₦airaland Forum

3 years ago, if anyone name Obama as a possible president of Nigeria, people would have pulled their gun and say Nigga is crazy, my point is, there is a need for grassroot politics to be right, because grassroot is what made it into national leadership.
We need to start electing people that have brain and cld make changes from the councillorship to chairmanship all the way to governor, because out of all these, we will one day see a good president, but if you asking me to name names at present, i am sorry, can't name none, because i am yet to see one that has what it takes to rule "Niger area".

I totally understand your point, but again this isn't US or UK we are talking about.
For example: if anyone name Kalu 55yr old or Ibori 46yr old or Alams 56yr old or Tinubu 58yr old as a possible governor that would only enrich self, family and friends, people would have pulled their gun and say something serious was wrong with you.

Do not let us forget that this is Nigeria and Nigerians we are talking about. You can not expect the same medication that is working in UK or US to also work here in Nigeria (at least for now).

I can assure you that IBB is not OBJ, the man wouldn't return only to make fool of himself and will not touch Kobo that doesn't belong to him.

We need to look at things from another angle; our problems in Nigeria are severe and our people are mostly thinking about their pockets.
So, why not elect someone that has a lot to lose if things don't turn out right?

Does it have to always be any of all those fools?
Why can't we have a grassroot nominations and let people decide who will rule them, instead of all these names that has been for as long as Nigeria has been.

You have my support if you could only name one entity that is capable and has stamina to effectively tackle all our problems in Nigeria.

Oladimeji Bankole represents new generation grassroot; the man would clearly tell you that problems in Nigeria are unbearable and would simply take much more than mere leadership skill and college education to restore things back to normal.

I'm sorry, Nigeria isn't United states or UK; our problems are very unique and mostly invisible.

You shouldn't be dissappointed, instead, you should go ahead and name one clean entity in Nigeria today that matches IBB's stamina and also has the capabilities to restore things back to normal quickly and accurately.

Ribadu?

First, Long life Yar'Adua.

I hope Nigerians see this soon: IBB is the right man for this job.

The man has a lot to lose if he isn't successful this time around.
IBB is not OBJ; this man knows what is missing, what needs to be done, and how it should be done accurately. He would motivate others to vigorously contribute towards the elevation of Nigeria back to the top.
Trust me, the Governors and others government officials would be more focused if IBB takes over this country.
At this critical moment, this country can not be ruled by just anybody; you simply need much more than leadership skill to rule this nation.

As many have claimed in the past that "IBB destroyed this country", so, why not allow the destroyer himself to also put it back together? Do you think someone else knows and understands what went wrong other than IBB himself?

IBB remains one of the most competent leaders in Nigeria today; so, why not allow this man to display his abilities?

It is for sure that the man and his entire family are financially set for the next 100 years, the man can not be touched, and indirectly the man is still actively involved politically; therefore, who is fooling who? who is the loser? what do we have to lose?

I think at this point, we (Nigerians) have nothing to lose. I say "bring him back", let him clean it up.

Eventhough Sarah Palin said, few days ago that she was going to cooperate with the troopergate investigation. Well, as of Sep 15, 2008, McCain camp has confirmed that Sarah Palin will not be meeting with any troopergate investigator.

Last week Alaska lawmakers have subpoenaed Palin's husband Todd Palin in the legislative investigation into whether his wife improperly attempted to fire a state trooper who was her former brother-in-law.
In-fact, the same panel had also agreed to subpoena Sarah Palin to further get to the bottom of the investigation; but Mccain camp has made it clear that Sarah Palin has reversed her decision.

This seems to me that it isn't Nov 2008 yet, but Americans are already experiencing president Bush phase 2.
FYI: President Bush's admin is well known to ignore subpoena from time to time for the past 8 years, which totally contradicts the constitution of United States of America. And I see McCain and Palin as more of the same nightmare.

This is a sad news, I think Americans deserve something much more decent than Sarah Palin.

Aug 29, 2008: Sarah Palin asked "What is it exactly that the VP does every day"?

Education of United states Presidents
Beginning with Theodore Roosevelt, all presidents except Harry Truman had a college education. Eight out of the 17 had either a Harvard or Yale degree. Woodrow Wilson, a Princeton and Johns Hopkins graduate, was the only one that had a Phd. Bill Clinton, with degrees from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, was a prestigious Rhodes Scholar at England’s Oxford University.

Four of these presidents—William Taft, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton—had law school degrees. Four others went to law school but didn’t finish. Theodore Roosevelt left Columbia University’s law school to enter politics. Franklin Roosevelt passed the bar exam before finishing at Columbia’s Law School and quit. Harry Truman wanted to go to West Point, but couldn’t pass the physical because of poor eyesight; he spent two years at the Kansas City Law School and dropped out. Lyndon Johnson left Georgetown’s law school to embark on his career.

Two presidents—Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter—were graduates of the country’s top military academies, Eisenhower graduating from West Point (Army) and Carter from Annapolis (Navy).


The vice president's real job is to be ready to become president without warning .
Bad news: Sarah Palin could be one heart beat away from becoming the president of United States.

Is Sarah Palin qualified to be president?

Sarah Palin's education background:
In 1982, Palin enrolled at Hawaii Pacific College but left after her first semester, transferring in 1983 to North Idaho College and then to the University of Idaho. She attended Matanuska-Susitna College in Alaska for one term, returning to the University of Idaho to complete her Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism, graduating in 1987


About Degree in Communication
BA in Communication Studies (University of Idaho)
A major in communication studies provides for the growth of adult learners as expert communicators who can meet the challenges posed by the global workplace and the global presentation of public information. The major's cross-disciplinary approach produces graduates who have the appropriate balance of theoretical background and sophisticated, practical communication skills needed in today's workplace and public information environments. Within the communication studies major, students may choose general study or a more structured track in business communication, journalism, speech communication, or technical communication.

Aug 29, 2008: Sarah Palin asked "What is it exactly that the VP does every day"?

Sep 15 2008: It is confirmed that Senator John McCain is very frustrated with his camp and the choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate.


This year, the intense secrecy with which McCain advisor A.B. Culvahouse completed his vetting of Sarah Palin preserved the surprise. And ultimately, McCain aides say they're sure that the rewards will be worth the risks. But as the Palin pick turns 72 hours old, McCain's campaign is learning as much about her from the media and from Democrats as they are from what minimal political preparation they had.

New York Times.

SARAH PALIN a liar and a complete fraud in American History

She said she had a surplus when she was mayor of Wasilla; in fact she left the city in debt.

She says she is pro-life all of the way; the fact is that she enjoys killing wolf and moose in Alaska, Just for fun. In fact she
made it legal. How cruel is that? What an irony

Bigger lie of all!!
Everybody in the Republican Party is saying she is; not just ready to be Vice-President, but ready to be President of
the United States of America. Fact, When she was asked if she was been considered as a possible candidate for the
Vice-Presidency, she respond: In her own words: Quote “I can’t answer that question until somebody tells me what really
a Vice-President does? Cause I have not Idea” End Quote!

She said she never asked for Earmarks, that she always has been against Earmarks. Facts: In the two years as a
Governor, so far she has asked for 197 Millions in Earmarks for Alaska. The Biggest Earmark that a state has ever asked
for Capital.


She said “I sold the Governor’s Plane in e-Bay. Fact she put the plane in e-bay, but it didn’t sell. She then sold it in the
private sector at a loss. If that happen even before she was choosing as a Vice-Presidential candidate, why the hell she
keep saying “I put it in e-bay”?

Sarah Palin said she has always opposed Earmarks. The Fact is that she has a very extensive record of earmarks. As a
Mayor of Wasilla she hired a Lobbyist to request 27 millions of federal money, and her two years as a Governor of
Alaska she has requested 450 Millions, according to the non Partisan Institution Tax Payers For Common Sense.
Boris Santana, Florida.

She lied in throughout her speech. A lot and they caught her. Sarah Palin criticized Democrat Barack Obama over
requesting money for his home state of Illinois even though the Alaska governor's record is mixed.

At a rally, the Republican presidential nominee and his running mate accused Obama of requesting nearly $1 billion in
earmarks. In fact, he requested about 800 millions in his first term, Obama hasn't asked for any earmarks in the last two
years.

Palin has cut back on pork-barrel requests, but in her two years as Governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million,
by far the largest per-capita request in the nation.

A new ad from John McCain's presidential campaign contends his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, "stopped the
Bridge to Nowhere." In fact, Palin was for the infamous bridge before she was against it. Palin did abandon plans to build
the nearly $400 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport. But she made her decision
after the project had become an embarrassment to the state, after federal dollars for the project were pulled back and
diverted to other uses in Alaska, and after she had appeared to support the bridge during her campaign for governor.
"I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere," she said in her convention speech last week.
That's not what she told Alaskans when she announced a year ago that she was ordering state transportation officials to
ditch the project. Her explanation then was that it would be fruitless to try to persuade Congress to come up with the
money. "It's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and
Gravina Island," Palin said then.

She said in a speech in a church that the war in Irak was “God’s Plan”. Fact; unless she has the ability to speak to God,
and Got actually told her that; this is just one more of her false statements.

In her own words: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending … and championed reform to end the
abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."The
plain thruth: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the
town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal
spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation.

Sarah Palin cut programs and benefits for families with special needs children in Alaska.
FACTS CHECKED:
False Statement. She actually has fought to increase that initiative.


She cuts funds to a Wasilla public Library.
FACTS CHECKED:
False Statement. Although she did fire the Library supervisor because she disagreed with her point of views, she did
not cut funds to the Library.

Sarah Palin, since her great speech at the Republican Convention, has been repeating the same rehashed speech in
each and every place that she has campaigned since the Convention. I wonder if she doesn’t have anything else to say
at all or maybe it’s time for somebody to write her some more lines.
FACTS CHECKED:
True Statement. She has been repeating the same lines from the speech at the Convention.

She fired the Police Chief Commissioner because he refused to fire her brother in love.
FACTS CHECKED:
False Statement. Even though there is evidence of dozens of e-mails that Sarah Palin relatives have sent to the Chief
Commissioner pushing him to fired her brother in love, she in fact never asked directly the commissioner to fire the
trouper. This has been confirmed for the former Police Commissioner himself.

She almost lost her marriage because she had a torrid affair.
FACTS CHECKED:
Even though it has been continually reported by The Enquirer, they had not provided concrete proof that the affair
actually occurred.

She said: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."
The thuth is that compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

She said: She has always oposed Pork Barrel Spending. The truth is that she even hired a lobilist to fight in her behalf to get Pork Barrel funds for the State of Alaka.

Quoting Palin: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars." Fact: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.
Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

She said she cared about people, people feelings, and people opinions. Then why she tried to baned many, many books from the lybrary, just because she didn’t like those books? Sounds to me like an egotistical person, so guees what many of those books were about special needs kids. For the records that was before she had her own special need kid.

McCain Lies About Her
McCain: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply … She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.
The Facts: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.

Republican Campaign: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. … She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.
Whats Real?: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service.


Mike Hickabee: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States." In fact; A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

She said in her speech, her Government started the Gas Pipelines Projec to bring gas to the States from alaska. Fact, the project started even before she was Governor of Alaska, and has been stuck in the same step for the last two years. She has nothing to do with this project.

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."
THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

Governors would be treated like respectable secondary school principals, and nothing less or more.

It is very critical to understand that the back-bone of any admin are the governors. The president can not do it all.
I would pin down all governors to their various responsibilities. I would not hesitate to initiate the impeachment of any irresponsible governor.

Being a governor is a serious business and not an honorary position!

Absolutely no contract for the governors or their families, and friends.

All governors and their entire families must utilize local resources eg must attend Nigerian schools (primary, secondary and university) and must use Nigerian hospitals and other medical resources.

Governors can not have any other duties or businesses, other than their duties as governors.

Governors are directly responsible for all the local government daily activities.

Governors would only have 4 weeks vacation  and 20 sick days (this would be monitored by the federal government).

Renovation of Governors' mansions would only take place, if necessary every 4 years (federal government must approve it).

Government properties e.g cars, building etc must be recycled and absolutely not for sale.

This is correct!

@topic:

60m nigerians are also jobless!

oga Big B1, since u hate america so much,

You missed it again.

If I hate America, I wouldn't be giving 4 hours per wk of my time to Obama camp.
It would be simply foolish for me to hate America and absolutely ridiculous for me not to love Nigeria.

My friend, my statement has nothing to do with hate.
I just feel that these folks are only bold enough to open Gay church in Nigeria, simply because America (the king of the earth) has openly encouraged/embraced the idea of welcoming homosexuality into their society; which in return would produce many copy cats all around the world (especially in Africa).

Any negative feed back from this new development (Gay church in Nigeria) would automatically get the attention of  the western world. Therefore, it would be unfair to blame you (bawomolo) for the arrival of gay church in Nigeria.

It simply makes sense to hold USA and other western countries responsible for promoting this stupidity.

Ok, well said.
Now do you think opening Gay Church in Nigeria at this time is right or wrong?

Again, I have nothing against gay (in fact, my best friend, MAMAJAMA is gay, and I still treat him with absolute respect).

The last time I checked, United States of America has openly endorsed the HOLY MATRIMONY between men and men and women and women.
And I think this is where this mess is coming from.

I hate to judge; I have nothing against Gay (as long as you keep it to yourself), but I also do not think my country needs to deal with this rubbish at this time.

We have enough issues in Nigeria!

BIG BI WHERE ARE YOU ? AGAINST OR WITH ?.

Where were you? I've already answered you.

AGAIN:

I've seen your pic, you look OK. Why don't you come visit so that I can give you some samples?

I think there is nothing better than you making the judgement!

What do you say?

America doesn't ignore her problems. Unlike Nigeria, they don't put it on display but on hush mouth.

The topic doesn't say compare America to Nigeria.

Here is an article on Gay Marriage around the world ,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage

Just in-case you did not know, Wikipedia could be modified at anytime by any ninny.

The last time I checked, United States of America has openly endorsed the HOLY MATRIMONY between men and men and women and women.

Sometimes, I just resign to the conclusion that many of the users of this forum are in the 16 - 25 years age bracket and as such many of them are not realistic in their thinking. Some think is ways one could only imagine in Hollywood movies.

Amen!

It used to be only in America?? ROFLMAO!!!! From Way back in history, even recorded in roman history, but nooo,  it used to be only in America? LMAO!!! We should all forget that even history of the middle east includes stories of gay kings, cause it only used to be in america.

Are the gay kings in middle east marrying one another?

Pay attention.
Here is my point: America happens to be one of the first (if not the first) to initiate and embrace homosexual marriages.

Again, only in America; a land that ignores all her problems, but wants to be involved with others' problems.

OK, Guess what?

We will release these criminals to FBI as long as USA is also willing to release Bush to be prosecuted in Egypt or Libya for (middle east) war crime.

I think United States of America is purely responsible for this craziness.

America is so worried about the treatment of Mu slim women in the middle east, but sees nothing wrong with men marrying men and women marrying women.

It used to be only in America, I guess, it would now be, and in Africa too!

It's crazy.

I've seen your pic, you look OK. Why don't you come visit so that I can give you some samples?

I think there is nothing better than you making the judgement!

What do you say?

@elodie:

was that question for me?

Guys: Please, let us clearly understand the difference between protecting our country and protecting the criminals.

It isn't about these few criminals, it is about the great citizens of Nigeria and Nigeria as a nation.

If you give OK to FBI to proceed with this operation, believe it or not you've just crucified the rest of the great citizens of Nigeria (including yourself).

Yes, these bustards are killing the country and killing our image, but we must remain focused and never allow the few bad fruits among us to endorse the cutting of the tree. The fruits come and go, but the tree stays for many many years.

The most we could allow FBI to do, is to makesure that all these criminals are prosecuted accordingly in Nigeria. But to allow the shipment of these lowlifes to be prosecuted in United States is basically giving an authorization to further depreciate the value of a bad stock.
Nigeria and Nigerians would immediately feel the negative effect; we will become bunch of jokers all round the world and also expect more delays at various airports all over the world.

So, my question is: who is the loser?

As it is, honest Nigerian businessmen are having difficulties to operate effectively around the world. Good jobs are getting very difficult to get and Nigerian college students are also being watched very closely. And we wonder where all these negative attentions are coming from.

We must wake up and get familiar with our position. Nigeria will rise up again one day, but we must first know how to keep hope alive and protect our country.

Losing our respect is bad enough, but giving it away is extremely despicable.

The governors would be challenged (absolutely, no freebies)!

I would have quarterly meeting with all the governors at the Aso Rock; this is to monitor their productivities and the strength of their connections with the people they are leading or serving.

Yes, you're right!

My man, you don't have to believe my statement.

If positively grading Gbenga Daniel or Fashola makes you a happy man, please, kindly knock yourself out!
The bright ones know what time is it.

I guess, Nigeria is finally advancing gradually!

MAMAJAMA will finally be comfortable to move back home.  

When it comes to Nigerian politics and foreign affairs, I pick Afam and McKren

Why?
Afam: mature, extremely focused and clearly understands his position.
McKren: mature, sensible, open minded and very clever.