₦airaland Forum

sleekman:
what's all dis bruhaha about uninterrupted power in 2015 or 2019? Y have u allowed urselves to be blinded by GEJ & thieves of 40. The current power capacity in d country is 6600+MW. As @ 1999 d capacity was 5000+ coupled with d newly installed IPPs. Buhari asked a question @ d debates. Between 1999 and now d installed power capacity increased by about 1000MW to 1500MW with $16billion spent thus far. What happened? For your information Buhari had d most realistic answer @ d debates & I guess dat came from being there himself. He said he will make sure dat d existing power stations operate @ an optimum. Isn't it clear dat d PDP is playing politics with human lives. Beneath is a link to a Central bank publication. It is clear dat d power stations are operating @ about 25-40%. We can achieve fairly stable power if d power stations are running @ optimization. Buhari's problem @ d debates was he wasn't so audible but he had solutions to all d problems. For example he astonished everyone when he said there was nothing wrong with d current educational system except dat of funding. Is there anyone here dat will tell me if corruption, indiscipline & funding is tackled in d educational sector, there wouldn't be drastic improvements. U all need 2 go on youtube & hear him 4 urselves & conclude if he gave d most trustworthy & realistic answers.

www.cenbank.org/out/Publications/occasionalpapers/rd/2001/Owe-01-3.PDF

Whether General Buhari was coherent or not is not the issue. The issue here is his plan. Buhari  government cannot do jack about the technical problem of a private company. Most power stations complain of inadequate gas supply. The GEJ has done extensive work on getting gas to them. Those who follow closely the issue of the power sector will realise that the issue of availability of gas has been roundly dealt with. Nowadays, there is abundant supply of gas.

Now the GEJ government masterstroke of handing-over power stations to private sector is the best development in the power problem solutions. Anyone who ignores or belittles it, is simply playing the politics of ignorance. On the basis of power sector reform and privatisation of PHCN, Buhari plan is dead on arrival.

For the private sectors to make meaning turnover on their power investment, it is their responsibility to not only reach their installed generating capacity but also to increase, not the job of the government.

Government is continuous entity. The only way General Buhari plan will work is if he dismantles the GEJ power reform program, nationalise the power station, so that he can pump more billions of dollar into improving their capacity. In my own opinion, only an clueless president will even contemplate that.

Politics aside, the best way to resolve the power issue is via the private sector. We should therefore give Kudos to the Goodluck team in this area. General Buhari's plan to improve capacity of a private power company is nonsensical, and show his level of disconnect from the problem he plans to solve. He is not thinking ahead. He is still living in the past. Someone should tell him this is not the 80s.

blacksta:
All these promises - All we want is constant electricity - The most important factor is how GEJ proposes to achieve this target without a clear road map this would be another promise added to the heap failed to actualise PROMISES PIT,  I want loose sleep over this matter but i suspect it is just another election jingles.

This is not entirely correct. GEJ has present a comprehensive power roadmap. See link below:

http://www.channelstv.com/global/news_details.php?nid=22006&cat=Local

The good thing about his power road map is the deviation from the old practice of past regimes. It would be recalled that the regime of Obj spent billions of tax payers money in his corruption ridden effort at solving the power problem.

Goodluck Road Map which fulcrum is the private sector is the best bet at solving the problem. Getting the private sector to invest in power in difficult because of the capital intensive nature of power generation, distribution and transmission.

Any presidential candidate that promises to solve the power problem in 2-3 years is simply making empty promises. Declaring emergency on the power problem sounds romantic. But in the end it will be an avenue for people in power to enrich themselves, as checks and balances in emergency situation is close to none existence. GEJ is wise in jettisoning that idea, as he is also smart in preferring the private sector driven growth to government initiated ones.

Goodluck has provide the answer to the power problem, it left for the private sectors, and international investors to take the bait as they did with GSM.

texazzpete:
So when the youths decide to quiz their prospective leaders on their plans for Nigeria, they are just a group that 'wants attention' abi?
Good thing for the people of Egypt and Tunisia that they had few people like you to spoil things for them> You'd probably have been telling CNN that the Tahrir square crowd were 'attention seekers'.

Funny how GEJ has no time to attend a debate that he was invited for weeks ago, yet he's expected to make an appearance at Dbanj's concert on the same day.

I agree with you 100%. There is nothing wrong with the youth quizzing their prospective leaders. But these questions beg for answers: Are these youth different from you and I, Nigerians? What question are they going to ask outside his records in office; his plans for Nigeria? How he will solve power problem? How will he tackle corruptions? His so-called ineptitude; and his  wife alleged corruption? Etc.

These are some of the questions that will be asked, even by the BON debates. So there is nothing wrong if the so-called youth take advantage of the BON debate to put these questions across. If they want to re-christian to "What about us?' or "What about them?" or what about anything all well and good.

Multiplicity of debates distract from real issues. Debates are campaign strategies. Telling the people what they want to hear is not a big deal. Any politician can do it. What is important is what you do in office, not necessary what you promise to do. Anybody can make promises.

Winners of debates don't necessarily translate to better leadership.  Otherwise we should all be rooting for Shekarau (?)

Goodluck Jonathan is the President of this very complex country. Campaigning for re-election is tasking enough and extra joblet alone combining it with preparations for a thousand and one debate.

Jonathan has the right to choose which debate to attend. Why should he attend a debate on 25th and another on 29th just because some group want attention.
This debates are far removed from a primary concern. Debate will not provide us electricity - Goodluck will.

The youth are waiting for the much touted BON debate. The youth and Nigerians are one and the same. And we are earnestly waiting for the BON debate. Frankly, these many debates by every Chukwudi, Ejiro, Kayode, and Isah are becoming unnecessary distraction from the real issues of credible elections.

Will there be debates organised for the teenagers (18 -19) and elderly (45 - and above)? And while we are at it, debates organised for the unborn, the dead, the Christians and Muslims, and then a debate organised by various ethnic groups, civil societies, clans, every family and perhaps for every potential voter?

One debate is enough for all. Nigerians will hear the President on BON debate. Nigerians earnestly wait for the BON debates!

Campaigning can be fun.
I spoke to some of my colleagues who were very strong BB advocate. At the end of the 15 minutes chat, they saw the folly in voting for expired candidate. They realised that Buhari will only take Nigeria back to stone age. A man who sole mission is to probe, they agree will only delay our quest for steady power supply. Nigeria will stagnate, because he has no other agenda than to probe. Many good policies will be reversed, or suspended for at least 3 years while he realise his folly.

After 3 years he will learn that governance involves alot of compromise and tough choices. He will use the next one year to pursue re-election.

So naturally my educated friends are now rooting for the steady, tested, and trusted GEJ.

Dream chaser:
This poll just made my day on Nairaland! But I think 60.4% is too low! Was expecting GEJs lead to be in the range of 70-80%. We need to work more on our campaign strategy. I need me a LANDSLIDE. To shut up the doubters and mumus.

This dream will surely come true. Nigeria will not be handed over to a disguised desperate dictator. GEJ is the present and future of this country. He has my nod for the next four years.

Tunsbobo:
Fashola is a very intelligent man who has all the qualities you want in a leader! He is cool headed, objective and behaves like a real gentleman by putting the interests of Lagosians at heart! This guy could be a future president. . .who knows? Acn all the way!

True except for the 10% Tax payers money remitted to the crooked Tinubu.

Kobojunkie:


Well your statement that I choose not to see anything good in him is an attack since you are not in my mind and have no mind reading abilities. I don't need to engage baseless nonsense like that when all I can easily do is check his records to know all I need to know of him and his capability and his record continues to scream "LIKELY MISTAKE". If he needs me to see past his own records to vote for him, then it is sure confirmation that he is not the leader we need.


a) Did Rotimi Amaechi Send someone to the moon or mars before Nigerians decided him a good leader?

b) Did Sullivan Chime Send someone to the moon or mars before Nigerians decided him a good leader?

c) Did Fashola Send someone to the moon or mars before Nigerians decided him a good leader?

So what in the world are you trying to say? If these men did not need to do all too elaborate work to get people noticing their potential, why is it still hard for you to know that Jonathan is not what we need more of? He has been tried and tested over and over -- and he failed each and every time already.

My statement is what it is - a statement. Never intended as an attack.
Goodluck is saddled with the responsibility of managing the nation. Based on my assessment of his performance. He has impressed me a lot; far more that the lots you touted above. GEJ is not just a good leader. He is a very good administrator. That is what the record of his achievement says.
He is tested and trusted, and has succeeded in many things. Nigerians have decided in the polls the he is a good leader. The April election will confirm it by God's divine grace.

He is the man Nigeria need for the next four years. End of Discussion.

Kobojunkie:
You really think attacking my person makes the facts we have on the man disappear? Come on . . . and here I thought you at least willing to use your head here a bit. ROFLMAO!!

What polls are you referring to? Again, I am against the status quo so I don't think I should be concerned much with the polls. If the majority remain the way they were back 2007, I don't see how that should impact the truth and facts we have in anyway.  I am more concerned about making sure you at least know the truth so when you go to vote or tell others to, you know the truth rather than continue blindly
I am sorry but that is bull and you know it. When it comes to the heart, we still tend to play safe--- all indications point to this being a mistake if it happens. All substantial evidence we have of who this man is screams "mistake" and you come in to tell us that possibly the first time your vote might actually count for something, you base your vote on your FEELINGS??
We are talking of the lives of MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HERE! I wonder if you also FEEL this way when you have the choice of having unprotected sex (with someone you picked off the street)or not. lol
No leader on this planet NEEDS TO BE PERFECT -- Fashola, Amaechi, Sullivan Chime are not perfect leaders but they are DEFINITELY LEADERS -- Something Jonathan continues to show he is not. He is in Aso Rock, 10 months in, and you are still needing to make excuses for him. What sort of leader needs to be made excuses for?

Attack your person? In which way?
GEJ records in office speaks volume for itself. He doesn't have to send a Nigerian to Mars to claim achievement.

fried-rice:
As deputy Governor for 8 year, what other experience do you need as Governor? perharp another 7 years as governor before he knows the ropes to act as one.
check the stats, 8years as Deputy, 1.5years as governor, 4years as Vice President and yet not a single achievement as President for over 13months. I guess the whole nation should sit still and wait for him for another couple of years to learn what it takes, so you feel such a person with an obvious learning disability should be the president?

When I began this journey seeking your votes I committed myself to promising less and delivering more. I promised to reduce pressure on roads by expanding on aviation and rail infrastructure and to this end I commissioned 25 new rail coaches following which my entourage and I journeyed by rail from Lagos to Abeokuta. When I promise I will deliver. GEJ

Big things start from small beginnings. This is just one of them!

Kobojunkie:

I can understand how, by Nigeria's standards, you would not expect anything substantial from your leaders, both deputy and non, but I hope you know that the seat of deputy shares responsibility in the blame when inaction becomes the order of the day, yet pay checks and loot being shared as usual. So, sorry, he did occupy the top seats in government and should be, and is being held accountable by those who know the position of Government, even in Bayelsa.
Now let's assume we, for a second, follow your "He was not there long as Governor" argument for a minute, we still cannot give your man a pass. Fashola was there less than 4 months before he started performing as higher levels than the one before him could even imagine. In his first 6 months, River's state Governor, who had to learn from scratch when he took office, of the states situation and the same time ensure visible development, was able to show in that little time what he stood for in that state. The same can be said of Sullivan Chime who hit the ground running, with no previous experience or knowledge of the insides of how state affairs are really run.
Jonathan had more than 5 years of state experience under his belt when he assumed the role of Governor, yet this man accomplished NOTHING in more than 17 months in office as Governor .  So again, why should we burden ourself with this yet again?
Why can't I mention Idiaghon? Let me guess, because you know he was the only active VP known? And this was during the dreaded military rule. There is also Atiku who aided in the ousting of Obasanjo after he decided to cut away from the administration it disagreed with. He was vocal so, yes, I will give him that.
Privatization of power supply can easily continued by any administration. It is not rocket science and some of the candidates are firmly behind it anyways so I don't think is rational reason for any Nigerian to vote that Jonathan continue in office. Yes, we can continue privatization without him and we will do just fine.
Remember what you said of Opinions earlier? Well, what you have above is just that-- a baseless Opinion. You do not know this man and so you CANNOT go around feeding people with claims you cannot substantiate. Humility has little to do with vote rigging or judiciary freedom, something, I think you also pulled out of your arse since anyone who has kept up with news will know that is far from true. This would be all the candidates since that seems the manifesto presented by all and rightly expected. ROFLMAO!!! I could not help but laugh  . . . I wonder what the Egyptians/libyans etc will say if they realize someone is trying to use their fight as reason to elect a Jonathan. lol 
  Yeah, see that is the problem. This 'quiet unassuming man' has been in fact playing second fiddle for so long that it seems now that the reason is he does not have much else to offer. I mean the victim thing -- mis-understood nonsense, we no longer need -- remember yar adua? That was essentially the same excuse we should to convince ourselves to try him, along with jonathan. So I don't think you do your argument any good if you think you can badmouth Yar adua and not Jonathan. Both men share similar traits in that wise.   

Obviously unlike me, you choose to see nothing good in the man GEJ. That is you. Recent poll shows that many Nigerians are with him. That is what matters in elections. If you think the polls are wrong, well of course, that is up to you.

Like I said earlier, ethnicism, aside, in my heart of hearts, I strongly believe that GEJ is a better man than the other top contenders. That is why I am rooting for him. He is not perfect; he is humane (of course in my own opinion).  Because of Jonathan, I am willing to give PDP another chance.

GEJ is the best man for the job. Nigeria will be better with him at the helm of affairs.

I see you want me to oblige, ok, I take the bait. Let me tear this conjectures you have been touting around as gospel.

Kobojunkie:
Now it is not MY OPINION -- It happens to be BASED ON FACTS -- his facts. Look at the portion in bold and tell me which is WRONG. So yet two more promises, no SUBSTANCE STILL, makes him a better man? :\ Internet Jihadist? WOW!!
You would have to fill me in on what you are talking of. I am not campaigning FOR Buhari -- I am simply against the continuation of the status quo.
Just cause you can say something does not make it fact.
We all know from Jonathan's record that the man to date has accomplished nothing and so it is a huge gamble, similar to the one we took back in 2007, that we take today, if we allow him continue.

Now here  are Jonathans known facts

Jonathan spent 8 years as Deputy Governor/Governor in Balyesa, a deep Niger Deltan State, and he has no clue about his own people's issues. He did NOTHING for his own people during that time and enriched himself while he was at it, doing Nothing.

We celebrate people like Amaechi Rotimi ( A Niger Deltan Governor for 4 years) for the visible improvements he has made to his state in such a short time. Also Peter Chime who in only 4 years as Governor of Enugu State has transformed the state in so many ways. Then there is Fashola in Lagos State who has helped improve one of the most populous states in the country in 4 years. Jonathan had 8 years to work with and did nothing in all that time in one of the most funded but least populated states in the country.

The same man has been in Aso Rock for almost 4 years and he has again done NOTHING for his people from Aso Rock. He is still promising them all but has yet to deliver anything to them from there.

Pray tell, why would any Niger Deltan in his right senses want to vote for the same man that has neglected them 12 years straight to return for another 4 years? Why would anyone wish this one the same people who endured it for 8 years and then another 4 ?

We celebrate people like Amaechi Rotimi ( A Niger Deltan Governor for 4 years) for the visible improvements he has made to his state in such a short time. Also Peter Chime who in only 4 years as Governor of Enugu State has transformed the state in so many ways. Then there is Fashola in Lagos State who has helped improve one of the most populous states in the country in 4 years. Jonathan had 8 years to work with and did nothing in all that time in one of the most funded but least populated states in the country.

These were/are governors. Give me the list of deputy governors who achieve something of substance in their era. GEJ was governor for more or less a year before he became a Vice President.

The same man has been in Aso Rock for almost 4 years and he has again done NOTHING for his people from Aso Rock. He is still promising them all but has yet to deliver anything to them from there.

Pray tell, why would any Niger Deltan in his right senses want to vote for the same man that has neglected them 12 years straight to return for another 4 years? Why would anyone wish this one the same people who endured it for 8 years and then another 4 ? [/size][/font]

He was in Aso Rock as Vice President for three years. Mention any Vice President who achieved anything during their tenure. Please dont tell me Idiagbon. Niger Deltans, nay Nigerians in their right senses will vote for anyone who will continue with privatisation and reforms; who will guarantee power supply (not disruptive probes like yar adua's and potentially buhari). Nigerians will vote a humble man who has denounce vote rigging several times; and has given the judiciary freedom to do their job. Nigerians will vote for the man who has assured development of every nook and crannies of the country - water ways, coastal roads, international airports, etc. Nigerian will vote for the man who is in tune with international affairs; who rescued thousands of fellow countrymen from libya, and egypt, hot-spots and promised no one will be left behind.

Nigerians will vote for this quiet, unassuming hardworking man, misunderstood honest man.

Discerning Nigerians will vote for Good Ebele Jonathan come April.

GEJ is going to win. Some people are going to have hypertension trying to sell an expired candidate, to masses of unwilling buyers. I will save my troubles were I to be in their shoes.

Kobojunkie:
So, time and chance favours an openly and established incompetent man whose record, more recent than those of his competition, is plagued with so many questionable unions. decisions, inaction, failure, and possible misuse of public funds/corruption ?

Do we really need to blame Time and Chance our stupidity this time around?

The highlighted portion is your opinion of him, as you are entitled. As for me, I see a hardworking man trying hard to steer the ship of the nation in the right direction. Making tough and necessary call. Making his mistakes and learning from them. He has been able to whether the storm, and calm the polity.

Your so-call corrupt man has assured you severally of free election, that is why you have hope of unseating. The so-called man of inaction has kicked off the power sector reform agenda, among others.

If Buhari was so good why did not all you internet jihadist not root for him all these years he has been contesting election.  Tell me what has changed along the years with Buhari? Or is he suddenly a reformed man because he has a Tunde Bakare as running mate?

Jonathan is a far better administrator, and better manager of the Nigeria project. He is not a religious or ethnic bigot like some contestants that I know. The time favours him, and his chance is know, and Nigeria will be much better with him in the stead.

I will be casting my vote for Jonathan and many Nigerians who are not swayed by the Jihad and campaign of calumny against him will.

GEJ is the right man for the Job!

Goodluck Jonathan will win the election by wide margin. GEJ may not be the best candidate but time and chance favours him.
Buhari is simply not good enough to rule this country. A dodgy credential in fighting corruption or a fanatical pastor as a sidekick will not get him to Aso Rock. Ribadu is a hypocrite!

The next four years is for Jonathan to deliver on power sector. After that, we will see what next.

Eziachi:
What an insult- a presidential candidate should move over, so that a governor address a local rally that was an after thought?

Think of it as true federalism.

rhymz:
Seriously, I see no need for all these uneccessary brouhaha over GEJ's non-attendance of the debate organized by NN24 like he is obliged to grace them with his attendance. Let us give the man the benefit of the doubt and wait, aftetall he says he will be attending the one organized by a more reputable and wholly Nigerian debate organized by a BON with a better reach, coverage and standing than the relatively unknown NN24 that is desperately looking for recognition and ratings. Apart from people with DSTV connections, more than %90 of Nigerians still would not have been able to watch it as the channel is a cable channel, so wetin com be the whole yappin and yappin wey una dey yap d guy. Obviously, GEJ is not the only presidential aspirant that did not attend the debate, how come nobody is talking about others, like there was a concerted plan to embarrass him in the name of debating, he probably saw the handwriting on the wall and pulled out. And people should stop being ridiculous, GEJ can not attend every debate organized by every tom dyck and Harry and if he must attend one, it should be the one organized by a more reputable and recognizeable Nigerian channel with a sprawling reach across the country. Infact, GEJ dodged a bullet there not attending that debate, Buhari and Ribadu who wanted to please these insatiable Elite even though they clearly were not well prepared only turned out to be jackasses with their very mediocre performances, making Shekaru come off like a prof. From the point of view of a political analyst,the debate has only ended up casting a cloud of doubts over their capacity to understand the Nigerian problem even if that may not neccessarily be the case. That is what you get when you let people push you around even when you are not yet ready to do something. GEJ understood that and opted out to buy himself time and probably learn the mistakes of his rivals, at least from the NN24 debate, he would ve gotten a clue of the kind of questions to expect and how not to answer them, guaging from the responses so far from Nigerians to the arguments of the trio at the debate. If GEJ aint a political genius then what do you call that? Lol. . . This guy understand the game very well than most of his rivals, instead of falling for the bait by opposition, he made sure he turned the tables against opposition and made the oppositions debate themselves for once without using PDP as an excuse to conceal their own shortcomings and what was the result? A clueless bunch giving a mix of vague and emotional retorts to serious questions that demand clear, simple but well explained replies. The GEJ camp has displayed a rare political cunning by making all the opposition rise to bait and using them to test the waters, knowing all along that they will eventually debate. People should learn to see the political game of psychology going on-at first they had indicated interest then later they made you speculate by coming out to say the president "may" not attend the debate only to come out again to choose the one organized by BON which is even more recognized and better experienced and suited for such- I like the managers of GEJ's campaign, these guys will make good chess mates.

Spot on rhymz,
While the oppositions are running helther skether participating in debates and talking craps, GEJ team have adopted the principle of political sagacity.
Not attending the NN24 debate is indeed an adept move to know his enemies.


My mentor Sun Tzu said in Art of War, Attack By Strategem

17. Thus we may know that there are five essentials
   for victory:
   (1) He will win who knows when to fight and when
       not to fight.
   (2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior
       and inferior forces.
   (3) He will win whose army is animated by the same
       spirit throughout all its ranks.
   (4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take
       the enemy unprepared.
   (5) He will win who has military capacity and is
       not interfered with by the sovereign.

18. Hence the saying:  If you know the enemy
   and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a
   hundred battles.  If you know yourself but not the enemy,
   for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
   If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will
   succumb in every battle.

snthesis:
Firstly, GEJ is d current president of Nigeria, and men! That is alot of responsibility, if you have eva being in a position of authority, albeit little, you would understand the meaning of the word "priority"

Secondly,there are billions of networks desperately seeking ratings/credibility, NN24 is no exception, its relatively new, not present on local stations, can only be viewed via DSTV which is Southafrican, and you expect the President of my country to attend a Presidential debate on such a platform-wtf!!!

Thirdly, NN24 played a deft gambit, in chess we call it a zung zwang- the aim is typically to force your opponent to your will, fortunately GEJ didn't fall for d cheap blackmail and clueless pressuring from inept/biased journalist.

Finally, I would advise ppl should reason succinctly before posting, NN24 has no basis to xpect the C-I-C of d FGN to attend a debate, haba! !!wetin stop iya basira from holding one in her beer parlour,  GEJ will attend a presidential debate for Nigerians, by Nigerians, to Nigerians.

I agree with this post 100%. Every Emeka, Kunle, and Mohammed just cant setup a TV station and bait the president to accord them patronage and cheap publicity. What exactly is NN24? When did they start broadcasting? How many Nigerians has access to them? Or was the preisdential debate supposed to be held twice? NN24 and BON? Or maybe as many times as some station organised a debate?

I strongly support GEJ boycotting the NN24 presidential debate. So far, I am satisfied with his efforts so far. His mistakes, missteps, an imperfections make him human. I would however like to conclude my assessment of him based on the BON debate. I wont be voting Buhari because he has been a military ruler who truncated democracy. In my opinion, he has nothing new to offer . He should be in jail by now or dead for treason. Ribadu lacked the repertoire experience or skill-sets to manage a country as complex as Nigeria.

I will pitch my tent with GEJ because:
1. I like his plans for the power sector. I believe it will work.
2. There wont be a fresh reversals of policies (that will cause Nigeria another three wasted years)
3. GEJ said he will rule for four years (hence he wont waste 3 years reversing policies and spendt another year campaigning for re-elections as would some other candidate learning the ropes.
4. GEJ is not corrupt nor inept as many would think (he might not be very articulate, but that is not a crime. If I want articulate President - Chris Okotie or Pat Utomi will earn my vote)
5. GEJ has brought stability to the country and system (that is why we have hope of free and fair election compared to the Obj years)
6. His plans for coastal area, and oil producing area will reverse migration and help decongest Lagos, and other parts of the country. His plans will boost employment)
7. GEJ is a silent performer, a hardworking introvert. That is not a crime
8. GEJ is and will continue to be a president for Nigeria (not a regional one)
9. GEJ is not the best Nigerian to lead us, neither is Buhari nor Ribadu. GEJ is simply better and better primed for the job.
10. I am not superstitious, but is there any of us here would wouldn't want a dose of Goodluck? Goodluck then to you my friends in Nairaland, in Nigeria, and beyond. I wish myself goodluck too.

It is right for government to dialogue with them. But beyond dialogue, government should address and resolve issues that are creating militants across the nation. Be it MEND, Boko Haram, OPC, Bakassi boys, Massob, etc. Their issues must be addressed. Force does not necessary answer all the questions.

 

In the practical art of war, the best
   thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact;
   to shatter and destroy it is not so good.  So, too, it is
   better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it,
   to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire
   than to destroy them.

  Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles
   is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists
   in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Sun Tzu  - Art of War

Patrick Utomi or Chris Okotie are the ones we should be rooting for.
The other person that come close to their freshness is Goodluck Jonathan.

I will be voting for Jonathan Goodluck.


The BB trumpeters should just come out clean, if are rooting for Bakare, then that would have been a different ball game if he is the one running for President.

^^^^
Kudo to all those 'achievement.' Nigeria need fresh blood and new ideas for 21st century. Not old politicians especially those ex-generals who truncated our democracy.


Goodluck has done a lot and will do more given the chance.

Yes Goodluck can! Yes we can!

GEJ has done alot especially in the power sector to merit be given the chance for progress.
He is simply the man for the job. I would not be voting for someone who will somersault policies just to introduce his own.
Nigeria need stability.

Goodluck for me, and all of us.

Poverty! No contest. People die of malaria cos they cannot afford malaria drugs.
Heartbreak does not kill poor people.

Ghana is not a shining light in anything. Many of u people in Nigeria exaggerate everything about Ghana.

Firstly, we do not have reliable electricity. Most Ghanaians do not own generators simply because we cannot afford it. I live in Accra and there is serious power outrage in most parts of Accra since 2 days now (DOME-KWABENYA-LAPAZ & SCHIMOTA). We enjoy more hours of electricity but our electricity is NOT RELIABLE.

Ghana is not safe as most Nigerians claim. Most white people shun Ghana and much of Africa because of safety. Are you aware that Ghana has over 7,000 refugees in Togo alone? There is serious crisis in Northern part of this country. In my opinion safe countries do not have refugees in other countries,

Most cities in Nigeria has better road network than Ghana. Accra does not have good road network like Lagos and Abuja.

Ghana does not have good educational system. Most rich Ghanaians send their children to Asia, Europe and America to study. Our educational standard has fallen dramatically. If Ghana has good schools as most of you claim why are we not producing world class scientists? Anytime i check the list of Africas greatest scientists i see a lot of Nigerians but i never see a single Ghanaian?

Why are we not producing world class actors/actresses like Nigeria?

I have heard some Nigerians manufacturing cars and computers, why is there no Ghanaian that can even manufacture wheel barrow? How come over 75% of books used in all Ghanaian schools are written by Nigerian authors? If we have good schools we should be producing great authors like Chinua Achebe?Huh?

Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa in the world, producing over 20% of the world’s cocoa beans. The western African country is also the second largest producer of gold (its former name was Gold Coast) and has huge deposits of industrial diamonds and bauxite (aluminum). Ghana, after 53 years of independence, still has about 4,000 basic schools organized under trees, 5,000 in dilapidated structures, and 7,500 without sanitary facilities.

If you dont know, over 60% of Ghanains poo out doors because of lack of toilet (POVERTY), 55% of Ghanaians are illiterates. In my opinion, no country in West Africa is worthy to be praised,

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16106:ghana-is-not-better-than-nigeria-at-all&catid=144:unsorted-comments&Itemid=562

As someone who has been in Ghana for a couple of years now. Here is my take.

1. Compared to Nigeria, electricity is more reliable in Ghana. Though, these days, the frequency and duration of outage is on the rise. However, I do believe that like it happened with GSM, Nigeria will soon be a net supplier of electricity in West Africa.

2. Ghana is a safe place to live. I have been living in ghana for a couple of years now. Save for one burglary case (and some petty stealing) i have not had serious case of robbery. Though recently the Ghana Police (sic) killed some 4 or 5 armed robber in a shoot-out in my area (East Legon).A couple of hotbed in Northern Region and clashes in the south (Volta Region) does not equate to generally insecurity. The 7,000 refugee story is a exaggeration. The real number is about 3,500. See more info here, http://www.unhcr.org/4bffaf889.html

3. Road Networks. It is true that Lagos has more road network than Ghana. Prior to Fashola's magic, Ghana's road were cleaner and nicer, but these days, they are about the same for most place in terms in neatness, but with better bus-stops and plenty garden, Lagos might nip in future. And Ghana is trying hard to implement BRT system, having sent emissaries to study the success of Lagos BRT. However, Ghana need to do more on access road. Most of the access roads, and streets road are very bad (in Accra) a lot of them are not tarred. Abuja road network is much better than that of Lagos and Accra (or Ghana)

4. It is a lot easier to get admission into Universities in Ghana (they dont write JAMB) compare to Nigeria. As for what constitute a good educational system, I will need more education. For presently, many are of the opinion that most private Universities (Ghana or Nigeria) are better than their public counterpart (this again is debatable). However, frequency of strikes by varsity lecturers in Ghana pale in comparison to Nigeria. Now that's an (important) edge.

5. World class actress? Well, that depends on how many people agree (sometimes it does not depend on the individual artiste)

6. Manufacturing? Well, I actually expected Ghana to shine here with better power supply, but content seems to be the common denominator here, and propensity for foreign product may not help the matter. This propensity for foreign product also applies to Nigerian. Many Nigerian may brag about Zinox Computer, Omatek Computers, Innoson Motor, etc, but how many Nigerian can boast of owning any of these products?

7. True, the mismanagement of Ghana's wealthy compares relatively (GPD size, population, and resources) with that of Nigeria and indeed many African country. That is a sad commentary of many developing world.

8. The number of people pooing outside while a good indicator of poverty, and sanitary condition is exaggerated in case of Ghana. In Nigeria, people still poo outside too.  Certainly, if gold (ghana) and diamond (nigeria) can rust, what will be the fate of iron? No country in West Africa indeed deserves a thumps up. But, thankful, the very important one Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria are gradually inching forward (pessimist would of course disagree, that is the beauty of freedom).

jrtorrents:
@emeka_gh
How many Ghanaian cities have you been to? Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi,Sunyani,  or?
Ghana isnt heaven,  not even better than some other African countries but compared to Nigeria
I beg,

My friend jrtorrents,

I have been to Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale, and Volta Region (Ho) precisely. As a matter of fact there is still nothing to write home about.
The most 'developed' part of Accra is Cantonement, Airport Residential, some part of Legon, and of course ministries. The funny thing is that the places are just clustered with a 20-30 minutes drive and are surrounded by glorified slums. East Legon is bordered by Botwe, Cantonment/Osu by Labadi, Airport/Dworwulu by Nima and co. Are these the so called cities?

Your kumasi? What is there? Adum, Santasi? Bosumtwi? Tell me what is in kumasi? The biggest infracstructure in kumasi is a stadium in Asokwa and Adum and Kumasi main market.

Takoradi, from Market Circle to Tadisco down is a walking distance. The Liesure beach is a stone throw away. The whole of Takoradi can be covered under 15 mins with a Cab. It is not a city, it is a town. Forget that gloried twin-city tag, it's just an ego booster!

Sunyani, hmmm. I have not been there, but for the fact that many of your local and many foreign banks do not have offices/branches there tells me Brong Ahafo region of Ghana (where Sunyani is the main city) is not a place to reckon with. Ho and indeed the whole of Volta region has only one shinning spot - Ho Polytechnic!  . The rest of the place is glorified jungle.

As for Tema, I see no difference between Tema and Surulere/Festac. Don't even dare mention Tamale or any of your Northern region Regions, they are barely habitable. It is only in Ghana that a small town of less than 200,000 people are referred to as city, and gullible Nigerians believe them.

Accra has no answer for VGC, Ikoyi, Lekki, Lagos Island, and host of other places in Lagos. Ghana has no answer for P/H, Calabar, Kaduna, Owerri, or Jos. To bring Abuja into the fray is to 'Keita' your retort. So I wont even go there at all.

Irunmole:
A glowing example of the calibre of our so-called leaders. Spineless, incompetent, unprincipled weakling. Same as previous leaders, same usual recycled dregs and rubbish.

World Cup 2010: Nigeria 'drops team ban threat'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8790094.stm

FIFA only eye-balled him and he blinked first. All talk and no balls. I would have expected him not to be bullied and cowed into submission if the two year ban will be the much needed tonic and remedy in reversing our fast dwindling reputation and fortune in local/world football. If it's going to act as a tool for critical self-examination, wholesale re-organisation and positive way forward, so be it. The two year ban, as announced by Mr President Goodluck Jonathan, had he the guts to follow it through, to put a two year halt to the putrid stench that Lulu and his cohorts had turned Nigerian football to would have been the best panacea to our ailment and chronic loss of face, reputation, and respect in the world of football.

[b]I cannot envisage a George W Bush of old or a strong Tony Blair reversing a well-publicised decision which, in their opinion is not in the interest of the American or British. I doubt it if they'll allow a non-governmental body to dictate and issue deadlines and ultimatums to them.

The hallmark of a strong leader is one that is able to make and take incisive decisions and stand by them, based on his principles and convictions. [/b]No so this fool who has succeeded in making a laughing stock of Nigerians, leadership wise. He is a joke. It is "Not Yet Uhuru" for football in Nigeria. With wishy-washy leaders and decisions like this, getting to our football promised-land will remain but a pipe-dream and a mirage.

In the wake of Mutallab saga, the Obama administration placed Nigeria on the notorious country of intererst, creating furore among analyst, experts of different sorts, and criticism by Nigerians, and other leaders? What eventually happened? The found an excuse to lift the restriction!

Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali (a one time UN Sec Gen) once said: It is only a fool who cannot change his mind!

Iysayah:
I was in ghana a few months ago for an entrance exam to a university in finland, and i was realy amazed at wat i saw. You could see developments evrywia u went.the roads, the house arrangements the state of their infrastructures.it was just too real.at a point i felt tears well in my eyes wen i juxtapose this city wit lagos.for a start the university refusd to conduct d exam in naija due to malpractise wen it last brout it to naija in 2006.and see the over 3000 of us nigerians there to write that exam.ghana is neva d issue, if our scums cald leaders hv bin true to this nation d lyks of OTUM's tongues will never wag.afteral we are a bunch of corrupt buffons.chek out the road blocks b/w seme boarder and mile2 and u see wat am sayin. bt i know a generation is comin that wil hold their fate in their own hands and will make this nation great again.i dream of it evryday-its my passion[b][/b]

And when are you going to juxtapose 'Ghana' with "Abuja" or "Calabar"?

This reminds me of the blind men who went to see the elephant in the zoo, they imagine the elephant to be the part they touch and felt. For your information, those so roads and traffic light you see and hail as infrastructure are all what Ghana is about. Ghana is simple all about Accra (some part of Accra really). Minus the 'steady' power supply, Ghana is nothing to write home about.

shotuns:
Moderator!!!  do our leaders even read comments like this?  how can we make them read our comments. Nigeria is a nation of talents, our

comments,ideas shouldn't be a waste, [b][/b]

You can never be sure whether they read your comments or not. But if you so passionate about your comments being heard at the highest level of government. Try this gamble. Post here:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Goodluck-Jonathan/105479482835768

He claims he reads them. Let's put him to the test!

msb247:
^^^I AGREE WITH U BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! U GUYZ SHOULD GO GET A LIFE, 

IT IT WERE U OR YOUR DAD, WOULD U HAVE DONE BETTER? EHN??
DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. JUST LOOKS FOR WAYS SUGGESTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS AND STOP EMBRACING THE PAST! IT HAS HAPPENED AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT!!!!

NIGERIA: GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT NATION.
WHERE D IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE

My brother abeg no vex. It's those pro Obj propagandists that are provoking this strong rebuttal. If we allow them to have a field day, their praise singing will overshadow the truth about their master - Obj. Enough is surely enough.

As per life I have a good one? As per advise and suggestion - there are thousands of them out there for the government to follow. The best I can do now is to continue to improve my life no matter what they do. And as I social critic, I will stand in the wings and point out their errors, in the strongest of terms and words as and when I could.

Cheers man!