₦airaland Forum

The South-West zone of the Nigerian Medical Association has berated the Osun State government for the non-payment of six-month salary arrears of the civil servants in the state, including doctors employed by the government.

The body, however, appealed to the governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to pay the outstanding salaries in order to reduce the hardship being suffered by workers.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday by the NMA, Ogun State branch. The statement was signed by Dr. Odewabi Adenike and Dr. Ayoola Zaheed, who are coordinating chairman and secretary, South-West NMA caucus respectively.

They had argued that despite having received monthly revenues from the federation account up till March 2015, the state government had refused to pay the workers.

The statement read in part, “The Osun State government has received monthly revenues from the federation account up till March 2015 – despite the general reduction in the monthly allocation to all states of the federation as a result of the dwindling fortunes of the national economy.

“But it has refused to pay the salaries of her civil servants since November 2014. Not even the aged pensioners were spared.”

The NMA said its members had continued to render selfless services to the people of the state despite the hardship being faced.

The NMA added, “We passionately plead with the executive governor of Osun to put a quick end to this hardship faced by our members by paying them their due wages.”

http://scannewsnigeria.com/featured-post/nma-berates-osun-over-non-payment-of-doctors-salaries/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

mehhh i really feel for this guy o. i believe what rotimi needs is spiritual help.

WATCH OUT FOR THE NEW MOVIE TITLED 'BUHARI AND HIS EMPTY PROMISES' COMING TO TV STATIONS NEAR YOU FROM MAY 29 2015.

COMING THIS DECEMBER WATCH OUT FOR 'BABA ONECHANCE' MOVIE STARING BUHARI, TINUBU, OKOROCHA, AND AMECHI.

THIS MOVIES ARE FULL OF LIES, PROPAGANDA, SUSPENSE, INTRIGUES AND ACTION. GRAB YOU SIT AND WATCH OUT FROM MAY 29

THIS IS A NICE ONE, ITS A FACT THAT PDP WILL BE THE DECIDER. THEREBY GIVING TINUBU A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDCINE. AND THE SOUTHWEST WILL CRY FOR ANOTHER MARGINALIZATION

AM TIRED OF HEARING ALL THIS TREK HERE AND THERE, I THINK WE WE IGNORE THESE TREKKER THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO WITH THEIR TIME, ESPECIALLY THESE NORTHERNERS

abduljabbar4:
He deserves that award. Buhari should give him a very good appointment. We need people like Shema regardless of their political party. No wonder he didn't campaign much for GEJ because he knows what is right. He only cares about the well being of his people.

PLEASE REMIND ME, HOW MUCH IS LAGOS, RIVERS., OGUN AND OWNING. THE FACT IS THAT APC STATES OWE MORE DAN THERE PDP COUNTERPART, BUT THERE SUPPORTERS TENDS TO FORGET THAT BUT BLAME ON FG OR PDP.

Emerging economies of Nigeria, Indonesia and Mexico could push the UK and France out of the top ten economies of the world by 2050 provided they are able to build their institutions to global standards, diversify their economies and sustain growth friendly policies. This is one of the key findings of the global report from PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) economists titled ‘‘The World in 2050:
Okonjo-Iweala

Okonjo-Iweala

Will the shift in global economic power continue?’’ This presents long-term projections of potential GDP growth up to 2050 for 32 of the largest economies in the world, covering 84 per cent of total global GDP.

According to the report, the current global economic power shift away from the established advanced economies in North America, Western Europe and Japan will continue over the next 35 years, despite a projected slowdown in Chinese growth after around 2020.

The world economy is projected to grow at an average of just over 3 per cent per annum from 2014-50, doubling in size by 2037 and nearly tripling by 2050. But there’s likely to be a slowdown in global growth after 2020, as the rate of expansion in China and some other major emerging economies moderates to a more sustainable long-term rate, and as working age population growth slows in many large economies.

Nigeria, Vietnam and the Philippines are notable risers in the global GDP rankings in the long term, reflecting relatively high projected average growth rates of around 4.5-5.5 per cent per annum over the period to 2050. According to Mr Andrew S. Nevin, PwC Nigeria’s Chief Economist and co-author of the report, “Over the past decade, Nigeria has boasted superior economic growth and, with the right reforms and investments, Nigeria could become one of the world’s leading economies by 2030, with further progress by 2050.

Nigeria’s potential advantages for future growth include a large consumer market, a strategic geographic location, and a young and highly entrepreneurial population’’. He continued, ‘‘however, at the same time, we are all aware of the significant headwinds (adverse trends) created by the rapid drop in the oil price, putting pressure on the fiscal and monetary systems, as well as reducing economic growth in the short term.

To achieve its long-term economic potential, Nigeria will need to manage the oil price decline effectively at all levels of government and create a sustainable platform for diversification into the sectors that we know will drive the economy in the future – including power, agriculture, manufacturing, telecoms, hospitality and real estate’’.

Nevin concludes, “according to our long term projections, Nigeria could sustain average growth of around 5-6 per cent per annum in the long run, following projected growth of around 6-7 per cent in the rest of this decade, assuming broadly growth-friendly policies are pursued. While foreign investment has in absolute terms long been focused on the oil sector, portfolios are becoming increasingly diversified, moving towards the power, agriculture and mining areas of the economy that have demonstrated a comparative advantage in emerging markets vis-à-vis the West’’.

Recent experience has however underlined that relatively rapid growth is not guaranteed for emerging economies, as indicated by recent problems in Russia and Brazil. It requires sustained and effective investment in infrastructure and improving political, economic, legal and social institutions. Overdependence on natural resources, according to the analyst, could impede long-term growth in countries such as Nigeria, Russia, and Saudi Arabia unless they can diversify their economies over time.

Nevin further concludes that ‘‘while our analysis confirms that emerging markets have huge potential, they can also be an institutional minefield – both managers and investors need to tread carefully. Overall, Nigeria continues to be an attractive place to invest not because it is an oil producer, but because of the immense size of its domestic market and the extraordinary commercial energy of its people, which remains largely untapped.”

Beyond Nigeria, the PwC Report projects that China will be the largest economy by 2030 on any measure. However, it also expects its growth rate to slow markedly after around 2020 as its population ages, its high investment rate runs into diminishing marginal returns and it needs to rely more on innovation than copying to boost productivity. Eventual reversion to the global average has been common for past high growth economies such as Japan and South Korea and we expect China to follow suit.”

The report also contains projections based on GDP at market exchange rates, without this relative price adjustment. On that basis, China is projected to overtake the US in around 2028, while India would clearly be the third largest economy in the world in 2050, but still some way behind the US.

Other highlights from PwC’s projections are: India has the potential to sustain its higher growth rate for longer and become a $10 trillion economy by around 2020 in purchasing power (PPP) terms, or around 2035 at market exchange rates. But this relies on India making sustained progress on infrastructure investment, institutional reforms and boosting education levels across the whole population.

Emerging economies like Indonesia, Brazil and Mexico have the potential to be larger than the UK and France by 2030, with Indonesia possibly rising as high as 4th place in the world rankings by 2050 if it can sustain growth-friendly policies. Malaysia is also projected to grow at around 4% per annum on average in the period to 2050, which is higher than China’s projected average growth rate of around 3.5% per annum over this period, and an impressive performance for what is already a middle income country.

Colombia is also an economy that PwC projects to grow at a relatively healthy long term rate of around 4% per annum over the period to 2050, noticeably faster than its larger Southern American neighbours like Brazil and Argentina. Japanese growth is projected to be the slowest of all 32 countries covered in total terms, driven in part by a steadily declining population; as a result Japan is projected to fall from 4th to 7th place in the global GDP rankings over the period to 2050.

European economies tend to slide down the rankings, with growth rates in the major Eurozone economies projected to average only around 1.5-2% per annum to 2050. Poland is projected to have the highest average growth rate of the large EU economies, and also to outperform Russia in terms of long-run growth.

These projections assume, however, that emerging markets will follow broadly growth-friendly policies. In practice, not all may do so and therefore not all of these economies will fulfil the potential indicated by the PwC growth projections, although some could also exceed the projections if they can accelerate their investment rates and institutional reforms.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/nigeria-indonesia-mexico-to-displace-uk-france-out-of-top-10-largest-economies/#sthash.fJnUTZPD.dpuf

ITS LIKE WE ARE NOW SEEING THE REAL CHANGE.

Now over to you Fashola and Amechi.

GEJ UR NAME WILL FOR EVER BE REMEMBERED AS D FIRST PRESIDENT WHO ACCEPTED DEFEAT AND CALLED D WINNER HIS OPPONENT. YOU SAVE MANY LIVES WITH DAT CALL U MADE, MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS U , AS U MOVE ON WITH UR LIFE. AMEN

atbu1983:
A kenyan is America President.
This is no news

THIS IS A SAD NEWS TO YOU BECAUSE THERE IS NO NAME OF YOUR AMALA BROTHERS THERE. THIS IS Y I CALL U AMALA PEOPLE CONFUSIONIST MTeeewww

I HATE APC AND THEIR SCAM CHANGE BECAUSE OF THEIR BIAS FOLLOWERS, WHO DON'T LIKE CRITICISM. THEY CANT DO WITHOUT INSULTING ANYONE WHO DON'T SUPPORT THEIR FAKE IDEOLOGY.

Of 2m people, only 100,000 pay tax— Revenue board boss

By Gbenga Olarinoye

OSOGBO—Following the inability of the Osun State government to pay workers salaries as a result of the dwindling revenue from the federation account, the state chapter of Parents Teachers Association, PTA, of Nigeria has expressed its readiness to assist the government in the enforcement of the payment of N1,500 tax bonanza introduced to boost its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.

The decision to assist in tax enforcement was conveyed to the state government at a meeting held with the State Internal Revenue Board, led by its Chairman, Mr. Dayo Oyebanji.

At the meeting, attended by PTA Chairmen from across the 30 local government councils of the state, it was agreed also that the N1,500 tax bonanza for year 2013, 2014 and 2015, totalling N4,500 would be paid at once to bail out the state from the current financial predicament.

The state government owe four months workers’ salaries as a result of dwindling revenue from the federation allocation.
Aregbosola

Aregbosola

The Chairman of the association, Mr. Demola Ekundayo, said the decision to assist the government in its collection was part of the association’s resolve to contribute to the development of the state, especially regarding the public primary and secondary schools.

He explained that Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been using the tax for the development of the state, saying “this is why parents have deemed it fit to complement his efforts in moving the state forward.”

Ekundayo, who lauded the developmental programmes embarked upon by Aregbesola’s administration, especially in the education sector, however, appealed to government not to relent in providing qualitative education to the students as promised in his six-point integral action plan.

Mr. Oyabanji, on his part, expressed happiness with PTA’s support, promising that government would not relent in ensuring good standard of living and better education for the pupils.

He noted that government introduced tax bonanza to make its payment affordable and serve as relief, adding that at the expiration of the bonanza period, each parent would be paying according to their earnings as stipulated by the tax law.

Oyebanji lamented that out of two million tax payers in the state, less than 100,000 including the public servants, are actually paying their taxes as at when due.

He noted that there was no way government could provide all the needed infrastructure amenities to the people when majority are evading taxes.

The Chairman, Labour Committee on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, Mr. Francis Adetunji, called on residents of the state to cooperate with the government, adding that the tax reduction was a good gesture that must be embraced by all.

A member of the IRS board, Prince Omolade Binuyo, said Osun will be a changed place if everybody paid their taxes.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/dwindling-revenue-parents-to-assist-osun-govt-in-tax-collection/#sthash.TAfgZ3Zl.dpuf

Of 2m people, only 100,000 pay tax— Revenue board boss

By Gbenga Olarinoye

OSOGBO—Following the inability of the Osun State government to pay workers salaries as a result of the dwindling revenue from the federation account, the state chapter of Parents Teachers Association, PTA, of Nigeria has expressed its readiness to assist the government in the enforcement of the payment of N1,500 tax bonanza introduced to boost its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.

The decision to assist in tax enforcement was conveyed to the state government at a meeting held with the State Internal Revenue Board, led by its Chairman, Mr. Dayo Oyebanji.

At the meeting, attended by PTA Chairmen from across the 30 local government councils of the state, it was agreed also that the N1,500 tax bonanza for year 2013, 2014 and 2015, totalling N4,500 would be paid at once to bail out the state from the current financial predicament.

The state government owe four months workers’ salaries as a result of dwindling revenue from the federation allocation.
Aregbosola

Aregbosola

The Chairman of the association, Mr. Demola Ekundayo, said the decision to assist the government in its collection was part of the association’s resolve to contribute to the development of the state, especially regarding the public primary and secondary schools.

He explained that Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been using the tax for the development of the state, saying “this is why parents have deemed it fit to complement his efforts in moving the state forward.”

Ekundayo, who lauded the developmental programmes embarked upon by Aregbesola’s administration, especially in the education sector, however, appealed to government not to relent in providing qualitative education to the students as promised in his six-point integral action plan.

Mr. Oyabanji, on his part, expressed happiness with PTA’s support, promising that government would not relent in ensuring good standard of living and better education for the pupils.

He noted that government introduced tax bonanza to make its payment affordable and serve as relief, adding that at the expiration of the bonanza period, each parent would be paying according to their earnings as stipulated by the tax law.

Oyebanji lamented that out of two million tax payers in the state, less than 100,000 including the public servants, are actually paying their taxes as at when due.

He noted that there was no way government could provide all the needed infrastructure amenities to the people when majority are evading taxes.

The Chairman, Labour Committee on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, Mr. Francis Adetunji, called on residents of the state to cooperate with the government, adding that the tax reduction was a good gesture that must be embraced by all.

A member of the IRS board, Prince Omolade Binuyo, said Osun will be a changed place if everybody paid their taxes.


- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/dwindling-revenue-parents-to-assist-osun-govt-in-tax-collection/#sthash.TAfgZ3Zl.dpuf

these are the links Buhari and APC excuses,

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/nigerians-should-not-expect-miracles-buhari/

http://pearl.com.ng/2015/04/buhari-set-to-end-fuel-subsidy-rationalise-mdas/

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/181443-no-guarantee-i-can-rescue-chibok-girls-but-ill-do-all-possible-buhari.html

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/falling-oil-prices-threaten-my-agenda-buhari/

ABUJA—THE President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday painted a gloomy picture in the economic development of his administration as he said that the decline in the revenues due to fall in oil prices poses a great threat to his administration’s development agenda.

GBuhari-oilen. Buhari who visited the newly elected Senators and House of Representatives members who are undergoing induction course in preparation for the 8th National Assembly in Abuja also said that the decline in revenue would affect the reconstruction of devastated areas in the country as a result of insurgency.

He reminded the elected members of the 8th assembly of the challenges the nation had been facing which he also said would continue in the near future.

The challenges according to him include general insecurity and insurgency that has caused extreme human hardship and destruction of lives, livelihoods that would take over a decade to rebuild across most of North Eastern Nigeria and some parts of North western Nigeria.

Another threat to his administration according to him was the devastation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area which he said must be attended to.

Others include, “endemic corruption which has crippled human and infrastructure development for decades. Unacceptably poor provision of power supply which has had a crippling effect on development of small businesses and indeed the wider economy.

“Deindustrialization for the past three decades leading to closure of many industries and migration of many to other African countries. Unacceptably high levels of unemployment and especially Youth Unemployment reaching over 40 per cent.”

Besides, Gen. Buhari mentioned high cost of governance that has been crowding out the nation’s capital and human development, erosion of public social services such as infrastructure, health and education as well as lack of development in the agricultural and solid mineral sectors as areas that should be aggressively addressed.

While soliciting the support of the lawmakers, the President-elect said, “The legislature is a critical component and necessary ingredient of democracy and good governance. The legislature by nature is inherently democratic in the sense that all members are equal and are elected representatives of the Nigerian people.

“As President-elect, I recognize this fact and believe that legislators carry this heavy burden of representation with all the seriousness it deserves.

“For a president to be successful in addressing community development and general welfare of the various people of the country, he or she would benefit from working closely and in harmony with the legislative arm of government.

“I therefore commit myself to working with the legislature as development partners motivated by the desire to deliver good governance”.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the role he played in the sustenance of democratic institution by accepting election result, saying that Nigeria was in the threshold of history.

Bemoaning high cost of governance, he said, “First and foremost, appropriate policies need to be put in place and such policies may have to be translated into laws.

“Secondly, the oversight functions of the legislature is critical in ensuring that policies are implemented effectively and transparently. Therefore, my mission to bring integrity into governance would better succeed if complemented with a strong culture of transparent oversight.

“We need to collaborate on the budget process and restructuring of the public sector so as to collectively tackle the menace of high recurrent cost at the expense of capital and human development.”

“There is an urgent need to contain this high state of insecurity. All of you are representing various communities. We need to work together to address the problem from both its roots and manifestations.

“The strongest mitigating forces at this point are to redress the power sector deficits, encourage investments that are job creating and focus on human development and reconstruction. We also need to deploy efforts in conflict resolution and peace building in all our communities.

“I am here today, to invite you to work with the executive as partners in progress, as champions of good governance and development and as warriors for change. Together, we can make this nation great and as a role model in Africa and other emerging economies and democracies.”

President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, David Mark, who ushered in the President-elect into the International Conference Centre, in company of other leaders of the National Assembly, described the visit as historic.

Noting that it was the first time a President-elect was considering it worthwhile to address a joint session of the National Assembly, Mark agreed it was a historic meeting in the journey of democracy.

For the Speaker, House of Representative and Governor-elect, Sokoto State, Honourable Aminu W. Tambuwal, Buhari has extended a hand of fellowship to the legislature by his personal visit.

Tambuwal however expressed hope that his colleagues would reciprocate Buhari’s gesture by also extending a sincere hand of fellowship to the President-elect when his government fully takes over.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/falling-oil-prices-threaten-my-agenda-buhari/#sthash.84l2aC3o.dpuf

NICE ONE COMING FROM THE PEOPLE'S GOVERNOR AND THE LAWMAKER. ALL MEN SHOULD SHEATH THEIR SWORDS AND LET PEACE REIGN IN EKITI

“I am not the President of black America; I am the President of the United States of America” —President Barack Obama in response to criticism that he hasn’t done enough for the black community
Dear President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, I will begin this piece by congratulating you on your historic victory. I must confess, at the risk of being termed partisan, that like other Nigerians, I celebrated your victory because it was a lesson in perseverance and how one must never give up on a dream in spite of the challenges and obstacles in one’s way. Even now, I still marvel at the doggedness that drove your ambition since 2003 when you began the journey to govern Nigeria yet again after more than three decades of leaving power.
In spite of the challenges, hate campaigns and propaganda targeted at your person, you were undeterred. You stuck stubbornly to your dream. Your victory is a conviction rooted in self-belief. I was also elated not only because of your victory but the significance of unseating an incumbent who also was magnanimous enough in defeat to concede defeat and congratulate the winner. Both your victory and President Goodluck Jonathan concession have further deepened our democracy.
Readers of this column will know that I have been an unrelenting critic of President Jonathan’s administration. But in the twilight of his presidency, the outgoing President’s heroic act has taken our democracy several steps forward. Now, we can look ahead with hope that our democratic culture has further been deepened by an outgoing president who is magnanimous in defeat and an incoming president-elect who is humble in victory. As you assume the mantle of leadership, you owe our country a duty to further strengthen our democracy by being the symbol of a united Nigeria as demonstrated in your victory. While you wait to be sworn in, I have decided to humbly offer a piece of advice that will guide your presidency and cement your place in Nigeria’s history.
The single advice I will offer you on this page is to remind you that your victory belongs to the Nigerian people. Dear Buhari, you are not an ethnic or a sectional president. Your victory belongs neither to the Fulani nor the north. Just like the outgoing government, there will be temptation to do the bidding of your people. You must resist it like a statesman. This is one fact that must guide your conduct as President. To act or do otherwise will be a betrayal of the mandate and the confidence reposed in you by Nigerians from different creed, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
As President, you must always remember those Nigerians from the East, North, South and West who thronged your campaign rallies. They are looking forward to the promise of “change” your party made to them. You cannot afford to alienate any Nigerian. The entire country should be your constituency. Mr. President-elect, I am glad that you already mentioned in your acceptance speech that there will be no room for vindictiveness but that does not mean officials who commit crime against the Nigerian people must not be held accountable.
As a people, Nigerians hope that your victory will unify the country more than ever before. But it remains to be seen if your presidency will avoid the mistakes of the past. Your success in the next four years will be determined by how you manage our divisive fault lines as a nation. Needless to say that our fault lines have been exploited by myopic leaders who sought to exploit them for political gains; but as President, you can change the narrative by being a unifying figure.
No doubt, that there will be ethnic, religious and primordial challenges you must overcome. How well you navigate these fault lines will determine your success. I am strongly hoping that having been a Head of State and statesman, you are nationalistic enough to avoid ethnic and religious sentiments in decision-making as President. You must be guided in your decisions and must not be seen as the President of the north.
In spite of the propaganda and hate campaigns targeted at your person, Nigerians still voted for you. By electing you as their new president, Nigerians expect a president who will not act based on sectional interests. With their votes, they do not see you as a northern leader. Nigerians believe you will be the president of all Nigerians. They hope equity, fair play and justice will guide your policy decisions as president. You must not disappoint them. The temptation to do the bidding of your “people” will be there. Already, people are expressing fear of a northern agenda. While I see this as a conspiracy theory, you must dispel the fears by being a national rather than a sectional leader.
As you assume the mantle of leadership, be reminded that your oath of allegiance must be to Nigerians and not ethnic irredentists and groups laying claim to your presidency. In this wise, groups like Arewa Consultative Forum, Oodua Peoples Congress, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo must be kept at arm’s length. Really, how many of these groups helped your cause when you were a candidate? Was it not ordinary Nigerians that voted for you?
You must also stay away from those northern groups who are fond of drumming up the “power must return to the north” slogan. They may pretend to speak for their ethnic groups but in reality their divisive rhetoric has worsened our fault lines over the years. Fraternising with them will alienate your government from ordinary Nigerians and deepen our fault lines. Let your focus be on the masses that elected you as their president. After all, you are known to be the champion of the downtrodden. It will be a big letdown if you turn your back on them like the outgoing government.
I must remind you that one of the reasons that led to the defeat of President Jonathan is the way in which Nigerians perceived his government as pandering to ethnic and religious sentiments. Just like you, the President had the mandate and goodwill of Nigerians at the inception of his administration in 2011, but he soon began to see himself as an Ijaw president while he surrounded himself with ethnic warlords who threatened the country with divisive rhetoric. His government was defined by “It’s our turn syndrome.” They alienated other Nigerians across the country who voted for him in 2011.
In the run-up to the elections, they threatened violence if Jonathan was not re-elected. In the same vein, there are ethnic elements in the north who have been telling Nigerians that power must return to the north. Now that you have been elected president, you will have to strongly remind them that your victory is not a fulfilment of the “power must return to the north” mantra. Neither is your victory a confirmation of the alleged “born to rule mentality” of the north. As president, you must demonstrate to the ethnic hegemonists from the north that you intend to be different as a Nigerian president and not a president of the north. So, when they begin to show their faces around the Presidential Villa, remind them that your victory belongs to Nigeria. Only then can you carve a place for yourself in history as a selfless leader. I pray for your success.

http://www.theopinion.ng/buhari-you-are-not-president-of-the-north/

@op this is Adebimpe street, close to mile 12 market. the road looks even beautiful now, wen it rains dat road is a no go area.

7lives:
Dopesi is a fool for thinking he can eat his cake and have it, ait is going down, 7 billions of shekels that he collected to sell hate to Nigerians will not be enough to save his sorry ass.
For sure I'm expecting BAT to slap ait with libel running into billions of naira, I dey laugh o.

nothing can stop AIT, when sahara reporters where busy tell lies and spiloling propanganda against a sitting president. He never ban or probe them, here we have a buhari who has swear-in to power banning Ait. that will not stop me from watching Kakaki or Listening to political platform. this is how decree 4 started. later they will restrict the use of twitter, facebook, even nairaland.

Dat is d change Kano people asked for, if it were Jonathan that built tge bridge, Sahara reporters and punch would have been d first to break d news. now they are all quiet as if nothing happen. May God torment all d enemies of Nigeria

WITH a month to the inauguration of an All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government, the street partying to celebrate the sweeping success of the nation’s most successful opposition party in history is winding down. Now is the time to tackle the challenges of success.

The question on our lips today is: can the APC survive the two tests of its manhood which lie in wait for it? Between May 29th 2015 and May 28th 2019, the incoming ruling party will be sorely tested with two challenges: (1) power sharing at the outset of its reign and (2) the struggle for the party’s tickets towards the end of the tenure. How will the APC fare?
Buhari and Tinubu

Buhari and Tinubu

The party’s supporters and enthusiasts will answer right away by saying the APC has already conquered the biggest obstacles of forging a successful merger of parties and unseating the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But it needs to be noted here that capturing power is one thing, keeping it is yet another.

PDP collapsed because it could no longer maintain the internal cohesion necessary for continuation as a ruling party. It had little or no problem with power sharing, but the integrity could no longer be maintained in the struggle for its tickets in 2015. If the APC wishes to last long as a ruling party, these two elements must be satisfied, in addition to good governance, of course.

There are some danger signals that, once you see them manifesting within the APC, then you can start a mental countdown to the end of its reign. One of them is political greed.

That was one of the factors that led PDP to failure. The Party thought that the larger its size the more invincible it would be at the polls. This was the factor that made former President Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure that the opposition was not allowed to stand on a firm footing. Eventually, many opposition party leaders dumped their parties, jumped into PDP and some of them even got prestigious posts at all levels. PDP was reduced to a free-for-all bazaar.

The upshot was that there were too many interests, and once they could not be satisfied, they automatically turned around to constitute internal opposition in the PDP.

If you check the history of the PDP as a ruling party, especially at the Centre, it was the PDP National Assembly members that stood in the forefront of opposition against the Executive Branch. The Presidency under Obasanjo fought and changed the leadership of the National Assembly led by its party men.

It was PDP Senators that prevented President Obasanjo from using the constitution amendment of 2004/2006 to grab an extra term of office. The APC only became a living threat to PDP when five states controlled by the Party moved over to APC. All these were traced to internal power struggles occasioned by too many selfish interests clashing against one another.

Preying on PDP’s remains

The APC is large enough to stand in the same danger, unless it opts to learn from the foibles of its predecessor in the presidential seat, the PDP. It must resist the temptation of preying on what remains of the PDP. It must also ensure it does not interfere in the affairs of the party.

Though a political party is like a church which never rejects new members, it must not give away coveted posts to opportunistic newcomers. In fact, the party should place all newcomers on probation for at least four years to prove their genuine commitment to the APC before they qualify for its privileges. Giving away plum positions to newcomers will create ill feelings among those who fought and endured for the APC to become the ruling party.

Rather than putting emphasis on increasing its size, the APC will do itself – and our democracy – a favour by firming up party principles and policies and keeping members within its ideological bounds through discipline and internal democracy. The PDP should also pay attention to creating a new ideological character for itself. What we need within the next four years is to able to choose between the party of the Progressives and the Democrats. Solid ideological grounding, not mere ephemeral size, is the only thing that will ensure the longevity of both the APC and PDP.

The second issue that will determine APC’s fate as a ruling party is how it manages its ethno-regional differences. Put it in another way, how it handles the political interests of its principal leaders: President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, and its erstwhile National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. That these two gents were able to forge an alliance that successfully saw off the mighty PDP is a great feat which has become a milestone in the nation’s political history. However, that is where the problem starts.

Right now, the APC is still a gang-up of seventeen states of the old Northern Region and four states of the old West Region, with one vassal state each from the old Eastern Region (Imo, whose fate is still hanging) and old Mid-West (Edo). The PDP has been completely shut down in Northern Nigeria, save for Gombe (and Taraba, which is still hanging).

The APC revolution in Northern Nigeria even put away the issue of “Middle Belt”. The Minorities of the North went with their Hausa/Fulani Majorities, just as the Southern Minorities (except Edo) went with their Igbo Majority neighbours. How will four states of the South West cope under the deadweight of seventeen states of the North in the APC? It is more like a master-servant partnership – what a partnership!

How will Tinubu continue to be the “National Leader” of the APC with his power bloc forming such a miserable minority in the partnership? Though it is agreed that Tinubu’s South West made Buhari’s victory possible (just as the South East did for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011) how will that stand when an all-out power struggle ensues?

This question becomes even more germane when we realise that under our presidential system, the president is the Leader of the ruling party. Buhari is now the Leader of the APC. What becomes of Tinubu, since two captains cannot command one boat?

Buhari and regional supporters

A lot will depend on the mental attitude that Buhari and his regional supporters are coming into this dispensation with. If they are coming with the old mindset of Northern domination and Southern dependency, then we are in for a rough ride, just as I have always warned. Will Buhari and his Northern support group resist the temptation of seeing this as a dispensation of the North having “snatched” their power back with their might?

Or have they learned from the history of their past attitude which made the idea of the North’s return to power unpopular in the South in the past sixteen years? Has Buhari put aside the mentality of North’s alliance with the West with which he once ran this country along with the late retired Major General Tunde Idiagbon, whereby the entire East and its Minorities were virtually shut out of national relevance? That was why they refused to vote for him, apart from the President Jonathan factor.

Buhari can still surprise many of his critics by seeing himself not just as Muslim/Arewa president or even as a president of a North and West alliance against the rest of the country. If he is able to carry every section of the country along, not only in the selection of top government officials but also in the distribution of the benefits of good governance, the entire nation will embrace him. His Party will also benefit. Everything now depends on Buhari.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/can-buhari-tinubu-share-power/#sthash.NuUA1ndE.dpuf

HE WHO GOD HAS BLESSED NO ONE CAN CAUSE, FAYOSE IS THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE, ALL ENEMIES OF EKITI STATE SHOULD PARK WELL.

I WANT ALL D PDP STATES TO BE A MODEL FOR THE NEXT GENERATION PDP. WE WILL SURELY BOUNCE BACK, MORE STRONGER AND REFORMED.

APC SHOULD JUST SHUT UP, THEY'VE GOT LOADS OF WORK TO DO FROM MAY 29. YOU HAVE WON ELECTION, LEAVE PDP AND TRY TO FIX NIGERIA. PEOPLE WHO TALK MORE DO LESS, NIGERIANS EXPECTATION ARE HIGH BECAUSE UR BABA ONE CHANCE MADE PROMISE HE CAN NEVER ACHIEVE IN HE'S LIFE TIME, NOW HE'S TELLING US HE'S NOT A MAGICIAN. APC SHOULD NOT FORGET D NEXT ELECTION IS JUST FOUR YEARS AWAY. IF THEY FAIL IN THEIR PROMISES. NIGERIANS WILL VOTE THEM OUT

i so much love dis man, ride on sir
. God is with u.

In what could be described as a payback time, the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives and the national leadership of the party are said to be mulling throwing their full support behind one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) speakership aspirants.

This is a fall-out and rejection of the zoning of the speakership of the House to the South-west and South-south by the leadership of the party and this is currently causing ripples within the rank and file of the APC, especially in the House of Representatives.

In the Seventh session of the House of Representatives, the members in PDP and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) moved against the zoning of the office of the Speaker to the South-west and elected Hon. Aminu Tambawal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Tambawal is from Sokoto State in the North-west geo-political zone and Emeka Ihedioha from Imo State of the South-east zone.

THISDAY gathered that one of the speakership aspirants under consideration is Jibrin Abdulmumin from Kano State, North-west zone. He is seen as the target of support by the PDP leaders and the House caucus.

It was as a result of this plot that Abdulmumin Monday night met with some NWC members and some outgoing principal officers of the National Assembly on issues relating to the PDP throwing their support behind him in his aspiration to become the speaker.

Also, several horse trading meetings have been goingon, as one of the PDP House of Representatives Caucus members put it, “the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know.”

The APC has over 230 members in the House, while the PDP has close to 120 elected members coming to the Eighth session of the House of Representatives.
THISDAY gathered that already, both the PDP leadership and caucus of party in the House are mulling the idea of repeating what happened in the Seventh session of the House of Representatives,a where they would defer the decision of the leadership of the House in the zoning formula of the party.

It was to quickly douse this tension that the APC through its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, issued a statement stating that no decision had been taking on zoning, urging all members to remain calm until the party would ratify zoning of the principal offices in the National Assembly.

In the same vein, the outgoing governor of Kano State and Senator-elect, Rabiu Kwankwaso, cautioned the APC over zoning, urging it to make haste in announcing zoning.

He advised, “My advice to my party is that they should quickly do it. Those of us who witnessed what happened in 2011, I don’t believe that that party should waste any more time. Because the implication of delay is that the people in some zones will go round the country mobilising support for themselves and if the zoning decides to come late, they will be so strong in their campaign such that they can disobey the party just as we saw during the Tambuwal case in 2011.

“Tambuwal went round, we gave him our words that we will support him and when the zoning came late we had already committed ourselves and the party at the end of the day was humiliated because many of us didn’t want to change our position as we had already promised to support him. Things were not the same again in the PDP. I believe that the man who got the ticket got more appreciation from the opposition rather than those in the party who supported him. I don’t want us to repeat that mistake again. I think it is high time we finished the zoning, so that anybody can aspire to become whatever is being zoned to his place,” he added.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/race-for-speaker-pdp-members-mull-voting-for-apc-aspirant/207437/

DID APC ASKE ICC AND NHRC TO PERSECUTE THE OBA OF LAGOS, WHEN HE THREATEN TO THROW THEM INTO THE LAGOON. MTEEEW, A PARTY OF CONFUSIONIS, LIARS, HYPOCRITE AND PROPAGANDIST.

NO PROBLEM IF THEY TRY IT IN THE SOUTHWEST OR NORTH, BUT IF THEY TRY IT IN SOUTH-SOUTH OR SOUTH EAST, I THINK THE TIME BOMB THAT HAVE BE TICKING WILL JUST EXPLODE.

The imminent absence of the South-East from top leadership positions in the Senate and House of Representatives is of little bother to leaders of the region, former Anambra State governor, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has said.

Igbo-men However, radical member of the Second Republic House of Representatives, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, yesterday, put the plight of the region to its decision to put all their eggs in one basket, even as renowned economist, Dr. Pat Utomi, cautioned All Progressives Congress, APC to ensure that it gives a fair representation to all sections of the country.

The reactions came as APC, which is set to take over the Presidency and the National Assembly, denied taking a decision on the zoning of the top positions of government.

The party’s assertion nonetheless, there were indications that APC had zoned the office of Senate President to the North-Central with Senators Bukola Saraki and George Akume as the major contenders.

Other principal positions in the two chambers are being contested by the North-East, North-West and South-West. The South-South, which only has one returning member to the House of Representatives, is also angling for the office of Deputy Speaker.

The South-East, which has no returning member of APC in the Senate and the House of Representatives, has been completely left out of any of the principal officers’ positions.



Ndigbo aren’t worried—Ezeife

Reacting to the development yesterday, Chief Ezeife, who governed Anambra State between 1992 and 1993 said: “I do not see anything wrong with what APC had done.

“What the party has done is in line with their convention. I do not see any reason why people should be worried about the fate of the Igbo.

“We are not worried. Only those who do not see us as people of destiny are worried. However, there are lessons to be learned from the outcome of things. But we are not worried because lessons have been learned.”



Decisions’ve consequences — Mohammed

In his remarks, Dr Mohammed said the decision of Ndigbo to put all their eggs in one basket will have consequences politically.

He said: “I must say I do not have the privilege of seeing what the incoming government, led by APC, has drafted in terms of zoning offices.

“However, it is evident that the Igbo mobilized towards one candidate and I think APC is justified for not zoning any major office to their zone.

“I am not a believer of zoning, but with the complicity in Nigerian politics, rotation has been brought to the forefront and we will continue to battle with this until Nigeria matures politically.

“It is not just the result of the last elections that showed that the South-East zone had tilted towards one candidate, results of previous elections also showed that and they have had it so good under previous administration.

“They have, therefore, taken it for granted that they will get things on a platter of gold.

“APC is absolutely justified with the arrangement of not zoning any major office to the South-East. If they are given some of the big positions, what will other zones like North-West, who gave the President-elect big votes, ask for?

“So I think it will be stupid to give big positions like Senate President or Secretary to the Government to the South-East zone when the zones that gave bloc votes to the President-elect will just be watching.”

I expect good representation—Utomi

On his part, Professor Utomi said he expects APC to ensure equal representation from the geo-political zones even as he played down comments on the issue as he said the party had not come out with a categorical policy on the issue.

Pressed further, he said: “What is favour and what is not favour? I think any political party that wants to govern effectively would seek effective representation from across the country in the executive and legislative leadership of that country.”

APC’s assurances

Meanwhile, APC has urged Nigerians to disregard the wild speculations making the rounds concerning the appointment of ministers and the zoning of offices under the incoming Buhari administration.

In a statement in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said there was no truth to anything that had been dished out by the rumour mill concerning the issues of appointment, especially the zoning of the National Assembly’s principal positions and other offices.

It said in the true tradition of APC, all issues of public interest will be handled transparently and conveyed to Nigerians through the usual communication channels.

The party said: “No appointments have been made and no offices have been zoned. The main concern of our party at the moment is to ensure a smooth transition and to hit the ground running in the overall interest of the long-suffering people of Nigeria.

“At the appropriate time, Nigerians will be informed of the appointments made and the offices zoned.”

‘An effective govt’s priority’

Also speaking, President, South-East/South-South Professionals, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, said merit should be promoted in the allocation of government positions even as he called for the immediate implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference.

He said: “The number one priority of the peoples of South East/South-South is the implementation of the National Conference Resolutions as the foundation of the recreation of a new Nigeria that will be anchored on justice, equity, merit and the Rule of Law.

“That is the main reason they overwhelmingly voted for Jonathan.

“Majority of them will prefer the immediate implementation of the National Conference Resolutions in lieu of the National Assembly positions, because it will benefit more of the people than just a handful of individuals.

“Any political party that wants to govern effectively would seek effective representation from across the country in the executive and legislative leadership positions.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/apc-zoning-ndigbo-not-worried-on-being-left-out-says-ezeife/#sthash.gsCX70fI.0QpeIzvG.dpuf

HOW TO KNOW APC SUPPORTERS DON'T THINK BEFORE TALK

BUHARI SAID HE WILL STABLIZE GLOBAL OIL PRICE---- THE CLAPPED YES HE CAN


BUHARI SAID HE WILL MAKE #1- $1 ------------ THEY CLAPPED YES HE CAN

AT FIRST BUHARI SAID HE WILL JAIL ALL THOSE WHO LOOT NIGERIA----- THEY CLAPPED YES HE CAN

BUHARI SAID I Deliver 20,000mw In Four Years. ----------- THEY CLAPPED YES HE CAN

Buhari Promises Igbo Youths One Million Jobs -------- THEY CLAPPED YES HE CAN

Create 740,000(20,000 per state +FCT) jobs within first one year. ----- THEY CLAPPED YES HE CAN

NO A MAN SAID HE TREKKED FROM LAGOS TO ABUJA THE, THIS APC PEOPLE NO GO KILL PERSON WITH LAUGH, LATER THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT, JUST AS BUHARI HAS SCAMMED HIS SUPPORTERS BY SAYING HE'S NOT A MAGICIAN.

Larow:
so u are Igbo? U simply displayed ur stu.pidity. He only put words into ur mouth and u fell into his trap! Keeping quiet would have portrayed him as the foo.l but u actually displayed foo.lishness by replying. Get sense my dear

U simply displayed more fo.lishness than him, does my language sounds igbo. The problem i have with some yorubas is that they feel if you don't support their opinion or their SCAM party Apc you are Igbo. i only spoke my Language. NO BE BY FORCE TO JOIN APC ABI NA OPC UNA CALL. AM. but if saying my opinion makes me a PDP or IGBO. SO BE IT

Goodluck Jonathan-government has approved the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa as xenophobic attacks linger. The Nigerian Commission in South Africa will commence the evacuation of Nigerians, Monday, in a bid to save them from the spread of the attack. Following xenophobic attacks by South Africans against foreigners, particularly those of African descent, Nigerians have been counting their losses with the Nigerian Consul-General, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke saying the loss by Nigerians included looted shops, burnt shops, two burnt mechanic workshops, 11 burnt cars and two stolen cars, among others.

www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/xenophobic-attacks-nigeria-starts-evacuation-of-citizens-from-south-africa/