supereagle:

My friend it is total blasphemy, Prof ABC Nwosu conducted free and fair election which IBB cancelled . The prof is not Jesus, our Saviour can do better.

---

http://stopsmokingblueprints..com/2010/05/benefits-accrue-by-quitting-smoking.html

Who decides if an election is free and fair? If everyone on nairaland agrees and I dont simply cos i lost, is that not disputing that fact??

Besides conducting the best election does not mean it was free and fair.

you guys should watch d interview and see the context.

He was discussing the change in INEC leadership, and pointed out that the politicians needed reform more than INEC needed leadership change. That led to his example, that even if Jesus Christ would conduct an election, the politicians would still dispute it - questioning the character of the people we have! He was not intended on being blasphemous and the discussion was not!

We get overly sensitive with issues, even ones that are so clear, instead of concentrating on improving ourselves - get over it!

^^ Listen properly before u come and start misleading people. He said 'unless politicians are made to change their ways, even if Jesus Christ conducted an election in Nigeria, they would dispute it'! How does that affect who Jesus is??

Mumu

The guy is really mad. Are the under-aged girls going into prostitution in the name of religion? Are there not muslim girls among them too?

when he picks up a minor and says its fine in d name of religion then its a problem - stupid illiterates!

[size=13pt]Momodu, Ovation Publisher, Joins Presidential Race[/size]
05.02.2010

One of Africa’s most famous publishers and THISDAY columnist, Bashorun Dele Momodu, is set to move from publishing to politics. According to sources, the publisher of Ovation International, a leading celebrity magazine, was provoked by the decision of former President Ibrahim Babangida to join the presidential race.

THISDAY checks revealed that Momodu has actually been travelling round the world to mobilise young Nigerians to support what he calls “a mission to clean up Nigeria.” His friends believe he’s one of the few Nigerians who have managed to build “a global brand against very daunting odds.” He enjoys a large following of Nigerian youths on Facebook and Twitter.
Momodu was a major supporter of Bashorun Moshood Abiola’s presidential bid in 1993. He was detained at the Alagbon detention camp, Ikoyi, Lagos, between July and August 1993 for his political activities. In 1995, he was forced into exile by the General Sani Abacha Military Government, and lived in England as a refugee for three years. He was accused of being one of the brains behind the pirate radio station that was attacking the dictatorship in Nigeria, an allegation he denied vehemently.

He started Ovation International during that period, and was a regular Yoruba presenter on the pirate radio broadcast, Radio Freedom, which later became Radio Kudirat, under the pseudonym of Saliu Elenuugboro. He decided to support the pirate radio since he was already punished for being a member of its clandestine operations.
He returned from exile in 1998 and expanded his publishing outfit from England to Ghana and Benin Republic where Ovation International is now translated into French. The widely-travelled publisher has been able to build a larger-than-life image and he has a one-on-one relationship with Presidents, international figures, business gurus, students’ organisations, civil societies and political groups.

When THISDAY contacted him in Ghana last night, Momodu said that there were incredible pressures on him to contest next year’s Presidential election. “My supporters are of the firm belief that Nigeria needs a fresh beginning and that that fresh air can only be guaranteed by someone who has not been tainted in anyway by government office and cannot be accused of pilfering government money,” Momodu said. He added that when he eventually announces his intention to run, “the decision would have been aided by the challenge thrown at us by former President Ibrahim Babangida that he can’t see any young Nigerian who can lead Nigeria out of the current political doldrums which was largely created by him.”

Asked on what political platform he hopes to contest when the time comes, Momodu confirmed that he has been a card-carrying member of Labour Party because his father was an ordinary Nigerian who worked most of his life as labourer.
“Most of the men from my Afenmai tribe of Edo State were labourers, and I come from that proud unionist tradition of dignity in labour and service to humanity.” Also, his growing up in Ile-Ife, Osun State taught him the values of hard-work in an environment where most people were poor.
Bashorun Momodu’s presidential bid is certain to add colour and excitement into a usually dull race because of his firm grip on the entertainment and showbiz industry in Africa.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=172319

Chei. . .

Guys, this is just the same cycle over and over.
[size=13pt]
VIOLENCE IN ISLAM - as understood by ME![/size]

Taking it back to the early days (thousands of years back), religion was spread through wars, and people conquering lands. Once a new land was dominated, effectively the rest of the population had to be part of that religion. In the course of this, the laws and teachings that are perceived to be harsh today were conceived, such as the stoning to death of adulterers, killing of unbelievers, etc (as indicated BOTH IN THE BIBLE AND THE QURAN).

Through the years, and as it spread, the interpretation of these teachings evolved, and the new testament of the bible came to the rescue, by expunging all the teachings that were found not to be suited to the evolving world.

On the other hand, islam is a religion that was grounded on preservation of teachings. Hence, the idea of leaving the Quran in arabic, to avoid a misinterpretation of its contents. Therefore, whoever picked up the Quran 500 years ago and today, would have the same material to deal with.

With this, the rest was left to the dynamics of the human mind to judge what it would take from the Quran, and what to leave out. The high handed scholars who formed the most respected religious leaders do not completely agree with each other. The one who chooses to push out all the teachings of violence has all the evidence he needs to win a million souls a day, and the other who chooses to base his teachings on religion as a guidance tool, rather than an oppressive one, had only the lessons of morality and sense of responsibility to back it up.

Here we are today, with some people choosing to be right-winged muslims, while the others who have obviously been unfortunate to be led by the extreme conformists, have chosen the path of violence towards fellow humans - so who is really to blame? The religion itself or the early leaders who chose to spread a message of hatred? It would be good to note that a good part of the Quran preaches peace and harmony,and hence the name islam (peace).

In summary, anything that has to do with the human mind, is subject to the threat of divergent views which is seen as a right in todays world. Christianity has variants in catholicism, Jehovah's witness, etc, all differing in aspects of their beliefs, but does not infringe on the right of existence of any other being.

However, when the view of another is at a point of destroying every other, it is necessary to adopt measures that would mitigate these.

It is time for religious leaders to own up and take the sense of responsibility to stick to the more than 90% of the Quran that provides the right message that would help us guide our lives the right path and not preach intrusion by aggression.

Monkey man is up to another. From fighting for the masses to the insatiable greed that paralyses the same values he fought for then.

Thank God it wasn't a success. Once again, they have had to pay people to come and stand under the sun, while true patriots like Keyamo spoilt their party.

What is 'one man, one vote'? Is it in support of a better INEC? Is it a kickstart to his 2012 elections?? Because he wants to be vice president he is now doing all sorts.God go catch am!

@ Amirach

Thanks for the info. It just shows we have a lot of work to do in getting this country right.

@silentc

I understand its difficult not to drag religion into this debate, but lets try and keep it controlled so as not to derail the thread. All religious books have accounts of ridiculous things that were done thousands of years back. The responsibility is on the religious leaders to see a broader perspective and put forward what is right to help guide the way welive our lives.

For you question, he claims he is trying to live his life by the prophet's teachings. There are hadiths (teachiongs of the prophet's lifestyle) that puts forward that he did get married to a minor. Also, a lot of this has sunk into the arab culture with no respect for women of any sort. Hence, a lot of ridiculous things are done in the name of what i spermitted, like the trading of young girls for marriage.

So when a set of people like some of the narrow minded northerners choose to idolize a set of people to live their lives by, even if the religious leaders do not directly influence it, they borrow a leaf from these crazy acts in the middle east, and back it up with religion.

I blame obj for allowing the man to introduce sharia in one state in a secular country. Now see all the confusion, understanding that the religious guise is a sensitive one, he says he is acting by the teachings of the prophet.

Was the prophet a perfect man? Kai. . .d silly thing is if they try to push the thing some people would carry guns that their religion is being undermined

So he is really going to look a girl that young in the eye and bed her??

Which sane man would get aroused by a girl that young?

[size=13pt]Iwu fired, But Jonathan Plans To Appoint Another Rigger As Successor [/size]
Wednesday, 28 April 2010 18:16

Acting President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan today fired Maurice Iwu, the controversial chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, in a move that one of our sources described as “deeply disturbing,” Dr. Jonathan plans to appoint Philip Umeadi, Jr., an electoral commissioner with a fraudulent past and reputation, to step into Iwu’s shoes. Acting President Jonathan ordered Iwu, whose conduct of the 2007 general elections earned universal condemnation, to proceed on compulsory and terminal leave. Jonathan’s decision to send Iwu on pre-disengagement leave with immediate effect came after the embattled INEC boss had tried a variety of tricks and maneuvers to retain his job.

http://www.saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5933-iwu-fired-but-jonathan-plans-to-appoint-another-rigger-as-successor.html

U give people guns and go and buy a bullet proof car; they shall be visited by the evils they perpetrate!

Kobojunkie:

But if the man was able to get continue getting contracts through Tinubua UNDER Fashola's Administration, don't you see that that could potentially be a problem for the governor himself?

Its problem for everybody but Tinubu. His case file has been sealed and in the waiting, but for his political prostitution in abuja. Fashola has got this carry on his own. Even if Tinubu had a share of all these, he was the on signing the cheques.They intelligently would not go as far as getting the governor arrested next year, if not, it might just be the start of an interesting drama.

I am pained though. . .no hope for naija again.

[size=13pt]EFCC Arrests Lagos Contractor[/size]

The probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement by the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has ensnared its first casualty with the arrest of one of the state’s major contractors, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe by the commission.

Confirming Olowolafe’s arrest yesterday, EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi said he was being held in connection with the investigation by the commission following the petition submitted by the True Face of Lagos, a group which has been at the vanguard of exposing corruption in the state.

Olowolafe, it was learnt, was arrested at about 5.00pm yesterday in connection with a N20 billion contract, and was subsequently detained in Abuja.
Olowolafe, through his company, Deux Project, is said to have had his hand on the pulse in Lagos State for several years dating back to the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 2005.

His Deux international company was said to have got contracts for the supply of health facilities, rehabilitation of hospitals and was known to be currently working at the Gbagada General Hospital.
The company was alleged to have supplied the hospital with medical equipment and furnished its Cardiac Centre at a cost of 14 million pounds. He was similarly said to have constructed roads and drainages within the hospital.

Fondly called Lafe in Lagos government circles, Olowolafe has also worked for the Federal Government and some other state governments for over 20 years. Sources in government circles said last night that he handled major contracts for the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

On Thursday this week while addressing a group of protesters that calls itself the True Face of Lagos at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, the Commission’s Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, had said the EFCC was working on the series of petitions by the group to it on allegations of corruption against the Fashola administration.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=171711

You want to sell this car for 3.8 millions, the car is so scratched (in/out) u can tell it has not been used meticulously. And what is the point of putting that ODO picture when we cannot see anything? Confirm the mileage, act like you know with the price and hola . . .

jumobi1:

They meant health.

Thats the point! We know they meant something else. But its journalism, what you put out there is very key.

^^

Tell me about it! These guys are just a disgrace. The only thing worth holding unto in this story is that someone was arrested!

http://www.pointblanknews.com/News/os3252.html

[size=13pt]EFCC arrests one of Gov Fashola's fronts[/size]

The Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, may be heading for serious trouble as the EFCC on Friday arrested one of his fronts , and close pal used to execute dodgy contracts, Olowolofe Olatunji.

Pointblanknews. Com learnt that Olatunji was picked up Friday evening in connection with multi- billion naira project he is handling in the state's health and education ministr ies.

Pointblanknews. Com also learnt that Olatunji used his firm, Deux Projects to comer several juicy and iflated contracts from his pal Fashola.

According to our source, the state Government has so far paid over N10 billion as mobisation fee to Olatunji who most times fails to deliver.

Our source revealed that Olatunji got 27 education ministry contracts and three contracts from the education ministry.

It was learnt that Deux Projects which is one of the strings of dodgy contractors used by Fashola, was expected to handle the rehabilitation of some hospitals and schools in the state.

Some of the expectations included purchase of very high tech machines and equipment for state hospitals.

When a group of concerned lagosians urged the state lawmakers to probe Fashola, some of his cronies went to court to block it.

They tagged it a distraction. Consequently the group took it's case to the EFCC.

Efforts to get the commission's spokesman , Femi Babafemi late Friday to speak on the development, was not successful as calls to his cell phone were not answered

My guy can you please stop replicating every news website here and stick to what is relevant?

Maybe you should start threads about what you eat everyday

All this sentiment whipping can't help your arguments. Overlooking the fact that this idea is as stupid as it gets, lets look at the figures:

- over 20,000 ex-militants to be trained abroad over what time frame? Are we sending 20,000 people abroad at the same time, and at what cost?

- how does training 20,000 people out of hundreds of thousands that could have benefitted from a locally established world-class training centre help the long-term focus?

- how does the training ensure re-integration of these people back into the community? Are the oil companies promising to absorb them? What inputs do they have on whatever programmes they are undergoing?

- how does the nation save face when half of these militants dissolve into the European community?

- If this is really about getting educated, why cant centres be established, developed over time, that would serve for sustainability?

- Finally, why does everybody need to study a course that makes them work in the oil and gas sector (marine and welding)? All the oil majors put together cannot provide more than 50,000 jobs for nigeria, of which roughly over 90% must have been filled. A look at the statistics of how many PTDF scholars have been able to get into the industry tells all the story. Its simple, they cant all be employed.

If this idea has really been considered, I am sorry this is as good as failed. Tell me all about the polluted lands, and water, and maybe I would see a reason to give the boys the trip, not the training!

Here is a brilliant analysis of the article by a brilliant young lady. I could not agree agree anymore.

[size=13pt]Manifestation of Unity in Nigeria[/size]
Thursday, 15 April 2010 22:41

By Munira Adama

Eric Obuh: He’s not a politician, an engineer, a doctor, nothing of such import.
He is a Nigerian. A scavenger. Olasosun dump site. Welcome to Lagos.
I just finished watching the BBC2 production titled ‘Welcome to Lagos’ which I will say was a rude shock, putting it mildly.
I never knew we had places like that, the extent of my knowledge on poverty in Lagos was Ajegunle, Isale Eko, Makoko. Olasosun?? Never heard of it, well until now. There are a lot of lessons to be taken away from this 1 hr reality jolt.
Was it just me, or did anyone else notice their level of spoken English? Wow! Needless to say, we aren’t doing badly as a nation.

These are people many of us like to look upon as miscreants, the dregs of the society, the ne’er do wells etc. But, with this portrayal of them, they have single handedly put paid to such notions.

Their organisation is another thing that had me. They had a well organised system of governance where the chairman was someone everyone could relate to, he wasn’t a dictator, nor was he any form of ‘omnipotent’. Maybe our leaders can come to Olasosun for a crash course in governance.
Joseph, another patron of Olasosun, is introduced. He is a married man, with a family to cater for, and his love for his wife and children shines through his every word, his actions.

What drives him? His love for his family. It makes him go out there and strive to earn a living so he can provide for them. He seemingly is content with his lot in life. Can he serve as role model for some of the men of our class? What drives them? The lust to have more money. The greed to be the richest man they know. The love for all things luxurious. It might provide for their family at the end of the day, but it doesn’t come attached with love and feeling. Yet again, the people of Olasosun triumph.

The cow market.

Interactions between people from all over Nigeria, I had to stop watching for a minute, and clarify that this was actually Nigeria. Is this the same Nigeria where Fulani and Birom can’t live in Jos together? Same Nigeria where people agitate for a division every day? How come this Fulani man is arm in arm with this Yoruba man? How come there is so much unity in this market? Or are these people mutants of the true Nigerian man? Or maybe these are the real Nigerians while those who do the agitation have lost touch with reality.

This is our reality; this is what the situation truly is. As much as it pains me to say, many of us, in fact all those who are going to read this note, share my same myopic view of our nation. We are filled with the politics we fail to see the human angle.

These are the masses. I dare to say that the people featured in this programme are even better informed than I am. Yes. They are on the street, they know what they want, what is lacking, while I sit in the luxury of my generator powered home, behind the screen of my Toshiba laptop and spew words about injustices and corruption. Maybe if I took a day out of my life and lived the life of a scavenger, I would sing a different tune.
‘This is where you see the unity of Nigeria in manifestation’ says Eric Obuh. No truer words have ever been spoken.

I see a number of my country men have taken to bashing BBC for showing us what is in our backyard. I would rather thank BBC for opening my eyes up to seeing the truth about my country. That we have ghettos doesn’t take away from our dignity, instead, we should look to see what can be salvaged from these ghettos. This is a sore we have to clean up not cover it up with bandage and let it fester.

This documentary shows beyond the pictures. Beyond the spoken. It shows us the future of our country, not the poverty but the unity, the organisation, the camaraderie, the resourcefulness, the optimism, the vigour for life, the justice that can prevail, the honesty, the good People, the great Nation.

Now guys, the Zain situation is a peculiar one. The local operations did not record as much profit last year, mainly due to inefficient operations and high overhead. Hence they decided to [b]outsource everything technical (Networks operations and maintenance) [/b]to LM Ericsson. Part of the outsourcing agreement, they were to absorb all the zain staff in the related depts numbering about 450 people.

Now, the organizational structure with these two companies are totally different. While ericsson as a vendor thrived on technical resources, zain had a lot of people who were enmeshed in more politics than they knew their technical stuff (not taking away from the few that know their stuff), with fat salaries. Ericsson as a vendor cannot meet its service agreements with zain having too many people with bloated salaries. The indication for this was always there from the beginning.

As an insider, I know for a fact that ericsson had not been paid for a job backlog of up to six months. But this is a big customer they need to keep; wat do you do? Reduce the hit on the cash flow, and thats what they have done!

Whose fault? Zain always had a very bad structure from the beginning. No one would take that over and make sense of it. Its almost similar to what happened in the banks. Everyone was earning big money and wanted to be called a manager when the real job was lying in the waiting.

I do not blame Ericsson for nothing. Still comes down to the crappy system we have here. Its not like any savings would be passed unto us the subscribers. Just more profit for them to take back to their countries. Lose-Lose situation all the way.

I guess they are suppose to be 'haute' issues

Bringing Ribadu back to government is not in Jonathan or Ribadu's interest! He can pave the way for him to return tp the country and just go back to his house for the time being.

Going from two extremes with a controversial figure is not the right move. And he brings him back to become a radical advising on who is to be arrested? And what would happen to him 11 months from now?

He is still suffering repercussions from OBJs time, he should be smarter. He was almost killed. Jonathan is not an OBJ that formed a virtual shield around him. Jonathan himself is vulnerable as it is with his 'acting' status.

^^ I know right. They should just concentrate on the underlying frameworks and carry on with whatever they can if time permits.

Trying to give us 6,000MW and fully transmit it is almost herculean in the current situation and the time left. Begging militants with 20k every month is not sustainable.

The use of performance measures has caught my interest though. But there are probably only two milestones they can have within the time left. The system might just be sustainable.

That way, we can have logical ways of sacking them when necessary.

By d way that was an extreme citing, but you get my drift.

lol. . .good night o >>make sure to ask for a doctor when you need to, not the minister!

^^for every person there is in a leadership position, it is postulated there is someone better.

You mean fine management is secondary to someone who needs to be the CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR of the health sector?

Do you believe a good administrator who is a non-doctor would do a better job than a doctor with no managerial skills/experience?
All he needs do is get a knowledgeable consultant who thrashes the technical details out. I don't need to know the angle a surgical blade cuts to transform the health ministry my friend!

^^ I am very calm my friend. Our thoughts just seem seem to be going off on tangents so I decided to just let it lie *from nairaland experience, these sort of debates never end*

Of course I need a doctor to treat me if I am ill. Why? That is his expertise!

As a minister, your core skills cannot lie in just your specialist field. You need a blend of industry-specific knowledge, a passion for the sector, and a strong ability to pull together political and social resources.

The health sector as we have it today is almost non-existent. There would be new policies, the people need to support it. If you have an NMA that would strike on you anytime you try to introduce anything new or a senate that would sit on your reform proposals, you have lost it politically and your tenure would be frustrated >> no achievement - does this require being a doctor??

So what I am saying, what is key is the knowledge of the nigerian medical sector and not specialist knowledge as an MD.