₦airaland Forum

Dear Honorable Minister,
 
Compliments!
 
As discussed at the meeting yesterday, I am sending you the proposed questions and suggested answers in preparation for the presidential debate as it relates to your Ministry / sector.
 
You are kindly requested to review the suggested answers and provide alternative answers as may be necessary, preferably less than half a page.
 
Please note that the 'questions submitted by the media group' are included for your information only.
 
I will be grateful if you could make your contribution available by 2pm please. This is because the final document must get to His Excellency by 3pm today.
 
Stay blessed.
 


Kassey Garba
***********************************

How does any of the questions relate to the Agric ministry or any ministry for that matter? Thisalegation is very spurious and unreasonable

How the statement:“WE do not believe that there will be a basis for further action, but we will look into it,” translates to the conclusion of the news is baffling

We r obviously taking our stupidity too far

I guess someone is calling us all STUPID. Read a text from ur phone which the South African authorities had confiscated as part of their investigation
When asked how come, he says he saved it in another phone. As stupid and false as that sounds, No prison custody would allow you a mobile phone in custody
Or the guy thinks he is the only one that has travelled abroad

Fest7:
Let it be,he is not wrong,afterall God created women 4 men.JOHN TERRY'S case was even worser dan dis,after dat John Terry's father was even arrested as a result of drug tracficking

Please enlighten us, how was John Terry's infidelity worse than this?

honeric01:
He's already 29yrs old, it's worth fighting for bro, let him fight them, if he can get $20m from there, that's cool money bro.

You guys should also consider that 29 in Nigeria probably means 37 in reality.

Yoruba:
The reason why I called you an addle-brain is not far fetched . . Just have a second look at your first reply relating to Nigerian Civil War, and show us the so called "facts" you included in the drivel.

--------->

Y not be specific and point out what is not a fact of history in my response?

It would also do u well to consider my response alongside what I was responding to

Yoruba:
Typical jabbering of an addle- brain loudmouth.

Typical of a misinformed tribalist, when facts are presented rather than address the issues or proffer a superior evidence they attack the writer.

The issue on the thread is about Jonathan contesting, which I can't understand how that was converted to your brother talking about Igbo Victimisation; sure that is what my response dealt with

calyx:
I would have replied this brazen distortment of facts if I had time to waste.

If you r educated and rely on facts, u would have noticed that the facts herein r irrefutable. Public records still show who held what position, those responsible for the coup, the punishment and benefits they gained after the coup, who held what position etc.

As painful as this reality may sound, sooner or later someone had to point it out to you, cause your ilk always turn any national discuss to an ethnic one

odumchi:
Who is the leader of this PDP thing anyway? If you ask me, i think it is time for someone to knock some sense into his head.

Nigeria has been around for 50years but yet we have had only one LEGIT igbo leader (Namdi Azikiwe).The northerners dislike us and we have petitioned to leave the country but they wont allow us, why??

If Nigeria loses 30million ppl wont they still be the GIANT?

everybody wants to seclude igbos from power but  they want us to stay in the country? northerners think we can be herded

Nobody really cares if the Igbos leave Nigeria, as long as they leave alone.

The truth is that their earlier attempt to leave Nigeria in 1966 was driven by their greed after loosing power due to what they started: the January 1966 coup in which Northern Dignitaries where assassinated while Igbo dignitaries where all spared, Azikiwe was the Governor General and in all accounts the Head of the Nigerian state, he was spared, Agu Ironsi was the head of the Nigerian Military, he was spared.

A coup which by default took over power from the political class and handed it over to an Igbo man; Agu Ironsi. Who proceeded to turn a Regional system (4 regions) into a unitary state in-order to consolidate power with the Igbos. It may also be worthy to note that Ojukwu was appointed the Governor of Northern Nigeria based in Kano under the Agu Ironsi Regime.

During the Igbo planned secession which was only after a counter coup took power away from them, if the Igbos had decided to leave alone they would have had their Biafra peacefully, but they chose to greedily drag the Niger delta region along with them without their consultation and consent. Even though they were treated as third class citizens with much discrimination while they were part of Eastern Nigeria.

I am tired of reading about Igbo's complaining and distorting history on every forum; the problem of the Igbo is the Igbo and their greed and calousness

Nigerian leaders don't honour the constitution which is boldly written, in such a case I wonder why any sensible person would expect such people to honour an unwritten agreement.

A few reasonable questions concerning this dubious so called "unwritten agreement would suffice here:

*What serious minded people apply an unwritten agreement for a serious issue

*Who are these so called gentlemen who where present during the so called gentlemen's agreement

*Who did they consult amongst the 150Million strong Nigerian public before entering into an unwritten agreement

*When Babangida, Atiku, Buhari and co. made strong moves to contest the 2003 presidential election; with Buhari going all the way, were was this so called agreement?

Every Marriage is a contract; It is the terms and conditions that differ for each.

So what u would be looking for is someone who is ok with ur specific case; in any case everything has a price.

Curiously nobody has stated that IBB needs to win the Nomination of a party b4 we think of him contesting for the popular vote.

Being that he is still a PDP card carrying member, his only strategy is to lobby the governors and play the zoning card to give him a chance at the PDP nomination.

As it is, both r lost causes so far.

Ivynwa:
That girlchild is not white, she is black. Her facial structures does not even suggest a mixture of white. In my own opinion, I think it is the skin pigmentation at play here (melanin and the others). She might grow up and get darker if the pigmentations returns or otherwise may remain that white. The man is a wise man for sticking by his wife and trusting her, others may ditch her and run only to discover their mistake as the years go by.

On a serious note, I feel like crying right now, why is everybody having their own babies and I can't have mine. Have no mate to have some with. Someone console me please, I'm really serious.

R u ignoring the fact that the girl's biological mother is black? Explains the Black features
The blond hair and white features can't be explained by the black father.

cryptic:
Your question is incoherent. I only quoted someone's suggestion here. Thought about what his proposition is and reached a possible conclusion.

Clearly they have two black kids, which rules out fertility treatment to get a third.

What makes it so difficult to accept that the baby's true biological dad has to be white?

cryptic:
I like your hypothesis. Makes some sense to me. To me, i think it is scientifically impossible for this to occur naturally.

Considering ur hypothesis; can u explain the 2 other kids they already have?

White Mother (no black ancestry) + White father (no black ancestry) = black baby. Conclusion: she slept with a black man

Black Mother (no white ancestry) + Black Father (no white ancestry) = white baby. Conclusion: she slept with a white man

For those who say they have seen this b4; stop being gullible, as long as u don't have DNA evidence your neighbour's wife or whoever is guilty of adultery.

nateevs:
After you called him unreasonable as well?

The decision to ban Nigeria from international football was unreasonable, I stand by that.

The president's acceptance of his mistake and subsequent change while commendable does not make the initial decision any 'less unreasonable'!

GEJ rescinds decision and leaves all the unreasonable ban supporters looking very stupid!

Has Jonathan Scored an Own Goal?
Simon Kolawole, 07.04.2010
Thisday Newspaper

President Goodluck Jonathan did the unusual last week – he withdrew Nigeria from international competition for two years “so that we can reorganise our football administration”. The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has threatened a complete blackout for Nigerian football if Jonathan does not reverse the presidential order. FIFA is against “political interference” and has never been afraid to wield the big stick against countries that flout its statutes in this regard. We have been given a deadline of tomorrow to reverse the decision or face the music. It would amount to killing a suicide bomber: Nigeria has already withdrawn from international football for two years – so what would a FIFA ban achieve anyway? He who is already on the floor fears no fall. This, I presume, was the thinking of the people in government when they took the decision. Initial reports suggest that the government will not change its mind.


The consequences may be far worse than the Nigerian government contemplated. By withdrawing from international football for two years, we are effectively out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup holding in Brazil. The draw will be made in July/August 2011 and Nigeria’s name will be missing from the pots. We will also miss out of the 2012 and 2013 African Cup of Nations because we would not be able to take part in the qualification matches. The immediate casualties will be female football – our girls will miss out on the U-20 World Cup starting next week, U-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago in September, Women’s World Cup in Germany next year and the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (London 2012). Also, the boys will not take part in the U-20 and U-17 World Cups next year and the Men’s Olympic Tournament.


FIFA’s sanctions are going to be more – they’ve already said our referees will not be able to take part in international competitions, and subventions due the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will be withheld. If FIFA wants to be really draconian, it may get CAF to ban our local clubs from taking part in continental competitions, namely the Orange CAF Champions League and the Orange Confederation Cup. Our local league will, therefore, be further hit. In sum, we would be producing players that are going nowhere, at least in the next two years. The repercussions could last for five years as we try to re-integrate ourselves into international football at all levels after a long absence. Oh, I forgot to add that our multibillion naira football industry will bear the brunt too – the marketing companies, media advertising revenue, consultants. Let me stop there.


Why does FIFA want to ban Nigeria? It is against political interference in football administration. In fact, I suspect that Nigeria was the country that forced FIFA to introduce this rule in 1992 when the then Sports Minister (or chairman of National Sports Commission, NSC), Chief Alex Akinyele, dissolved the board of NFF led by Effiom Okon. In 10 years before then, Nigeria had had eight FA chairmen. The boards were being dissolved with relish. FIFA suspended Nigeria briefly when Dr. Amos Adamu was appointed NFF sole administrator in 1992. FIFA then insisted that the board must emerge through elections with guaranteed tenures. This has led to some stability – we’ve had just five chairmen in 17 years since then, discounting the brief tenure of Kojo Williams who spent barely two months in office before being impeached by board members who said he was “too arrogant”. Williams said he was removed because he refused to “play ball” and wanted to do things the right way.


Why has Jonathan decided to dare FIFA at such grave risk? The official line is that he wants to re-organise our football administration. In reality, it is because of the corruption in NFF, which stinks to high heavens. It is one of the most hopeless and rotten public agencies in Nigeria where the interest of the country is never on the agenda. It is always about sharing money. How many board members will be on the next trip? What is the estacode? What is my cut from projects/contracts? But, then, let’s be frank: that is what pubic service in Nigeria has always been. There is hardly any government agency, parastatal or ministry that is not sleaze-infested. It is always about money, money, money, trips, trips, trips, estacode, estacode, estacode… The same complaint about NFF can be made about just any government body in Nigeria.


Federal Government’s dilemma, in this instance, is how to stop the NFF chairman, Sani Lulu, and other board members from seeking another term in office next month. The poor performance of Nigeria at the World Cup notwithstanding, there has always been this never-do-well thing about NFF. Nigerians have been worried for years about the poor administration of the national game. Football is too important to be ignored: it is a multibillion naira industry; it has produced, and is still producing, genuine millionaires; it is a major source of income for coaches and players; it is a major employer of labour (you don’t need a university degree to kick the ball); it is an avenue for tackling social menace; it is a very strong instrument of national integration (for those of us who believe in one Nigeria); and it is a weapon of international relations. No responsible government will fold its arms and watch such a strategic sport go into liquidation. Maybe that was why Jonathan decided to damn the FIFA “no interference” rule.


In reality, FIFA’s policy has never worked. What we’ve always had is interference through the backdoor – the Federal Government has always determined who would emerge NFF chairman. In fact, Adamu, in whatever position he occupies (either as DG, NSC or Director of Sports or whatever) has been calling the shots in Nigerian football for more than 10 years. The NFF is full of his appointees and stooges. He is the unseen hand that manipulates things, you know, the puppet master. The only difference now, compared to 1992 when FIFA dealt us the hammer blow, is that there is tenure security for the NFF board. No more dissolution of boards at the slightest provocation. But, in truth, nothing has changed. It has always been stories of incompetence and greed among the sport’s administrators.


The success of the coach Clemens Westerhof era (1989-1994) was in spite of the NFF, not because of it. The last person to put in so much into building Nigerian football was Westerhof, but we must remember that he enjoyed political protection from Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, who, as President Ibrahim Babangida’s second-in-command, oversaw our football. The NFF and sports ministry wanted to sack Westerhof several times but Aikhomu resisted them. By 1994, we were the best team in Africa with a group of world-class players. Super Eagles were, at a stage, rated the fifth best team in the world. Even the success of Bonfrere Jo at Atlanta 96 owed to Westerhof’s foundation. Since the glorious Westerhof generation petered out, we have not been able to produce a new group of world-class players.


If Jonathan is sure we are about to embark on a football revolution with his decision to withdraw Nigeria from international competitions, he has my support. Let FIFA ban us but let us put our house in order and build a greater future. My worry, however, is that nothing is about to change. We would still end up with inept people at the helm. We could suffer the grave consequences of FIFA ban and still come out worse off. That is the Nigeria I know. I would have suggested that we shouldn’t have withdrawn from international football. We could still get the NFF board out of the way without all this drama. The members have enough in their files to hang them by. We don’t need to confront FIFA. The government could still influence, through the backdoor, the emergence of a new board made up of its own nominees. The problem with our football is administration, not participation in international competition. I think Jonathan has just scored an own goal.

nateevs:
Garbage. . . Extreme Garbage.

Prince and Blueflame, not only you two live in western countries.
Don't force bullsh.it down our throats. Slow down on the civilization thing.

In these civilized countries, their FAs are self funding.
In these civilized countries, you don't have ministries of sports whose sole responsibility is to fund sports.
In these civilized countries, FA members don't rig elections.
In these civilized countries, FA members don't embezzle money.
In these civilized countries, there a structure in the FA that checks itself.
In these civilized countries, FA members stand down when a scandal erupts
In these civilized countries, FA members try to improve football
In these civilized countries, FA members don't have to be told what to do, they just do the right thing.


Do you see our FA doing all the above? Why then are you asking to emulate what happens in the civilized countries? We are not a civilized country geddit? We admire what goes down there but we have a long way to go to get there. No country has achieved correctness without some form of radical changes at some point.

When we get to the corridors of civilization, we will embrace it. For now Nigeria's is a peculiar case. The solution has to be Nigerian.

And you still haven't told us how you think the government should go about it. I flawed your arguments. What can u come up with?

So banning the national team would provide solutions to all the problems u stated?

If it would I wonder y none of you have recommended the following to Mr Jonathan

Banning NEPA (PHCN)
Banning the presidency and house of assemblies state and federal
Banning all Nigerian universities
Banning all Nigerian Hospitals and medical practitioners (for not being able to provide health services to Nigerians, not even to our presidents eg Late Yaradua)
Banning every aspect of our life where there is corruption and inefficiency.

soloqy:
Very funny. A lot of times, people are quick to mention America and others but like I said earlier, executive fiats are not common only in Nigeria. Obama, whom you all dont hesitate to mention has used it a number of times already in his short administration. If it was Nigeria or Jonathan, am sure the whole NL would be on fire now. And for your info, Obama is planning to use the same executive fiat to take over the health and insurance sector(ask those who know).But where is their 'Secretary of health' as you mentioned above?

******* Is planning? supposing again

Why don't you wait till the fiat is issued before we discuss it??

The bill passed by the house and senate after 18months of intense debate, various speeches and sensitisation  is your own version of Presidential Fiat right

cantell:
**feels his forehead with the back of his hand to check if he's running a high temperature**
Well. . . since millions of Nigerians are dumb and you're the only smart guy around, it would be an honor to lead us and show us the way, smart guy.
Haha! Laugh no go kill me hia!

U dont pick a statement out of context to amuse yourself.

Read the statement as a response to the question asked

cantell:
So if the sports minister was in the position to do something about the corruption in NFF, do you think he wouldn't have done it ? If the minister had the right to call them to order, he would have done so without involving the president.
Someone mentioned that the presidency and the ministry are very different from each other. Pls can you tell how different they are?
An employer(president) can still mandate his employee(minister) to do what he wants, at least in Nigeria here.(don't know about other countries)
Like i said, the fifa's immunity is with these officials and nobody can do a thing, except thru the hard way - breaking off from fifa for the time being.

So give it a rest jor!
Millions of Nigerians cannot be that daft like you think!

So if the Minister of power was in a position to do something about electricity he would have done it
So if the Minister of finance could do something about banking corruption he would have done it
So if the minister of police could do something about crime he would have done it

Ignoring facts and what is on ground to hold on to speculations and supposing is not the act of a sensible person, I am afraid to say in this matter millions of Nigerians are very dumb

soloqy:
Princek12, you love reading yourself on the internet otherwise, i dont know why you argue the obvious.

What nateevs was trying to make you see(I suspect he too is exasperated with your arguements), is that Minisitry/Minister is an arm of government(executive arm ). If Minister probes, its government that probes. My goodness, I dont want to think that you are slow in comprehension but you are really making it difficult for one to think otherwise.

Funny; In civilised societies 'Minister is not the same as government'. A ministry is a part of government, and the head of the ministry is in charge

Barack Obama, David Cameron, Etc would never usurp the duties of a minister or secretary of state and issue a presidential fiat to ban or change anything within a ministry. What they would do is replace the minister with another, or call the minister and explain their objective for him to carry out.

Its the civilised way of doing things

nateevs:
Emotions running high prevents you lot from seeing the obvious.
The aim is not to ban the national team. The aim is to restructure NFF. . . but you can't touch NFF because of the fear of FIFA's wrath. We will get banned. Why don't we just announce it ourselves and then go ahead and restructure?

Your stance is taking the defensive. I have suggested why JG should interfere.
I dare you to provide a fool proof solution to these problem bearing in mind the obstacles invloved.

You can't come up with any.

So the only way to restructure the NFF is by banning the national team? Why don't u proponents of restructuring google restructured FA's and learn how numerous countries have successful restructured their FA's in the past. May I add none has done it by banning their national team

nateevs:
First of all, Jonathan should not have directly involved himself with sports, anyway. He should be focusing on solving our electricity and infrastructure problems


Many presidents have directly involved themselves with sports. It is an issue of national pride. While you may argue that there are more pressing issues, you can't say he is wrong to directly involve himself. Sport is not just a way of entertainment, it is a channel for solving problems of unemployment. Try imagine how many people not directly playing on the pitch could probably be employed if we get it right. Doctors, Physicians, Physiotherapists, Designers, Business men, Administrators, Football agents, Builders, Physical trainers, TV-presenters, Cameramen, Sports Journalists. . . . Need I go on. . . ?

Do you still think Jonathan should not be directly involved?






1) Jonathanshould have asked the ministry of sports to set up a committee to investigate the alleged corruption, citing the exact amounts stolen by NFF officials. The committee also should table how the upcoming election will be transparent and how other candidates can run.

Good idea. What then happens when the proposals are rejected by NFF officials and the status quo is maintained?
Solution.





2) The ministry of sports should table the result of that investigation to FIFA

Great. What action in your opinion do you think FIFA will then take?



3) If there is evidence of alleged corruption, due process should follow.

What is due process? How about the structure of NFF? Who changes that?


4) The ministry of sports should make sure the next election NFF election should be transparent.

The MOS cannot do that. . . . according to FIFA, it's called interference.





Can you see none of your solutions has worked? At least for me. . . How about the dogged fellas in the glass house determined not to relinquish power?

More solutions please.

Concerning this point u raised

Many presidents have directly involved themselves with sports. It is an issue of national pride. While you may argue that there are more pressing issues, you can't say he is wrong to directly involve himself. Sport is not just a way of entertainment, it is a channel for solving problems of unemployment. Try imagine how many people not directly playing on the pitch could probably be employed if we get it right. Doctors, Physicians, Physiotherapists, Designers, Business men, Administrators, Football agents, Builders, Physical trainers, TV-presenters, Cameramen, Sports Journalists. . . . Need I go on. . . ?

Do you still think Jonathan should not be directly involved?


***********

So in ur wisdom banning the national team and incurring a further fifa ban on all our footballing team would provide jobs for Doctors, Physicians, Physiotherapist, Designers, Business men, Administrators, Football agents, Builders, Physical trainers, TV-presenters, Cameramen, Sports Journalists.

Hmm naija sure has thinkers!

nateevs:
No one on the other side really has explained how we could achieve the cleansing of NFF without a radical change.
Instead they've all asked how banning ourselves will lead to improvement.

Maintaining the status quo is destructive. Confirmed.
I'm all up for it.

No one says u should maintain the status quo, what we r saying is don't ban the national team which would have consequences for our entire football teams including nigerian club football.

We propose prosecution of the entire NFF board members, the presidency has said as much that they have enough evidence.

Is it not worrisome that refusing to prosecute the board members and rather banning the team sounds like there is something to hide? Probably NFF board members singing and implicating those people who r playing saint and singing ban the team?

When they wanted ogbulafor out of the way, they knew how to go about it, he was arrested by the ICPC which led to his resignation, now in the case of the NFF board members what makes it so difficult to arrest them with the EFCC and ICPC

Banning the team actually doesn't even address the problem; ie the NFF board

neuro:
1. It is the inalienable right of FIFA to administer world football as dictated by its rules which are ratified by all members including Nigeria.
2. It is the inalienable right of Nigeria to take whatever steps she thinks would better position her football. The step may be right or wrong.
3. In the context of FIFA rules, the decision of NIgeria may be seen as an offence. That does not make FIFA a vilain, mafia, or demigod. Rules are rules. You cannot disobey rules EVEN when you think or know you have good intentions
4. If Nigeria thinks FIFA rules are unreasonable, then she is free to opt out. Not all the countries of the world belong to FIFA
5. In any case, flouting FIFA rules is seen as an indirect notice of withdrawal from the body, hence the suspension till a country comes back.
6. If you have a problem, then all country members of FIFA should change FIFA rules, not kill Sepp Blatter and his guys who only enforce the rules made by country reps in FIFA
7. If we are sure that the FG's decision is s right one, AND sure also that FIFA ban would not be detrimental, why not? FIFA suspension might just be the sacrifice to pay for progress. BUT if we are not sure, then something might go wrong, very very wrong

Nice one.

On point 2, i am still genuinely beging for an explanation on how self banning would better position our football?

honeric01:
You yourself do not even understand what you are typing.

Jonathan just used the laws of the land by withdrawing Nigeria from associating with FIFA, the law of Nigeria includes that we have freedom of association and dis-association. How's that an interference?

Is joining FIFA a permanent association? is FIFA  a cult or what? i just don't understand how some Nigerians reason.

By the way, you cannot probe and arrest any NFF officials without interfering into the running of NFF
MANY PEOPLE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT INTERFERENCE MEANS.

A criminal charge is a criminal charge and if sani lulu murders someone u wont say he shouldnt be tried for murder, it is childish rascality that would make an adult say a criminal charge on the NFF board members would be seen as interference.

Most importantly no proponent of this ban has offered to explain how the ban would improve our game. I guess if ur brother is sick u would suggest he is shot dead to cure him of his sickness so as to be well

Princek12:
Cite the FIFA rule and give me a historical precedent of when the law enforcement of a country investigated corrupt football officials (especially those who stole money allocated by the country in which they sit and money allocated by FIFA themselves) were adjudged  by FIFA to have interfered with football.

Fifa interference refers to despotic decisions like the one jonathan took. It does not refer to probing of corrupt officials of the FA or sending them to jail for corruption using the laws of the land.

And that is what we expect Jonathan to do, we would rather see the culprits Lulu and co in jail than the national team and all footballing activities banned for 2yrs while lulu enjoys his loot and cosy's up to the politicians for another appointment in future

Princek12:
The amount of people who have supported this ban shows that Nigeria's problem is its people, and not just the leaders. Majority of the people think just like the leaders: they have a good intent for a change but lack don't take the proper steps in effectuating that change, and don't think about the repercussions of the proposed steps. Jonathan as clearly shown he has no regard for the rule of law, and all these people are supporting him because it appears to be seemingly in their favor.

When this same Jonathan now bans the internet and cable TV and cell phone from cos from operating because there is some corruption somewhere, or when he starts to act like Abacha by arresting and killing people without following the rule of law, then you guys will start crying. Jonathan is showing the qualities of a dictator like Abacha and Babangida.

Right on point. It is the little things like this that tell us the mentality and real desires of the people. After all a wise man said a country deserves the leadership it gets, cos it is from amongst the people the leaders emerge. I always though it didnt apply to naija, now i know better.

beeke:
Is FIFA an organization or a maffian group or a cult or something

Is Nigeria the only country in Fifa? Why is it that no other country is complaining about Fifa or asking silly questions whether fifa is a mafia etc etc.
What is so hard about abiding by simple rules statutes and procedures that were laid down befor u joined an organization?