₦airaland Forum

BY HENRY UMORU & INALEGWU SHAIBU
ABUJA—Senate President, David Mark, yesterday reflected on the many problems facing the nation and asked the Head of the Economic Team of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to stop chasing shadows.

Senator Mark in his welcome address to the Senate after an eight-week recess, observed that Nigeria needs healing to come out of the web of crisis that has engulfed the nation in recent time.

He also advised the Economic Team, which includes the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and others to come up with robust economic policies that would salvage the nation from its economic disasters.

He said: “Those who manage the nation’s economy cannot afford to chase shadows while the economy is in the doldrums. What Nigerians expect, and deserve, is the introduction of fiscal and monetary policies that will create jobs, fix healthcare and infrastructure, and stimulate the economy.”

The Senate President also expressed concern over poor budget performances, demanding that President Jonathan should submit the 2013 budget to the National Assembly early, for quick passage.

He lamented that poor budget implementation had led to a rise in poverty in the land, stressing that the National Assembly would be more stringent with oversight to ensure full implementation of 2013 budget.

Quick submission of 2013 budget

He said: “We return to plenary session to commence a scrupulous consideration of the 2013 budget estimates, once it is presented. It is, therefore, important that the Executive presents the budget early to afford us sufficient time to consider and debate it exhaustively before we can pass it.

“And our goal would be to pass it before the end of the year. When passed and signed into law, we will insist on full implementation. Over the years, our national budgets have raised hopes for a better life. Such hopes have remained largely unrealized.

“The Senate will activate and deploy its weapon of oversight to meticulously monitor the implementation of the budget. We have felt the pulse of the people, and the condition under which they live has rekindled our resolve to ensure that their living conditions are substantially improved as a reward for their faith in democracy.

“The war against poverty must therefore be an unrelenting one. Its ultimate objective should be total eradication of poverty, and not just poverty reduction. A nation as blessed as ours has no business with poverty.”

Insecurity and poverty

Mark also lamented the near collapse of security in Nigeria orchestrated by the Boko Haram sect that has led to wanton killing of many innocent citizens, describing it as an that is evil very alien to Nigeria.

According to him, “We return from our recess to meet a nation sorely in need of healing, a nation previously free from strife and anomie, but now convulsing from a genre of violence that we all thought was alien to our shores.

“A new but formidable evil has now combined with old and familiar perils to present our nation with perhaps the greatest challenge to its corporate existence since the civil war.

“I urge you all, therefore, to prepare to take on the unprecedented challenges facing our nation. The times call for sacrifice and statesmanship, and for everyone to rise above narrow and parochial interests”.

Mark who also commented on the abysmal performance of Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympics and the general decline in sports, which he blamed on corruption, advocated mass sacking of sports administrators.

His words, “one issue that worries me deeply is the decline of our nation even in areas in which we once excelled. The reasons for this decline are not far-fetched. Corruption, sloppiness and tardiness in preparations, mismanagement, degradation and lack of maintenance and vandalization of national assets, absence of rigour and thoroughness in planning – these, and more, are the reasons for the rot.

Wants sport administrators sacked

“Perhaps, no singular event reflects our current attitude to things, and exemplifies our decline, as the fiasco of Nigeria’s participation at the recently concluded 2012 London Summer Olympics. You will recall that our contingent failed to win a single medal in the games. Our fortunes are even more dismal in football, which is a national pastime, and a great unifying factor.

“This should not surprise you, after all, the National Stadium, Abuja, our supposed symbol of sporting excellence, was recently discovered to be decrepit, overtaken by weeds and reptiles”.

“What is surprising, and very worrisome, is that our psyche is beginning to accept this malady as normal. Ordinarily, such an appalling state of affairs ought to have been followed by voluntary resignations, or mass purges. But nobody has resigned, and nobody has been fired! Distinguished colleagues, there is no doubt that a drastic overhaul of our sports administration is long overdue.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/stop-chasing-shadows-mark-tells-jonathan-okonjo-iweala/

Religious harmony can not be the case in Nigeria,until both Christian and Muslim reciprocate regards for each other. We can't always expect every one to act friendly in time of a perceived ridicule and provocation to their religion by another religion they have great regard for,it is so because people react differently to issues as human. Sir Ahmadu Bello once said during his life time that, i have
stressed before,that the differences of ethnicity and religion should not bar us from working together for the good of our people. The Christians hold a special place in the regard of Muslims throughout the world. If i add that in the past,there have been occasions when we have sometimes felt that our regard for our Christian brothers was not reciprocated,wh
en intolerance and bigotry were allowed to unnecessarily rein ,then,i do so in the hope that you may all understand that it is my fervent prayer that there differences can and will be overcome. Several Christians hold no regard for Muslims,this doesn't mean that there are no Muslims who hold no regards for Christians too,but from my observation especially on social media where religious issue is being discussed mostly,this trend is much more attributed to some Christians. I have been a victim even though i have never for any reason condemned or disregard any christian before in my life. every comment from their tongue is that of hate,intolerance,insult and provocation capable to stir people into violent reaction if not controlled. My dear Christian brothers,if your words is insulting and provocative enough to stir others into violent reaction,you are even more guilty than those who act violently for you are the cause of the violence. Reciprocate regard with regard.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/nigerian-invents-power-generating-machine-makes-africas-first-local-car/

By Ebele Orakpo

Perhaps, Nigeria would have joined the likes of Germany, Japan, India and Malaysia as an automobile manufacturer as far back as 1997 when Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, an electrical/electronics engineer, a doctor of science and lecturer of communications and electronics engineering at the Federal Polytechnic, Owerri, made a prototype of his first ever all-African car which he named Z-600.

The car which BBC’s Hilary Andersson described as the all-African dream machine, was made for the family market with a top speed of 140km (86m) per hour.

Ninety per cent of its parts were sourced locally. For instance, the horn was a doorbell and it would have been the cheapest car on the planet as it would have cost just $2,000 to own one.

According to Izuogu who had demonstrated a great flair for inventive and creative knowledge from early childhood, he was working on adapting the engine to allow the Z-600 to double up as a lawnmower or an electricity generator.

With the usual Nigerian lackadaisical attitude when it comes to things that will help project the country’s image to the world positively, the authorities were not ready to invest money in the project and so in 2005, the South African Government invited him to build the car there. And since he who pays the piper dictates the tune, South Africa would have been the proud manufacturers of the Z-600 were it not for the incidence of March 11, 2006.
Unfortunately, this dream was not to see the light of day. According to Dr. Izuogu, some armed men numbering about 12 broke into the Izuogu Motors factory on Saturday, March 11, between 1.00 and 2.00 a.m. and carted away various machines and tools including the design history notebook of Z-600, the design file Z-MASS, containing the design history for mass production of Z-600 car, and the moulds for various parts of the car.

Said Izuogu; “It seems that the target of this robbery is to stop the efforts we are making to mass-produce the first ever locally made car in Africa. Other items stolen included locally produced timing wheel, locally produced camshaft, locally produced crankshaft, locally produced engine tappets, all 20 pieces each.

Made by Izuogu

Also stolen were ten pieces of locally produced Z-600 engine blocks, ten pieces of locally produced pistons, four pieces of engine block mounds, four pieces of top engine block moulds, ten pieces of engine fly wheel and two pieces each of rear car and front mudguard moulds.”

The inventor regretted that not only did they lose over one N1 billion in monetary terms, but also time (about 10 years) and the energy it took to design and produce the moulds. “To worsen the matter, our design notebook was also stolen,” he stated.

He regarded the incident as a national economic disaster because the nation had lost a technological and intellectual property.

Izuogu machine:
Before the Z-600 car, Dr. Izuogu had been working on ways to provide the nation and the world with clean, cheap and environment-friendly energy source. So, after 33 years of intense research, he came up with a new branch of physics known as Emagnetodynamics, the branch of physics that studies the conversion of the energy of static magnetic fields into work. Before now, “the conventional electric motor was built on the principle/law of Michael Faraday which states that Force is exerted on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field.”

The two laws of Emagnetodynamics state as follows: Force is exerted on a composite magnetic pole in the vicinity of an array of like poles; and this force is in the direction of the composite polarity similar to the array.

Based on these two laws, he invented the Izuogu machine, also called the self-sustaining Emagnetodynamics machine, a kind of electric motor that draws atomic energy from the nuclei of permanent magnets and therefore requires no input power to operate.

Dr. Izuogu

According to Izuogu, there are two versions of the Emagnetodynamics machine – the non-self-sustaining and the self-sustaining machine which can run for upwards of 30 to 40 years. He added that soft iron machine or the hard iron machine could be built from each of them.

He noted that the machines named M-1000 and M-6000, respectively, could drive 100 KVA and 5 Mega watt electric power generators with no noise, no pollution, and zero energy input.

“The M-60 prototype machine has been built and demonstrated, while the M-1000 and M-6000 have been designed waiting to be built,” he said.

Scientists have experimented with nuclear reactors in their bid to seek energy source that is clean, cheap and environment-friendly. However, this could not work as the dangers inherent in that are enormous.

For instance, reports say that more than 20,000 people developed thyroid cancer and had to have their thyroids removed as a result of April 26, 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Till date, there is about 1,660 square-mile Exclusion Zone around the site of the Chernobyl disaster, 26 years after the accident.

Unlike nuclear reactors, the Izuogu machine draws atomic energy without the dangers and complications of nuclear reactors. Izuogu said that besides generating electricity, the machine can also power big luxury buses and trams.

you cant be sure of this..we are not talking of human here..

•Jonathan meets Mark, Speaker over N5000 note row •Anxiety as lawmakers get set for projects inspection

House of Representatives leaders summoned an executive session yesterday.

The unusual meeting came 24 hours after their resumption from recess.

It was all to stop a plot to remove Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from office.

The plot, being co-ordinated by a lawmaker from Niger State, Mohammed Sani Idris Kutigi, the House leadership believes, is being sponsored by some forces in government, who allegedly felt embarrassed by the recent budget implementation row with the Executive.

According to sources, most members of the House got yesterday a text message inviting them to “Operation Clean” in the chamber.

The text reads in part: “This is inviting all first term members of the House of Representatives to an urgent meeting and launching of the project, “OPERATION CLEAN. Date, 20 September, 2012. Venue-Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. Time: 11am prompt. Hon. Mohammed Sani Idris Kutigi, Coordinator.”

Some first term members alerted the leadership of the House. They planned to boycott the said meeting.

It was learnt that most of the first term members had queried the rationale behind the Kutigi meeting.

It was also gathered that there was tension in the House when old members got wind of the proposed meeting. The leadership then called for an Executive Session.

The uncovering of the plot by the House rattled the coordinator of the “Operation Clean” and his team.

Some sources, who spoke in confidence, confirmed that at the Executive Session, most members condemned attempts to divide them by the new group.

One of the sources said: “We challenged Kutigi and those in the so-called new group to tell us their mission because we got wind of the fact that those forces trying to use them have been calculating on the numerical strength of first term Representatives to cause a crisis in the House.

“Some of us observed that the slogan of the group, ‘Operation Clean’, is mischievous and pointed to a move to ‘deal’ with the leadership of the House.”

Another source said: “We learnt that some of these forces were not happy about how we raised issues on budget implementation and the new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

“Virtually everyone stood up to denounce the mission of this group. We thought we were building a new chapter with the Executive arm but some forces are not going along with the reconciliatory agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

A high ranking member said: “When we confronted Kutigi at the Executive Session, he said: ‘My intention is not malicious, I am not plotting against the House. I have no plan to destabilise the House.’

“At the end of the day, Kutigi backpedaled on the plan. He said it openly that ‘the meeting has been canceled’.”

The source added: “What we did on Wednesday has overshadowed what they had initially planned. So far, we have told them that the unity of the House is not negotiable.

“But we have chosen to watch our back because these forces might regroup soon against the House.”

According to a source, the leader of the a group of about five lawmakers, mainly from the North took the floor accusing the Speaker of starving the lawmakers of funds with which to run their constituencies.

The source said the leader of the group, who chairs a committee and also a major beneficiary of the House leadership’s goodwill, informed the session that they were made to believe that the funding challenge members were facing was the handiwork of the Speaker.

The source said: “He did not mince words that it was the Executive that informed them that the financial crisis was caused by the Speaker. The group leader told the House that some of them (the lawmakers) have been hugely indebted as a result of lack of the fund.

“He added that some of them have to tactically run away from their constituencies just because they didn’t have enough money to service their hangers-on and others that might need financial assistance.

“So, they felt that if not for the Speaker, the situation could not have been that bad. They agitated for an increment of their quarterly allowances from N25m to N35m.

“The Speaker explained that it was a delicate issue, citing previous attempts to cause disharmony in the House and where it ended.

“At this point, the Speaker said it was a deliberate attempt to cause crisis in the ranks of the lawmakers. He reminded them of what happened in the 6th House over a similar increment.”

The source added that rather than take over his own defence, the Speaker asked the Clerk of the House to clarify the issue with the official financial standing of the House.

“The Clerk brought financial documents with which he explained the state of the House’s finances and the aggrieved members apologised for being misguided. What I can only say about this is that the Speaker was able to manage the crisis very well, otherwise this could easily have degenerated into a serious issue. Already, some member were hinting at impeachment.”

Another source however told our correspondents that the crisis might not be over yet as the aggrieved group might meet again today.

“The group started working on their moves during the recess and with the development of today (yesterday), they have to appraise the result and deliberate on what next to do.

“You know they were even sending messages to members to garner support for their move, apparently, the Speaker was able to manage it well.

When our correspondent called one of the supposed actors on the telephone, he vehemently denied involvement. “There’s no project like operation clean up project. Is that what you were told? He queried our reporter and promptly cut his line.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/news/62133-house-uncovers-plot-to-remove-tambuwal.html

lol

In my opinion,the regional autonomy that is being canversed for by some politicians is a fraud to rip the ordinary people of every region of Nigeria off,it was the same system that was used by desperate politicians in the first republic to promote the fallacy of incompatible Nigeria through promoting ethnic and religious divide for their selfish interest,having known that they the politicians lack what it takes to secure the people's support and trust for political victory,they resort to promoting ethnicity and spreading falsehood of ethnic difference to win elections.

hum

yea

hum

let not abuse each other pls. Its a matter of reasoning

here is the link. bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19644897

according to the young parliamentarian,it isn't about the age,but about the brain.

here is a link.theroot.com/buzz/teenager-becomes-lawmaker-uganda

is my religion part of the question?

brb

brb

let me try to get it

?

US agency expelled from Russia

USAID works in more than 100 countries on everything from agriculture to governance
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced it will close its offices in Russia following an order from the authorities there to cease operations.

The Russian government gave the US until 1 October to close the mission, accusing it of meddling in politics.

this is called progress and youthful impact

Proscovia Oromait, a 19 year old lady just won a seat in the Uganda House of Parliament.

Congratulations

Proscovia Oromait, a 19 year old lady just won a seat in the Uganda House of Parliament.

Congratulations

Hello people,

I have been thinking about this topic for quit some while,but i feel the need to read your opinion about the topic.

SATAN according to the Quran is an enemy,he is the worst enemy man can ever imagine. The Quran therefore advices all Muslims to seek refuge in the name of Allah against the evil shaitan.

In Christianity as well, though i can not say precisely what the bible said about Satan,but i am aware that Christians detest the evil Satan as much as the Muslims do. in virtually every prayers session by the Christians,it is usually circled around praying to God to destroy every power of Satan in our lives.

These made me conclude that both Christianity and Islam both agreed that SATAN is a common enemy of humanity.

In our daily dealings also,any one caught in the bad act always blame it on Satan,though they enjoy doing the bad act,but when their numbered days expires as they used to say,your days are numbered,the only one they blame for their wrong action on,is the Satan. NA SATAN WORK.
This concludes that even we human beings accept the fact that satan is our common enemy who lead people astray.

Having said these,both the Quran and Bible talked tirelessly about the compassion of the Almighty God being a forgiving God,the Quran established that, no matter the gravity of your sins,provided you seek for forgiveness, Allah would in his infinite mercy forgive your sins and bless you in addition. The Bible also to my understanding established that God forgives every sins,provided you seek for forgiveness and repent. that is why we have the born again.

My question now is that, Can God forgive Satan?

Do you think that if Satan should reconsider his arrogance and became sober and if he renounce his misleading human into doing bad act,do you think that the almighty from his enormous forgiving nature would forgive Satan.

Pls, this is not a question to raise argument about religious difference or attack,it is simple a matured topic that i think we should be decent in every post and comments.

Thanks

May God guide us all

?

Discourse 349: Muhammad and Freedom of Expression
Discourse 349
By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde

Muhammad and Freedom of Expression

The recent caricature of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in an American video has provoked anger across the Muslim world. Demonstrations of disapproval of the caricature continued throughout last week. The violent one recorded was in Libya where the American consulate in Benghazi was attacked and the Ambassador there killed.

Reactions of Muslim leaders and commentators throughout the Muslim world are unanimous in condemning the use of violence as tool for expression of opinion or anger in this case. So we also join them to express our disapproval on the violence that led to the killing of the Ambassador and his staff. The blasphemy was the act of an individual, not the country.

This will certainly not be the end of blasphemy against the Holy Prophet by people who have the least regard for his noble personality. It has been a recurring decimal since the advent of Islam. The Qur’an itself has predicted its tenacity to the present time and beyond:

“You (Muslims) shall certainly be tried and tested in (the loss of) your wealth and lives and you certainly receive from the People of the Book and the polytheists a lot of insults. But if you are patient and God-fearing, that will be the most determining factor (for your success).” (3:186)

There are, therefore, bound to be further expressions of anger in any such instances from the Muslim world in the future. This was not the first. The Danish and French cartoons of the Holy Prophet in the early 2000s, and before them Rushdie’s Satanic Verses in 1989, are still fresh in our minds. This will certainly not be the last, especially given that the reaction of Muslims is now predictable from the trend that emerged since the Satanic Verses. Far right and extremist groups that are interested in widening the gap between the West and the Muslims world have now in their hands an assured recipe for provoking havoc.

Whenever such reaction occurs in the future, we pray that it will not lead to further loss of life or property. The Holy Prophet himself would not have approved the killing of a diplomat in his domain. His heart was certainly bigger than that. He has received diplomats even from hostile countries but never has he ordered the execution of any. As President Mursi of Egypt said, diplomats are guests and they deserve our utmost protection.

America on its part should see the loss of the Ambassador as an unfortunate incident and play restraint. Libya is still volatile, very unstable. Anything can happen to anybody there. Gangs still have a free hand. Personal safety measures are paramount, but especially among foreigners. Where an established, stable central government is absent, the posting of diplomatic staff need to be seriously evaluated not only on the balance of strategic interest but also on that of personal safety of the diplomats that will be posted there.

Now, beyond the condemnation of violence, one could say, after listening to several commentators in several English and Arab channels that the whole world, including the American government as clarified by its foreign affairs spokesman on BBC Arabic television channel last night, recognizes the right of Muslims to demonstrate as an expression of their anger against the blasphemy. This is an era of democracy and no opinion should be suppressed.

The point, however, is not much about the expression of opinion by Muslims only. Their anger is mainly directed at America – even among those who do not support al-Qa’ida or Sheikh Omar Abdurahman – because they perceive that it has not shown any resolve to stop the rising tide of blasphemy against the Holy Prophet, the Qur’an and Islam generally in its territory as it stood firmly behind the UN resolution against anything that disputes the Jewish narrative of the Holocaust. As an Egyptian commentator said on BBC Arabic, a way of getting round the problem is for Muslim countries to propose a UN resolution that makes blasphemy against the Prophet a crime. Would America support it or veto it?

However, such a resolution, I suggest, should include the protection of all holy places and personalities belonging to all religions. Here, the Muslim world itself, to tell the bitter truth, has some unfinished work in its domain. We have recently witnessed the most unfortunate destructions of Muslim tombs in Somalia, Mali and Libya in the name of Monotheism. An historic idol of Buddha in Afghanistan was also destroyed under the Taliban regime in 2000. The mutual respect and tolerance of Islam for divergent beliefs and ways of worship are what made such sites and structures to survive in the Muslim world for the past 1400 years. Respect is a three dimensional: the one we have amongst ourselves, another we give to others and the third we expect from them.

Yesterday, MBC 2 showed the Da Vinci Code in which Jesus was portrayed as having a relationship, and even a child, with a female disciple of his. MBC is Saudi financed channel, if I am not mistaken. When the Satanic Verses were published, the Kuwaiti government had substantial shares in the Penguin Books that published it. I am raising these points just to plead for prudence on the part of the Muslim World.

The blasphemy of Basil is not different from that committed by the Danish and French journalists before. When the debate over the Danish cartoons broke out, I published a discourse titled In Defence of Muhammad. Though it was Eurocentric in its references, I think there is no need to rephrase the arguments again. I hereby reprint it for the benefit of my new readers. Those who have read it before may also wish to refresh their memories on its contents.

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Discourse 206

In Defence of Muhammad

By Dr. Aliyu Tilde

By Dayo Johnson

AKURE- AHEAD of the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday publicly gave reasons why he declined invitation from leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria to join the party despite much pressure.

Mimiko spoke at Ile Oluji during the continuation of his campaign tour for re-election.

According to him, “They did not say I have not performed; in fact, they acknowledged that Ondo State is working. But they said I should come and join their party and we told them that the people have not asked us to join any political party as the Labour Party is doing fine.

“They then threatened to make the state ungovernable and capture it if we did not join them. But let me warn that they should remember the fates of the boastful in history; God abhors the boastful.

“They are haughty and want to ride roughshod on our people and add them to their empire. But I can assure them that God will thwart their evil plans and they shall fail.”

Mimiko added: “Nothing but expansionist tendency and the desire to annex Ondo State to their treasure-trove rather than any desire to develop it were the prime reasons why the leaders of the oppositions want to capture the state at all cost.

According to him the desire by a particular political party to annex Ondo State was to include it in their growing empire which they are attempting to build in the South West.

He, however, warned that the opposition should perish the thought of ever capturing the state and assured them of a resounding defeat on October 20.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/why-i-did-not-join-acn-mimiko/