₦airaland Forum

^^^^^

Good wife u are. As long as that aspect isnt failing, u can continue with ur job. I agree also that all isnt about se"

Unless the neccessary infrastructures are put in place before this, expect more almajiris.

mummy3:
Are u trying to tell us that you like going to heaven everyday? so weekends is not enough for you to enjoy yourself abi?
You fashie her and you missed alot (cash & nice behaviour). thank God you said she used to be nice.

Why should weekend alone be enough

Are u married?

^^^

The onus is with the govt to convince us that the doc is fake. if not, these journalists are innocent and should be released. Instead GEJ should focus in his office and fish out the supposedly moles there. Infact i am suspecting ABATI.

Beaf:
^
The accusation of forgery can be gleaned from the questions Abati asked the Nation as well as the words of the Nations editor in chief to AFP. Its all about forgery.

Please am interested in this report if it exists. Kindly publish it now for all to see and read.

Beaf:
The more reason why the perpetrators need to be locked away and questioned by the security services. They cannot play games with the Presidents office, that is subversion, a serious offence which carries a hefty punishment. There are really no kind words to describe what the Nation did. Those editors are in real trouble indeed.

very Good but that is a different story entirely. The issue at hand is if the letter in question is fake or not. If the above scenario is true then the letter is real and not fake.
also if this scenario is true, i see nothing wrong in what these journalists have done. the only person that needs to be punished is the mole in the President's office simple.

You have not said enough to suggest to all that the document is fake. The presidency/ Reuben Abati hasnt even said such i guess. Only OBJ denied such and THE nation said the letter is real and are ready to reveal such in court.

Beaf:
I believe investigation must have been concluded. The President knows all letters on his desk afterall.
Like someone hinted earlier, journalists are not above the law. 419 people are regularly arrested and locked up, so why should it be different for other forgers?

I honestly dont think so. instead, i think they are just starting their investigation. The typical Nigerian Police style. why dont u think of it this way:
O yes, the President knows all letters on his desk and he noticed that one critical one is missing and wants to know the mole in his office
Until it is substantiated that these letters are forged, the journalists are still innocent. no one is saying that they shouldnt face the music if found wanting.



Alli and Odunuga’s lawyer, Mr. Ugochukwu Osuagwu, described the arrest as strange and political.

He said, “My clients were quizzed by Dorothy Gimba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who showed keen interest in knowing the source of the secret letter.

[b]“My clients insisted that the ethics of journalism prevents him from disclosing the source. He told them that he had been practising journalism for over 22 years and understood the ethics of the profession.

“While being quizzed, the DCP received a call supposedly from a Commissioner of Police in Force Headquarters that she should transfer the matter and the journalists to the CP’s office.

“When we got to the Force Headquarters, we were taken to the 7th floor, the CP’s office. I was chased out. The CP asked if they were sure that I was not a Boko Haram member. The police seized the journalists’ phones. While Yusuf was taken inside to interact with the CP, Yomi was told to wait in the office of the Secretary to the CP.

“The arrest is strange and political. Obasanjo did not write any petition but only complained on the pages of newspapers. Who is the complainant? Is it the government that is complaining over a supposedly private letter? Let the police take them to court, I will produce the letter in court.” [/b]

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201110121104395

The guys promised to produce the supposed letter in court so i expect them to charge them immediately. These journalists simply knows their onions.

Beaf:
The right thing is to arrest every last one of them, lock them away, question and charge them, after which they will be returned to detention. Being in opposition does not equate to being subversives that flaunt decorum and morality to forge documents and purport them to be from the highest office in the land. A time comes when the benign snarl becomes a full throated roar.
They have pushed their luck too far this time and the price is being paid. I hope they serve very stiff sentences.

The opposition from the North and SW stretch the rules to breaking point all the time, but forgery is way beyond the bounds of actions that can be overlooked.

fantastic. This to you is rule of law right?

Come to think of it, what is wrong in first investigating before arrest and detention as its being done in the civilized world? i see no difference in what this govt has done to these journalists and what our previous military govts did.

Whatever, as long as PDP isnt in the equation. am ok.

Beaf:
It is wrong to forge letters. I pity those editors.
Its arse roasting day at CID and SSS.

No reasonable person would even imagine that The Nation somehow obtained a letter to GEJ.

It would have been better to take them to court and let the court decide that. This is simply harassment and it shows who directly is in charge of this country. Rule of law my foot.

[/quote]Obasanjo threatened legal action against The Nation newspaper but the daily said that it stood by its story on the letter.[quote]

http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/5-Nigerian-journalists-arrested-20111012


The Illegality Of The Arrest And Detention Of The Staff Of The NATION Newspapers


By Femi Falana

Following the recent publication of a letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo  in respect of some federal parastatals the Nigeria Police Force Headqurters requested the editor of THE NATION newspaper, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso to report at Abuja for interrogation with respect to the source of the publication of the said letter. As Mr. Omotoso had travelled out of the country on an official engagement we  wrote to the policeto the effect  that he would report upon his return to the country.

But this afternoon the police invaded the Abuja office of the newspaper and arrested two of its correspondents- Messrs Yussuf Ali and Yomi Odunuga.A similar operation was carried out in its Lagos office  where the police quizzed Messrs Lawal Ogianegbon, John Austin Unachukwu, Adegbenjo Babajide and Dapo Olufade as well as Mrs Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu. All efforts to secure the release of the detained journalists have proved abortive as they are being asked to disclose the source of the leakage of Chief Obasanjo's letter.

As the detained journalists are not prepared to disclose the source of the publication they are being accused of having forged the letter. Meanwhile Chief Obasanjo's specimen signature has not been obtained and taken to a forensic laboratory to establish the allegation of forgery in the circumstance. To that extent no reasonable suspicion has been established to warrant the arrests and detention of the journalists as required by section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

Since forgery is a bailable offence under the law  we demand for the immediate release of the detained  journalists. In the alternative, they should be charged to court where our clients will prove beyond any shadow of doubt that  the controversial letter was not forged.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/illegality-arrest-and-detention-staff-nation-newspapers

IT seems too fast and too soon for it to hit terra firma but that is just the way it appears headed. Simply put, the pristine image of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan prior to his taking office a mere 137 days ago appears to have taken a huge dent in the consciousness of Nigerians in all strata of society and across the country.

To be sure, the high expectations of a better tomorrow whipped up in the citizenry by the President’s coming on May 29, 2011 has started to wane; no thanks to the parlous state of virtually all sectors of national life, especially the economy and the growing sense of insecurity nationwide occasioned by sectarian bombing, resurgent militancy and armed banditry, and the seeming incapability of government to tackle them headlong.

The Guardian opinion Poll (GoP) conducted to gauge the mood of the nation across the six geo-political zones on the performance of the President over his 100 days in office appears to indicate that Nigerians are yet to feel the positive impact of the government in most sectors of the economy and are of the view that much still needed to be done, and swiftly too.

Most of the respondents submitted that contrary to the President’s promise at his inauguration to hit the ground running, the reality is that of a government that is slow to action and lacks policy direction to drive the economy to achieve its pledged Transformation Agenda.

With 53 per cent of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with the President’s performance to 47 per cent in favour, President Jonathan, it seems, would need to squeeze more out of the constitutional precipitate institutional resources at his disposal to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

The GoP was conducted between September 7 and 18, 2011. It elicited responses from Nigerians above 18 years with the question: “Are you satisfied with the performance of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s government in the past 100 days?”,

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64085:-jonathans-rating-drops-opinion-poll-shows&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

The Illegality Of The Arrest And Detention Of The Staff Of The NATION Newspapers


By Femi Falana

Following the recent publication of a letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in respect of some federal parastatals the Nigeria Police Force Headqurters requested the editor of THE NATION newspaper, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso to report at Abuja for interrogation with respect to the source of the publication of the said letter. As Mr. Omotoso had travelled out of the country on an official engagement we wrote to the policeto the effect that he would report upon his return to the country.

But this afternoon the police invaded the Abuja office of the newspaper and arrested two of its correspondents- Messrs Yussuf Ali and Yomi Odunuga.A similar operation was carried out in its Lagos office where the police quizzed Messrs Lawal Ogianegbon, John Austin Unachukwu, Adegbenjo Babajide and Dapo Olufade as well as Mrs Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu. All efforts to secure the release of the detained journalists have proved abortive as they are being asked to disclose the source of the leakage of Chief Obasanjo's letter.

As the detained journalists are not prepared to disclose the source of the publication they are being accused of having forged the letter. Meanwhile Chief Obasanjo's specimen signature has not been obtained and taken to a forensic laboratory to establish the allegation of forgery in the circumstance. To that extent no reasonable suspicion has been established to warrant the arrests and detention of the journalists as required by section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

Since forgery is a bailable offence under the law we demand for the immediate release of the detained journalists. In the alternative, they should be charged to court where our clients will prove beyond any shadow of doubt that the controversial letter was not forged.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/illegality-arrest-and-detention-staff-nation-newspapers

•Four editors, three others detained



THE Lagos and Abuja offices of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation came under siege yesterday. Four senior editors and other employees were arrested by security operatives from the Force CID, Alagbon, Lagos.

Nine detectives, led by Mr. Emma Ogolo, stormed the Lagos office in two vehicles (a white-colour Rover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), marked PFN 357 B and a blue-colour Peugeot 504 Salon car, marked 2413 B).

“The Nigerian Police Force, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit” was inscribed on the sides of the SUV.

Three of the detectives entered the premises of the company on 27B, Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Mushin, Lagos while the two vehicles parked outside the gate had three men waiting in them.

In each of the waiting vehicles were; an armed policeman, a plain cloth security operative and the driver.

Their presence caused a stir among employees as the operatives declined to disclose why they came for their colleagues.

They asked to see the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Victor Ifijeh and the Editor, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, who were not in the office when the officers arrived at the Lagos office at about 2pm.

The Deputy Editor, Mr. Lawal Ogienagbon, who attended to them, was arrested alongside the News Editor of the newspaper’s weekend titles, Mr Dapo Olufade.

Lawal was flown into Abuja last night after his statement was taken at the Force CID in Lagos. An Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), was assigned to follow him.

The Managing Editor in charge of Northern Operations, Yusuf Alli and the Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Yomi Odunuga had earlier been picked at the Abuja Office of Vintage Press and taken to the Force Headquarters.

Olufade was taken after the officers could not find any of the senior editors they were looking for. They did not produce any warrant of arrest but demanded to see the General Editor, Mr Kunle Fagbemi; the Deputy Editor, News, Mr Adesina Adeniyi, Group Political Editor, Bolade Omonijo, the Managing Editor Waheed Odusile. They asked for the Manager (Administration) Mrs. Folake Adeoye. 

Those arrested were made to make statements on what they knew about the October 3 and 5 editions of the newspaper.

The company’s lawyer, Mr. John Unachukwu, the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. Jide Adegbenjo and the Labour Correspondent, Mrs. Dupe Olaoye Oshinkolu, who volunteered to follow their colleagues were also asked to make statements, after which they were detained.

Though the team did not disclose why the editors were to be arrested, it is believed that it was not unconnected with the lead story of The Nation on October 4, headlined “Obasanjo’s ‘secret’ letter to Jonathan stirs anger. Ex-President seeks sack of PTDF chief four others”.

The former President had in a chat with aviation reporters the following day, denied the authorship of such letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, threatening legal action against the newspaper. But The Nation stood by its story.

The Ekiti State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) condemned the raid which it said was a ploy ‘to achieve target goals’.

In his reaction, the Ekiti State chair of ACN, Chief Jide Awe, expressed fears that Nigeria might indeed be back in the dark days of the military.

He urged President Jonathan to protect democracy and resist moves by those lost in perverse politics to draw him into unsavoury trade of witch hunting the innocents.

Awe said: “With this act, the nation is regrettably heading towards the precipice. At the middle of the 21st century when nations announce their abhorrence for dictatorship in all its disturbing colourations, it is sad that some elements could still display atavistic traits of ages gone by.

“Little wonder the Freedom of Information Bill (FoI) Bill has really not scaled.

“We thought journalists would no longer be made to suffer on the publications they make, given the now so-called FoI bill. I want the law enforcement agents to release those arrested without delay.

“Those who have been bombing and are not showing signs of tiredness have never been arrested despite claims by the presidency to know them but those who just write with pen in the course of their legitimate duties are those now being hounded and hunted.”

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/22631-police-invade-the-nation-offices.html


Me think this is OBJ's understanding of legal action. Nonsense !!!! Rule of law my Foot.

naijaking1:
Once again, let ask all pro-subsidy N/Lers one question:
What do you say to people who are already paying more at the filling stations today than they would if the subsidy is removed

To be honest, your question is baseless. Tell us where such happens except when there is scarcity and peeps are forced to buy from the black market.
i also av a question for u; Do U STAY AND LIVE IN NIGERIA?

[quote author=High_Chief link=topic=490918.msg9320086#msg9320086 date=1318377997]Pls, I have not been receiving email alerts of new posts on any thread am following. Pls you guys should try and resolve this. I have complained so many times and nobody seems to be doing anything.[/quote]Likewise me. This is the second time i am raising this issue oooooo

I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bag… My dear good people of Nigeria, I want all of you to know that I am one of you and I will never let you down. I want you to know that I will keep hope alive, ”

With these emotion laden words, President Goodluck Jonathan declared his candidacy for the Peoples Democratic Party primary on September 18, 2010. By April 2011, Nigerians from all walks of life queued behind him at the polling stations to give him the mandate that he so desperately needed considering the exigencies of the moment. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Placed on the plinth of his own words as shown above, one would want to ask “Is Mr President keeping hopes alive?” Certainly NO. Is he letting Nigerians down? He would, if he follows the economic blueprint of his Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to remove subsidy from petroleum products and increase tariff on a number of essential items of daily consumption which will further worsen the already precarious existence of the masses.

Okonjo-Iweala is no doubt an economist of no mean achievement and her position at the World Bank is a testimony to her expertise in finance. However, the country, particularly, President Jonathan should tarry a bit before taking her economic arithmetic hook, line and sinker because textbook economics most times come with idealism rather than realism. This is coupled with the fact that the minister who had lived outside the shores of Nigeria for so many years may not be in tune with the actual situation on ground, hence, she could innocently burn the finger of the Jonathan’s administration through some inchoate policy initiatives.

The intention of the Jonathan administration to raise the tariff on electricity and hike fuel prices may tally with the principles of Adam Smith, Karl Marx or Milton Friedman. The model of economy being introduced by Okonjo-Iweala may not differ markedly from the theories propounded by Martín de Azpilcueta of the School of Salamanca, but what are the empirical evidences that these principles would translate into the much desired benefits, when replicated in the lives of the masses of Nigeria. For a people that are already overtaxed, undernourished, overworked and under-remunerated by the economic misguidance and misjudgment of yesteryears, there could be no other inauspicious time than now to introduce such livelihood demeaning policies that would further pauperise the poor while further oiling the silky skin of the rich.

The history of fuel price increase in Nigeria dates back to the military era. Between 1978 and 1999 when the civilian administration assumed office, the price of petrol was increased from 15kobo per litre in 1978 to 60kobo in 1990, 70kobo in 1992, N3.25kobo in 1993, N11.00 in the same year and by 1998 it was N20. The civilian administration of Olusegun Obasanjo took the baton and completed the insensitive marathonic increase from N22.00 in 2002 to N26.00 in 2003. Today, the pump price of petrol is N65.00 per litre. Other products like diesel and kerosene do not differ in price treatment as they are equally astronomical and outside the purview of the common man.

The Nigerian who is regularly made to pay more at the gas station has a couple of questions to ask. Let it be clear first and foremost that the government in this case has no power beyond that bestowed on it by the people of Nigeria through the instrument of the constitution. The government as the custodian of our national purse sells the product, collects the revenue and disburses the money on behalf of the people of Nigeria. Therefore, it may not be out of reason to demand explanation on why, despite unparalleled price increase, public facilities are still dysfunctional.

The problem was certainly not caused by Jonathan, but for a man who made promises to keep hope alive, the heart palpates at the insensitivity of his finance minister to the plight of Nigerians. Okonjo-Iweala should know that we have passed through this road before and that her reasons for wanting to increase the pump price of fuel is not new. The same story justified the price and tariff adjustments of yesteryears but the fact is that after every such price increase, there are no compensating effect on public facilities and the livelihood of Nigerians. Rather, on each occasion, the life of the common man nosedived far below what it was before the pump adjustment. Thanks to leakages in the pocket of the nation as a result of official corruption.

Today, most Nigerians pay the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for services not rendered. After all, Nigerians generate their own electricity because there is hardly a home, no matter how poor, where there is no generator and yet, the same Nigerians pay more for diesel and petrol to fuel the engine. They pay more for kerosene to light their lantern.

Same for education as most Nigerians today provide education for their children by sending them to private schools and other institutions outside the country because of the deplorable conditions of government-owned schools.

Today, most Nigerians either purchase their water from water vendors, or get them from other improvised sources. There is hardly a home in Nigeria today where there is no well or borehole. This is because most public taps are dry. Yet, this is a country with abundant water.

Roads have become death trap. In most cities, area boys repair roads with broken bricks while forcing motorists to part with money.

Nigerians now provide more security for themselves through private security outfits than through the myriads of official security forces in the country.

It stands to reason to argue that if all these are happening in the life of a man, then he wouldn’t be expected to live long. No wonder the life expectancy of a Nigerian is just 46 years.

Recently a friend forwarded a text to me on my BlackBerry phone. The content reads:

“Between 1450s and 1850s, over 400,000 Africans were forcibly carried away as slaves. Today, if a slave ship of one million capacity berths at Apapa port and calls for those who want to go voluntarily to the US or UK on slavery, the ship will not take one hour to be filled”

I forwarded this text to my daughter on her Blackberry and her reply was “That’s true Dad>I don’t think it will take one hour to fill up the ship and there would be casualties because of rush”.

There couldn’t be a better way of describing the current state of affairs in Nigeria than the words of these two people.

The question is “what exactly is the essence of government and governance if it fails abysmally in the duties enumerated above?” Whither the hope! Now that a man who claims to know where the shoe pinches, because of his antecedent that was devoid of riches and affluence, is in charge, one would expect him to understand the plight of the pauperised and famished people of Nigeria and alleviate their sufferings rather than add to the problems. However, with a finance minister who professes to know it all while advocating additional heavy burden on the common Nigerian, there is no way Jonathan will not let Nigerians down. There is certainly no way the door of opportunities that lifted the President from a shoeless school boy to the first citizen of Nigeria would be open to the children of the poor.

Dr. Ojikutu, wrote in from Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos, vide ladiojikutu@yahoo.com

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20111011053170

naijaking1:
Who is the retardeen here? Someone who can't hold a civil discussion with throwing unneccessary insults, I guess.

Whats "insultive" in calling someone what he is exactly? Just calling him by his name. Abegii, commot from my face.

An informal letter to someone that publicly declared his cursed state. That cant work.
Let the Retardeen do as he wants, God spares all our lives till then.

^^^ where is ur location?

GAR3TH:
The bridge is still under-construction.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62220:west-africas-first-suspension-bridge-in-lagos-hits-72-completion-&catid=25:property&Itemid=655
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1036417
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxsBUxDTVVo&feature=player_embedded

I don't think we are talking about the same bridge, I think you may be talking about the Falamo Bridge ramp that was recently in the news.

God bless u. Thanks for this.

Beaf:
At least someone is getting to see beyond the falcities that many post on NL to promote Fashola and ACN.
The funny thing is that most of those posting pics are abroad, so they simply walk up to something in Europe or the US and post it as plans for what is being built. But its all lies. Its good you have seen with your own eyes, go around with your camera and take a lot of pics of threalities you've seen as against the pics on NL.

The same way you gave us Asaba, Japan the other day

Mods, whats going on? i no longer receive notifications in my mailbox any longer. I really need to rectify this, how pls?

The Boss has spoken. By the way, i see nothing wrong with the present look

dayokanu:
Egbon mi,

How much does it take to RENOVATE 10 primary schools In Delta?

Now this is funny no be small. Dayo, u craze sha

That subsidy should be removed is a fact that is essential however the timing is what i have issues with. A lot of things (that includes what ediclove highlighted above) needs to be put in place before we even start talking about subsidy.
I doubt if the PDP controlled govt headed by the Retardeen has such balls and the sincerity to do this considering the fact that they have been in power for yrs and we all are witnesses to their so called achievements.
Until i am convinced about the sincerity of those in power and at least relative assurance that proceeds from the so called non-subsidy fuel will be channeled to infrastructures, likewise improved refining capacity on our soil, i will say a Big No to subsidy for now.

Like master like servant. Empty barrels.
More action,less talk.thaw d desire of majority of nigerians.

This news isn't pleasant at all. Fresh air indeed

So Accursed still havent substantiated all his claims
Such a Loser.

PointB:
In other words another glaring embezzlement of public money by Saint Fashola and his ACN goons. Na wa ooo.
Anyway, it is those who are carried away by his super star mien, and assumed incorrigibility that would be surprised that the man who deliberately gives Tinubu over N2 billion naira worth of tax-payers money is incapable of contract inflation.

Carry go, Oga Fashola (steal more), nothing do you; just plant more flowers!

Eko Ile:
Sounds like you are very sure and convinced that it cost too much.

1. This is a private deal and private entities are not only accountable to only their chair holders and not the state, but also, what's that got to do with this bridge belonging to the people of Lagos state at the end of the concession?

2. Since you are so sure that this bridge cost too much, do you have anything to show us in terns of figures and comparison with similar projects that you used?


It's perfectly OK to raise objections, but why not try to educate us with facts, figures and rational arguments that you based your objections on?

We are all here to learn, but what's there to learn if all we have is empty and baseless criticism not rooted in any knowledge?

[b]Actually, am aint a structural/civil engineer however a registered one whom i trust so much seems to have his doubts having explained some basic things to me which to me is the basic "Nigerian Thing". He could be wrong in his assessment afteral he is human and not directly involved with the project.
sorry, cant bring in facts and figures becos i dont have any. Simply an honest opinion that still stands to be corrected with any facts and figures.
However, like i said earlier, its a good initiative and bridge definately needed./b]

The bridge is a good initiative and definitely needed. However i admit that this bridge is a costly bridge no doubt.

Good Job Fash !!! However pretty expensive.

Not yet moved at all. It could be another charade EFCC is noted for. Still keeping my fingers crossed and observing situations.

Beaf:
^
You will find that every attempt to derail this thread by behaving like an area boy will fail. If you like, dig the worst from the gutter, we will still ask the pertinent questions and demand an end to abysmal neglect of duty in Osun and thuggish interference in Lagos.

. . .Rewind. . .

[b]Accursed[/b], Substantiate ur allegations and stop Lying
Just substantiate ur allegations and we are reasonable enough to criticize Aregbe.
IDIOT !!!!