₦airaland Forum

jerseyboy: Iyabo daughter of self styled father of modern Nigeria Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that her father tried to bargain her loyalty by dangling before her a chance to return to the Nigerian senate on the platform of .....ready for this....APC. This claim Iyabo made as part of her open letter to her father whom she has now severed all relationship with for life.

'You called me after your vengeful letter as usual, looking out for yourself and thinking you will bribe me by saying the APC will use me for the Senate. Do you really know me and what I want out of life?'
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/iyabo-obasanjo-writes-father-calls-liar-manipulator-hypocrite/#sthash.cJhbJN45.dpuf

As I said earlier, this is not about politics but my frustration with you as a father and a human being. I am not involved with what is currently going on in Nigeria, I don’t talk to any Nigerian other than friends on social basis. I am not involved with any political groups or affiliation. You mentioned Governor Osoba when you spoke to me, yes I was walking down the street of Cambridge, Massachussets a few months ago, when I looked up and saw him reading a map trying to cross the street.

I greeted him warmly and offered to give him a ride to where he was going. This I did not do because I wanted anything from him politically but because that is how I was raised by my mother to treat an adult who I really had no ill-will towards. Some said he was part of the people that manipulated the elections for me to lose in 2011. I don’t have any ill-will to him for that because I think they did me a favour and someone has to win and lose. .

By Saharareporters, New York
The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, today reacted to the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission to exclude the states currently under emergency rule from the 2015 elections, saying the decision has grave repercussions for the country.
The governor made the remark while responding to questions by journalists, during which he noted that 2015 remains very far away for all mortals.
“Only God, our Creator, knows who will get to 2015 and in what state of health,” he said. “It is also Allah that gives power to anyone He wills at the time He will and how He will.”
Of the proposal, he paid compliments to Professor Attahiru Jega, the electoral commission chairman, describing him as “a man associated with honour, integrity, an erudite and respected scholar” who has not committed any sin by his proposal, and commending him for INEC's early preparations for the elections.
"I also think he is being sincere because if he had an ulterior motive he wouldn't reveal the issue now,” the governor said. “He could have waited till when Allah spares our lives in 2015 and he would announce the exclusion of the States, by which time politics could be intense and every segment would be dealing with its own political issues.”
He noted that the INEC chairman has not foreclosed the participation of the three affected States in the 2015 elections, adding that the proposal is dependent on hopes that security will improve in those states.
"But one important thing we should not ignore as a sovereign country is that suspending national election such as the 2015 in any part of the 36 States and the FCT on account of Boko Haram activities would amount to making the insurgents supreme over the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it will be defeatist on our part as a nation.”
He stressed that the objective of Boko Haram is to impose the group’s beliefs on Nigeria, subvert its constitution and its democracy and replace them with inhuman laws that support killings and destruction. In that regard, he observed that should any part of the country be suspended from taking part in the 2015 election, the insurgents would presume themselves to be successful and to be inching closer to achieving their goals.
“We cannot allow that," Governor Shettima emphasized.
He said that as a strategy, Borno and Yobe States and indeed any place affected by the insurgency should be the electoral commission’s main focus for conducting the 2015 elections in order to send a clear message to those who want us to go into extinction that we will not cave in to their violent needs.
He said that suspending the elections even in a polling unit mainly on account of Boko Haram would be a setback in the fight against terror and that it will not be good for us as a country or for our reputation abroad.
“I therefore call on the Federal Government all stakeholders in the country and friends of Nigeria to look at the issue with analytical mindset far beyond what reasons we might be talking about now,” he said.
"If Boko Haram is able to stop elections in three States, they might in no time, simply target additional States and gradually, they might stop elections in Nigeria. We can't allow that.".

bjdon: RUBBISH!! I've read a lot of crap on NL but by God this has to be the worse. Who says you can't take power from Saraki? Is this not democracy? If that is the case why do we bother? People in other parts of the country have dethroned God fathers why can't it be done in Kwara State. I am an Edo man and I can tell you that before Osho baba, that is exactly what everyone used to say. We were told 'You can't be anything in Edo State unless Anneih is behind you, blah blah blah' Today is Osho not in his second term. Until Nigerians learn to rise up and take power from these rogues they deserve everything they get. No Power, you deserve it. No water, you deserve it. No Good Roads, you deserve it.Nonsense slave mentality

Orji o orji: that a pig shear the same birthday with humans does and cannot chang his status as a pig. happy birthday to the pope of the universal church.

“If there is generalised insecurity, how can we hold elections? .It will be disrupted or people will not come out. Ideally, elections should not hold under a period of emergency,” he said.

The commission projects to spend $7.9 (about N1,264) per voter for a total of 73.5 million voters.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday in Abuja that it would not be able to conduct the 2015 general elections in states under the state of emergency rule.
The commission’s Chairman, Attahiru Jega, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ forum on the preparation and challenges ahead of the 2015 general elections, organised by the Senate Committee on INEC.
Mr. Jega said that the decision by the commission was to avoid contravening the law.
The Federal Government had in November extended the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by six months. The emergency rule was initially imposed on those states by President Goodluck Jonathan due to the violence by the Boko Haram insurgents.
Mr. Jega, however, said that the commission was hopeful that the security situation in the affected states would improve before the 2015 general elections.
“We are working very closely with security agencies and our hope is that the security challenges in these areas will be long addressed before the 2015 elections.
“We hope that these challenges will be solved or dramatically reduced before 2015. What is clear is that, we cannot conduct elections under a period of emergency.
“If there is generalised insecurity, how can we hold elections? .It will be disrupted or people will not come out. Ideally, elections should not hold under a period of emergency,” he said.
Mr. Jega said security was a systemic challenge, but stressed that the commission was working hand in hand with security agencies to ensure adequate security in 2015.
He, however, assured that preparations for the 2015 general elections were on top gear, adding that the commission would need about N92.9 billion to conduct the elections.
He said the commission projected to spend $7.9 (about N1,264) per voter for a total of 73.5 million voters.
He said that the projection represented a reduction of $1 (N160) as against the $8.8 (N1,478) that was projected in 2011, representing 10 per cent drop.
Mr. Jega said the commission was anxious to meet its funding requirements ahead of the elections, adding that it was also looking at the possibility of holding the elections between January and February, 2015 to allow for time to resolve all litigations.
The INEC boss said that the commission had so far prosecuted 200 electoral offenders.
“If you compare 200 successful prosecutions with the large number of electoral offenders, it is just a drop in the ocean.
“INEC does not have the capacity to handle a large number. We have been working with the NBA to get accelerated persecution of electoral offenders.
“We hope to persecute more before the 2015 elections. The largest number of offenders we have is with regards to multiple registrations,” he said.
Mary Dan-Abia, a Director with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), however, stressed the need for adequate protection for corps members who would be engaged by the commission for the elections.
“Corps members are only ad hoc; they are not INEC staff; but since this is a national assignment, they are usually very enthusiastic about the job.
“However, politicians, INEC staff and members of the public tend to be antagonistic toward them to the point that they are abducted on their way to the polling unit and assaulted.
“We wish that everybody should be aware that they are doing a national assignment and so should not be looked at as enemies,” she said.
Ms. Dan-Abia appealed to security agencies to ensure adequate security protection for the corps members before, during and after election.
The Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, advocated that N25 billion be appropriated to the 25 remaining political parties to encourage more serious parties to perform better.
Mr. Umeh described the allegations that APGA was given N8 billion by the presidency for the November 16, Anambra governorship polls as baseless and unfounded, adding that there was no iota of truth in it.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Andy Ubah (PDP-Anambra), said that it was important to address any lapses that might be observed, to strengthen the election management body for optimal performance in 2015.
“The 2015 general elections will be an important election for Nigeria, the sub-region and the rest of the international community.
“The burden of delivering on successful elections lay squarely on our shoulders,” Mr. Ubah said.
(NAN)

DanNafada: Should we all become ediots because our leader is one?

Doctors are paid relatively very well but always seem to go on strike at the drop of every little hat.
They are not ASUU. When they do not work people die absolutely needlessly. And the ones that die are the ones already at the receiving end of all that is wrong with Nigeria - the poor.
Surely there must be other ways of fighting government without killing innocent citizens?

I am a medical doctor by the way.

revolt: what can we do about greedy gej? destroy the future of our young abi ?

your values systems are so retrogressive.

if they'd experienced these sort of strikes during their school days, I'm sure most of them wouldn't be lecturers. now these doctors have private hospitals,(which is the sole reaso

revolt: truth be told, these ASUU nma etc are greedy people.


Beastly human beings

chukwudi44: The opposition seems to hold some jokers right now. APC can decide to massively rig Kano with 5 million voters, Lagos with 6 million,Katsina with 3 million, Kaduna with 3 million and the election would be over in few hours. These are my thoughts i welcome yours

When it comes to rigging the presidency holds the upper and so don't even go there.who controls the police,army and oversight over INEC?

ndu_chucks: Great question. This meeting shows how out of control and ineffective GEJ really is. The man has lost control of his own party, otherwise he would have made sure that this meeting does not take place as planned. Since he did not stop the meeting, GEJ should immediately suspend OBJ from PDP for anti party activities. ko kwa?

adonismuller: Before the election in 2015..I will just go to bank and withdraw all my money..incase war comes,cz I presume dat wil happen!!

Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha said that Obasanjo should play a fatherly role and stop acting the way he was doing. He maintained that Obasanjo’s present style was what made the former head of state late General Sani Abacha to put him in prison.

Mr. George W. Bush
Obinna Chima and Nume Horsfall
Former United States President, Mr. George W. Bush, has stressed the need for leaders in Nigeria and other African countries to earn the confidence of the masses by tackling corruption.
Bush made this call in his opening remarks at the “Access Conference 2013: Embracing Sustainable Leadership,” organised by Access Bank Plc in Lagos Thursday.
According to the former US president, in order for democracy to thrive in Nigeria, there was need for accountability.
“I think it is very important to hold people to account. During my administration, I was a strong believer that it is very important to earn confidence in people by busting corruption. Seven congressmen in my party were jailed because they were corrupt.
“My advice is to have clear rules that enforce without prejudice and hold government account to honor the people by ensury that their money would be protected by the law,” he declared.
Responding to a question on how best to enforce tax laws, Bush said there was need to balance the role of the public sector and that of the private sector.
He explained: “When I was president, I felt it was important to invigorate the private sector. In my country, most of the jobs where made by small businesses, many small businesses are corporated as limited partnership or entities that pay individual tax rates and therefore dropping individual income tax rates will increase private sector growth.
“I think it is important not to over tax capital investors. It is important to reward capital investors. I think it is very important for a country that people are paying their own fair share of taxes in all levels of government and income strand. Try to simplify the tax code so everyone gets to understand the tax code laws and the tax responsibilities.”
Continuing, Bush said: “I believe that taxes are important for economic growth. During my administration, revenues increased as a result of taxes because it is the private sector that supplies the tax revenues to the US treasury because it is the public sector that spends money that generates revenues.
“In Nigeria, the tax codes are good. I would hope you would look at it to make sure that the tax codes encourage participation.”
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, there was need to pay more attention on systems, processes and institutions that would help develop the country.
“If you ask me about the difference between us, a lot of developing and developed countries on this issue of sustainable leadership, it is that absence of institutions. My usual test is to ask people if they know who the president of Switzerland is?
“Most people don’t know, but everybody rush to Switzerland to put their money there. To me, sustainable leadership is creating trust, creating institutions, trust, processes and having the human capital to carry on,” Okonjo-Iweala said.
Similarly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, pointed out that there was need to eliminate avenues for rent-seeking, such as subsidies and discretionary decisions in the country.
According to him, with appropriate regulations, it would be difficult for leaders to take advantage of situations in their country for personal benefit.
Sanusi added: “Another thing is what kind of questions do we ask them and what kind of demands do we make as followers? What are our priorities when choosing leaders? Institutions are very important, but individuals are also important.
“You have a state, you have a ministry, you have a central bank, you have the presidency and you have a government. The institutions are there, the laws are there. But no matter how strong an institution is, a weak leader weakens it. So it is important to match the person to the role and make sure that everything is focused on merit.”
On his part, the Chairman, Fate Foundation, Mr. Fola Adeola, urged Nigerians to always question those in leadership positions.
He added: “The leaders of this country decided that Nigeria, more than any other nation, is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to do their business such that they can do whatever they want to do, whereas, when they get to their different communities, it is a totally different thing.
“Once we stop to think like ethnic people, like village people, I believe we can stop to see Nigeria, no longer as a SPV, but as a nation that will care for us and our children, the alternative where we begin to steal enough money for our children, our grandchildren and great grandchildren will no longer be there.”
Former President of Ghana, Mr. Koffi Kufour, who spoke on how his administration was able to design policies that revitalised the Ghanaian economy, also eulogised the late former South African President Nelson Mandela.

taharqa: More Vids and Pics of Projects are coming and wud be so posted, so that Clowns like d two above wud not stop Wailing. We need to give them reasons for Crying, more...

This Railway was planned since the 1975 3rd National Plan, primarily to serve Nigeria's Steel Industry. It was subsequently abandoned by subsequent Admins (ie Shagari, Buhari and Early parts of Babangida) until the late 19980s/early 1990s when work finally started. Subsequent Admins have re-started (continued) as well as Abandoned the project, until Yar'adua's time in 2009 when he re-started (continued) it. GEJ continued froom there, and HASN'T ABANDONED it such that the entire track (esp the remaining Agbor-Warrri loop) has be COMPLETED this year (although certain Navigational Aids and the 5 Rail Terminals are still be done by Julius Berger Berger, the Contracting firm.

[b]FG Commences Passenger Service on Warri - Ajaokuta Railway Soon
From Dele Ogbodo in Abuja
24 Oct 2010

Going by the pace of current rehabilitation work by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on the 254 kilometre Ajaokuta - warri rail line, the Federal Government has stated that passengers service between the Niger Delta and Middle Belt areas of the country will commence very soon.
Impressed with the less than 4 hour train ride from Agbarho near Warri Delta State to Ajaokuta in Kogi State on the new Standard Gauge track line, Minister of Transport, Alhaji Suleiman Yusuf said "After the review, transfer and re - scoping of the project valued at N36billion from the Federal Ministry of Power and Mining to the Federal Ministry of Transport from its purely freight of Iron ore and with an additional built in design for Passengers movement which will involve the construction of several train stations along the line, I'm satisfied and impressed today that with this 4 hour train ride from Warri to Ajaokuta, we are sure to commence passenger services early next year.". [/b]

Mariory: If you do it without the 1, then #5 goes to OBJ's account.

Omo_Tier1: I am really sorry, but this is no good news if we are to be honest with ourselves. Listening to the project handlers talk, I wonder how you can call this good news.

Are we saying in Nigeria, we cannot design and implement a fully functional railway system, complete with level crossings, signal control and railway stations in 2013?

Let us stop celebrating mediocrity and demand for the best we should have. Imagine a government that can approve N49bn for renovation and extension of national complex, find it difficult to design and construct a fully functional railway system

Leyelyzo: I just hope, like other fruitless efforts, this confab won't turn out to be so. They haven't started anything, the panel is splitting already.

To Asemota, Nigerian unity is not only negotiable but must indeed be re-negotiated for it to stand or survive the test of time. “The reality over the years remains that in spite of the best efforts of all our leaders past or present, Nigerian unity is not guaranteed. It is simply, at best, an aspiration and not yet an achievement. Hence, the statement that Nigerian unity is ‘not negotiable’ is simply a historical fallacy.