From what has been said so far it seems obvious to me that no one person here is able to tell us categorically who these cabals are. This means we either don't know them or they don't exist. We keep talking about the cabals and blaming them for our woes but nobody is able to absolutely say who they are. All we here is that they are obvious but we don't have concrete names rther, conjectures.

Maybe there are no cabals but just businessmen/women and politicians who the government of the day has no will to contend with because it favours the government of the day to align with these people to milk the nation.

That Indomie Noodle and Cowbell's milk adverts using kids speaking pidgin are just so wrong. We should be teaching and encouraging kids of that age (5-10 yrs) how to speak fluent English.They will always pick up pidgin on the streets, no problem with that but producing adverts on radio and TV showing these kids speaking pidgin, creates the impression in the highly impressionable minds of the watching children that pidgin is the National lingual Franca. We end up with children whose spoken English at best, becomes terrible in their adult lives.

Beyond the fact that the rebels want Ghadaffi out what "exaclty" was his crime before this whole brouhaha started ?

I am not a fan of any long standing dictator but please show me a UN Chater that permits one country to invade another just so they can dethrone its leader because some rebels say it must be so.

Niether NATO nor the WEST, which is NATO by the way, has willingly tried to engage Ghadaffi in any dialogue or negotiation. They just want him out or dead. And that's because they want Libya's oil and see Ghadaffi as the main obstacle to getting the oil.

The rebles don't know what they are getting into because when the West finally knocks off Ghadaffi, they will take charge of that country and the rebels won't be able to do any shit about it

CPC is a smaller party with fewer people. When in power it will have fewer political patronage and entrenched interests and this implies a smaller, leaner and more efficient federal government, which is what we need in Nigeria.

The PDP is such a large national party with interest spawn all over the country. If it wins the presidential elections there will be a lot of persons to be satisfied and settled for their role in helping to win the elections. There will be godfathers and godmothers and all manner of sycophantic hangers-on. Unfortunately, you can’t wish away all these people otherwise they will frustrate your government.

Even if GEJ wishes well for the country he will have to accommodate all these people, a lot of who are greedy, self-centered and generally incompetent. They are the ones who will make a mess of his good intentions.

A CPC government being smaller, will require less funding, fewer people to steal and hopefully, less corruption and generally more efficient because of less bureaucracy.

Oya, Jakumo come hia and answer this question, who you be ?

MAJOR telecommun-ications operator, Glo Mobile, has decided to pull out of Ghana, an authoritative source close to the company has disclosed.


It was gathered at the weekend that the telecommunications giant had decided to divest its investment in the country and exit Ghana as it faces several challenges from some interests bent on sabotaging the company’s nationwide take-off plan.


A source close to the company disclosed that some of the challenges the company had faced since it was awarded a GSM licence by the National Communications Authority (NCA) included an encroachment on the frequency allocated to it by the NCA, the repeated and organised sabotage of its billboards and the delay in securing approval for the swift deployment of its infrastructure like base stations.


It was gathered that officials of the company were concerned that while they had been working at a frenetic pace to formally roll out the network, some forces had been deliberately working round the clock to cripple its operation and prevent it from rolling out quickly to the detriment of the Ghanaian society.


Derek Okpobi, a senior official of Glo Mobile Ghana, said “the frustrations are getting out of control. We have considered pulling out.”


Another source close to the company said the operator’s management felt that its infrastructure in the country were not getting adequate protection from the law enforcement agencies.

Efforts to get the official reaction of the company to the development proved abortive, but it was gathered that the company would soon serve the government its notice to quit.


The source, which was privy to the outcome of a meeting held by senior management staff of the company on the issues, said the company was displeased with the various acts of vandalism and would have felt relieved if the law enforcement agencies had apprehended the perpetrators and exposed them.


Glo Mobile Ghana recently embarked on a massive deployment of outdoor advertising structures comprising billboards, light boxes, lamppost signs and brand marks (branded lit globes) throughout Accra, as part of the build-up towards the nationwide launch of the company’s operations in Ghana.


However, immediately after the deployment of the outdoor advertising materials which generated a lot of positive remarks, a number of the outdoor structures had been vandalised by unknown persons.


In February, about 15 light boxes mounted from the airport traffic light median to the Opeibea House traffic light, were deliberately destroyed with the flexi materials used on both sides of the unit torn.

One of the Glo brand marks, mounted in Accra was also destroyed.


About two weeks ago, light boxes numbering about 16, from the King Tackie Tawiah overpass to Busy Internet, installed by Glo were also vandalised.


Another major area of concern for Glo, it was learnt, was the ban on erection of mast by the National Environmental Protection Agency.


The development was said to have affected Glo the most, being the only network building a nationwide telecoms company from scratch.


Meanwhile some Ghanaians have reacted to the development.


In a comment posted by a group tagged “glosupportgrp” on myjoyonline.com, the official website of one of Ghana’s most popular radio station, the group said “Glo should know that the majority of Ghanaians are behind them.”

Soure: http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/5869-glo-pulls-out-of-ghana

Not only will I allow her to practice these combat arts, I will teach her myself. I am into Karate and have every intention of teaching my wife the self defense techniques inherent in martial arts

@Poster,
how old are you ? 16 ? You are sounding too childish and confused. Romance is for adults not kids.

This girl has not done ANYTHING wrong. You said so many wonderful things about her and just because she did not show up on Val's day, with a genuine excuse, you want to ditch her. She even called you later to explain.

Please ditch her quickly so that a guy who can value the treasure in her will pick her up

There are so many ways to keep the romance flames on
Go out
Eat out
Watch a movie, even if you are not really a movie person
Undertake a romantic weekend to some place out of town
Go to the beach
Have a picnic
Have a romantic dinner in your house, then put on some cool love songs and dance with her with dim lights on
Send romantic text but not every day. Maybe a few days a week
Joke and laugh with her. Watch a comedy with her if you are not the humourous type
Play games with her
Go swimming with her
Do some sort of sport with her- lawn tennis, table tennis, badminton, jogging
Go to the gym with her
Just sit outside some place cool and make funny but decent comments about things happening around you
Etc

Hi All,

Any one knows where I can find a good traditional Kung fu or Karate club in Lagos ? I am most interested in clubs around Ikeja-Maryland-Anthony-Gbagada-Surulere-Yaba axis.
I am also ok with clubs around Ikoyi or Victoria Island

Thanks for your help

One more reason to ask any defecting Governor to relinquish his position and conduct a re-election or give the mandate to the runner-up in the election

FOLLOWING the defection of Governor Ikedi Ohakim of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the top hierarchy of the ruling party is said to be mounting pressure on the governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to defect.

Sources within the party told the Nigerian Tribune that the Presidency had given its blessing to the move to ensure the three governors join the party.

The Abia State governor is a first-term governor, who will be seeking a second term election in 2011 but Oshiomhole and Mimiko will be due for re-election until 2012 and 2013 respectively.

It was, however, learnt that the PDP is not leaving any stone unturned in seeking the defection of the duo, to ensure a stronger PDP in the 2011 elections.

It was gathered that the party is seeking a clean sweep of the states of the South-South and South-East in the next general election.

The PDP had lost Abia and Imo states in the last general election as a result of internal wranglings within its fold, but the governor of Imo State returned to the party on July 25, in a ceremony attended by President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The loss of Edo State to Oshiomhole of the Action Congress (AC) late in 2008 was also attributed to the internal wrangling within the fold of the PDP in the state, following the internal feud orchestrated by the removal of Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor and the loyalists of Chief Tony Anenih.

Since he assumed office in Benin, the PDP has been making overtures to the governor, with the leaders publicly declaring their support for the administration of the former labour leader.

The rapport between the governor and the chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is said to have become deep to the extent that the governor was allowed to make concrete input in the nomination of the state’s representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Besides, the governor and PDP leaders have been talking about the necessity of his joining the PDP, which is said to have been fixed for the “appropriate time.”

Some sources have also indicated that pressure has started mounting on Governor Mimiko to declare for the PDP, the party he left to seek the gubernatorial ticket on the ticket of Labour Party (LP).

Sources stated that the topmost hierarchy of the PDP in Abuja believed that Mimiko would soon return to the party, once they were able to put some structures in place.

It was also learnt that the governor had received concrete offers to return to the PDP, which he abandoned in 2006. For Governor Orji, the dilemma, according to sources, is how to defect without the input of the leader of the PPA, Chief Orji Kalu.

Kalu has been at loggerheads with Ohakim, following his defection to the PDP. Although the former governor of Abia State is said to be disposed to returning to the PDP, he has not been forthcoming on his return, while the party has initiated talks with the governor directly.

A source said that Governor Orji might not want to upset the applecart, unlike Governor Ohakim, who left for the PDP without Kalu’s blessing. It was learnt that a good number of PDP leaders in Abia, especially those championing the cause of zoning, are disposed to having Orji in the PDP for a second term in office, while the post will shift to another part of Abia under a PDP arrangement in 2015.

“The disposition of former Governor Kalu is the hinderance to Governor Orji, but we are sure that will be sorted out soon. Kalu is not opposed to the PDP but he was hoping that he could lead the duo of Orji and Ohakim to the PDP so as to rejoin the party on the position of strength,” a source said.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/12082009/news/news2.html

Why are these guys so scared of elections ?

Bunch of incompetent, corrupt, thieving fellows

PDP govs threaten electoral reforms

, Succession plan at variance with C’ttee's recommendation

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appear to be constituting a threat to at least one of the major recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais Electoral Perform Committee, Sunday Vanguard can now reveal.

Specifically, moves by the PDP governors to encourage the emergence of candidates for elective officers through consensus in the 2011 general elections are at variance with the recommendation of the Uwais committee that political parties should encourage internal democracy.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that moves are in top gear by the PDP governors to ensure that primaries for elective offices, particularly the office of president and state governor are not conducted.

The governors, it was gathered, are putting finishing touches to a proposal for consensus candidates for the offices of president and state governor.

The Justice Mohammed Uwais Committee on Electoral Reforms, in one of its recommendations, had said, “Party conventions, congresses and meetings should be held regularly at all levels and should be free from undue interference. Such party conventions, congresses and meetings should adhere to the scope of their power and authority as entrenched in the party constitution”.

The succession agenda, being pushed by the PDP governors, negates the principle of internal democracy which President Umar Yar’Adua had, himself, advocated in his early days in office.
The PDP National Convention of March 2008, during which a national chairman emerged, did not enjoy the compliment of an election or true party primaries.

Even after the Presidency had intervened, it was the PDP governors who decided, at the last minute, on the choice of the party chairman they wanted, a situation which led to all the chairmanship candidates of the party queuing behind Chief Vincent Ogbulafor as the chief helmsman of the party.

At that national convention, held at the Eagle Square, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, all the contestants for the office of chairman of the PDP dumped their aspiration and endorsed the chairmanship of Ogbulafor.

The recommendation of the Uwais Committee reads:

“Enhancing Internal Democracy in the Political Parties.

“(a) There should be reform of political parties with more insistence on intra-party democracy.

“(b) Party conventions, congresses and meetings should be held regularly at all levels and should be free from undue interference. Such party conventions, congresses and meetings should adhere to the scope of their power and authority as entrenched in the party constitution.

“(c) Party organs should play active roles in determining who is nominated to contest for positions in the party, appropriate to their levels.

“(d) There should be no cross-carpeting under any circumstances.

“(e) Given past internal problems concerning nomination of candidates, political parties should develop internal procedures for candidate nomination that are open, transparent, inclusive and democratic and require that those seeking nominations do not use intimidation, violence, bribery or similar unacceptable methods to gain nomination or office.

“(f) Reports of Administrative Panels should not be used to disqualify candidates, Section 182(1)(i) of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to allow only Judicial Reports and Tribunals to be so used.

“(g) A legal framework should be provided to support justiceability of party nomination. There is no need to expend time and resources on a primary election that will be discarded while courts stand helpless. Section 86 of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to allow a candidate who feels aggrieved in a primary election to go to court.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/28775/41/

Kidnapping, which seemed to have been confined to the Niger Delta where gunmen are holding sway, may have been shifted to the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja.
Yesterday, the ugly trend reared its head in Abuja as some armed bandits invaded the University of Abuja and abducted the daughter of a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Christopher Benewari.
Benewari represents Opobo/ Nkoro/ Andoni Federal constituency of Rivers State.
His daughter whose name was given as Theresa was allegedly taken away by the gunmen in the wee hours of the morning to an unknown location from where her abductors have been making frantic phone calls to the father to redeem her with the sum of N100 million.

As at the time of filing this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.
It could also not be ascertained if the kidnappers are from the Niger Delta region where the Benewaris hail from.
Attempts to reach Benewari for his reaction failed as he was said to be in a pensive mood since the news of his daughter’s abduction broke.
The kidnappers are said to have brought down their demand to N70 million after fruitlessly waiting for the huge sum they earlier demanded.

There has been an upsurge in the spate of kidnappings in the country, mostly in the Niger Delta.
But it seemed yesterday was a day of kidnapping as there was an orgy of abduction across the country.
An eight-year-old daughter of the Chief Accountant of the Delta State Ministry of Lands, Surveys and Urban Develop-ment, Tare Isiaye, was seized in Asaba by yet unknown gunmen while a Lebanese, Mr. Jimmi Rahjah, was abducted by a group of hoodlums at Oloto Community in Okitipupa Local Government of Ondo State.
The Portuguese kidnapped by the militants at Ajagba, Irele Local Government Area of the state was also yet to be released.

The whereabouts of the kidnapped daughter of the chief accountant in Delta State was still unknown last night
Isiaye, who is a former Chief Accountant, Government House, under the administration of Chief James Ibori, told reporters that his daughter was kidnapped by two men who were in a car that had trailed his driver, right at the entrance of his residence on Isiaye Drive, Anwai, Asaba around 4 pm.
He said his driver had gone to pick the daughter from school and was driving into his residence when the two men alighted from the car and forcibly removed her from the car into their own car and drove off.
As at the time of filing this report, sympathisers had already thronged Isiaye’s residence. A family source told THISDAY that no contact had been established with the kidnappers as at the time of this report.

When contacted, Delta State Police Commissioner Jacob Oshiomogho and Spokesman of the police command, Mr. Charles Muka, told THISDAY that officers and men of his command were already on red alert even as THISDAY learnt they were in Warri on the entourage of the AIG, Zone 5 Benin.
However, Isiaye told THISDAY that the matter had been reported to the command’s control room, adding that he was on his way to formally report the matter at the police station.

Delta State had been relatively quiet in matters of kidnap except last year’s abduction of the father of the Secretary to the Delta State Chief Arthur Okowa, who later regained his freedom.
Okowa, 75, was abducted from his residence at Boji Boji Owa, in Ika North-east Local Government Area of the state by four armed men at about 11.30 am on July 20, 2008. He regained his freedom on July 25, 2008.
In Ondo, Rahjah, an engineer working with another construction company, Samchase, was abducted late Wednesday by hoodlums who demanded ransom before they could release him.

However, security operatives on Wednesday arrested four of the militant youths that kidnapped a Portuguese, Luis Jose Rentad, who is an engineer with Picolo Construction Company handling project that will link Irele with Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Governments.
The arrest of the militants, THISDAY learnt, was made possible by a joint patrol team of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Police and the State Security Services (SSS).

A security source said that one of hoodlums was apprehended when he was about collecting the sum of N2 million ransom promised them by the management of the Picolo Construction Company for onward release of the Portuguese.
The source said those arrested were now cooling their heels in an undisclosed detention as men of the patrol team have intensified efforts to arrest others and get the two expatriates released.
It was also gathered that an undisclosed huge ransom has been demanded by the abductors of the Lebanese before he could be released.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Adeniran Aremu (ASP) confirmed the story, saying the command was making efforts so that the two expatriates could be released.
Meanwhile, for the second time within 48 hours, armed hoodlums have again kidnapped another clergy, Apostle Captain Ileru of Kingdom Peoples Mission Incorporated, Ebulu branch in Eleme, Rivers State.
The man of God was said to have been accosted by the kidnappers around 9.25 pm Wednesday as he was driving home after midweek service. He was forced inside his dark green Honda car and whisked to an unknown destination.
The General Overseer of Covenant Faith Assembly, Dr. Mike Ifijeh, was earlier taken from his Ada George residence by some hoodlums who broke into his house. They are demanding N8 million ransom.

Whereas contact has been made by those who abducted Ifijeh, kidnappers of Ileru are yet to make any contact or demand any ransom, though the belief in security circles is that he was taken for pecuniary reasons.
Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force in the state, Lt. Col. Sagir Abubakar, said the Commander of the Task Force in the state, Brigadier-General Awwalu Mohammed, had directed all security agencies under his command to intensify efforts to track down the kidnappers.
He, however, said the registration number of the car in which the clergy was kidnapped was not available as at the time of going to press.

Sagir also narrated how the hoodlums had stormed Ifijeh’s residence and forced their way into his room and took him away despite the pleadings of the wife and children.
Only last week, the wife of former Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Edmund Daukoru, was abducted by gunmen operating in the oil city of Port Harcourt. She was released a few days later by her abductors who dropped her off in a hotel in the city.

Her abduction came soon after an 11-year-old-daughter of an employee of Shell Petroleum Development Company was shot dead for resisting the abduction of her eight-year-old brother on their way to school.
But the kidnapping scenario had for a long time been restricted to the volatile oil-rich region where armed militants have for several years battled security forces deployed to keep peace in the region.

Although there have been recent campaigns that kidnapping be made a crime punishable by death, it remains to be seen if this would serve as a deterrent to the perpetrators.


http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=135556

Eziachi:

You seem to have all these facts no one else has, so what was the result of the psychiatric evaluation? At what point was such evaluation outsome presented before a judge in a court?
I am not saying Orji should be set free or allowed to roam the street but it obvious that the guy is seriously mentally ill and should be locked up in a mental hospital and not inside a prison along with othe prison as he is a danger not only to himself but the the public too.

Condition of Nigerian prison is enough to turn a sane man to a total insanity, let alone an insane person.

Eziachi, since Nigeria does not have these special psychiatric prisons you mentioned what do you suggest should be done to Clifford Orji?

Should he be released to roam the streets and possibly go back to his canibalistic ways or should he be placed in a normal psychiatric hospital where he will probably escape from, after eating a few nurses ?

When we argue or proffer solutions we should always consider the reality on ground rather proposing mere idealistic and theoretical soultions that are not immediately workable.

Nigeria can't afford to go build a psychiatric prison just becasue of Clifford Orji.

Yar Adua appointed Farida Wazira as EFCC and EFCC is now almost dead

He has gone ahead to appoint Dora Akunyili as Minister of Information, of all ministries available, NAFDAC is going to die soon

Most of his ministers are boneless people when it comes to quality leadership and achievement
He has an advocate of thieves, Mike Aondaoka, as his Justice Minister

UMYA is out to destroy this country.

Lets send the video clips to all the TV houses in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of Nigeria including the NTA. NTA might not air it and a few other fearful media houses might not want to show it but some bold and anti-PDP stations like Channels and AIT maybe willing to show it.

Send Pictures to Newspapers, especially Sun News, which is notoriously Anti-PDP, Vanguard, Guardian, Punch and Tribune all known for either their balanced news reporting or anti-govt, anti-elitist tendencies. These papers will show the pictures and write commentries

Forward the clip to email groups with large memberships and just keep spilling the clips and pictures all over the place

If we start now the information will leak out all over the nation and something will be done. It has happened before.

In Obj's first tenure one of his Minister's, Sarumi's, convoy was involved in an accident which led to the death of a newly wed couple. The news went all over the nation and during a cabinent re-shuffle Sarumi was dropped. Sarumi has since faded more or less out of Nigeria's political landscape

The Navy boss and his men can be dealt with if we push this clip and pictures all over the place

This is the power of IT and mass revolt. In this age of IT nothing can be hidden anymore and people in high places will soon learn to handle their affairs with caution, because we are no longer in Nineteen century africa where a war lord in a bush village can order a citizen beheaded and nothing will be heard of it outside the palace.

What a Minister! Eighteen months in office and $10 billion wasted and yet industries are dying in Nigeria

[size=16pt]How Minister of Commerce Wasted $10 Billion[/size]

Franca OCHIGBO, Abuja



http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=68230

A startling revelation yesterday came from the supervising Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr Idi Hong: the eye-popping sum of $10 billion was spent on foreign investment drive with less than $1 billion investment inflow into the country.

Dr Hong, who is the substantive Minister of State in the Culture and Tourism ministry, now oversees the Commerce and Industry following the sack of the Commerce and Industry Minister, Engr Charles Ugwu, together with 19 other Ministers on Wednesday by President Umar Yar' Adua.
Hong made the revelation at his maiden meeting with staff of parastatals and top officials of the ministry in Abuja.The Nation gathered that a large chunk of the said wasteful spending went into frequent foreign tours and promotions.

He said, “$10 billion was wasted in the search  for investors and not even one billion dollars worth of investment came into the country. Investors  won't come because they know you have come to engineer stories to them”
Hong added: "Yearly, about $700billion indirect investment goes to China, Dubai, Asia, etc, in these countries, they don’t run after investors, investments chase them, please do legitimate travel.

"Continuous travelling and making statements like: ‘Nigeria is very favourable for investment, Nigeria is very peaceful;’ will not achieve anything, President Yar’ Adua is smarter than you and I, he knows everything about us, including those of us supervising the ministries presently. He knows more than we assume he knows, like instances of you claiming you are travelling to promote the country or on a trade mission." The minister enjoined staff of the ministry to stop wasting time on frequent trips adding that Nigeria must be repaired first; "no amount of grammar will bring an investor if the economy is not vibrant, but if things are working, they will come.

"Mr. President has directed clearly that foreign travel should be minimized, the budget has been reduced, no amount of travel will solve our problems, we are the people to take our future into our hands, just do the right thing, and people will come and look for you.
"The budget is targeted at things that are measurable, and it’s target-driven, things that will add value to the seven-point agenda; if it means the ministries using the whole budget for one concrete project without breaking it into piecemeal, that will be good, at least you know what the money is used for.

"Let the ministry and parastatals prioritize their programmes, by creating efficiency on how to rebuild dead industries, this is a challenge for the ministry to take up, you can make yourself relevant or put yourself in the dustbin." Directing his attention at the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, he said, "Madam Permanent Secretary, if you are able to make this ministry create 100 industries in the next two-three years, you will be the most important Permanent Secretary; if the opening up of jobs and industries is not working, you are supervising a hollow structure. "Achieving success is not by mere aspiration, but by nature, endowment and providence.

God has created Nigeria to be among the league of developed nations in the world, it is not going to be pardonable to say we have not realized that aspiration. Nigeria cannot realize that aspiration as long as this ministry is unable to meet its responsibilities; the Federal Government is willing to give its support to this ministry, no nation can develop if its industrial base and commerce are not strong to carry it.
Speaking further, the minister said no amount of rhetoric will bring development without concrete steps being taken. "You may engineer grammar, you may be a financial wizard, if you can’t achieve your set goals, these are all castles built in the air; you have to form a realistic base of economy that other developed countries have experienced and have been able to build on. The difficulties of what we are going through today on financial crisis are because people decided to build economies on balance sheet, this is the time that we would have to seize the moment in re-organizing the sector.

"The Ministry is one of the most important arms of government. Let me use this opportunity to commiserate with the management, directors and staff for what happened few days back to some of our colleagues (sack of ministers), that is still part of life, this is part of daily expectation because if you are not conscious that events like this will happen, then you are not a serious person. The photographs we hang as ministers will serve as a good reminder that when one is occupying a seat like this, one should be conscious of the fact that nothing is permanent, not even life itself, let alone office."

The Minister wished them well in their careers, stating that the ministry and Nigeria will continue moving.

"I am here as directed by President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, to oversee the activities and responsibilities of the Ministry, pending the substantive appointment of a minister to the ministry. While I am here, I will do my best as the minister and I would also like to work with the members of the staff and the management of the ministry, we are not going to start everything new, government is continuous and it’s an institution, all of us in years to come will not be here but the ministry with the Federal Government will continue; you will continue to do all the good work you have been doing and re-shape those things that have not really worked very well so that it does not slow us down."

I have a room and a parlour in Ikoyi. Wanna share ?
Hope you are pretty, sexy and psychedelic ? If that is the case, you can come stay for free

Mc Usman,
where did you get these pictures ? Where you a Peace Keeper, Militant, Journalists, etc?

Just curious because these pictures are so real and taken at very close range. I mean, if these are your pictures then you must have been right at the front line but no harm came to you ?

War is Evil

Tatase:

@ poster,

@ mj
first of all the nollywood survey is for a master's project (please do the survey since u're so interested and tell your friends) so i'm actually doing it for free. However, i do need to pay my bills though abi, so i am available for hire to proof-read your sexual tension manuscript and/or your "secret guide to not being a loser with girls anymore" handbook that you want to share with poster in clandestine emails,

Don't you know where mj gets his info on sexual tension from ?

It is from David Shades' 'Masterful Lover Books' or David De Angelo's 'Double Your Dating Techniques'. They both talk along the lines of sexual tension to create desire, build attraction and establish rapproachment with women. Marius Panzeralla of 'datebeautifulwomen.com' talks alot about attracting women and not being a 'wussy' though the wussy thing is mainly De Angelo's favourite.

The story doesn't add up

1. Local hunters found the remains of the crashed plane and they found the international passport of the pilot, Captain Agbedi. How come these hunters did not find the decomposing bodies then ? How can you still identify the prints on a passport made of paper nearly six money after, in a rain forest ?

2. 'Two decomposing bodies in the rain forest from aerial photographs ? What sort of pictorial resolution are we talking about here ? I may not doubt the efficacy of such a camera if it were NASA's or CIA's but NEMA's ? Sorry, I jst don't have enough faith in Nigeria's technology ?

Seems to me as if there is a strong attempt to prove that the plane actually crashed and the crew died.

Let them release the pictures and passport for the Nation to see and evaluate for itself

I really, really, weep for this country.
What exactly is wrong with us ?

Mr Mahatma, did you read about all the heinous crimes this Gray of a dude committed ?
So why is it so difficult for you to accept that he should die for his crimes or do you think those he assaulted and killed were less important or relevant. They were children of parents and members of families.

How would you have felt if they were your sisters ?

It beats me bonkers when some funny 'human rightist' fight for the right to life of those who have confessed to assualts and murders. Where were these human rightist when the criminals were prowling their stock in trade ?

I fully support the dealth penalty and anywho who kills by the gun should be ready to face the bullet

Must this people always design things that revolve around providing more fiefdoms, empires and gaping holes for guzzling more money from the National commonwealth ?

How did Dr Lukman and his committee end up with a structure that even a man who has never worked in the oil industry can tell is overbloated ?

Definitely, the whole reform policy was designed around providing jobs and riches to a few, highly favoured individuals and not for the good or efficiency of the Nigeria Oil industry

President rejects report on oil sector reforms
By Yakubu Lawal, Deputy Energy Editor

AN interim report on the sweeping reforms in the oil and gas sector announced by Federal Government last year has been turned down by the Presidency.

The report was produced in February this year by the Oil and Gas Reforms Implementation Committee (OGIC) headed by the Honorary Adviser to the President on Energy and Strategic Matters, Dr. Rilwan Lukman.

The Guardian learnt that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua rejected the report because of the duplication of offices that emerged from the new firms and regulatory agencies created out of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other government-owned companies in the industry.

Under the restructuring announced by the government, the National Petroleum Directorate (NPD) replaces the Ministry of Energy, the NNPC transforms to National Oil Company (NOC) while the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the industry regulator, becomes Petroleum Inspectorate Commission (PIC), an autonomous body.

Also, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) will operate as Petroleum Products Distribution Authority (PPDA). A significant aspect of the reforms was the creation of a National Oil and Gas Assets Holding Company. The committee, which was inaugurated in September last year, was given six months to submit its report.

According to industry sources, Yar'Adua refused to endorse the report and present it to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration on account of bloated positions and structures in the emerging firms.

To ensure a thorough job, the President was said to have directed the committee to address the duplication of positions and functions in the new companies, which he noticed in the report to avoid waste of resources.

The President allegedly asked the Lukman panel to trim the positions in the structure for each of the new firms for better performance.

Yar'Adua reportedly faulted the recommendations of the committee after the members held the weekly briefing with him.

It was said that the President wanted to know why the new firms should have up to seven executive directors as well as other senior managerial positions.

The source said that the President insisted on a slim but robust institution instead of creating empires for people to feast on.

"The President has refused to assent to the interim report, which would have been circulated to FEC for consideration. He is not happy with the new structures and the positions created by the committee. He wants the committee to look into that," the source said.

The official explained that the report, which ought to be ready before the end of March was being reviewed, adding that the committee members were expected to visit some oil producing countries like Norway, Qatar and one other in Asia before presenting its submission to the government.

The panel's visit to foreign countries is to enable it study how their oil sectors are run and incorporate their findings in the final report.

"It is sad that what we are seeing now is shopping for people that would be where no body is addressing the creation of a viable structure for the industry, we cannot continue to run government around personalities rather we should have institutions first, "the source said.

But the Minister of State for Energy, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, in a chart with The Guardian at the weekend, said though the report was delayed, the final document would be ready for government's consideration.

He said the document would still go through legislative process after the Executive would have been satisfied that the report when implemented could transform the industry.

Lukman had last February said that the committee adopted universal standards in the industry in preparing its report.

He said that the framework constituted the basis for setting up the two regulatory agencies: the PIC and the PPDA, which have been included in the National Oil and Gas Policy.

The Acting Group Managing Director of NNPC, Abubakar Lawal Yar'Adua, had also disclosed that the corporation was preparing to implement the report of the committee.

Yar'Adua explained that part of the move is the development of key performance indicators (KPIs) for the corporation's strategic business units and divisions/departments.

These key performance indicators are expected to measure the achievements of the corporation's strategic objectives and they have been developed and approved for use.

[url]http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article01//indexn2_html?pdate=080408&ptitle=President%20rejects%20report%20on%20oil%20sector%20reforms[/url]

Yar’Adua upset with ministers on NITEL, electricity tariff mix-up

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua is unhappy with some of his ministers over recent policy decisions which he considers a misrepresentation of his approvals, Vanguard can now reveal.
Presidency sources said he was unhappy that the Ministers of Information and Communications, Mr John Odey and Hajia Fatimah Ibrahim of Power respectively did not convey his exact position to the public on NITEL/Mtel and the electricity tariffs.

While Mr Odey announced that the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp had been reversed, Hajia Ibrahim said there would be an increase in electricity tariff from next month.Vanguard sources said those two statements were unauthorised.According to sources, there was a mutual agreement between government and Transcorp on the modalities for the disengagement of the company from NITEL/Mtel.On the reported increase in electricity tariff, the president’s anger stemmed from the fact that no such decision was taken as it would portray the government as being insensitive to the sufferings of Nigerians.Mrs Ibrahim herself denied yesterday that an increase in electricity tariff was on the card.However, the president has reportedly directed the two ministers to address a press conference to present the true position to Nigerians.

The President’s trip to Maiduguri yesterday was reportedly delayed following media reports on the increase in electricity tariff and the on-going controversy over the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp."He was upset after reading the report on the increase and has asked the Minister to retract her statement.

Nigerians can be rest assured that no kobo will be added until they begin to enjoy stable electricity. And the President is working round the clock to ensure that."On the controversy over the revocation of the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp, the President said he could not understand how what he approved was distorted in the media and directed Mr. Odey to hold a meeting and joint press conference with the Transcorp chairman, Prof. Okereke-Onyiuke. The President’s approval tallied with what Transcorp had agreed with the Federal Government. The

President does not understand where ‘revocation’ came from. "This President believes that the best way to properly address the nation’s economic challenges is through the Private-Public Partnership (PPP). So, how can he take a decision that injures private investment? What the President approved on NITEL/Mtel was a decision already agreed between the Federal Government and Transcorp to rescue the telecommunications company that is very strategic for the nation.

"The President would soon address the nation on his efforts to redirect the economy. And with that, Nigerians would appreciate what he has spent the last eight months doing. He has clear direction on the power sector and would come out clearly with targets and timelines that will be met on power generation, transmission and distribution. The emergency in the sector would also be declared soon and it would be far-reaching, not the type of thing most Nigerians envisage."What the President is coming out with is tied to the future of the country and not just the cosmetic approach or mere pronouncement.

Yes, it is true the President promised he would declare emergency within three months of his administration. However, a source close to Mr Odey said last night that the Minister had not received any query from the president on the NITEL.Mtel controversy.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3065&Itemid=42

There is something these African Leaders take when they meet in their smelling, rat invested covens

Maybe it is some pungent african concotion, black in colour and thoroughly mixed with cocaine, marijuana and cow shit. Not forgetting that it must be laced with some diahorea causing african juju

Legion of mad dogs, that is what these african leaders are fast turning into.

Must they remain in power forever ? Is leadership their father's property ?

And somebody is still arguing that Dr Watson committed fallacy by stating that africans have inferior intelligence. Pray, tell me, how many truly intelligent people go around trying to rule over a people who don't want them ?

These bloody african leaders think we are still in the pre-historic age of the monarchy when the King was Lord of the earth, ruled forever and had a virgin bride donated freely to him every annual New Yam festival

The solution to this madness is for the african people to get 'madder' and simply behead any president/prime minister who attempts to stay longer that the constituion allows, no matter how well he thinks he is performing.

And we all know that this well worn argument about all of us getting together to make Nigeria great has never and will never work.
That is why every nation needs a leader. You need somebody to give direction and the rest will follow or contribute.
Where there is no sense of direction no matter the little individual effort, it will come to nought.

There are lots of well meaning Nigerians within and outside the country who are making and have been making individual effort, but we are still were we are. Why ? Because Nigeria is too large and complex for such individualism. This is not a small family hamlet where one lone ranger can till the land to feed the rest and make a huge impact in the process.

Without competent leadership we will continue to run in circles, irrespective of the good some of us do individually

It is the job of government to create an environment for individuals to excel. Anything else is kindergarteen play time.