₦airaland Forum

[quote author=Omo_Tier1]As you well know, I am based in the UK and I you have know inkling of what Cameron's comment at Davos has done to the government of GEJ. If anything, what that signals is a change of the rules of engagement with the GEJ government just like the USA did after Yar'dua's saga.

I find it utterly bizarre your unashamed defense of the intent of the FCT minister to spend N4bn on a house of an individual who is constitutionally unrecognized as far as Nigeria is concern. In all of heaven and earth, how can N5bn be spent on rehabilitation of prostitutes when the same government budgets barely N450million for all of the police college in a country as large as Nigeria?

Of what importance is a city gate when the roads in and around the suburbs of Abuja are crying for serious attention? Please stop trying to spew rubbish here, the facts of the budget as presented to the senate are there for all to read.

Seriously, I wonder the kind of heart you have as a human being....[/quote]Seriously, but for medical proof that he cant survive without one, i would have doubted if he had any.

[quote author=Omo_Tier1]As you well know, I am based in the UK and I you have know inkling of what Cameron's comment at Davos has done to the government of GEJ. If anything, what that signals is a change of the rules of engagement with the GEJ government just like the USA did after Yar'dua's saga.

I find it utterly bizarre your unashamed defense of the intent of the FCT minister to spend N4bn on a house of an individual who is constitutionally unrecognized as far as Nigeria is concern. In all of heaven and earth, how can N5bn be spent on rehabilitation of prostitutes when the same government budgets barely N450million for all of the police college in a country as large as Nigeria?

Of what importance is a city gate when the roads in and around the suburbs of Abuja are crying for serious attention? Please stop trying to spew rubbish here, the facts of the budget as presented to the senate are there for all to read.

Seriously, I wonder the kind of heart you have as a human being....[/quote]Seriously, but for medical proof that he cant survive without one, i would have doubted if he had any.

Taharqa, have you no conscience? For how long do you intend to live off droppings from the Presidential dinner table? have you no shame? Do you honestly believe GEJ is leading Nigeria on the right path to progress? Has your account balance robbed you of your senses? Do yo not see how the people in other countries with good leaders are progressing? Are you not bothered about the high level of illiteracy, unemployment, crime? Do you think you are immune to falling victim of the associated ills a profligate insensitive insincere inept government brings? You endorse 4 billion for mission house as proposed by the FCT minister, yet people in abuja die everyday because of lack of proper healthcare facilities! Have you no pity for the common man on the street who voted GEJ yet his life has been made more miserable since 2011 largely due to unwarranted fuel price increase, while your government still spends money on irrelevancies? If you think you are immune (tho you are not), have you no concern for your family members and the people around you? All because of what you want to eat!!!!Do you not fear God

Many of the laptop crew & those taken in by Abati's delicious prose seem to forget that just recently, the present Government appointed a notoriously corrupt inefficient ''yesterday man'', infact ''last week man'' who should be spending time in prison, into a key government position that should have been filled by a seasoned technocrat.

In this very article, Abati posited that most of the road contracts were awarded under the previous administration (implying that the poosr state of roads today is their fault as those contracts were not executed. Right? Right). Now, the Chief Thief of these road contracts moneys (runnint into billions) is the one and only Chief Anenih who is the NPA board chairman today.
Is that a man expected to ''clean the augean stables'' of the NPA??

Fo.olish government, more fo.o.lish supporters & absolutely unintelligent(deliberately perhaps) spokesmen. Not surprising tho as we can only expect that much from GEJ. You people should go outside the country, see the level of development there, then come back and tell me exactly when Nigeria is going to pick up with the rate this administration is going despite the billions we earn daily and the monies continually being borrowed. Rubb.ish.

Which way Nigeria. The laptop supporters, continue attacking critics who are seeking to keep the government on their toes, in the near future, your own children will face you and ask you why you stupi.dly kept qquiet or even egged this administration on when they busied themselves with running down Nigeria.

bukahands: @house please I logged into my GRE account, I can't find my scores there, I could only see d schools I sent my scores to. And please when will the analytical section result be out. I took the GRE last saturday

Thanks

Relax bro Its 10 - 15 working days. So give or take, about a week or two from now.

& it is thanks to his "tolerance" timidity and "humility" cluelessness that brazen corruption is being perpetrated by those under his watch while he sits there still "settling down" and still planning to "move very fast this year" after 3 years in office.

I'd rather have an intolerant (towards thieves, corrupt people, troublemakers) President who is effective that an inept tolerant 'humble' one.

I'm not a grammar nazi but since this involves our dishonorable shameless attack lion, I call...

GBAGAUN @ bolded . SA on Public Affairs to the PFRN seems not to know the difference between "sort" and "sought"

The Attack dog has spoken. has he surprised us? No.


After Information Minister Labaran Maku drowned yesterday trying to test the depth of the river with both feet, the Presidency today sent attack dog Doyin Okupe to announce it will not agree to a debate called by a former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, to examine whether the nation’s governments since 2006 are guilty of squandering a massive $67 billion of Nigeria’s resources.

In a convocation lecture last week, Mrs. Ezekwesili stated that the regimes of late President Umaru Yar’Adua and that of President Goodluck Jonathan squandered $67bn from the country’s Foreign Reserve account. Mr. Maku yesterday denied that the funds were as much, but not that they were squandered.

Okupe, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the President who has lingering personal issues of probity and credibility, denied that the regimes misused the funds, and accused the former World Bank Chief of trying to bring down the Jonathan administration.

Okupe said, “It is obviously preposterous for Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili to be asking for a National debate on the outlandish and reckless disinformation she made to incite the Nigerian people against the government.
“This was a deliberately calculated, albeit unsuccessful effort to bring the Jonathan Administration into disrepute unjustifiably.”

Trying to avoid the obvious, namely that all the questions ought to be asked and answered during the debate requested by Mrs. Ezekwesili, Okupe said that rather than cite the sources and establish the credibility of her figures, Mrs. Ezekwesili “decided to divert attention from the issues she raised by calling for a National debate on issues that are not in contention.”

The former minister had asked the regimes to tell Nigerians what they did to the huge sum she said former President Olusegun Obasanjo left in the national purse when he left office in May 2007.

“I regret to say that Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili should show dignity and character by letting the Nigerian people, whom she sort (sic) out to fool, to know the source of her figures otherwise, she should be honourable enough to retract her statement and apologize to the government and people of Nigeria,” Okupe’s statement said. “Else, she should be regarded by all as a willfully perjured individual not worthy of any respect or recognition whatsoever.”

Commenting on this latest development, a political analyst told SaharaReporters in Abuja, “One of the key problems of the Jonathan administration is that it is rigged out from the bottom with people who have neither integrity nor loyalty to Nigeria. Think about it: on the feet of what wobbly patriotism or honour does Okupe, who publicly and remorselessly swindled two States of the federation, stand to defend right and proper?”

Said another analyst, “Don’t give a damn! It is a don’t-give-a-damn government by don’t-give-a-damn operatives for don’t-give-a-damn people. Each PDP taker only knows what he or she has taken, which is never enough; nobody knows or cares what Nigeria has lost. The silence is thicker than the smoke!!”

Text of Okupe's statement:

OBY EZEKWESILI GOOFED.

We find it surprising that after an extensive explanation by the Hon. Minister of Information whereby facts were stated regarding the weighty and sweeping statements made by Mrs. Oby Ezekewsili, rather than cite the sources and establish the credibility of her figures has decided to divert attention from the issues she raised by calling for a National debate on issues that are not in contention.

Ordinarily, the call by Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili for a National Debate with the Minister of Information ought to have been ignored and allowed to fall flat. However, we are compelled to respond in view of the penchant by some highly placed Nigerians who use government offices to build up reputations for themselves and then later turn on the same government to denigrate it, just to play to the gallery and incite members of the public through dissemination of false, unsubstantiated and malicious information.

Rather than substantiate her claims, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili chooses conveniently to grandstand, claiming that she will remain silent until “a responsible response” is given to her demand on accountability. A more rational approach would have been for her, being the Accuser or Agent Provocateur to assume the responsibility of providing the facts to back her claims.

Mrs. Ezekwesili alleged that the government of late President Umaru Yar’adua and that of President Goodluck Jonathan had collectively squandered a total of $67 Billion US Dollars from the Country’s Foreign Exchange Reserves. While Minister of Information has debunked this statement as manifestly untrue and not based on any fact, we wish to reiterate for the purpose of clarity as follows that:

1. The money spent on running the Government is what the CBN remits to the Federation which is then shared by the three tiers of government i.e. Federal, State and Local Government.

2. The corresponding allocation to the Federal Government based on the approved benchmark is then dispensed by the Federal Government and the MDAs according to the items specified and approved by the National Assembly in the Budget of that year.

3. The unspent balance plus income from other income from exports other than oil constitutes the Nation’s foreign reserve, a portion of which is kept as the excess crude oil reserve.

4. The latter is shared periodically by the three tiers of government on need to spend basis.

According to the statement this office received from the CBN, it is factually incorrect to say that the reserves of the government were dipped into or misapplied. It is important to note that the Federal Government does not dip its hands into the external reserves. External reserves are available for use in settling both public and private sector foreign currency obligations of Nigeria. Whenever a ministry or agency of government needs to incur approved expenditures in foreign currency (e.g. payment of goods and services, settlement of external debt etc.) it must provide the naira equivalent to the Central Bank of Nigeria before the Bank sells the required foreign currency. The same applies to the private sector.

The management of external resources (also known as foreign reserves) is one of the statutory mandates of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Section 2 sub-section (c) of the CBN Act 2007 states that the Bank shall “maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency”. Therefore, foreign reserves are used to support a broad range of national objectives such as defending the naira. It also serves as a buffer especially during periods of crisis.

The breakdown of the country’s foreign reserve figures from the CBN which is the ONLY custodian banker of ALL our National Resources, is also herewith attached for all to see. It shows quite clearly without ambiguity that Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili lied shamelessly by publishing false figures. We challenge Oby to categorically state her own source of information to authenticate her claims.

It is obviously preposterous for Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili to be asking for a National debate on the outlandish and reckless disinformation she made to incite the Nigerian people against the government. This was a deliberately calculated, albeit unsuccessful effort to bring the Jonathan Administration into disrepute unjustifiably.

I regret to say that Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili should show dignity and character by letting the Nigerian people, whom she sort out to fool, to know the source of her figures otherwise, she should be honourable enough to retract her statement and apologize to the government and people of Nigeria. Else, she should be regarded by all as a willfully perjured individual not worthy of any respect or recognition whatsoever.

Source [url]http://saharareporters.com/news-page/67bn-controversy-we-won%E2%80%99t-debate-ezekwesili-%E2%80%93-presidency[/url]

Supzyy: I drive a 2008 toyota camry, automatic transmission. Anytime i engage the gear, either in reverse or drive, the car starts moving even without any pressure on the throttle. i assume this to be normal with all automatic cars. However, a few days ago, i noticed that after engaging the gear, the car not only started moving but also shifted up itself. i had to turn off the engine and restarted the car. should i be worried about this? i love being in control of my car at any given time

Before it shifted, i assume ur Rpm increased i.e. It accelerated. Right? & you are ABSOLUTELY sure your foot/ footwear was not on the accelerator pedal?

If Yes, then I suspect your camry is showing signs of sudden acceleration problems which could be very dangerous. There was a widely publicised recall of 2008/2009/2010 Corollas i think over this issue. Didnt know Camry might be involved.

Now, after u read this reply, with that same internet connection, use google to locate complaint forums online to see if people have had similiar problems & find out what solutions were proferred.

imperiouxx: Good to know that but at anytime we owe everything to God. You got good GA score now, that's why I asked you to research yourself. All you need is pick your state, use www.utexas.edu/world/univ/state/ to know schools in the state. Search each school requirements and first is to write the departmental head and the graduate coordinator, telling them your credentials. It's very simple to do.

Thanks a lot bro. Will definitely be sending out more mails to Profs this week.

Gentlezik: University of Cincinnati has a tradition of offering partial scholarship to most of their accepted graduate students, so that's ok. You can also try Texas A&M, College Station. They generally have low tuition compared to the quality of education you get. Moreover, most graduate students that apply on time receive funding, although to a lesser extent in your field compared to engineering. Keep it in mind anyway that these assistantships are becoming more competitive these days.

Thanks a lot. All points noted Checked out TAMU College station before, seems d deadline of d course I was interested in had expired. Will check it out again tho.

winbyforce: But...how do the guys at first logic register their students? there may be a way around it.just thinking.....

First Logic is a RECOGNISED Prometric Testing centre so they have no issues registering students. Tho in my case, my exam date had to be shifted twice coz of backlog (i guess) likely resulting from the Yuletide season & also coz of thursday's p-holiday.

Mystiqme: Bukahands and Find out!, you guyd did fine, congrats.

My oga, thanks man Our story no be visa success story o,lol, but part of why we decided to post our scores here is also to encourage others who are preparing for it as well. All na journey to the F-1, may God help us

bukahands: Hahahaha guy I left early cos I didn't take the 10 minutes break you took anyway

Verbal -148 (I tell
una I no know English)
Quantitative 164

CGPA 3.52
Admission - I neva know yet o

Visa long thing for now

Lol. Congrats bro. you did good too . May God help us thru the admission stage as well. Lol. I had to take that 10 minute break o! Parched throat and GRE exam don't flow together at all.lol

imperiouxx: @Find Out! and buka,

You guys should be fine with your results. Research for yourself and use www.usnews.com

All the best

Thanks bro. As per USNEWS, believe me, at any given time on my laptop in the last 2.5 months, at least 2 tabs of USnews site (checkin out diff schools) have been open.lol. I also visit msinus blog, happyschoolsblog etc. I usually like to get first hand info about those schools from those familiar with them which is why i post my inquiries here sometimes. Thanks a lot bro for everything. You were the one that sent my very first GRE material soft copy to me (you sent it twice sef) so I owe you man. God bless ya plenty

Ogbeche77: congrat my man, i get mail for u & how the comprehension part?

Lol. As boring, as confusing, and as difficult as it is in the prep books.lol. But once you know some of their strategies, you go sabi catch "them".lol. Will check my inbox and reply you ASAP.

Heyy Guys

Took the GRE today. Finished about 15 minutes ago.... Met Bukahands at the centre tho he finished before I did & left earlier (How did you do bro?).

Essays were alright, Argument task was easier.

First verbal & Quant sections were quite lovely.

2nd Verbal & Quants sections were far less lovely...almost crazy.lol

3rd Verbal (the unscored section I guess) was in between.

At the end of it all.....

Verbal -160
Quantitative 157.



my undergrad cgpa is 3.47

Can anyone please suggest schools that lay more emphasis on GRE than CGPA in giving assistantships, scholarships(maybe) e.t.c.
Intended major -Public health/Env. Health & related areas sha.

I chose Indiana Uni Bloomington, Uni of Cincinnati, Northern Illinois Uni & Kent state Uni.

Thanks guys. To those studying for the GRE, keep studying & practicing, forcus on your weak areas. You'll do very well.

*GRE -Check.
Admissions - Loading....
Visa - we never reach there

OjaP: You're welcome sir. Are you in the US already? What's your major?

Nah, still in Nigeria o. Will be taking the GRE on saturday. I've started applications (submitted one). I'm eyeing MSPH /MPH/ MS Environmental Health/Industrial hygiene/Safety Management....those fields sha.

yeah house, please who knows anything about university of Oklahoma, admission rate, funding e.t.c ??

olsmade: lolz. about finaid, yeah. i'll prolly have to mail BU - didnt think bout it before though. i have heard about the evening classes in some programs, but im sure it will make very little difference for an international student except ofcourse I want to do observerships during the day - RA or GA positions for international students have a 20hr cap per week. im leaning towards UT, Houston cos of the tuition and hope to get stipends which will then qualify me for instate tuition - daylight robbery. I did GRE way back in 2011 - twasnt so bad.

Cool. Good you started early. Just open as many roads as possible then take the best when the time comes.lol

I really just have to own this car / its German brother, the BMW E46 3 series before I clock 30 by God's grace.lol AWESOME still despite its age. OP, engine pics please make I feed my eyes some more.lol. is200 , a 2.0 litre i4 or i6 believe

Happy sales man. Luvly ride indeed.

*& [s]some people will still leave this machine and buy a 2006 Corolla o[/s]! *

OjaP: [b][/b]

Most graduate classes are in the evening. I used to go to school in the morning back then only because I am a RA and need to work on my research, most if not all my classes start at 6pm.

Most graduate students in America have one job or the other...that I think is the reason why most classes are in the evening.

Hmmm...thanks for that Just thot twasa few courses like MPH, MHA & other professional degrees that had their class schedules planned that way. Thanks.

olsmade: i tell ya.

Anyways, fall 2013 hopeful - got an acceptance for MPH from Boston University with merit award (still cant affort it tho - the fees are exhorbitant) and waitlisted in emory. waiting on Harvard, Alabama and Texas, Houston. any other fall hopefuls getting things rolling already?

Hmmm.... Doc!!! I hope you get picked, but hope you considered chances of getting financial aid while choosing these schools. & have you contacted the department at Boston Uni to ask if Graduate/Research Assistantships are available? & another thing I've noticed is that some schools' MPH programs have their classes only on evenings and weekends as the course is designed for working professionals. I wonder if such class scheduling will be ideal for an international student Anyway such schools, I just bone & search for others..

I assume you did GRE. Right? & you scored high I believe? I wish you (us) all the best.

KENNSAMMY: hello poster, we will sell this car soon.
But, why cant you help with the engine details and mileage.
I meant it is clearly indcated the cars cylinder size i.e 2.4L, 2.0L,2.3L,2.2, etc. indicate asap....

Its definitely a 2.2 litre i4. As to mileage, over to OP.
In addition, how long has it been registered/used in Nigeria? (i didnt ask how old the new number plate is o)

Looks like an 03, but could be an 02. Check the 10th character on the VIN. Whatever number you see there is the year.

bukahands: I guess south dakota should be in my list now, what time are u writing mine is 12:00 clock

Same time! Saw your PM request. replied.

@Uplawal, I believe you very well know that the Prophet didnt burn anyone's house even though he said that was how his mind felt. The hadeeth was simply to underscore the importance of the fajr prayer and how heavy it weighed on the Prophet's mind. I do not think you should use that as an excuse to hate those muslims who don't pray. Well, I won't talk much again sha. Continue hating. My own prayer for you and I is that what'll make us begin to display a carefree attitude towards salat like those people you hate do, may Allah not let it come our way.

Islam preaches love not hate. Best believe that. Also, you may want to read this

BetaThings: Yes, you are right. Some people are unduly strict. You can put it to natural intolerance and exuberance. Fingers are not equal. People are at different levels on the eeman scale. Trying to distance oneself from others because they appear to be lower in eeman and good deeds might not work. It is far better to remind, remind, encourage, guide than to just ostracise people. Why was Prophet Yunus (AS) rebuked by Allah? Was it not for impatience with people? Trying to brow beat people will not work.

We need to encourage our brothers to be approachable, be creative in encouraging people to be steadfast and make people feel comfortable with the deen


Amin

Please pay special attention to the last bolded. You are an ambassador of Islam. Let people look at your character and wish to be muslims, not the other way round.

Jarus: He is a conscious Muslim and he's trying, he bankrolls the rent of our mosque space annually, which runs into a couple of millions.

Hmm.....May Allah continue to assist him and strenghten his conviction in the religion.

Jarus: I followed the thread from inception, read all the post.

Actually, Uplawal has been making some comments about hating and all sha....

^^^ Excellent response Ikenna. Simply excellent. Very ideal response to who i'll call an Ignorant Sceptic (no malice intended). You were even quite mild with words, I appreciate that. Indeed, let her go to cartalk section page & see for herself what Nigerians are going through.