I am Provoked to re post this article and i want the Yoruba's and Hausa/Fulanis to read from their Yoruba Educated Man. I AM PROUDLY A BIAFRAN OF IGBO EXTRACTION.. Excerpt...... Femi Aribisala: (Nigeria cannot survive without the Igbo's) AMONG the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo are without a doubt, one of the most remarkable. So remarkable, indeed, that some have even traced their ancestry to biblical Israel, as the far-flung descendants of Jacob, the Jewish patriarch. Gad, Jacob’s seventh son, is said to have had three sons who settled in South-eastern Nigeria. These sons; Eri, Arodi and Areli, are believed to have fathered clans in Igbo-land and to have founded such Igbo towns as Aguleri, Arochukwu, Owerri and Umuleri. Igbo genius Even the bitterest adversaries of the Igbo cannot but admit that, as a people, they are very resourceful and ingenious. Indeed, this has often been the cause of their envy and dislike by others. However, more enlightened non-Igbo Nigerians see this as a cause for celebration. While today, the centre-point of Nigeria’s manufacturing is situated in the Lagos/Ogun axis, there is no doubt that the real locomotive of Nigeria’s indigenous industrialization lies farther afield in Aba and in the mushrooming cottage-industries of the Igbo heartland. In one of the paradoxes of Nigerian history, the terrible civil war provoked homespun industrialization in the South-East. Military blockade left the Igbo with little alternative than to be inventive in a hurry. While Nigeria as a nation failed woefully to harness this profitably after the war, it has nevertheless ensured that the Igbo are at the forefront of Nigeria’s economic development today. Indeed, the way we disregard “made in Aba” today is the same way we disregarded “made in Japan” yesterday. For those of us who believe against the odds that Nigeria is the China of tomorrow, we equally recognize that the ingenuity of the Igbo is an indelible part of the actualization of that manifest destiny. Hall of fame The Igbo have been a great credit to Nigeria. They have given us a great number of our favourite sons, including international statesman Nnamdi Azikiwe; military leader Odumegwu Ojukwu; regional leader Michael Okpara; vice- president Alex Ekwueme; mathematical genius Chike Obi; literary icon Chinua Achebe; world- class economist Pius Okigbo; world boxing champion Dick Tiger; international statesman Emeka Anyaoku; and world-class artist Ben Enwonwu. Permit me to include in this illustrious list even some of my very good Igbo friends: Pat Utomi, Ojo Madueke, Olisa Agbakoba, Joy Ogwu, and Stanley Macebuh. Let us get one thing straight: Nigeria would be a much poorer country without the Igbo. Indeed, Nigeria would not be Nigeria without them. Can you imagine the Super Eagles without the Igbo? Not likely! Who can forget Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Kay Okocha and our very own Emmanuel Amuneke? Can you imagine Nollywood without the Igbo? Impossible! Just think of Stella Damascus-Aboder in; Rita Dominic and Mike Ezuruonye. And then there are the diaspora Igbo who many are unaware are of Igbo descent, including concert singer and actor Paul Robeson; Oscar award- winner Forest Whitaker; mega-pastor T.D. Jakes; Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu; and BAFTA actor award-winner Chiwetel Ejiofor. You may well wonder why I have found it necessary to present this small litany of Igbo who-is-who. I think it is important to emphasise how the Igbo have been very vital to the Nigerian project. They have more than represented Nigeria creditably in virtually all walks of life. This makes it all the more absurd that this same people have been consistently denied the position of executive president of the country in all but six months of Nigeria’s 54 year history. Civil-war legacyOf course, a major reason for this was the 1967-1970 civil-war which had the Igbo on the losing side. But that was over 40 years ago. If there is really to be “no victor, no vanquished” in anything more than mere rhetoric, then the rehabilitation of the Igbo back into post civil-war Nigeria will not be complete until an Igbo man finally becomes president of the country. That imperative should be of interest to every Nigerian nationalist, committed to the creation of one Nigeria where everyone has a deep sense of belonging. The problem, however, is that the Igbo themselves seem to be their own worst enemies in this regard. They appear to be doing their very best to ensure that this inevitable eventuality continues to be denied and delayed. The Igbo need to forgive Nigerians. No one who lived through the horrors that precipitated the secession of Biafra and led to the civil-war cannot but admit that the Igbo were abused and maltreated in one of the worst pogroms ever. It was not just that they were senselessly massacred in their own country; it was that they were butchered. I remember vividly gory pictures of scores and scores of the Igbo with hands chopped up and with legs amputated. And then there were the ravages of the three-year civil-war itself, resulting in the death of millions of Igbo; many through starvation and attrition. The end of the war brought no respite, as the Igbo were pauperized by fiscal decrees that wiped out their savings and their properties were blatantly sequestered by opportunists. All this is more than enough to destroy the spirit of any group of people. But God has been on the side of the Igbo. It is a testament to their resilience that, in spite of this terrible affliction, they have survived, bounced back and have even triumphed in Nigeria. Forty years have now gone by. The Igbo may never forget what happened to them and, indeed, should never forget. But it is past time for them to forgive. We are sorry This is one voice in the Nigerian wilderness saying to the Igbo from the depth of his heart: we are sorry. We are sorry for the way we mistreated you. We are sorry for the way we abused you. We are sorry for starving your children to death. We are sorry for killing your loved ones. We are sorry for stealing your properties. We are sorry for making you feel unwanted in your own country. Please forgive us. It is time to forgive us. It is way past time for the Igbo to forgive Nigerians. We beg you in the name of God. There was a civil war in the United States, but the defeated South rose from the ashes. Five of the last nine presidents of the United States have been from the South, including Jimmy Carter from Georgia, George Bush from Texas and Bill Clinton from Arkansas. The time is overdue for an Igbo president of Nigeria, but it is not going to happen as long as the Igbo continue to hold a grudge against Nigeria and Nigerians. There is no question about it: the Igbos cannot elect a president of Nigeria on their own. To do so, they have to join forces with others. They have to form alliances with people from other parts of Nigeria. That is not going to happen as long as the Igbo continue to bear a grudge against practically everybody else. The Igbo have a gripe against virtually all the people they need. They have this tendency to antagonise their possible alliance partners. They keep dredging up the past, refusing to let sleeping dogs lie. Until they drop these gripes, they are not likely to realise their dreams. Demonising Yorubas For example, the Igbo have this tendency to demonise the Yorubas. It is alarming when reading the Vanguard blogs today to see the animosity often expressed between Igbo and Yoruba contributors. The hatred is most unhealthy. Insults are traded with abandon. What is the point of this? For how long will the Igbo demand emotional retribution from every Yoruba for the betrayal of Awolowo? Most of the contributors were not even born when the civil- war took place more than a generation ago. There is now even transferred aggression against Babatunde Fashola, who made the blunder of repatriating some destitute Igbo from Lagos back to their home-states. The man has apologised for the infraction. He should be forgiven. Blunders are not the exclusive preserve of the non-Igbo. The Igbo have made more than a few themselves and will yet make others. Paradoxically, the redemption of the Igbos to prominent national office moved apace under President Obasanjo; a Yoruba man. Recognising that Igbos are some of the most seasoned, competent and experienced public-servants, Obasanjo relied heavily on their expertise. Thanks to him, we got Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at Finance, Charles Soludo at Central Bank, Obiageli Ezekwesili at Education, Ndidi Okereke at the Stock Exchange, and Dora Akunyili at NAFDAC. Indeed, Igbo statesmen came into more prominence under Obasanjo than did Yoruba statesmen. But for some strange reason, this does not seem to have succeeded in assuaging the ill-feeling of the Igbos toward the Yorubas. Bad politicians Within the framework of Nigerian politics, the Igbo also have a fundamental problem. Out of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians. They have no recognizable leaders, and have no discernible strategy as to how to negotiate power at the centre. As a result, the Igbo have tended to be short-changed at the federal level. Traditionally, the inconsequential ministries, such as the Ministry of Information, have been zoned to them. The Igbo need to work out a plan that will take them to Aso Rock. First, they need to choose and groom a de-tribalised leader of the Azikiwe mould who can be sold to non-Igbos. Then, they need to give him undiluted support. At the moment the internal politics of the Igbo militates against this. The Igbo seem to hate themselves as much as they hate others. They seem to fight themselves with as much venom as they fight others. Every potential Igbo leader seems to have more enemies within than without. This must not be allowed to continue. The Igbo need to help themselves in order that their friends can help them. In this centenary of Nigeria’s amalgamation, as we embark on the arduous process of crafting our future through a National Conference, we salute the Igbo for their fortitude and implore them to stake their claim in Nigeria. Nigeria cannot survive without the Igbo. God Bless Biafra By Prince Darlington Chukwubuikem.

rusep:
Blame those that under develop your South East region first.

@Rusep, why do you people hate truth.... A simple question with concrete evidence, yours is to give a simple answer. If a minister of works does not have a good road he should be blamed, if a defense minister is having crisis in his village, he should be blamed cos he has what it takes to fight it, if a minister of Education does not have school in his village he should be held responsible cos his in position to build schools for his people......Therefore the problem of north are the NORTHERNERS who are just there for their selfish interest

I imagine how Rev. father attire will look on Buhari.....Maybe he should try one on so that some of us will see him as one and have pity on him......If he likes let him wear CELESTIAL garment it will never change a thing.

Funny but TRUE..... IN NIGERIA TODAY!
Vice President -North.
Senate President -North
Speaker House of Reps - North.
PDP National Chairman - North.
Head of Service - North.
INEC Chairman - North.
Inspector General of Police - North.
Chief Justice of federation - North.
President Court of Appeal - North.
EFCC Chairman - North.
President Federal high court - North.
National Security Adviser - North.
Chief of Defense Staff - North.
Chief of Naval Staff - North.
Controller, Customs
Service - North.
Defence Minister-North.
Education Minister- North.
MD Port Authority- North.
MD NDIC - North
Controller Prison Services - North.
Richest man in Africa - North.
85% of Petroleum Marketers in Nigeria -
Northerners.
80% of Oil Block Owners in Nigeria -
Northerners.
99% of beggars in Nigeria - Northerners
Boko Haram - North.
Yet, the Poorest states in Nigeria and
Educationally
backward areas in Nigeria are in the North.
Now, ask yourself, what is the problem of
the Northerners? Keep forwarding till it get
to all their leaders may be they will have to
re-think....

Forget it jo... They were not spending to fight BH rather sponsoring them. I wish people will open their eyes and see that they are just being used by this greedy and selfish politicians.

We believe so much in GEJ and the choice of Ayim is highly welcome. Chosing Ojo Maduekwe would have been a doom to the Igbos.

By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor
LAGOS — FORMER President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, yesterday, asked members of the Mallam Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, to uphold party discipline by backing President Goodluck Jonathan or exit the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd left); former Agriculture Minister, Hassan Adamu (right); former PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali (2nd right); and Funsho Lawal (left ), at the inauguration of Jonathan/Sambo presidential campaign council in Abuja, Tuesday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

Nnamani who backed the presidential aspiration of the NPLF consensus aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, is equally calling for the cancellation of waivers the basis of which returnee party members like Atiku sought the PDP ticket.

The call by Senator Nnamani followed Monday’s resolution by the NPLF chastising the primaries conducted by the PDP and other opposition political parties.

Nnamani’s assertions came in the wake of concerns in the camp of Atiku that President Jonathan was yet to make concrete efforts in reconciliation with the group. Sources in the camp told Vanguard that Atiku was not consulted ahead of the inauguration and did not make any nominations into the Presidential Campaign Committee, PCC, as was widely insinuated.

The Atiku camp, it was learnt, is equally peeved with the incorporation of Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as a member of the PDP reconciliation committee with one source in the Atiku camp asserting that “Saraki is too young for the job of reconciliation.”

Dokpesi now fully behind Jonathan

President Jonathan had, Tuesday night, inaugurated the PCC which incorporated some erstwhile supporters of Atiku. Among those listed in the PCC were Senator Ken Nnamani and erstwhile Director General of the Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organisation, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi.

Though Dokpesi was not at the inauguration sources close to him told Vanguard that the broadcast mogul was now fully behind the Jonathan presidential campaign.

Nnamani who was equally absent at the inauguration claimed to be now supportive of the President.
However, sources in the Atiku camp were dismissive of the President’s poach of supporters of the former Vice-President. A source in the camp said: “We are unaware that anyone is representing Atiku Abubakar in that PCC. Atiku was not consulted before they formed their committee and he did not send anybody’s name.

“So any attempt to associate him with the PCC is at best, a failed attempt at political marketing and salesmanship.”

It was learnt that the same thinking was being shared among members of the NPLF.

The development, Vanguard learnt, may be hardening minds in the Atiku camp to press on with the petition filed against President Jonathan’s primary victory at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

But justifying his support for the President, Nnamani told Vanguard that though his school of thought lost out in the presidential primaries, he was bound by party loyalty to adhere with the majority choice.
Nnamani said: “It is the same party even though I didn’t belong to that school of thought, my own school of thought did not win, so to ensure that our party wins all that is required is for all of us to team up to ensure that our party will win.”

He traced his absence at the inauguration of the PCC to the late arrival of his invitation.
Asked if he would be willing to serve in the committee, he said: “Oh yes I will give any advice and do all that is required of me as a loyal party man.”

Casting his support for the President against the background of the continued objections by the NPLF to Dr. Jonathan, he said: “For those of us that have decided to remain in the PDP it is necessary that we all work hard to ensure that PDP wins the general elections. There is no point in remaining in your party and you are not making any contribution or if your own side in any contest does not win then you abandon the party.

The party will never grow. In fact, I am advocating that waivers normally given those that left the party should be cancelled, any person that goes away should stay away so that the party can grow.”

Asked if he would also be willing to help reconcile members of the NPLF with the President, he said: “Of course yes, party work is not done by one person, it is a team effort and I think the whole concept is that if we can build a culture of seeing the party as supreme so that even if your own school of thought does not win in a particular process it does not mean that you have to abandon the party.

“But if you keep moving from one party to the other, the party will not be known for anything, it becomes a supermarket, just buy what you want to buy and move on, that doesn’t make any sense.

“I think that it is important that we develop that culture of making sure that a party gets strong and it is also necessary to have another strong party in opposition. ”

In our case, it will make PDP to work harder. One party system, I have always kicked against that. But I encourage people to stay in their parties and work for the success of their party even though you don’t win at a particular time you may win at another time.”

Emir of Muri endorse Jonathan

THE growing nationwide acceptance of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidential candidacy for April polls, yesterday, got a boost when the Emir of Muri in Taraba State, HRH Alhaji Abbas Tafida, declared his support for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket.

Presidential spokesman, Ima Niboro told Vanguard in a telephone interview from the campaign venue that “from the ancient Emirate of Muri in Taraba State came a solid boost for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s election campaign today with an endorsement by the Emir of Muri, HRH Alhaji Abbas Tafidal.

Receiving President Jonathan in his Palace in Jalingo, the Emir openly declared his support for the Jonathan/Sambo ticket because it represents “a breath of fresh air”. He said that like Gen. Yakubu Gowon, a minority, came to stabilise Nigeria over 40 years ago, so has Jonathan, a minority, come to stabilise modern Nigeria.

He quoted the Emir as saying that the minorities of the South South have been the bonding cement of national unity, and the best way to repay them is to put a son of the zone in the presidency.

His words: “ The south south has sacrificed for Nigerian unity. They refused to go during the civil war and instead chose to stabilise the country. In the second republic, they came out to vote massively for Shagari.

This same zone shares their oil wealth with the rest of Nigeria. How else can we compensate them than to put their son in the presidency.”

Speaking earlier, President Jonathan had pledged to pursue an open government that will not discriminate against any Nigerian. He promised to tackle power, water and other infrastructure needs of the nation even more vigour if returned to office.

President yesterday formally flagged-off his presidential States campaign in Taraba and Plateau states with the campaign train expected to hit Benue today Thursday.

The State campaigns had earlier been scheduled to be flagged-off in Borno and Yobe but had to be postponed in honour of those who died at round-off session of the zonal rallies in Port Harcourt, after a stampede.

FOLLOWING incessant upheavals in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, security has been beefed up in all strategic locations within the city ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign rally in the state today.

The venue of the rally, Jos Township Stadium, has been closed to all activities while anti-bomb squad and other security agencies, on Wednesday, were busy sweeping the stadium to detect probable dangerous materials that could disrupt the rally.

Traffic was disrupted at some of the major roads within the city, especially the Terminus, Rwang Pam Street and Old Bukuru Park, leading to the Gbong-Gwom’s palace, where the president is expected to pay homage to the paramount ruler, Da Jacob Gyang Buba.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the state coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Bulus Dareng, said there was no need to panic as adequate arrangements had been made to make the rally a huge success.

Dareng said the coming of the president and his deputy to the state was a mere formality, adding that the state was like a home to the president, as the people of Plateau State had not hidden their support for the aspiration of President Jonathan.

“The coming of the president for a rally in the state is a mere formality, the people of Plateau have spoken that they have no alternative to President Jonathan; his coming is just to fulfill all righteousness.”

He added that the president, within the few months of being in the saddle, had proved to be a man of honour and integrity based on the way he had been piloting the affairs of the country, adding that his achievement in the power sector in particular was a testimony to his good intention for the country.

The state coordinator condemned the insinuation that the North was not with Jonathan and as such would not vote for him in the April polls, adding that there was nothing like a monolithic North anymore.
”Those claiming the leadership of the North are simply speaking for themselves. Many of them have no electoral value. They are simply seeking for recognition to be relevant.

“The youth in this part of the country are tired of their antics and therefore, want the status quo changed. In the North-Central, otherwise called the Middle-Belt, the acceptable presidential candidate is President Jonathan,” he said.

For over eight years, we were told that Lagos was not safe to host matches involving the Super Eagles. Former Eagles coaches and former administrators of the game refused to take any game to Lagos.

Samson Siasia is confident of himself and perhaps has nothing to hide or be afraid of. He made it known from the first day that he would like Eagles to play before Lagos crowd. And so, against Sierra Leone in a friendly encounter, the Eagles filed out and did well to win 2-1. I’m not bothered about the final result. The main issue here is the positives in the match. It was a delight to see players like Ehigo Ehiosun, Joel Obi and Ahmed Musa. Holland-based Musa was particularly fantastic on the flanks and if well polished, he could be another Finidi George. Ehiosun of Warri Wolves proved that the domestic league is not too bad. The goal he scored was a delight.

The defence is a major concern for now and the coaching crew must start from there to gradually raise another Eagles team we could be proud of.

It is a building process and I wonder why some fans were booing the players towards the end of the match. It was the first time most of those players were playing together and there is need to encourage the players. Again, the fans were simply ungrateful to Siasia who brought back the senior team to the City of Excellence. However, players who are not ready to adhere to camp rules s hould be excluded from future games.Thank you Sia One.

T. A. Orji remain the worst Gov. in Nigeria and all Abians will celebrate this if it comes to pass. God Help The God's Own State!

Nairalanders, I need your help here. I want to create an opinion pole for an issue I think concerns us all. Pls how do I go about it?

i have read through your posts on this topic but i really find it difficult to understand what u have against Pastor Tunde Bakare or anyother man of God contexting election in nigeria.
in this kind of discussion, for u to be a good speaker, u shld be speaking from either the angle of a christain, muslim or a legally informed nigerian.
legally or constitutionally, is pastor tunde bakare qualified to context? as a christian, is he qualified or are there biblical pages u can reffer us to that disqualify him from been part of this country's politics?
u keep on mentioning shame, shame, shame and shame for pastor bakare, his church and members, my question is, what has bakare done to u, nigeria or his church to warrant shame? is bakare part of the ppl that brought nigeria to this uselessness?
how come we have decided not to direct shame to the criminals in our country but choose to direct it to those that are fighting for us?
REMEMBER: TOUCH NOT MY ANNOINTED AND DO MY PROHPETS NO HARM.
it is easy to type and post here but the likely consequences might not be that easy.
on the other hand, u seem to have a grammatical interpretation problem. I WILL RUN IF, IS DIFFERENT FROM I WILL RUN.
do have a good day.



GBAM U DON HITE AM MY BROTHER@!!!

Human rights and civil society groups on Monday stormed the state office of Independent National Electoral Commission in Yaba, Lagos, protesting the hiccups associated with the on-going voter registration.

From the INEC office, they proceeded to the state Governors office in Alausa, Ikeja, where they were joined by the Coalition for Democratic Reform and the Campaign for Democracy.

Other human and civil society groups who took part in the protest were the Coalition of Youths and Civil Society, the Network for Good Governance, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform, Coalition for A Better Nigeria, Coalition of Youths and Civil Society, June 12 Coalition and National Youth Council of Nigeria.

As they marched through the busy Herbert Macaulay Road, Ikorodu Road, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way to Alausa, the placard-carrying protesters sang songs reflecting their displeasure with the registration in the state.

Some of the placards were inscribed with different messages such as “Jega is doing Jaja Jaga registration” “We say no to Jaga Jaga registration” “Jega, do not steal our votes” and “We shall fight rigging to the last.”

Others read “poor registration, poor election,” “No wuru wuru registration; no to fake machines,” “Fashola, shine your eyes, Lagosians say no to direct dubious computers, our N75bn cannot buy original machines, we need two weeks extension.”

Their movements caused traffic build up at the Jibowu axis of Ikorudu Road and a standstill on all the road networks leading to the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola in Alausa.

At the Governor’s office, the CDR National Coordinator, Chief Ayo Opadokun, presented a protest letter to Fashola.

The letter which was addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan was titled, “Nine Days After: Nigerians Totally Reject the Poor On-going Voters Registration Exercise.”

Fashola promised to deliver the letter to Jonathan before the close of work on Monday, saying the first week of the voter registration showed INEC’s unpreparedness for the exercise.

He said, “I have taken my time in the last one week to move round the state to monitor the exercise, thankfully. Nigerians are prepared to participate, unfortunately INEC is not, they are not prepared adequately.

“In some areas, they are yet to see the machines, while some only just got yesterday (Sunday).

“In some cases, there were complaints of broken down machines, no print out, incomplete capturing of the 10 fingerprints, duplicate of the cards were issues.”

Fashola, who also urged Lagosians to be patient and resilients asked, “Who is receiving the original cards? INEC must come out and clarify these grey areas.”

He advised that the present hiccups should not discourage residents of the state from ensuring their registration during the exercise.

The governor said, “Whatever it takes to register now, we must sacrifice; we must get it right otherwise we will be compelled to repeat this exercise.

“Having started, we must get it right. We must be ready to be patient for a few weeks because we do not want to suffer for four years.”

The groups, while at Yaba, had urged the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to extend the voter registration by two weeks in order not to disenfranchise many Nigerians.

The Chairman, Lagos Area Axis of the National Association of Nigerian Students , Mr. Olanrewaju Ogundipe, told the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner , Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, the “poor registration” was an attempt to rig the next elections.

Ogundipe said, “We are here to express our grievances about the ongoing voters registration exercise.

“It is not going on well. The DDC machines are not working well. If the situation continues this way, millions of Nigerians, especially students will be disenfranchised. If the exercise ends on Saturday, it will be another form of rigging the coming election.”

He added that students wanted INEC “to extend the duration of the exercise by another two to three weeks so that everybody could register.”

“The elections will be a sham if nothing is done to address several anomalies, hiccups, lapses and irregularities trailing the exercise in Lagos and other parts of country,” Ogundipe said.

Also , Coordinator of the NGG, Mr. Oluremi Olaleye, who described the exercise as a sham, also called for its extension to give every Nigerian opportunity to register.

“More than 80 percent of eligible residents have not been able to register. As I am talking, only five per cent have registered in Lagos,” he claimed.

In his reaction, Ogunmola said that the commission had taken cognisance of all the complaints by the groups.

He said, “I can assure you that we will not wind up this exercise until all intending voters are registered. We want to make sure we give Nigeria the best. All eligible voters must be captured before we can conclude the exercise.

“We now have many more DDC machines. By Saturday, we will know whether lots of people have been captured or not.

“Definitely, whatever happens by Saturday will determine whether the voter registration deadline will be extended or not.

“All we need is patience. Any attempt to disrupt this exercise will not be good. It has started on a faulty note, it will end well. I can give you assurance that the exercise will be extended.”

NO fewer than eight people were killed with many others sustaining varying degrees of injuries in three different attacks in Plateau State on Sunday by two different groups of people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the assailants, numbering about 50, armed with sophisticated weapons, swooped on a village called Farin-Lamba in Jos South Local Government Area of the state at about 11.00 p.m. and descended on the inhabitants who had all gone to bed.

It was gathered that before the people could recover for a possible counter attack, the invaders had overrun them and succeeded in killing four people, while many sustained serious injuries.

It was further learnt that at about the same hour, Haman village, in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of the state, was also under attack with four people killed in the midnight attack. Four others, who were injured in the process are now receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

Also, in Kopgai village in Mangu Local Government Area, three armed men stole 102 cattle and 12 sheep from one Hassan Abdulkarim after shooting sporadically into the air.

Disturbed by the fresh attack in Jos South Local Government, the women of the local government area, in their hundreds on Monday, trooped to the streets to protest the invasion and in the process burnt some of the tents of the Special Task Force (STF) within the vicinity.

The protesters, in black attire, shouted anti-STF slogans and denounced the task force, which they accused of being privy to the attack.

Some of the women, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune said that those who carried out the attack on the village were in military uniform, adding that the assailants came into the village in a Hilux vehicle.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulrahaman Akano, who confirmed the attacks in a press statement signed by him, however, said four people were killed and five people were injured in the Farin-Lamba attack, with two killed in Hamman village.

He said the report he got indicated that those who carried out the attack were in military uniform, adding that he was yet to confirm that.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the protest by women in Farin-Lamba, the commissioner of police said the peaceful protest took a frightening dimension, when the women burnt down some tents of the STF men in the area.

In the scuffle that ensued, six women were shot and were receiving treatment at Vom Christian Hospital.

ATIKU HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO OFFER TO THIS GREAT NATION AND I THINK HE HAS COME TO THE END OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER AS LONG AS NIGERIA IS CONCERN.
HIS NEXT ACTION SHOULD BE DENOUNCING HIS CITIZENRY, MAY GO TO GAMBIA OR ANY OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRY AND NATURALIZE.

Nigerians know us – Jonathan

“I am here with Arc. Nnamadi Sambo, the Vice-President of this country. Certain things changed the equation. I came into Abuja to work with late President Yar‘Adua (but) along the line Allah…you know the best. Please join me to observe one minute of silence because today, I would have followed him….May his soul rest in peace.

Well, we were given five minutes but it is always difficult to limit a political speech to five minutes but the new PDP is a disciplined party so I will try as much as I can to limit myself to the five minutes given to me.

Let me greet all of you, the delegates for coming today for this great convention to elect a person suitable to be the presidential flag bearer of our great party. You would agree with me that our nation is on the threshold of history and only 1st October last year, we celebrated the golden jubilee of our nation. This 2011 is the first step towards marching the 100 years when we will celebrate the centenary and everybody all over the world is looking towards Nigeria to make significant changes, to change the country, to transform the country and that can only be done by a good leadership.

And everybody even in other political parties believe that PDP is the party to set the agenda for the transformation of this country, for the development of this country and that is why they get involved in our primaries that ordinarily is supposed to be the exclusive preserve of the PDP. So, the PDP delegates tonight must vote one person that can bring up that transformation of our country. As we traverse this country from Bayelsa to Borno, from Cross River State to Katsina, you will see a lot of people that are poor, that have no food to eat, you will see a lot of young men and women that need education, you see the challenges of technology and to develop a strong economy that will handle this, you need somebody as an agent of transformation.

I Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is that agent that can bring the transformation that we need, that will start the first rung of the ladder that will lead Nigeria to greatness. I will not bore you because of the time limit. I have been here as a substantive President working with a very competent Vice-President for just eight months and within these eight months, we have set an agenda, that you all can testify. Let me hint at just few.

Energy sector

Take the energy sector. Before Before this time Nigerians sleep at the filling stations to buy fuel. (applause) before this time, if you go to Borno, you buy fuel at different price, you go to Lagos you buy at different price, you go to Aba different price, now nobody sleeps in any filling station. The price of fuel is uniform across the country. You go to the power sector, it is a major challenge and we are handling it. And those of you who listened to our power sector road map that we want to involve the private sector. This is a reform that was on ground before we took over, we did not initiate it but we now said we must implement it and we promised Nigerians that we will implement it to the letter and even now there are significant improvements.

Education

On education, you are all aware of the presidential special meeting that I initiated. We resolved a number of issues, we discussed a number of issues, a special technical committee was inaugurated and they are working on the details. We have also strengthened the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.

There is a plan and programme of government that every state must get a federal university. I did not initiate it, but so far it has not been implemented. We realise that so many states especially from the northern parts of this country are yet to get and I felt that is injustice. And that is why this administration decided to establish nine new universities to make sure that we reduce the number of States yet to get universities and by God’s grace in the next two years every state must get a small model federal university. We must make sure that we bring development to everybody.

In some states there are two degree awarding institutions while some States don’t even have one. It is injustice and we are set to correct every wrong thing that have been going wrong. We have worked out the resources, it is not from the line budget and the universities will take off.

Health sector

The health sector, we are working on setting up six zonal center of excellence (hospitals) working with the private sector. It is not going to be funded by the Federal Government. The Federal Government is only going to facilitate it, we are going to work with the diaspora people and already we are dialoging. Nigerians have a lot of expertise in medicine, be it medical doctors, pharmacists, technologists, working in Europe, America and the rest of the world and every day we lose so much money in capital flight going to other countries to treat ailments that we can easily treat, that we have the competence to treat, but just because most of our experts are outside the country or the required equipment are not available and that must stop.

Within the past eight months that we have been on board, we have set giant strides that will tell Nigerians that in 24 months the results will be very obvious.

The rail sector, we are looking at it, the aviation sector you know that we have worked hard and now at every airport in Nigeria is covered by the radar system. In 2008 or so an aircraft disappeared around Calabar in Cross River State and there were so many rumours. We couldn’t know what happened to that aircraft. That thing is now a thing of the past, it will no longer happen in this country.

We don’t pray for aviation accident, but wehre it happens the record should be clear because every part of this country has been covered by the radar system. And we have earned the American Civil Aviation Authority Category One and that means that Nigerian airports are safe for operation.

On Niger Delta

On Niger Delta, a number of issues were raised by some other contributors, members of this party, those who want to be the President just as I want you to vote for me, but I will not join issues (applause). I will not join issues becaue I believe that Nigerians and especially all the delegates know all of us. They know our history, they know our competences, and they will select whosoever they like. But one thing that you can also appreciate that even the challenges in the Niger Delta, if we had not addressed them, the oil price and the production would not have reached the maximum.

Everybody knows, so what are we telling Nigerians? The production dropped to less than one third, but now we can produce more than the OPEC quota. What caused it, and you are saying that there is no security in the Niger Delta? (Applause)

Let me assure Nigerian jobs that we are going to create jobs, we are going to create employment, there are funds made available for the industries to take off, we must revolutionise agriculture to ensure that employment generation is a major event that we must take on.

I will give this country a strong, strong leadership to transform us, to be a great nation in the nearest future. Dear delegates, I thank all of you for your patience, I thank all of you for listening to me and assure you that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Arc. Nnamadi Sambo will never, never, let you down. Thank you all.

I am more trustworthy, experienced – Atiku

“I welcome all of you to this historic gathering of our party’s delegates to elect a candidate to contest the Presidential election in April. At great risks to yourselves you have come from far and near. You have come because of an idea, an idea so powerful that it breaks down walls and frightens those who like to impose their will on others. You have come because you believe in democracy, in freedom and in the rule of law. I also believe that you have come because you believe in the truth, integrity, fairness and equity, and that the unity, stability and development of this country are paramount.

You have been called upon to make a critical decision that would save the country and hasten its progress. Our great party, the PDP, has an opportunity to once more produce the President of this county in April. But, more importantly, it has an opportunity to provide real, visionary, focused and people-oriented leadership to this country.

How you vote at this convention will determine not only whether we will win that general election but also whether we give Nigerians a leader who understands the challenges they face and has a plan to address them, or someone who simply thinks that being president is an end in itself. Your votes will determine whether the world will continue to ignore and ridicule this country or begin to take us seriously in global affairs. I believe that you have come because you believe that agreements among individuals and groups must be kept if order and peace are to reign and in order to avoid chaos and lawlessness, and the might-is-right syndrome.

I am more trustworthy

I would like you to vote for me to be the candidate of this great party in the upcoming presidential election. At the risk of sounding immodest, I declare that I am more trustworthy, experienced, and prepared for the onerous task of leadership than my opponents. I am a party builder. I have made great sacrifices for our party and for our nation. I have demonstrated my love for my country many times. And if you believe that the constitution of our party is supreme and that we must obey our rules and regulations, then there is no better person than me to fly our party’s flag in the April election. Vote for me because it is the right thing to do.

I am the candidate that you can trust. Anyone who cannot be trusted to stand by his word should not be entrusted with the leadership of this country. Membership in any association or organisation is a privilege and it usually requires members to abide by the rules and regulations of that organization. If rules can be thrown away by just anyone who feels that he is powerful enough to do so, then it is an invitation to lawlessness and anarchy. Nobody wants that.

The founders of this party, in their wisdom, devised rules for the rotation of power between North and South in response to cries of marginalization and domination. We wanted peace and justice to reign. And we put it in our Constitution (Section 7.2.c), and we all know what a Constitution means.

That provision has not been altered. In 2002, an expanded caucus of our great party met and reaffirmed that policy. Here are the minutes of that meeting. My main opponent was at that meeting and voted in favour of that resolution. contacts here and abroad, someone who is not provincial in thought and action. I have always put Nigeria first before my personal interests and ambitions. I am and able to easily assemble the best and brightest minds in the country to tackle any challenge, be it in private business or in public life.

My dear friends, in the pursuit of national unity, peace and stability I made enormous sacrifices for the sustenance of our democracy. At the SDP convention in 1993, I stepped down to enable Chief Moshood Abiola to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate. In 2003, I resisted the urge to contest the PDP presidential primary even though I could easily have won it. And when President Obasanjo wanted to subvert our country’s Constitution and the PDP’s zoning policy and run for a third term in office, we put everything on the line to lead the struggle against it.

The success of that struggle is what made it possible for us to assemble here today to elect a candidate for our party in this year’s Presidential election. Without that struggle which I was privileged to lead, there would not be elections in this country this year or next. My opponent heavily supported third term. I fought against it; the Nigerian people fought against it, and the Nigerian people won. Who would you rather vote for: someone who
supported the third term project or someone who put his life on the line so that our country can be free from tyranny and arbitrariness?

I have often been asked by concerned individuals why I have not given up on Nigeria after all the trials and tribulations that I have gone through. My answer is and has always been that Nigeria is worth all the trouble. I have a stake in this country. My family is here; my businesses are here; my employees – thousands of them and their families – are here; and Nigerians are here. Also Africa and the world need Nigeria to get it right. This country has been very good to me considering how far I have come in spite of my humble beginnings. It is time to give back. It is time to make good things happen.

Dear delegates, these are dangerous times; these are challenging times. We are indeed in a time of crises, a time of national emergencies. We need solid hands, firm and tested hands; we need hands that have managed things successfully. This country must be put in secure hands, not uncertain hands, not shaky and inexperienced hands.
You cannot entrust the fate of 150 million Nigerians in the hands of someone who has demonstrated that he cannot get any problem right – the economy, our unity, terrorism, even the Niger Delta. You cannot entrust the security of the Niger Delta and indeed the entire Gulf of Guinea, so vital to our economy and the world economy, to a man who has demonstrated utter lack of capacity to focus on even the simplest of our problems.

You cannot entrust the fate of millions of Nigerians in the hands of someone who fumbles at every opportunity. Obviously you can become a President by accident or good fortune. But you do not govern a country by accident or luck. Governing a country requires a plan and its courageous execution. It requires the capacity and willingness to assembly the best and brightest people to help you get things done. The last eight months have clearly demonstrated that he does not have what it takes to lead this country. It is time for us to move beyond this luck thing. It is time for serious people to take over the affairs of this country. The world is changing and we must change with it.

My dear delegates, your votes will make that happen. When you vote, forget all the threats and intimidation. Vote your conscience. Vote for progress. Vote for development. Vote for the peace, unity and stability of this country. Vote for me and together we shall make good things happen for our people and our country.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria.

Atiku is now the leader and BOT of PDP  

Nairalanders, Vote who you think is the best among these Aspirants. Lets see who wins here on NAIRALAND.

Abia has remain the worst state in Nigeria. The Gov. thinks this will make the people of Abia to have a rethink and I must tell you mr Gov. your time is up, You will never win in Abia state for the second time. A governor without Vision but has the mission of Embezzlement. God will punish you for all the attrocities you have commited in Abia state.

de-moore:

I think Igbos will benefit more from Atiku Presidedncy than GEJ. He is seriously stripping off Igbos high potfolios in his administration.  eg IG of police,  what do u think?

Atiku has nothing to offer to Nigerians not to talk of the Igbos he hated so much. We the Igbos are not fools and we will never support any other person than our own GEJ. Atiku is a loser and will remain a loser and his co-operative Society of Losers!

The most useless force in Nigeria remains the Nigerian police

Rubbish talk there IBB kooo IBB nillll

Politicians insisting that the North must produce the President in 2011 were on Monday upbraided by Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who stated that the advocates had no moral justification to pursue their agitation.

Lamido also insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party family must defend the Goodluck/Sambo ticket.

Speaking when he received the Goodluck/Sambo campaign organisation in his office in Dutse, the governor explained that the proponents of Northern presidency never supported their own in office, noting that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua faced seriously opposition from the region.

“What is that thing you called northerner more than Yar’Adua? We had him, Nigerians believed in him, he restored the confidence of governance, because Nigerians saw in him a very honourable person; and yet it is us here who were undermining him.

“And God took him away; so when you are talking about a northerner, which northerner are you talking about?” he queried.

According to him, the agitation for Northern presidency showed that such politicians did not wish the region well.

Lamido explained that the Jonathan/Sambo ticket was part of the PDP victory of 2007.

“So to me, what I see in Jonathan/Sambo is a PDP victory of 2007, a PDP fortune which we must defend,” the governor said. He pointed out that politics of ethnicity or religion was very dangerous to the survival of the country as one indivisible nation.

He said for the country to grow and prosper, there must be internal cohesion, noting that North or South politics must be discarded.

He said, “We shall not allow this kind of division, North, South, Christian etc and other debates. I mean it is dangerous for us.

“First, we need to come together because if we do not unite, there is nothing that Nigeria can grow.”

Mobinga:


WHAT THA HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU

I LOVE THIS NAIRALAND DIE

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned in strong terms the failure of the South-Eastern States Governments to meet its demands.

The President of the union, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, who made the condemnation, yesterday in Abuja said that the ongoing strike in the affected states’ universities would continue indefinitely.

He said that it was a matter for regret that proper teaching environment and materials were lacking in the universities, “and yet the governors refused to do anything about the situation”.

“Our demand has nothing to do with salary, but the lack of good teaching environment and infrastructure.

“We declared the industrial action almost three months ago and since then nothing has been done to meet our demands.

“We have decided to continue the strike indefinitely until they do the right thing or decide they do not need the universities again and close them down,” he added.

Awuzie explained that as a result of the “insensitivity” of the state governments to the plight of the union, some of the lecturers had started leaving for other universities.

He said: “Some of the universities have already started losing staff, because they have secured employment in other universities.

“There are many universities in the country, and they are looking for experienced academicians, and you know we are not in large supply.

“The lecturers cannot just sit endlessly waiting, when there are other job openings for them.”

I see high chief Dokpesi going down and AIT becoming a tale for up-coming generations. The story will be like this " I used to hear there was a TV station called AIT", I pity the poor employees who are going to be affected by this heinous, wicked and heartless act from their Boss. Sorry, Nigerians would have pleaded on your behave Chief but it's quite unfortunate that innocent lives of poor Nigerians were involved in this issue. You reap what you sow man. IBB being so wise and conny has used you now you are to face it.

ossai sly:

                     BUNKUM!!!
I think it's very foolish for a man to act before he think.Nasir abubakar,if truly you are jonathan/sambo's campaigner,where was your mind about zoning before joining the campaigning training? Notable leaders said nothing like zoning,obj and your other fellow abokis,yet you guys still insist on your selfish interests.Come to think of it,PDP is not the only party here,aren't you old men put other parties into consideration? What about their ruling/zoning formula?Nasir Abubakar should be arrested for improper thinking.

@Ossai, you said it all!

The Vanguard: Venezuelan Ambassador to Nigeria, Enrique Fernando Arundell, could not have offered his advice on Nigeria's management of its petroleum resources at a better time. The anchor of government's argument is that higher prices would draw foreign investors to the down stream sector of the industry.
Professor Dora Akunyili, Minister of Information had solicited Venezuelan investments for our refineries.

Mr. Arundell's response was without diplomatese. He launched a profound lecture on Nigeria's oil and gas. "In Venezuela, since 1999, we've never had a raise in fuel price. We only pay $1.02 to fill the tank. What I pay for with N12,000 here (Nigeria), in Venezuela I'll pay N400. What is happening is simple. Our President (Hugo Chavez) decided one day to control the industry, because it belongs to Venezuelans. If you don't control the industry, your development will be in the hands of foreigners.

"You have to have your own country. The oil is your country's. Sorry I am telling you this. I am giving you the experience of Venezuela. We have 12 refineries in the United States, 18,000 gas stations in the West Coast. All we are doing is in the hands of Venezuelans.

"Before 1999, we had three or four foreign companies working with us. That time they were taking 80%, and giving us 20. Now, we have 90%, and giving them 10. But now, we have 22 countries working with us in that condition.

It is the Venezuelan condition. You know why? It is because 60% of the income goes to social programmes. That's why we have 22,000 medical doctors assisting the people in the community. The people don't go to the hospital; doctors go to their houses. This is because the money is handled by Venezuelans. How come

Nigeria that has more technical manpower than Venezuela, with 150 million people, and very intellectual people all around, not been able to get it right? The question is: If you are not handling your resources, how are you going to handle the country?

"So, it is important that Nigeria takes control of her resources. We have no illiterate people. We have over 17 new universities totally free. I graduated from the university without paying one cent, and take three meals every day, because we have the resources. We want the resources of the Nigerian people for the Nigerians. It is enough! It is enough, Minister!"

Do Nigerian authorities not know the truth? Is the answer really in deregulation?

Professor Akunyili must have been too stunned to address the issues the ambassador raised. "There has been trade between the two countries actually, but we do not have many Venezuelans setting up manufacturing outfits in Nigeria.

I want you to use your good office to send a message across to your people that Nigeria is a goldmine for genuine investors. We want them to come invest just as other investors are doing in the telecoms sector, she said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/12/04/lessons-from-venezuela/