAll:
Knowall or should I say ITK let us worry about where the money will end up. Whether Oyo or Zamfara have  3 million or 400,000 people we couldn't care less. If population is a problem practice birth control.

With all your 'wide mindedness' you haven't asked why parasitic states in other parts of the country continue to behave like 'mosquitos'.

Ask how much money is being lost from your refusal to develop the solid minerals sector?
http://www.mmsd.gov.ng/Solid_minerals_sector/34_minerals.asp


Do not dodge the question, could someone please tell me what Mr Slyvia has spent the $110 million dollars on,  because it will be easier to find a needle in a haystack than the Governor to cover or tell us pokies of how the money suddenly develop an imaginery wings and fly away, in a land where there is no haystack,  probity and scrutiny of the Govenor's nefarious activities will be easier than learning A, B, C.    

Leave such questions to fools like kobojunkie the white guy. Read this except from The Economist about Sylva and Bayelsa:

The man in person enthusiastically explains more in the opulent surroundings of Gloryland, the governor’s mansion. Bayelsa is the first of Nigeria’s 36 states to invite in outside accountants and advisers for a thorough audit of its finances. They are now going over the state’s payroll and procurement policies, as well as the revenues from the federal government, which (as in all states) supply most of Bayelsa’s income. Vitally, the bean-counters will also audit the deeply obscure flows of money that go out again from the state coffers to the Local Government Authorities (LGAs). These are supposed to spend the money on the wretched people who live in deep poverty in the swamps and creeks of the Delta. If waste and corruption are cut out, they should benefit. “Transparency has a direct link to development,” says Mr Sylva.

Nigerians, particularly in other statehouses, are looking on with a mixture of awe and horror at Mr Sylva’s audacity. The statehouses are the biggest source of the corruption and mismanagement in Nigeria’s political system.

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14843563

Mr Sylva is a very good governor indeed!

Uche2nna:
And I wonder where u got that from? I definitely did not state or imply that in my posts.
Some states in Nigeria receive monthly allocations that are larger than the budget of some african nations. If citizens of each state starts harassing their respective govts, maybe they will start putting the money into good use. Going against the FG is good but to me thats a long term goal; a short term objective that is bound to have immediate impact is going head to head with the state govt.

MEND did  not have to wait for federalism before taking on the FG. Why are u suggesting they should wait until Nigeria starts practicing true federalism before they can start questioning the likes of Ibori?  

Besides, due to years of Military rule Nigeria has tended towards a Unitary form of govt making the center very strong and the states weak. U are bound to incur a lot of collateral damage if U are going against the Federal Govt as it is now. your best shot as a militant group is to tackle the state govt.

MEND have chosen to attack the FG because of the futility in harrassing state governments that do not make the rules and do not own the land (yes, if you have resources in Nigeria, your land belongs to the FG). The FG is effectively their landlord.

Each of the laws below, imprisons the ND person; they are all FG laws, attacking state govt is attacking the wrong target and fighting a hopeless battle;

1. The Petroleum Decree of 1969, which dispossessed the Niger Deltans of their God-given resources.
2. The Territorial Waters Acts, Cap.428, (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990) which seized water resources of the Niger Delta.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone Act, Cap 116 (LFN, 1990)
4. The Land Use Act Cap. 220 (LFN, 1990)
5. The Revenue Allocation Act Cap. 16.
6. The Oil Navigable Act Cap. 337.
7. The Oil Terminal Dues Act Cap. 339.
8. Petroleum Production and Distribution Anti-Sabotage Act. Cap. 3354 Oil Pipeline Act Cap. 338.
9. Associated Gas Re-Injection Act Cap. 26.
10. National Inland Waterways Authority Act.
11. Petroleum Profit Tax Act Cap. 354.
12. Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act Cap. 392.
13. Minerals and Mining Act No. 34, 1999.
14. Lands (Title Vesting, etc) Act

Uche2nna:
What happened to Ibori in the court is[b] the same thing that happens to most politicians that connived with the Federal Govt to dupe citizens[/b] of basic amenities. They go scot free. Ibori's case is not one of a kind. . .

Precisely! You couldn't have said it better.

I wonder why the ND is so different that people from other states can blame the FG, but ND people can't? The FG gives the state govs money, therefore the FG should be responsible for demanding probity in the way monies are spent, if the FG and Nigerians think otherwise, then give us true federalism and let each state both give money to their governor and demand probity.

He who pays the piper, plays the tune. . . Wisdom.

I keep hearing people saying Nigeria is not ripe for confederacy or Nigeria is not ripe for true federalism.
There can be no position more dangerous or foolish. So while the country is "getting ripe" for confederacy or true federalism, those who are bearing the brunt of the "ripening" process will continue suffering? No, if they have the resources, the dam will burst before the long awaited, mysterious ripening.

Seun:
MEND alone cannot start a war, but this trend of ethnically motivated killing, if unchecked, is capable of causing a war.  I wish to FG to swing to action and crush this trend.

MEND cannot yet wage a full scale war. But, only because they do not yet have international alliances, perhaps another massacre will tip that situation; if that happens, they will hold the resources to win very decisively.

You guys should stop blaming Goodluck Jonathan. He has zero power until he is made acting president, abi una no de hear news? There is nobody to sign any new stuff in Nigeria. Even at those FEC meetings, Jonathan can only rubber stamp what the FEC decides, he has no power whatsoever to overule them, he can not sack anybody (they can have a say in his sacking though).

Nigeria is currently a boat without a captain.

DaHitler:
I don't care where they go. It would just be in their best intersted to join one of the 2 in the southern regions, or they woud get swallowed in a war.

So funny! With which money? Abi no be money dem de take fight war? Some people just can't see the realities on the ground.

@topic
I propose Pigdin English and we also need to change that rubbish name "Nigeria" to something else as well. Why should we answer a name given by lugards mistress? Everything about the countries set up is shabby.

If Pigdin English becomes our official language, we will see how some idiots will go abroad for one week and start talking in a way that both home people and oyibo can't understand. It will make us look inward to ourselves with confidence, because language is identity. Confidence will boost attitude to development (no more "that is how they do it in London", if we can do it in Nnewi or Ilupeju, we will look to perfect it).

Uche2nna:
I understand that very well. But dont u think that U are being unfair by just stating that the ANC bombed govt installations without adequately putting that into context. The ANC was not all about militancy, it was something more than that. The militancy was just a component of it, which not even everybody in the ANC supported. JT Gumede, a one time president of the ANC,  was actually voted out of office for advocating active opposition.

Add to the fact that PEOPLE actually came together (representatives of workers union, tribal chiefs, heads of religious bodies etc) and formed the union, conducted an election into various offices and set up a structure makes me think that MEND and ANC are , at least not yet, on the same page.

Why u keep asking me to read the synopsis of a movie to understand the workings of the ANC beats me There are better sources than that.

It might surprise you that Nelson Mandela, both made and deployed bombs. He also used firearms (a revolver). And don't think anyone forced him to do so, because he was the head of Mkotho We Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC; that is why he was labelled a terrorist by enemy nations and the apartheid govt.
If you scour the internet, you will find Mandela's own quotes about firearms and bombs.

Power is not begged for or protested for, it is siezed.

Uche2nna:
In line with the 13% derivation agreement and in addition to the gross statutory allocation

Bayelsa received  1,250,877,078 (Nov 2009)
Delta                   2,637,633,662
Akwa IBOM         3,029,655,203
Rivers                 2,744,340,457 

In addition to their other activities , MEND should also be asking serious questions on how these were spend by the respective state govt every month.

Forget about asking governors questions, what happened to Ibori in the [b]Federal [/b]court in Asaba? If the FG can't deal with Ibori, why ask common folk to deal with him. The problem is the FG, solve it at that level and it will resolve itself at state level.

monkeyleg:
Hmm, Ol Boy you never come football for 4 weeks now. Wetin dey happen? I beg email me.

Don't worry, when I email you go know me , right now I'm suyaing and peppersouping in 9ja till 2010!
. . .Small World!

Kobojunkie na oyibo, looking for relevance in Nigeria (a clown that claims Andoakaa is from the ND ).

[size=14pt]FACTBOX-Potential candidates for Nigeria's next leader[/size]
Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:43pm GMT

By Tume Ahemba

LAGOS, Dec 24 (Reuters) - President Umaru Yar'Adua has been absent from Nigeria for more than a month receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, prompting speculation about what would happen should he become unable to govern.

The 58-year-old leader was flown to a clinic in Jeddah in late November after complaining of chest pains and has been diagnosed with acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane around the heart that can restrict normal beating.

Presidency officials have said Yar'Adua is responding to treatment, while the government has said state business is going on normally, with Vice President Goodluck Jonathan overseeing weekly meetings of the cabinet, or Federal Executive Council.

But pressure from the opposition and parts of civil society has been mounting for Yar'Adua either to undergo a formal medical test to prove his fitness to govern, or resign. The cabinet has dismissed the calls. [ID:nGEE5B11W4]

Vice President Jonathan would take over if the president resigns or becomes permanently incapable of discharging his functions, according to the constitution.

But there would then be fierce competition within the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the position of vice president to replace Jonathan as his deputy would be the de facto PDP presidential candidate in polls in 2011.

Jonathan, a southerner, is unlikely to stand in 2011 because of an unwritten agreement among the political elite that the presidency rotates between the north and south every two terms.

Following are some of names being mentioned within the PDP and in the Nigerian media as possible successors to Yar'Adua:

ALIYU GUSAU

A retired general and former National Security Adviser to Yar'Adua's direct predecessor, Olusegun Obasanjo, who remains a powerful kingmaker in the ruling party.

Gusau was the main contender alongside Yar'Adua to be the PDP ruling party candidate in the 2007 polls, coming second in the primaries. He is seen as a favourite among powerful northern military generals.

SULE LAMIDO

Populist governor of the backwater state of Jigawa, Lamido was foreign minister under Obasanjo. He is said to enjoy the support of the former president and of current Vice President Jonathan, whom he backed to power.

But analysts say Lamido is seen by his northern kinsmen as politically weak and too heavily influenced by Obasanjo, unpopular for foisting Yar'Adua on the nation despite knowing of his health problems.

ABBA RUMA

Minister for Agriculture and a confidant of Yar'Adua since his days as governor of the remote northwestern state of Katsina, Ruma was a former education minister under Obasanjo.

Abba is an influential member of the Yar'Adua's close-knit inner circle, which includes powerful First Lady Turai Yar'Adua. He is seen as one of the candidates most likely to protect the interests of the incumbent's closest allies.

BUKOLA SARAKI

Ambitious governor of the central state of Kwara, Saraki is another close confidant of Yar'Adua. He is a trained medical doctor and was director of Societe Generale Bank (Nigeria) for 10 years up to 2000, when he served as special assistant to the president on budgetary matters.

Saraki, who is serving his second and final term, is the chairman of the Governors' Forum, a powerful grouping which is influential in selecting presidential candidates.

He is also close to James Ibori, the former governor of Delta state and one of Nigeria's most influential politicians who was instrumental in Yar'Adua's rise to power.

He is the son of Kwara state political "godfather" Olusola Saraki, who vied for the presidency in the 1990s and is now an influential senior figure in the PDP.

MAHMUD YAYALE AHMED

Yar'Adua appointed Yayale secretary to the federal government in September 2008, a powerful position which co-ordinates between ministries and the presidency. He had previously served as defence minister.

Yayale was also head of service under Obasanjo, the most powerful civil servant, but is reported to have since fallen out with the former president.

ISA YUGUDA

Governor of northeastern Bauchi state, Yuguda is Yar'Adua's son-in-law and a member of his kitchen cabinet. He spearheads the president's economic think-tank, an advisory committee set up to steer the country through the global economic downturn.

Once a bank managing director, Yuguda was among those tipped to take over as governor of the central bank earlier this year.

Aviation minister during Obasanjo's first term, he won the 2007 Bauchi governorship election on the platform of the opposition All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) but has since switched to the ruling party.

JIBRIL AMINU

A second term senator from northeast Adamawa state, Aminu narrowly missed being vice president in 1999 when Obasanjo preferred Atiku Abubakar over him.

The erudite politician was compensated with an appointment as ambassador to the United States from 1999-2003. A former university vice chancellor, he served as oil minister under former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida.

Though Aminu also enjoys Obasanjo's support and that of the National Assembly, he is disadvantaged because he is in his 70s and is known to have medical problems of his own. (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Editing by Nick Tattersall)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE5BF1G320091224?sp=true

monkeyleg:
maybe, did we discuss politics?

Are you (very very sadly), an arsenal supporter from the ND? Are you a cocao / sugar exporter / sourcer? If you are these things, I'll send you an email  .

monkeyleg:
We Nigerians are very good at doing one thing, sitting from afar and condemming others, especially those who dont deserve it. During the last election, I spent countless hours on sites like this telling people why it was important for us to see things differently for once and vote for change.

I had a lot of well educated people fight me over the fact that I suggested that Pat Utomi might be the guy. The usual slogan, "He cant win, so I wont vote for him", I even heard even more absurd excuses. My point at that time and still remains so "please look at the US", was that Nigeria was well overdue change from the norm, which we all know are the same old same old.

I think we need to all go back to basics, forget all this fancy stuff and look for someone progressive, and when I mean progressive will get the basics right, Light, Water, Road, Security, Health, then we can start talking about the sexy stuff. Someone who has vision to assemble a complete and reliable team, someone Good people will be prepared to work for. Someone that you and I will be prepared to serve as a leader.

We have some good people, but we are not ready to give them a chance. I really find it short sighted when people come on here and run a potentially good candidate down, maybe this is were collectively as Nigerians we are failing ourselves.

Do you live is SE London? We might have met.

Kobojunkie:
Well,  the list is a long one but I think the following will do for this

a) Person with proven leadership track record
b) A great team player
c) Has managed at least 5K people in the past and shown his/herself capable of not only delivering and running a good team, but also understands that he/she is responsible for work done by each and every member of his/her team
d) Good understanding of job responsibilities, government and the role of the people in government
e) Great understanding and openness to listen to the people at all levels
f) Ability to ensure command our military
g) Ability to represent us internationally
h) Ability to manage the government, making sure decisions and programs are carried out effectively, with help of members of the cabinet
i) Understands that his/her duties are to SERVE the people even as he/she is appointed to rule
j) Ability to make decisions(especially under pressure) that will better the lot of the citizenry

Stu pid. The list is long [/b]and [b]empty.

And of course, even with this long list, kobojunkie's candidate can be visionless (there is no mention of vision in the long empty list). Not only can kobojunkie's candidate be a visionless clown, they are also allowed to be corrupt (no mention of corruption in the long empty list). Also, they can be either cowards or plain daft (no mention of courage, wisdom or intelligence). . . I could go on until 2010, so many commonsense attributes of a leader are missing. . .

The list is just a loud effusion of hot air (but then, they say our words define us). There is no point shouting others down, when you have little (or nothing) to offer.

So they pay people to pray for others these days?