₦airaland Forum

By SaharaReporters, New York


General Muhammadu Buhari, who has run for president of Nigeria three times in this millennium, says he strongly doubts the ability of the country’s electoral commission to conduct free and fair elections in 2015, describing it as having lost its impartiality on account of developing a very cozy relationship with executive and judicial arms of the government.
The top echelon of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is deeply immersed in corruption and only wholesale changes at the top could begin tocure its malaise, he told the Africa Diaspora Conference in London on Wednesday.
“What is required is a group of independentminded people, patriotic, incorruptible but with the capacity to handle such a strenuous assignment of conducting elections in Nigeria,” he said. “It is not difficult to find such people but whether theGovernment and the National Assembly have the inclination to do so I am not so sure.”
He said that he would have preferred to talk in glowing terms about Nigeria outside its shores, extolling its virtues and defending its values and interests, but that the situation in the country, as is well known to the international community is sobad that it is futile to take that line.
“Furthermore, it would be counter-productive to efforts we are all making to understand and accept our shortcomings with a view to taking steps towards a general improvement,” he noted. “If you continue to be in denial, as Nigeria’s government and its apologists are wont to do, you will lose all credibility.”
On how stable Nigeria’s economy is, he said it is dependent on the international oil market, and the failure over the years to diversify and strengthen the economy or toinvest in the global economy has left the country perilously at the mercy of global oil prices.”
“Instead of using the so-called excess crude account which in other countries goes by the name of Sovereign Wealth Fund to develop major domestic infrastructure suchas Power, Railways, Road development, the account has been frittered down and applied to current consumption,” Buhari said, stressing that there is no magic or short cut to economic development.
“We must start from first principles – by developing agriculture and industries. Sixty years ago, we exported considerable quantities of cocoa, cotton, groundnuts, rubber and palm kernels. There were sizeable incomes to the farmers. Indeed in two years, if I recall correctly, 1951 and 1953, Nigeria produced a million tons of groundnuts. Today, other than a few thousand tons of cocoa, hardly any cotton, rubber or palm products are exported.”
He stressed that until and unless serious budgetary attention is paid to agriculture, the vast majority of Nigeria’s rural population will remain on subsistence basis and will eventually wither away by migration to the cities and increasing the stress on urban life.”
In that regard, he called for the application of today’s technology, primarily improved seeds and seedlings, irrigation systems, useof weather forecasts, and above all, substantial subsidies and access to cheap credit. “In Nigeria, the basic tools for agricultural take-off, the Six River Basin Authorities were wantonly scrapped in 1986 under the disastrous Structural Adjustment Programme,” he recalled, calling them the best vehicle for the country’s agricultural revival and expansion.
Specifically on how the poverty level in Nigeria be reduced and the masses benefit from the nation’s vast wealth, he reiteratedthat if serious efforts are made to support agriculture through states and local government apparatus, agriculture will boom within 5 – 7 years.
“Farmers will generate more income to enable them to grow the food the country needs and to look after our environment,” he said, and the drift to urban centres will be greatly reduced. He called for equal attention for the revival of employment-generating activities such as railways, industries, and other land and forest resource-based industries to enable them absorb urban labour. That, he said, would help tackle poverty, reduce urban stress and crime, and boost the economy.
He warned, however, that these two major policy initiatives can only succeed if there issubstantial improvement in power generation.
Turning to the distribution of income in Nigeria today, Buhari said there was no better illustration of the huge income disparity than the statement of Malam Adamu Fika, Chairman of the Committee setup by the government to review the Nigerian public service.
“In the course of presentation of his Report, the Chairman pointed out that 18,000 publicofficers consume in the form of salaries, allowances and other perquisites N1.126 trillion Naira (£4billion) of public funds. The total Nigerian budget for 2013 is N4.9 trillion (£20 billion).
Reflecting on that, Buhari said that a wholesale look at public expenses vis-à-vis the real need of the country has become urgent, describing the picture painted by Malam Fika as the worst form of corruption and oppression.

Boko Harram will continue to KILL your people if you don't CONDEMN and FIGHT them. GEJ to Borno Elders



"Unless the Elders of Borno condemn and fight Boko Haram the people of the state shall continue to suffer from their attacks,"

President Goodluck Jonathan


Is it just me, or has GEJ surrendered his responsibility of providing security to Borno elders?

Clueless gov't. It is only through award of contracts that GEJ and his cohorts know how to create jobs? Why don't someone tell these fools that what nigerians want is not gov't jobs, but rather a favourable environment where nigerians can create jobs for themselves. Gov't should stop the importation of all manner of agricultural produce so that our local industries can produce them here thus employing nigerians. Let GEJ give us light, repair ajaokuta so we can make make our own steel products and he'll see wonders. That is all. Useless gov't. 2015 better start running like hell.

Don't give ghosts amnesty you hear ba? When the JTF declared about 20 bokos wanted a few months ago and you still say they are ghosts? And some foolish people on Nairaland are even supporting you. Any way like i said don't you dare give them amnesty. You will also receive no amnesty in 2015. Stuuuupeeed presido!

Stupid people. So 83% of oil blocks are owned by northerners. And out of the five names the extinguished senator mentioned, four are northerners. Yeah i think the math is indeed correct. Why the senator didn't tell us how many oil blocks we have, and the names of their owners beats my imagination. Abi we have only 5 oil blocks in 9ja? Why are southerners easily blinded by crass hatred when those responsible for their plight live within their midst?

Is he telling the world goodluck will contest in 2015?

Akwa Ibom state governorand Chairman of the newly formed Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, PDPGF, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, on Saturday predicted that the Super Eagles of Nigeria would win two world cups because of the luck that follows President Jonathan’s tenure.

He urged Mr. President not to allow the activities of his political enemies distract him, saying that they (the enemies) would not laugh at him.

Akpabio said this at a dinner the President held in honour of Nollywood stars to mark the 20 years of the industry at the State House, Marina, Lagos on Saturday.

The governor described the newly-formed Governor’s Forum as an assembly of those he called the first set of the President’s disciples.

According to him, Jonathan would never fail as the President of the country because he never discriminated against any individual or group.

He predicted that the national football team would win two editions of the World Cup during Jonathan’s Presidency.


http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/03/04/nigeria-will-win-two-world-cups-because-of-president-jonathans-good-luck-akpabio/

Former Head of State General Muhammad Buhari has said the fight against corruption is beyond the capacity of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

In a keynote lecture on ‘Stable Democracy and Nigeria’s Economy’ delivered at the Houses of Parliament in London last night, Buhari said the present government lacked the political will to fight the rampant corruption bedevilling the country.

He also said the Independent National Electoral Commission would not deliver on free and fair elections, and that INEC has a “cosy relationship with the executive and the judiciary.”

Buhari said ahead of the 2011 elections, INEC requested and got N80 billion for elections and biometric data, but failed to avail the litigating parties access to the data on grounds on national security. He therefore said only the opposition, if they are strong enough, could stop rigging in the country.

He said though there was the need to restructure the country, “the problem with Nigeria is not the structure but the process”, and described the clamour for more states as “dysfunctional” and out of place.

To get out of poverty and socio-economic quagmire in the country, he said, the government should focus on agriculture and provide the sector with all the necessary assistance to return the country to agricultural boom and halt the rural-urban migration.

Earlier, the chair of British African Development Programme, Lorraine Phelan, described Nigerians as a hard working people who are blessed with wealth but living in poverty. She said it was time for Nigerians to start “asking questions about and taking part in good governance. Nigeria must succeed.”

In her remarks, the hostess of the lecture, Diane Abbot, said Nigeria was key to Africa’s future, stressing that Nigeria’s failure would not just be a failure of Africa, but that of the black race as a whole.

Culled from Daily Trust.

The win against the elephants was pure fortune. The elephants just had a bad day at the office. If they had played at half capacity we would not be here today.

We will all know the truth in 2015. Nigerians unfortunately have no choice but to vote for Buhari who will investigate all these fools and send them to jail for 100 years.

safarigirl: that's what was said of Zambia's chances last year. My brother, unbelievers never go far in life, this is not a matter of dreaming, football is the most unpredictable game.

SE no dey play well, but if we spit on our own, who will encourage them for us? If your parents always condemn you, will you ever seek progress? People are more affected psychologically than physically or emotionally. If their psychological state is strong, even 3SC will trump the hell out of Ivory Coast.

If they win, they win humbly, and if they lose, they lose proudly, no shele, we dey their back anyhow e wan be, e go be.

The Elephant may be the largest land animal, but the Eagles will always rule the sky.

Mumu. Shebi na for sky dem go play the match abi na for land? Hehehe. RIP super chickens.

The only option is to vote for buhari 2015. But most of you complaining here will still vote GEJ instead of Buhari because you are afraid he'll islamize the country!

Hahaha. Most of you said you'll not vote for Buhari because he will islamize nigeria! I hope you are happy with your CAN-supported president!

Liar liar pants on fire!

Nigeria coach, stephen keshi has dismissed fears that Nigeria will be bundledout of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in the quarter-final by West African neighbours Cote d’Ivoire.
Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire will square up in the quarter-final match of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg here on Sunday, with pundits tipping the Ivorians to overrun Nigeria for the semi-final ticket.
But Keshi at a post match briefing on Tuesday evening, dismissed the fears, saying both teams have equal opportunities of either advancing or crashing out of the biennial soccer fiesta.
The former Super Eagles, who praised his young squad for reaching the last eight at the continental soccer championship, said his target is not the Nations Cup trophy alone, but to produce for Nigeria a strong team that would last for years.
“We are trying to introduce young players that Yobo and Mikel will guide them on the field of play and give them more support toplay better, because we are not only looking at the Nations Cup alone, we are trying to see how we can build a strong team for Nigeria in the next five years.
“We are looking forward for the game against Cote d’Ivoire. We are aware that both Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire will not have the second chance if any of them loses in the quarter-final.

All the nine federal Universities established in Nigeria in 2011 have fully commenced operations, Prof Rugayyatu Rufai, the Education Minister, has said.
Rufai disclosed this on Thursday in Londonduring a curtesy visit on Dr Dalhatu Tafida, Nigaria's High Commissioner to theUK.
She said that the universities are located at Dutse, Dutsin-Ma, Kashere , Lafia, Lokoja, Ndufu-Alike-Ikwo, Otuoke, Oye-Ekiti and Wukari.
The minister, who spoke against the backdrop of government's commitment to promote ``Access and Quality’’ in education, said the newly established universities were open to qualified candidates.

The day he fathers a child

Hahaha. This is PDP for you. They love to make allegations yet they fail to provide any proof. So PDP investigations show he's a paid agent abi? Show us the proof! Abi are we supposed to take their stinking word for it?

elliottibanga: "To avoid being banned, please ensure that your post is not offensive to Islam."

Really? But this post itself is offensive to women.

How can you compare a woman to a piece of candy or a grape

What really bothers you? The comparison or the message within the comparison?

What is wrong with you? Why should you be so intolerant about islam?

Ironically this gov't has budgeted over 2 trillion for security in just two years. Instead of nigerians to start calling Jonathan a thief they are too busy insulting el-rufai for a retweet! Nonsense

The public service yesterday submitted its findings to the government with a revelation that the top echelon of the service take away up to N1.126 trillion yearly in salaries and allowances.
The Presidential Committee on the Review of the Reform Processes in the Nigerian Public Service, headed by former head of service Adamu Fika, also called for the abolition of the tenure system for directors and permanent secretaries.
Presenting the report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim in Abuja, Fika said huge resources are being spent on salaries and allowances of holders of certain public offices who constitute only 0.013 per cent Nigeria’s population.
He said in the perquisites approved for these officers by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) with effect from July 2007, salaries and allowances shot up to N1.126 trillion.
“Of this, salaries took a mere N94.56 billion, while allowances gulped the whole of N1031.65 billion, which represented 91.56%,” he said.
“There is therefore a need to take a hard look at this glaring anomaly, where allowances are more than ten times greater than salaries.
“Such a re-examination is very necessary in the light of the fact that the total number of beneficiaries of the RMAFC largesse is only about 18, 000 officers, while the population of Nigeria then was estimated at 167 million.”
He added: “It is not morally defensible from the perspective of social justice or any known moral criterion that such a huge sum of public funds is consumed by an infinitesimal fraction of the people, which is less than 0.013% of the total population. ”
Fika did not mention the category of public officers who consume these salaries, but the constitution empowers RMAFC to fix pay packages for the President, Vice President, ministers, governors, commissioners, Federal and state legislators, senior Judiciary officers, as well as members of federal and state executive bodies.
On the controversial tenure policy initiated by then head of service Steve Oronsaye, Fika said it was introduced without any impact assessment study and has violated the rights of those affected based on their terms of engagement.
He said the policy had depleted and deprived the service of some of the most competent and experienced hands as well as introduced a destabilising and rapid turnover of senior officers in the service.
“The committee therefore recommends that the tenure policy in the public service should be abrogated,” he said.
The committee also recommended ways to save the civil service from political interference.
But a splinter group from the committee submitted a minority report, saying they disagreed with the main committee on certain recommendations.
Receiving the two reports, Anyim said there was no problem in the members disagreeing and that government would consider both reports.
The original 16-member committee comprised Alhaji Adamu Fika (chairman), Mrs. Francesca Yetunde Emmanuel (vice chairperson), Mrs. Peres Ayoola, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Ms. Ama Pepple, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, Alhaji Musa Magaji, Malam Abubakar Gimba, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Mrs. Ammuna Lawal-Ali, Mr. S.O. Adekunle, Dr. Sam Amadi, Prof. Murtala Balogun, Mr. Paul Ibeku, Deaconess J.O. Ayo and Dr. Tunji

I want to be rich because i want political power.

Dean Karnazes Can Run Forever



Dean Karnazes is an American long-distance runner capable of inhuman feats of endurance, such running 50 marathons in each of the 50 states ... in 50 consecutive days . Which he totally goddamned did. He's run a marathon on every continent twice over and run 350 miles nonstop over three sleepless nights .
Ultramarathonman
"That lake had better back the Bleep up , because I ain't stopping."
Back in 2007, Dean attempted to run from New York City to San Francisco, but had to stop in St. Louis, ravaged by disappointment. That is to say, this man has such a level of endurance that running 1,000 miles is disappointing to him. Karnazes has such an impressive list of achievements that when Time magazine listed him as one of their 100 most influential people of 2007 , stopping his cross-continental run short was pretty much the only negative thing they could come up with. Then Karnazes completed the very same run in 2010 in 75 days and shut Time right the hell up
.
Somehow he's managed to stop running long enough to write three books. That, or he hangs a typewriter from his neck and smacks the keys with his chin midstride.
So What's Going on Here?
Everything about Karnazes' body makes him a finely tuned running machine. A medical study was performed on him after he completed his 50-state marathonapalooza. First, they measured his CPK number, which shows the amount of damage your muscles sustain from exercise. So for instance, a normal runner'sCPK would be through the roof after a marathon -- around 2,400. Karnazes' was found to be at 447 ... after 25 consecutive marathons.
Ultramarathonman
"Anyone else feel like hitting the gym, maybe doing a little kayaking?"
The study found that his muscles not only damage much less with exercise than the normal person's, they actually get used to continuous exercise and stop being damaged altogether, sort of like if Wolverine were a perpetual motion machine.
The study also found that he has more blood in his circulatory system than the average person, which allows him to stay more hydrated for longer and may or may not indicate that he is a day-walking (day-running?) vampire. But finally (and most impressively), they concluded that aslong as he can keep himself properly hydrated and fed, he could potentially run at a seven- to 10-minute-mile pace forever .

Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan said on Wednesday in Abuja that his administration would ensure equity and fairness in appointment to political offices and employment into the Federal Civil Service.

The president gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of seven members of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), a member of the Federal Civil Service Commission and two permanent secretaries.

The ceremony took place in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

In a remark shortly after the appointees took the Oath of Office, Jonathan said he had observed that all the geo-political zones complained of being marginalised on federal appointments.

He said that he deliberately delayed some pending political appointments in order to ensure that the complaints of marginalisation already received were taken care of.

``We are in an era where all the geo-political zones complain about marginalisation. All the geo-political zones complain that they are not given appointments. In fact, we have some pending appointments because of that.

``I have told the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to do proper analysis and probably to wait and accumulate the number. Probably if we accumulate them up to 12, when we want to make the appointments, we will make sure that all the geo-political zones get two each.

“In that case, your conscience will be clear. That is why some appointments are pending, which I believe we will deal with this week. I think they are about 12 or so. We will make sure that all the geo-political zones are accommodated.”

Jonathan challenged the newly sworn-in officials, especially members of the FCC not only to be up and doing in their duties, but to also comply with the commission’s establishment statute.

``Also the Civil Service Commission should be fair to all Nigerians. In employing Nigerians, you must ensure that all the States have what is due to them because we also know that some States are more than others.

``So when you are balancing equality of States, you must also be mindful of the population of each state. You must be aware of the laws guiding your job,’’ he said.

The president also urged the appointees to learn how to relate with their colleagues and to see Nigeria as one entity.

The seven members of the FCC include, Mr Uche Romanus (Imo); former Speaker of Benue House of Assembly and the first female Speaker in Nigeria and West Africa, Dr Margaret Icheen and former Member of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa, Mr Clement Agie.

Others are former Commissioner for Information, Nasarawa State, Mr Alakayi Mamman; former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bauchi State, Alhaji Yerima Giade; Dr Salihu Bello from Adamawa; and Alhaji Addo Ahmed, Jigawa.

Similarly, Dr Clement Ilo (Delta) and Dr Jemila Suara (Edo State) were sworn-in as federal permanent secretaries, while Alhaji Hassan Soko-Dabo (FCT), was sworn-in as member of the Federal Civil Service Commission. (NAN)

http://nigeria.news24.com/National/News/Jonathan-promises-equity-in-federal-appointments-20130130

Well it's been almost three years of the Jonathan presidency and 2 years since nigerians voted for the I have no shoes president. This regime is fast proving to be a real disappointment. My question is with the benefit of hindsight, who would have you have voted for in the 2011 elections? GEJ, buhari or Ribadu?

China's interests are simply economical. It's a country that cares for its people and is thus striving to get a strong market for its products. Wish our leaders had the same ideology

99% of Nairalanders have never seen the four walls of an airport. Who cares how much prices have crashed? Mttssew! Next thread!

We cannot be fooled by southerners. The fact is you will still vote for GEJ come 2015. The only other option would be buhari. By then the jonathanians will bribe your pastors who will come shouting to you on the pulpit that buhari will islamize Nigeria! As soon as you realize such you will run to vote for GEJ again! Nigeria. The more things change, the more they remain the same!

Some fools are congratulating the SSS for 'parading' suspects. All these security agencies know how to do is to parade 'suspects'. Let them provide conclusive evidence that these people did it. We no longer value their word.

Why not use his full name john yakubu yusuf so that some religious, ethnic bigots do not make the mistake of thinking he's hausa fulani? So Mischievous.

solomon111: you should direct that to the judiciary.
EFCC had done their duty by arresting and charging him to court.

Is it not the EFCC that makes the plea bargain arrangement? Mttssew.