₦airaland Forum

There are three major factors responsible for this.

1. Geotechnical stability of soil
The North generaly has a geology of igneous, metamorphic or very stable sedimentary formations. Their soils have a very high CBR. It therefore costs less to construct a road in the North. Also, proximity of good quality road construction material (granite) and even on-site materials contributes to this. Apart from costs being lower, durability is also very high compared to the south. Hence little or no maintenace is required.

2. Dry Weather conditions
This contributes immensely in many ways. There is more time to construct in the North than in the South. Construction work is hardly disrupted by frequent rains. Also, the very fact that conditions are generally drier helps the whole construction process. Remember that in the South, drainage problems are an additional concern to the road construction.

3. Political Factor
This is the factor many people will like to turn a blind eye to but we all know it has been a major factor. Most of our leaders especially in the military era were from the north. Obviously, the north has enjoyed the lion's share in terms of infrastructural development by the Federal Government. No better example to emphasize the imbalance than in the Niger Delta. Given a fair society, the roads in the Niger Delta should be equally as good as the roads in the North. There are technological solutions available to handle points 1 and 2 so they are not an excuse in this context.

Proverb: You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

^ So far, the votes trend is close to my final assessment. Let's see what the final votes will be after some time.

[quote author=Enugu_Ukwu link=topic=631655.msg7987284#msg7987284 date=1301089025]Anybody knows why?

He wants to use employment to solve electricity problem.[/quote]I watched it and it seems you got him wrong. It is the other way round.

The question was, if you are constrained to solve only one issue, what will it be?

He was trying to be smart, so he said it will be UNEMPLOYMENT. And he will attack it by solving the issue of power, encourage foreign invesrtment, solve environmental issues etc. I think the point was that by solving these problems, he will directly and indirectly create jobs. he tried to use one stone to kill many birds. The problem was that he did not end his arguement well because after starting with unemployment, he was drfiting off to education and ended up dribbling himself. Anyway, he tried.

Anyway, I get your point. For me, I will take Fashola as president and Lamido as VP. If he can't get VP, I will keep him very close to the top, in a capacity where he can wield more power than in CBN. He has proven himself too. I don't really know if he will have the power to do more than he is doing right now if he's made Minister of Finance. I don't know much about the role.

@ Sky Blue, We both agree with Fashola, Good. Now for Lamido, I think he is a good idea, why?

1. He has GUTS! He is fearless and will be useful in cutting the excesses of government.
2. We need someone who is business minded. Someone who can build the economy. He knows where it hurts and he can shape a lot of things if he has executive power.
3. He is very disciplined in his own personal dealings.
4. Many Nigerians already believe in him. He can restore hope in government if he is there.
5. He is easily accepted across the country. He can easily serve as a unifying element. He doesnt seem to arouse much tribal / religious sentiments.

opalu:
FASHOLA/LAMIDO 2015!

Those are two president materials there! What a team that will be. I won't mind at all and they should possibly run under ACN or a new party with entirely new values.

ok naijangel, that's great.

@ naijangel, I think you are part of the organizers of the debate if I am not mistaken. I would like to use this opportunity to commend you for your efforts. You have done a good job. Thanks

Sky Blue:
This was disappointing. You may laugh but out of all of them Dele was the most convinving for me, although I don't believe he takes his candidacy serious.

If Ribadu is willing to shut up and allow his vice president to do a lot of the work (like Buhari did with his Vice in the 80s) then that would be an appealing candidacy. Unfortunately such seems at ends with his character.

Buhari seems sincere but Bakare seems too much like Ribadu personofied, loud and vague, and Buhari doesn't seem clued in enough by his own on how to solve the nations problems, he just wants to be president. (Buhari and Adeola would have been gold)

Jonathan seems too much of more of the same. His Vice has never really been tested (although his stint in Kaduna was above average). For someone who surrounds himself with the peeople he does though, I don't see how another four years would be drastically different from the last year.

Shekarau has not really performed in Kano and on closer inspection his points though eloquently posited, appear vague and even fall apart in the light of tighter scrutiny.

We are in trouble o.

Fair judgement but let's not lose hope just yet. There are people like you and me who are learning from all these and one day, such people will get the chance to lead.

My Final assessment:

The best thing about the debate for me was the mood. Very healthy debate and comfortable atmosphere.

Overrall, I give it to Ribadu. He made most points but still scores low due to the ramblings. (55%)
Next, Shekerau. He spoke good english but does not demonstrate that he can bring any change at all (30%)
Last AND the least! Dele Momodu. I enjoyed his humour but he was not here for votes. He just made me laugh (15%)

But, I am not impressed at all by the fact that none could inspire me.

Dele: FELLOW NIGERIANS!

Abeg somebody should escort that man out of there. this is not an amusement park.  

Now I know why Dele Momodu is here. He didnt come here to get votes. he came here for free publicity.

I seriously do not see any sustainable change coming from any of these guys at all.

- Ribadu has too many "out of the blues" ideas, and he is not being realistic enough.
- In vast contrast, Shekerau is being too pessimistic. He represents business as usual. So much talk, no action points.
- Dele Momodu sounds like he just wants to party  

Ribadu was smart with that trick question but he ended poorly.

He said if pinned down on one issue, it will be unemployment. And, he will solve it by solving the power problem, enhance private sector etc. He was trying to use one stone to kill many birds.  

@ Sky Blue, you are welcome.

I don't think Shekerau got that trick question right. How is Exemplary Leadership an issue to handle?

try here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ribadu-adeola-2011

This has been very stable. No cuts since I started watching. the video is not too clear but audio is 100%

Dele Momodu is trying to sound pragmatic but he keeps going off point!

I like the idea of bringing the youth into the policy making process.

Mai Suya:
this is trash, if you ask me

Don't mind him. He is not serious with the debate. He is only there to add humour.

ROTBLMMO  

Dele Momodu with street vendors selling ovation.

Put someone like Sanusi with any of these guys on a debate, he will floor them.

So far I like the mood of the debate. Very healthy discussions with less PDP bashing than the NNwhateva debate.

Dele Momodu is just a clown. I like his humour and his emphasis on engaging the right and intelligent people.

Shekerau did not handle the power question too well.  He made some good points about the situation but no concrete plan.

Dele Momodu was doing so much talking around the question though he made a sense or two.

Ribadu handled the question well by suggesting solutions but I am not fully convinced with how he intends to achieve his plan.

I expected one of them to come up with a good idea about NYSC. Like making it optional but increasing the perks to make people WANT to go through the program and not HAVE to do it.

They are not answering the questions convincingly. I expected them to tell us what they plan to do or what their vision is. They should not be telling us the problems. We know the problems are there plenty plenty.

I am impressed by the respect and discipline displayed by Ribadu and Shekerau by attending the debates so far. I think they are passionate to show what they can deliver. We need people who think in a new way.

He has just scored a goal against PDP 
Even if he reverses the order, he has raised the dust already.

Seems this patient aint leaving this bed any time soon. Even Dr. Jega cannot cure him. Sad

Pharoh:
You want to know my verdict?, a fashola of lagos state will fight corruption better than ribadu. It is by brain, sophisticated policies, checks and balance and not boasting to jail high profile thieves. Look at fashola's accountability and making sure that there is no hole to steal ( not perfect with tinubu around ). You create waterproof systems that people will find it hard to steal and not a system that they can steal and you will start chasing the 1% that you know.

My good friend, For this statement I award you a doctorate degree in Human Behaviour. I agree with this theory 100%. In addition I think there is one thing performers know how to do. It is to perform! Put them anywhere, they will perform. Nice one

^ Correct.