₦airaland Forum

I'm impressed bk cud actually open a thread based on research. . .quite unlike his posts which are to say d least, divisive. I appreciate this coherent piece and beg all to see beyond ethnicity in his analysis and add something worthwhile or better learn from other people's contribution. . .at least he did some work (not d I spoke with d most intelligent Nigerian and he was Ibo thread). Nice work bro but if not dat JEG is d current presido, I wud av said OBJ and his 3rd tenure, EFCC and highhandedness shud be Napoleon. While Ribadu be Napoleon's fearful dogs but I guess that has been overtaken by events.

I am alarmed by the figures for some northern states, the change in Niger especially (over 200% increase?). How can INEC explain that? DDC machine or human error? or is it governor's error/correction?

Pay backtime for united. . .they will disunite 2moro

Boredom, what else?

revomind:
How about the crowd in the stadium

I like dat! d question was so apt. . . at least, d stadium crowd was supposed to be pro PDP so what about them, @Bukittes?

Buhari will fail in this quest no matter how hard he tries. He does not seem to know what he wud be up  against if and when he becomes president. He will fight the legislator who are 90% loyal to their state govs. The govs are the most powerful individuals in our current political arrangement and as such have ears of the NASS, state assembly, and even the ministers and advisers in the presidency.

With his "good intentions", this immunity clause plan is already dead on arrival. Someone shud also remind him that Nigeria has moved on and away 1983 and military dictatorship. He needs d consent of the 'people' to make and abolish laws and these 'people' are rep by d NASS which will definitely be made up of opposition parties. Even if they are all CPC members and CPC govs, the 36 state govs will all go against him and he fails on his promise.

He shud not give us political white elephant promises.

rasputinn:
Hey,some European countries have not been cleared to land at Tripoli airport.I think Nigerians(through the embassy)should co-ordinate and do what most other nationals are doing;that is drive to Egypt by road from where they can be flown out to Nigeria

I think this shud be d best option for them (Egypt or Tunisia) but given that blacks are targeted by protesters, it will be difficult for a mass movement of black people to be allowed through rebel controlled areas. Again, u'll be surprised that with d opening of European border with Libya, a whole lot of people will want to troupe to Spain, Italy and other EU countries as "refugees" instead of coming home. After all, most of dem never went to Libya to live but were using d country as a transit point to europe. Some are even human traffickers while others are victims of d trade.

I even read in the papers that our all powerful Bash Alli is trapped in dat country and is begging FG to come to his rescue.

Rich Dad:
They are still waiting for FG abi? No problem ,dem go wait tire.They better start treking now, msheww, FG my foot

[quote author=tpiah! link=topic=611470.msg7793446#msg7793446 date=1298564591]yes, i'd say they better start trekking if it's safe to do so.

but is it.[/quote] Abi o. . .after all, some of them trekked to Libya in d first place. Most never even planned to settle there as it is mainly used as a transit to Europe.

But seriously, they need to be evacuated fast. I feel for our people.

Almost every other country has begun moving its citizens out of erupting Libya. Most foreign nationals are stranded including over half a million Nigerians. Our govt has not started evacuating our people and I dare to ask; are we waiting to count hundreds of Nigerian among casualties before taking decisive action towards citizen protection?

I was listening to a local radio station here and one reporter was talking about the volume of phone calls he received from desperate Nigerians begging FG to come to their aid in Libya. Pls let the due process be cut short and lives saved.

Here's my take. . .IBB brought in PDP integrity group to wrest PDP from small boy governors. GEJ/OBJ brought in NPLF to throw out IBB from PDP primaries via Atiku consensus candidature. Bakare/Buhari brought in SNG to pave way for Buhari to come in and "save naija" and Tinubu used Ayo Salami to hand SW over to ACN

Politics is full of gimmicks. We all need to learn some more. For doz of u dat called GEJ naive, mumu, odechukwu, I think he is d one playing d deftest of naija politics. @Noblezone seems to capture the right picture. . .

D people that are not even serious with their campaign. No jingles, posters, rallies, paper advert, even prayers in Latter Rain. The incumbent has an edge and sadly is the one seen making cogent points in campaign jingles, posters and rallies.

They need to support themselves b4 asking me to support them.

Our problem in dis country is docility. We want change but will never want to change our own way of thought and deeds(our perception of life, sacrifice  and death). Everybody wants to be part of the good things(happy ever after) of life but someone if not some people will have to pay d price for change. How can we reach heaven without death? Rapture? We cannot be thinking d same way our forefathers thought, do things d same way they did and expect to live a different life from what they lived. Impossible! the general global mentality is changing and we will only be left behind if ours doesn't change with time.

Revolution is possible only when we feel that we have been pushed to d wall. . .only then shall we muster d liver to fight back cos if we don't fight, we die; if we fight, we either live or die.

I agree that the INEC figures in most states raises eyebrows. Every state and politician may even be guilty of fraudulent registration (was it not at the Redemption Camp that a woman was caught with six voter's cards bearing her photos with six different names and surnames, just about a week ago?). Thus every state of this federation will def hav thousands of invalid (be it underaged, fictitious or multiple) registration. The only point, like in d last census and elections, is that some will outdo the others in d game.

That said, I can pronounce anywhere that there are still millions of eligible Nigerian voters who did not register (either due to apathy, last-minute syndrome, ill-health or even time constraint). i for one registered on Monday being the last of the final two days extension (after the first 7 days extension), why? cos I cud not imagine myself queuing from morning till night in a place (missing my daily runs) without getting registered. Recall that some people queued like this for upwards of 5 days before being registered, while others lost faith in d exercise after d first two days. With this said I can say that figures for some states are short of the expected numbers (especially cosmopolitan states). rural states may have little of this issue to contend with.

This also tells me that this election will be won and lost in the villages. . .not townships/state capitals (I know pple will call Lagos a town; it is a state and it's villages are d outskirts/slums). . .these are where d battle for soul of Nigeria lies. Who wins is he who reaches out to the people (those people who will vote, NOT the LEKKI and VI peops that will warn [/b]their KIDS not to go near d polling units. To this end, I don't think Ribadu and Buhari are doing it right. . .they seem to neglect grassroot mobilisation. . . they are the peops who understand d language; "[b]Register, Vote and Stay to Protect ur VOte". They will do it a million times over for mere promises!

Hmm. . .i tot GEJ was not trustworthy, too naive and opportunistic to rule this country. . .is he being accepted by the Northern Elders? is it no longer d turn of d North to rule?. We shud ask d right questions. everything is not GEJ, he wants to win d elections, let's say he is desperate. . .are his former foes also desperate to be close to power? if yes, y can't they help a "better candidate" win and be close to "his" power?

ideology has no place in Nigerian politics as at today.

Pharoah Mubarak has decided to give Egypt a Val gift. . .Thank Goodness. My fear is that the pple will "vote in" another Pharoah for another 30 years. I pity them dearly. . .democracy will still creep into d Arab world.

BTW, who's next. . . Ghaddafi?

The armed forces seem to have taken their support for him. . .hope he be forced to step down/aside tonight. Old foool!

Kobojunkie:
It ought to be considering we have had 12 years of PDP during which the country has been taken 2 steps forward and over 10 steps backwards. I think Defeating PDP should be all the motivation we need to vote some other party.

u erred here madam. Defeating PDP is not good enof a mo for me to vote in another potential looter-in-chief of a party. We shud not be moving for movt sake. . .we shud look b4 leaping. voting out PDP and voting in a worse group is too bad!

hmmm no comment for now

They sell their comfort cos naija govt fail to provide for d citizenry. she greedily did not take her maternity leave on time. . .dat's bad. She put herself and her unborn child at risk. I'm happy for the family tho.

I said it and I think the MOG heard me clearly. . .he shud contest for any seat at all under any platform at all. If he wins, he shud right d observed wrongs in our dear country and if he loses, he shud try again. He shud not just keep living d life of a sit-at-home critic. . .Heaven helps those who sincerely help themselves.

Our main problem is complacency. . .we are not satisfied but are prepared to "manage" with an empty stomach, dry taps, dark rooms, bad roads, high cost of fuel, poor or no shelter. . .believing God; hoping for the best while expecting the worst.

We are also too class-conscious for my liking. . .not bothered when we speed past able bodied ,en and women living other bridges, along the roads or in front of our gates. . .we only thank God "we" are not like "them".

Tsiya:
Egyptian constitution? We are talking about a dictator here. A person who decides what should be written in the constitution. The guys is 83 years for Godsake. A great-grand father. I bet half of the time he must be sleeping. He isn't the one making decisions in Egypt

In that case, the power-brokers still want him to stay put so they will continue ruling by proxy. Egypt like Nigeria has no serious opposition. . .the only difference is that here, we are more conscious selfish than d Arabs. . .members of the ruling party become the opposition within the same party when they see an opportunity to move higher up being blocked by the incumbent (case in point: OBJ vs Atiku, 2006/07; Jang vs Tallen, 2011).

The Moslem Brotherhood in Egypt is not seriously in2 politics and are viewed by the outside world, as a ticking terrorist time bomb. If they were to be more civil in their approach to politics, maybe, just maybe they may earn a benefit of doubt by Western world leaders. This is different from what we have/had in Tunisia. . .they had a semi-serious, civil opposition who immediately keyed into the masses' protests and achieved victory. I still believe they are the ones pulling the strings for the continued expulsion an arrests of senior members of the last govt and allies of Ben-Alli.

Again, talking about constitution, even if it was written by Mubarak himself, it is their constitution. We are using the 1999 constitution military decree today not cos every Nigerian wrote it but cos we need a working document to run our society with. If Obj succeeded in amending that piece of document in 2006, he wud still be president now and may even convince us that d post shud just be reserved for whomever occupies if till death . . .that makes it our rule. And if his successor enters 40th year of rulership, wud u call him a despot?

I see what started as a protest against Police brutalisation of a Tunisian "hawker" snowballing into an Arab Revolution. The arabs have operated a very closed society for centuries and the 21st century people are now waking up to the fact that they are equally humans after all. From Algeria to Yemen to Jordan to Egypt and Morocco. . .soon, very soon we will hear of the mother of all anti-govt protests in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

@topic; no one has ever bn declared winner of a presidential poll in Egypt and Mubarak denied him/her authority. . .we rig elections in Nigeria but in d end INEC declare the highest rigger winner of d polls. Again, is mubarak staying beyond what Egyptian constitution demands?

NB: I hate to have one person in govt beyond 5 years (he is not d only capable hand to lead his people) but it's left for d people to say he shud go and that is what I see them doing but unfortunately, he may still have the sympathy of majority.

No one or group is invincible in naija. . .Obj's time is gone OGD's will soon expire come 2015.

[quote author=Robin_hood link=topic=594003.msg7617223#msg7617223 date=1296168969]Is there hope for Nigeria? I am absolutely shocked with some of the comments on this forum. It is very disturbing to know that after 12 years of PDP corruption, some people are still bent on keeping the same party in office. In my own opinion, I have nothing against GEJ as a person but the fact that he is from a corrupt party already puts a question mark on his candidacy, I don't think he will do things differently from his predecessors.

Ribadu actually open the eye of Nigeria to the scope of corruption at high places. Irrespective of the man's ethnicity I believe that he has a better deal for Nigeria than the business as usually GEJ.

At the end of the day all we want is an accountable government that is committed to its people. How I wish Fashola could rule Nigeria!!![/quote]I think u and ur type are d problem Nigeria has as at today. . .directionless people. You change for changing sake. . .without any conviction. U just move cos u're tired of staying in a place, without even having a direction in mind. Which party in Nigeria is not corrupt? u said u had nothing against GEJ but with "his corrupt party" and i ask again, which party is immune to corruption? Give me a name. I noticed u just registered ur ID to comment on this thread so that the number of anti-GEJ members wud seem to increase. What u said said abt GEJ and PDP does not convince me that Ribadu is the right person for d job. For all I know, they are products of the same environment/family (PDP family). Pls do more work.

geosegun:
I think this is a calculated attempt to win some votes in the south eastern states. remember, he just lost erstwhile minister of information and communication , Prof. Dora Akunyili, who is of Igbo extraction. The only thing to do is to appoint [b]another formidable and enticing enigma [/b]who can draw a certain level of influence form this(south east) region. This is another way of telling Ojukwu and the APGA supporters that he still cares no matter which side they belong.

THIS IS A SIMPLE BUT CALCULATIVE POLITICAL MOVE THAT WILL SHAKE THE IGBOS. WAIT AND SEE AS THE DRAMA UNFOLDS IN THE COMING MONTHS.

Oh please! who is voting PDP cos of Bianca or even Ojukwu? your formidable enticing enigma angle is totally laughable. For now, no one sees Bianca as relevant but how she handles dis post will go a long way in making her whatever she becomes. Let's quit reading fake meanings to simple actions. Every hurt region and player in certain govt actions have bn compensated/appeased by d FG. But no one has deemed it fit to give ojukwu a chance in national affairs. . .he is still seen backside d Biafran warlord, while Gowon is flying all over d world reppin naija and advising govt. For God's sake, they fought a war that pple are paying lip service to reconciliation. Ojukwu never started liked the war but was forced to fight to restore his pple's life and dignity. I see dis appointment as a BOLD move by the FG to truly burry the hatchet of the naija civil war. Recall he was the only presido MAN ENOF to appoint an Igbo man as COAS since the civil war ended. Are we truly one nation if we continue neglecting what someone like Ojukwu, with his experience, can offer this nation? Unfortunately, he's old and sick, so y not his wife?

violent:
The trend on this thread is not solely on GEJ's appointment of Bianca, I believe most people on here are actually concerned about the relevance of those offices and what it will cost tax payers to sustain such.  Ojukwu's wife's appointment naturally drew attention and rightfully so, considering her husband's health status.  Additionally, it wouldn't be too much to question the President's judgement on appointment of Bianca Ojukwu given that the lady has almost no claim to experience in diplomatic issues, neither has she held positions that call for speedy Judgment, should we not be worried that our President is making appointments to suit his own selfish Political agenda at the expense of tax payers?

How long till Goodluck makes a bad luck of the national treasury from his ill informed spending habits?

. . .and almost no claims to the south east voters, so y cry "selfish political move" abt dis and not on other appointments. Who is that Igbo man/woman that will vote PDP cos of Bianca? I got worried reading ppl's posts as per experience. When Ufot Ekaette, his wife and son were pulling d strings, we saw it as normal, Yar'adua family are getting relevance cos of late shehu, no probs, OBJ became president cos of MKO, it's ok. Now Bianca is coming to political limelight prolly cos of civil war, we are shouting. . .pray, how do we bury d past if not by addressing it. GEJ is BRAVE!!!

EDIT: as for d cost of govt, Nigeria has bn running a bloated govt and it did not start with GEJ . . .d office may not even be brand new, so why d fuss?

from violet

Could you elaborate a bit more on what you think the office of Special Adviser on Diasporan affairs will handle differently from the offices of Minister of Foreign Affairs?

In d same vein sir, cud u explain what the office of Special Adviser on Niger delta affairs wud handle differently from the offices of minister of ND?

I took time to read comments here and i got confused. . . y yab GEJ strictly on one appointment when he made like four of them simultaneously? Is it because he created a brand new office? appointed a woman? cos it is a former beauty queen? cos it is Bianca, igbo, Ojukwu's wife, from Apga? Her husband is sick?

Just tell me y people did not criticize d appointments generally but chose to restrict it to the office Ojukwu's wife wud occupy? We lack objectivity on dis site, among our youths and in d nation generally. We chose to throw away d baby with d bathwater and it backfires on us.

I don't think Jega is asking for an additional 6.6bn. . .he only indicated that the extension wud amount to INEC spending an additional 6.6bn. I know that in asking for 87bn, they made provision for miscellaneous expenses and exigencies. . .they will just tap into that pool and complete this problematic registration.

This thread title is misleading.

This guy seems to be from a family of con-artists and just took his dad's trade to da next level. He's simply a whizkid. May d long arm of d law catch up with him to dissuade other aspiring youngsters. imagine all his staff members are guys (originally from wealthy homes) sent to US for studies. . .poverty was never their motivation but adventure.

From vincent_09

See wetin poverty don cause 4 naija. Some of una no know maths when una de sch but becos of #30 difference u want kill urself yet una de fail d simple maths. How 64/12 tk give u 6.3 But guy u toooo dull!

Bros na u dull pass. u no even fit read post (written in the simplest of English language) and u are calling pple dull on account of "their lack of arithmetic skills" For ur info, 64/12 gives us 5.33 then, he added the first minute and arrived at 6.33. 5.33+1=6.33.

Now, have u learnt simple English and Maths? na ur type still dey fail WAEC and NECO after six attempts (when ur mates go don become medical doctors)