₦airaland Forum

What beats me, is, why the PDP senators would have the effrontery to turn around and attempt to vote against a decision validly taken while they voluntarily boycotted the session with their tails in-between their legs?

Hmm.

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Rawani:
The OPA deals were like honey and Diezani was the Queen Bee that directed their operation and swam in the goodies.

Can you imagine that in some cases our sweet crude containing many derivatives including Diesel, Jet A1, Petrol, Kerosene etc. was swapped for the same quantity of only Petrol?

PMB is thankfully walking the talk and restoring sanity to the oil sector; OPA scams are finally corruption.

+1. Very well said, @Rawani, and my own thoughts too, exactly; thanks.

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realborn:
It will be foolhardy and bullheaded to sack any competent and performing appointee on the altar of politics.

I think the good ones should be kept. The bad ones can be let off.

Nb:
It seems PMB had a brainwave after GEJ's 2 minutes visit 2 days ago. I guess looking at GEJ's face, he remembered there were heads yet to roll.

Who are the performing ones among the list, would you say?

Sentiments aside, I can't see any of them as a performer, for the life of me.

The most visible among the lot for example, IGP Solomom Arase, has a confusing personality, without liver - so he is non-effective; he still lies like hell in his accounts of happenings in the line of duty, just like a typical Nigerian policeman/woman that most of us know. What he's more famous for, is just a wide, sheepish smile at the President for the camera. Time to go, abegi!

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doctokwus:
What is clinical about the performance?U think any other person in that post wud have stopped any of those nominees from being cleared.Even if Ekweremadu or a pdp controlled Senate president had presided over the nomination,the outcome wud have been the same,simply because Nigeria has not reached the stage where thorough screening of nominees for Senate confirmation is done, like in developed democracies. Why is this so:because the executive here can easily armtwist those presiding over d screening if it wants to because of the skeletons they all harbour in their cupboards.
Saraki didn't do anything anyother sp wudnt have done.

+1. Very well said.

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donphilopus:
Because of mere confirmation of Ministers? Is Buhari even responsible for Saraki's woes? Does forgiving him speak well of this Administration's anti-corruption crusade?

Abeg tell'am.

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Buchoalfa:
Na wa loop. Can't the list be sent through the same channel he got it? Wasting government time.

I tell you... The SP was just looking for a photo shoot opportunity with the President for his (SP) legacy and picture album.

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superior1:
Dispatch Officer finish for NASS

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That's a very good write up [as quoted in your original post,] @OP; thanks for the share.

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shadelek:
I don't understand this Buhari any longer. You asked Nigerians to vote for you with your fake campaign promises, now you have been voted for. You keep neglecting the task at hand, instead you keep crucifying and blaspheming Jonah who was and still loved by all.

You're on your own with this your obviously fake "... loved by all."

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globalresource:
PMB be like John Kennedy This is PMB and one of the child of his aide in the Aso villa. What do you think is happening here?

https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/3023317_screenshot201510311145372_jpegd86c8eb27bced9c54c9e9eba1bce0f38

This a very adorable/adoring image. Thanks for the share, @OP.

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otil1:
Buhari did not introduce TSA!

It was conceived, defended and approved by the last administration.

This is a big lie and distortion of history. The TSA Policy was first introduced by the Yar'Adua administration, NOT that of Jonathan. Even then, the Jonathan administration didn't have the liver to put the policy into effect over the whole of the nearly six years during which it was in power!

And here we are, the Buhari administration has, within its first four months or so in power, put the TSA Policy into real effect, plugging financial rascality loopholes and ensuring that government revenues now go only into government coffers.

Haters should watch as this government starts realizing real revenue from this type of measures. Already, two of the first generation banks (First Bank and UBA, IIRC) have been caught trying to sabotage the policy, and have been made to cough out 4.9 Billion Naira in fines as a result.

Now, that is real - and measurable - progress and part of proper governance.

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Ofunaofu:
thanks duwdu

My pleasure.

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naptu2:
The images are not visible. Change "https" in the web addresses to http (i.e, remove the "s" ) to make the images visible.

Thanks for trying to help, but that doesn't make an image appear. Instead, it gives just a blob. Or, did you try it in this case/secure server and it worked for you? In any case, I don't think you can get to a resource on a secure server if you change its URL to non-secure, unless you're using a hacked medium. But if your suggestion works for some, by all means they're welcome to please use it.

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BALLOSKI:
This could have been the best gift of the year.

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OP @Ofunaofu;

When you post an article in a way that it is NOT properly formatted/does not make for joyful reading, you make the article lose its probable allure. I'm afraid that's what your post has done to this otherwise beautifully crafted, worded, and joy-to-read article - at least the way I took it when I read it directly on SaharaReporters' website. Luckily for me, I did that before encountering this your original post.

And, I think you should please also properly format the link you tried to insert at the end of your post, for it (the link) to be reachable. The way it is, it is not clickable or useful.

Having said all the above, I must commend your spirit of trying to create an awareness on Nairaland for such a beautiful message. Thumbs up!

Dear readers on here, please find below, the subject article the way it appears originally, for your reading pleasure...

A Passage to India
BY FEMI ADESINA
OCT 30, 2015

What do you do during a flight that lasts nine hours and six minutes? You read. You sleep. You wake, and sleep again. You eat. You pray (if you are the praying type). You discuss with your co-passengers. And of course, you ruminate about your destination. What you've heard, or read about the place, particularly if you were visiting for the first time.

https://secure.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Buhari-India_dress.jpg?itok=_qT4Bs2x
Pres. Buhari in India
State House Photos-Bayo Omoboriowo

But first, due credit for this headline. 'A Passage to India' is the title of a literature text I read in the university some 32 years ago. It was a 1924 novel by the English writer, E.M Forster. The book was on the struggle for Indian independence from British colonial rule, and the book is today regarded as one of the 100 Great Works of the 20th Century by the Modern Library, while Time Magazine also includes it in its 'All Time 100 Novels' list.

A Passage to India. That was what I embarked on, alongside my principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was billed to attend the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit, scheduled for New Delhi, the Indian capital, between October 27 and 30,2015.

What had I heard about India? You probably heard those childhood tales, too. India, the land of potent talisman. India does not take part in world soccer competitions, because the world football ruling body, Fifa, had banned it for life. What was the offense? Well, France had met with a country that nobody knows, in a game of soccer. But instead of depending on natural skills, India deployed its famed talisman. The opponents kept kicking the air, because the Indians had made the ball invisible. While the opponents did all the gyrations, however, the Indians did all the scoring. When the game ended at the end of 90 minutes, India had scored 90 goals.

Blue murder, Fifa screamed! This is unnatural, and would bring the beautiful game into disrepute. So it banned India for life. Well, that was the story we heard as young boys. Believe it, and you'd believe anything.

And what of athletics. The International Athletics Federation had to ban India for life, too. What happened? It was an Olympics Games (nobody seemed to know what year, and who the host country was). India was competing, and ended up winning gold medals in all the races. You would see all the athletes at the starting blocks, and the moment the whistle is blown for the race to begin, Indian athletes would already be breasting the tape at the other end. Talisman at work!

This is unfair competition, the rest of the world screamed. So the athletics federation banned India again. And that was how the country was left to play cricket, hockey and other such games. But the question we did not ask ourselves was; if talisman worked with soccer and athletics, why doesn't it work with cricket and hockey? At least, India gets defeated in those games. Some imaginations are simply fertile.

Well, we were passing to India, and it was for serious business. India and Africa had found common grounds, and were cooperating for development in what Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister calls "partnership beyond strategic and economic benefits."

We landed in the land of film stars, beautiful damsels (hope my wife is not reading this) and, of course, medical tourism, at nighttime. Straight to Lalit Hotel, where our President and his entourage were to stay. Lalit. You need to hear a bit about the story of the hotel. It was part of the Lalit Hospitality Group, established in 1988 by Mr Lalit Suri, a very successful businessman and politician, who represented his people in the Indian parliament.

Lalit Suri had the Midas touch. The hotel chain was very successful, and can be found today in most major Indian cities. He had great plans for expansion, and was growing steadily towards the goal. But in 2006, while on a trip to London, Lalit suffered a massive heart attack, and died. He was only 59. But his wife, Dr Jyotsna Suri, took up the gauntlet, and is today keeping her husband's dreams alive, along with their four adult children.

A day before we travelled, a massive earthquake had occurred in Afghanistan, and the tremor was felt both in Pakistan, and New Delhi. But the organizers of the summit said 'no shaking,' that delegates had nothing to fear. There were presidents and top government officials from more than 41 countries, and it was, indeed, a great outing for India and Africa.

Wednesday began with a bilateral meeting between President Buhari and Prime Minister Modi. Discussions focussed mainly on three areas: strengthening relations between the two countries, oil business, and helping Nigeria and Africa to develop their potentials.
India would be quite willing to cooperate with Nigeria on the military front, the PM said. She had helped set up the Nigerian Defence Academy in the early 1960s, provided instructors, and also took in Nigerian officers in its military academy. In fact, President Buhari was at the Defense Services College, Wellington, between July 22 and November 24,1975.

India wants Nigeria's oil on government to government transactions, and President Buhari said the request would be considered in the context of ongoing reforms in the industry.

Back to Wellington. The alumni of the academy paid the Nigerian president a courtesy visit at the Lalit Hotel. Led by Gen V.K Singh, it was time to go down memory lane. The then Lt Col Buhari had been described thus in a confidential report by H.W Kulkam, the Chief Instructor of the College:"Tall, slim, and well-turned out, Buhari is a quiet, unassuming and honest individual."

Major General S.P Malhotra, Commandant of the College, on his part, had written: "Sober and balanced. Straightforward, simple and mature." Memories are made of such.

In almost all the countries he has visited, President Buhari always spared the time to interact with Nigerians in the Diaspora, at the grounds of the Nigerian Embassy or High Commission. It was not different in New Delhi.

Ambassador 'Sola Enikanolaiye, the acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to India had put together an impressive assemblage of professionals, post-graduate students, businessmen, indeed, Nigerians from all walks of life. He reeled out the many ways in which the High Commission supports Nigerians in India, and from the way he was repeatedly hailed, he seems quite popular with the people.

Nigerians asked many questions. The President answered them all. And he gave them his usual charge: be law abiding. Don't lord it over your hosts. Obey the rules. Be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

From the High Commission, it was time to meet with the CEOs of Indian companies, particularly those who do, or are aspiring to do business in Nigeria. All the big names in pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, construction, manufacturing, power, oil and gas, agriculture, and many other sectors, were there. They spoke earnestly. The President responded frankly. New vistas were opened, promises were made. A very rewarding session, if you ask me.

That parley did not end without President Buhari warning the Indian businessmen not to connive with unscrupulous people to send sub-standard food and pharmaceutical products to Nigeria. To show how dear this was to the heart of the Nigerian president, it formed part of his paper at the plenary session of the summit the next day.

Thursday was the main day, in which 41 heads of government gathered at the Indira Gandhi Stadium for the high point of the summit.
After a colorful opening session of cultural display, Prime Minister Modi took the floor. He underscored the raison detre of the summit:

"The dreams of one-third of humanity have come together under one roof. Today, the heartbeat of 1.25 billion Indians and 1.25 billion Africans are in rhythm."
He said further:"India is honoured to be a development partner for Africa. It is a partnership beyond strategic and economic benefits. It is formed from the emotional bonds we share, and the solidarity we feel for each other."
Modi backed his position with statistics. In the past few years, trade between Africa and India has more than doubled to over $70 billion. India is now a major source of business investment in Africa, and 34 African countries enjoy duty free access to the Indian market. The country has equally committed $7.4 billion in concessional credit and $1.2 billion in grants since the first summit held in 2008.

In the immediate future, according to Modi, concessional credit of $10 billion would be given to Africa within five years, while grant assistance will total $600 million.

The presidents spoke one after the other. Trust Robert Mugabe, who spoke in his capacities as Zimbabwean president and chairman of African Union, he used the opportunity to fire darts at the West.
According to him, one-third of the world's population must be respected, therefore, the United Nations must become the United Equal Nations, with its Charter amended.

Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, submitted that Africa and India could no longer be rationally excluded from the permanent seat of the UN Security Council, a position supported by almost all the presidents.
One thread ran through the presentation of nearly all the African leaders. This was a good time to promote cooperation between Africa and India. South-south cooperation must not just be political slogan, but an opportunity for the countries to to meet their growing challenges.

"Africa needs mutual partnerships leading to development, rather than aids," submitted King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
Idris Deby Itno of Chad said India and Africa had had mutual exchanges since time immemorial, stressing that partnership will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

President Muhammadu Buhari said India and most African countries have similar historical experiences, and the summit was an opportunity to review what had been achieved since 2008, stressing:"India and Africa must develop new spirit of solidarity to confront challenges."

He equally brought the message home, saying:"as a government, we have demonstrated our strong determination to change the direction and content of governance, including the management of our resources through accountability, transparency, and result-orientation in governance. We are confident that India, as a tested friend and dependable partner, will always stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the discharge of the mandate entrusted to us by our people."

With the summit over, and planning to return home, I sent text messages to my friends in Nigeria, saying since I was in the land of talisman, they should indicate the type they wanted. The responses were rib-cracking, but you can't beat this one from Steve Nwosu, Deputy

Managing Director/Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspapers. He wrote:

"Get me a money-doubling ring. They call it evergreen pocket. Every money you spend finds its way back to your pocket. Hahahaha."
No doubt, India and Africa are onto a strong partnership that may be enduring, mutually beneficial, with strong implications for development. That is the true talisman.Ever potent, ever sure.


-Femi Adesina is Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to President Buhari

[img]https://secure.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Femi_Adesina-India.jpg?itok=-EPH8zsq[/img]
Presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu
State House Photos-Bayo Omoboriowo

Source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/10/30/passage-india-femi-adesina

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OrlandoOwoh:
Hope Chukwudi44 will still support Saraki even if the PDP senators desert the Senate President?

Good question.

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teepain:
Does the PDP as a party not want to warm its way into the hearts of Nigerians. I think the party is going about the wrong way and that they haven't learnt their lessons from their last electoral loss, which should have suggested to them that Nigerians have become wiser. How do you explain the position of PDP on Amechi vis-a-vis the party's position on the following:

1. That Saraki should not be tried and while being tried he must remain Senate President (in fact, a couple of them served as his body guards to his trial)
2. That Buruji Kashamu should not be extradited
3. That the trial of former NSA, Sambo Dasuki is witch hunting
4. That Akpabio can remain minority leader despite the several allegations hanging on his neck

If the party holds the positions above on the basis of presumption of innocence, why are they not extending the same courtesy to Amechi, especially when the issue was in court. It is trite that you can not approbrate and reprobate at the same time. How more unprincipled will the present PDP get.

Pray, does it not smack of crass stupidity and Political tomfoolery to preempt the court of law: Ministers do not enjoy immunity (and I very much doubt if a minister undergoing trial will enjoy the the escort services of fellow ministers as was witnessed with the senators), I will therefore encourage the PDP to bring any documentary evidence of financial mismanagement to the relevant agencies and make it available for the public to ensure follow up rather this resort to political gangsterism.

+1. Very well said.

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989900:
Where is Chukwudi44?

He's where he's always at, trust me. His next mindset/postulation would be like, "Mumu, Saraki will never be convicted...and can never be impeached... you watch as he remains on his seat till 2019!"

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mioltai:
Now where will the SP run to.Saraki should not have gone against his the ruling party wishes,and when he got the seat thru the backdoor,he shud have reached a compromise with the powers that be to give himself a soft landing,but pride they say cometh before a fall.Getting the to the seat without his partys blessing made saraki swim in d belief that he is a strategic genius.but what does he have nw,he has known no peace since getting to the post,frm PMBs body language to presiding over a fractured chamber that keeps passin votes of confidence and his recent stoning travails in his home town where he was invincible months ago.This ccb case has damaged bukkys reputation.his adversaries have him exactly where they want him to be.All thats left is to be hanged by public opinion.Now he's caught within pleasing the pdp and looking for the good fortunes of his party.He is really btw a rock and a hard place and that is what blind ambition brings a man.

+1.

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Boss13:
We thank God that the Appeal court judges were professional with their ruling otherwise, it will nullify the existence of the CCT due to Judicial Precedence. However, we know Saraki will walk scot free, probably, the CCT case may be used to checkmate him and keep him in order each time he intends to make rash decisions

This might have been necessarily the case pre-May 29, this year. It will be increasingly hard for it to be so going forward from here.

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businessMODE:
No body is even blaming Buhari sef ...it is his foot soldiers that are manipulating the system ... that is why Amechi was forced into the system against all odds

What is the "all odds?" Wike's commission of inquiry AFTER the PDP lost at the center?

I "naf" in Chinese.

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Dannyset:
Too many reasons why people like you will die of anger is because you don't recognise what should be laughed upon! I pity you. Saraki will live and people like you will still vent useless anger on media, and at the end of the day you won't be able to do nothing.

The person you responded to, was stating facts, and saying the truth. You're the one being emotional here, sorry.

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firetrap:
This ruling is just to hush people up so that it would not seem that because he confirmed amechi yesterday, his case was thrown out today. the case will eventually be thrown out down the line for a flimsy reason. the APC handlers aren't all stupid.

You're OYO.

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dammytosh:
---and some eediots thought Buhari will negotiate trial with ordinary Ministerial confirmation.

I wonder o! Some of us got into the abusive books of some yeye people, for saying that someone like Buhari would not negotiate away justice against corrupt persons just because he wanted some other persons confirmed as ministerial nominees. I believe Buhari would show the way out to anyone working for him that's been proven to be a looter of public funds - anytime.

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NgeneUkwenu:
Do you suggest, Buhari controls the Judiciary? Let's be careful with our comments in order not to be misconstrued..

Appeal Courts are made up of eminent justices who have made their marks @the lower courts..

I agree with the first part. The subject of the last statement, however, should be treated on a case-by-case basis o! Hmm.

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PointB:
True talk.
And you lying liars would have been trying to outdo each other trying to defend the indefensible.

Saraki, just like Fashola, Tinubu, and Amaechi are all thieves. I'll not waste tears on any of them.

Then don't. I doubt someone like you is even a fly in the ointments of the personalities you're mentioning, anyways.

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philips70:
Contrary to what people have been thinking, APC, nay the presidency has a hand in Saraki's trial. Some departments just want to be seen to be doing their job including EFCC.

And so?

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NgeneUkwenu:
How Relieved I am to read this...because the Wailers and the town criers would have used this particular case to shout themselves hoarse on how Buhari traded off Amaechi for Saraki's corruption case.

There would have been thousands of threads on politics section on how Buhari's anti-corruption war was just smoke screen, with the moderators helping by making sure there were on the Front page.


Femi Aribisiala and Fani Kayode would have written acidic articles to ridicule Buhari.

Akpabio, Deziani etal would have 'seen' a ray of hope....

Oh My God......Sai Buhari Till The PDP Is Finally Buried..

God Bless You for this expertly reasoned analysis which I fully share, @NgeneUkwenu.

I'm near emotional about this development. And the fact that the judges are admitting they had to struggle to be able to reach a consensus before they could deliver this unanimous judgement, just makes me feel that things are beginning to fundamentally change for the better in this land, and that The Heavens may have just started smiling on our Obodo Naija!

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Dear Senator Akpabio;

You've been quoted as having said that your party and fellow PDP senators never supported Senator Saraki during the senate election that purportedly made Senator Saraki the President of the current 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Contrary to this your reported statement (if true,) however, your party, the PDP, on the eve of the election for the subject office of the Senate president, directed ALL PDP senators - including your good self, to not contest for the said position of the President of the Senate, but to instead support, en-masse, the candidature of Senator Bukola Saraki of the rival party, the APC.

As a result, ALL the PDP senators voted for Senator Bukola Saraki in that election, together with a few clearly renegade APC senators present on the floor of the Senate during the election. This enabled Senator Saraki to emerge the purported "winner" as President of the current 8th Senate of the Republic.

Part of the incontrovertible evidence that your party, the PDP, made Senator Saraki "win" that election, was that, of the about 59 APC and essentially 49 PDP senators of the republic that were qualified - and entitled - to participate in that said election, only about 18 APC senators (IIRC) and ALL 49 senators belonging to the PDP, were present on the floor of the senate to vote during that election. The declared result of the votes for the position of that President of the Senate showed that Senator Saraki received much more than 49 votes. Clearly, virtually ALL senators on essentially the platform of your party, the PDP, obeyed the directive of your party and voted for Senator Saraki in that election.

Based on the above Q.E.D., and if one would take cognizance of your reported claim that your fellow senators and party, the PDP, never supported Senator Saraki to emerge President of the current 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is it not fair to say that you, Senator Godswill Akpabio, is fast becoming one of the most m0ronic politicians that have ever emerged senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

Many thanks as you respond to this and/or similar posts.

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The PDP elements as a party are simply over-stretching their luck. Hopefully, they learn soon to recognize reality, and know the limits of their influence in the current dispensation.

Good luck, everyone.

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Rawani:
It's only a reflection of what's happening in the real world. Ask Edwin Clark.

Good eyes!

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olatunji21:
Lolz.. dem no b mate.. Kaaki no b leather...Who's a Saraki in the heat of the election? Wammako, i laugh, Kwankwanso.. Hiss... Ameachi played with fire.. He's the Victor

Good thinking, this, and I fully agree.

The thread opener/OP is arguing like a political neophyte. Hmm.

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