₦airaland Forum

djeezy: That is the end result you get when bunch of incompetent and inept foools occupy sacrosanct positions in polity. He's way too old for his childish display of sheer ignorance.

Expensive Trips: Jonathan Spends N3.3bn On Foreign Trips In 2012
Posted by: daniel on December 7, 2012



https://cdn.informationnigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/President-Goodluck-Jonathan-360x225.jpg

If you followed the protests that greeted the removal of fuel subsidy in January by the Goodluck Jonathan administration and his subsequent national broadcasts to assuage the feelings of Nigerians who were worse hit by the sudden announcement on new year’s day, then, this statement shouldn’t be new to you:
“I have directed that overseas travels by all political office-holders, including the President, should be reduced to the barest minimum. The size of delegations on foreign trips will also be drastically reduced; only trips that are absolutely necessary will be approved.”

Has president Jonathan kept to his words on foreign travels and the size of government delegation on such trips? A PUNCH report indicates the president faltered on his promise as several billions of naira of taxpayers’ money have been expended on foreign trips since then.

The findings show that the President and his entourage have spent not less than N3.354bn on foreign trips since 2010.
For instance, in the first 11 months of 2012, the President had travelled out of the country at least 20 times, including his trip to Sierra Leone in October and the D8 Summit he attended in Pakistan in November.

In September alone, Jonathan travelled out of the country four times. He travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a two-day visit on September 1 for the burial of late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
Nine days later, he went to Malawi and Botswana in a cumulative three-day visit for enhancement of bilateral relationships. The President ended the month of September with another trip to New York, United States for the United Nations General Assembly
From February, 2010 when he became the Acting President to December 2010, Jonathan spent N970.891m on foreign travels.


Although the 2011 budget was silent on the expenses for the President’s foreign travels, investigations showed that about N1.7bn was spent on such trips.
According to the 2011 budget, N1.145bn was budgeted for Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s foreign trips.
In 2012, N684.74m was budgeted for Jonathan’s foreign travels and he had travelled out of the country 19 times.

Although the 2013 budget recently submitted to the National Assembly by Jonathan suggested that N2.6bn would be spent on his foreign trips next year, investigations have shown that much more than the quoted figure will be spent and is being spent judging by the expenses the country incurs during such trips.

The expenses incur include and are not limited to airfares for members of the President’s delegation who will travel on commercial flights, cost of procuring travel visas for them, estacodes for members of the delegation, fuelling of the presidential jets as well as other logistics.
Only the President and his very top aides fly on the presidential jets.
Culled From PUNCH

Pataki: So this is the illiterate tout by the name of Bipi that the Jonathans are pushing to become the speaker in Rivers?

Speaks a lot about the gutter breeding Nigerians are cursed with as leaders.

Whoever made this video, God bless you for being daring in the face of danger.

ilugunboy: Why do you GEJ supporters always insulting other members without provocation? Your preponderance to result to insults and abuses is rather becoming alarming in this community...

Fortunately the Prof and Mr Falana are not saying anything different from what is in the public domain.

We've gone through this before...I can assure you that GEJ has more to lose than Wike and Ameachi in all these lawlessness that he is actively encouraging. You don't go around subverting democracy tenets that you are the single largest beneficiary without getting the heaviest repercussion when the whole system comes crashing.

Nigeria Rated 8th Most Corrupt Nation- PM NEWS, Lagos
Posted: July 11, 2013 - 17:30


https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/news-page-images-480-wide/page_images/news/2013/Nigeria-most-corrupt-in-the-world_0.jpg
Nigeria's Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

By Daniels Ekugo
Anti-corruption nonprofit Transparency International, TI, has released its 2013 Global Corruption Barometer, which surveyed residents in 107 countries, ranking Nigeria, Zambia, Paraguay, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Venezula and Russia as the largest countries on the globe with active corruption indices with Liberia and Mongolia leading the table.

According to the report, the world’s corrupt nations differ in many ways. Four are located in Africa, three in Latin America and two in Asia. These nations also vary considerably in size and population. Mongolia has just 3.2 million residents, while Mexico, Nigeria and Russia are three of the largest countries on the globe, each with more than 100 million people.

In Nigeria, 84% of those surveyed by Transparency International claimed corruption had increased in the past two years, a higher percentage than almost any other country in the world.

Troublingly, 75% of those surveyed also said the government was, at best, ineffective at fighting corruption, worse than in all but 10 countries.
TI says Nigeria is heavily dependent on the oil industry, yet the government refuses to act on accusations that the oil companies are underreporting the value of the resources they extract and the tax they owe by billions of dollars.

The report adds that “certain transparency groups also blamed politicians for encouraging corruption. In 2012, Nigeria had just the 37th largest GDP in the world, despite having the world’s seventh largest population. In Liberia, the majority of Liberians surveyed said they believed the country was run either largely or entirely by a few entities acting in their own self interest.

“A world-leading 86% of residents who spoke to Transparency International claimed their government had been either ineffective or very ineffective at fighting corruption, while 96% of residents claimed Liberia’s legislature was corrupt, also the highest percentage of any nation. A stunning 75% of residents surveyed claimed they had paid a bribe to secure some service, trailing only Sierra Leone.

“In all, 80% of the population had at one point been asked to pay a bribe. Recently, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf fired the country’s auditor general for corruption.Many of those surveyed in the highly corrupt countries also felt their governments were not holding up their end of the bargain.”

According to the report, “in seven of the nine countries, more than half of those questioned felt their government was ineffective at fighting corruption. In Liberia, 86% of residents surveyed said their government was ineffective at fighting the problem. This was the largest proportion of any of the 107 nations Transparency International surveyed. While corruption appears to affect every part of the public sector, certain segments were much worse than the rest.

“Globally, at least 60% of respondents claimed political parties and police were corrupt. Additionally, more than 50% of people stated their legislature, their public officials and their judiciary were corrupt.

In the world’s most corrupt nations, those institutions were, naturally, even worse. In Nigeria, 94% of people claimed their political parties were corrupt, the most in the world. Similarly, 96% of Liberians reported their legislature was corrupt, also the most in the world. In eight of the nine most corrupt nations, more than 80% of residents considered the police to be corrupt.”

Ogun Speaker impeached, bond approved
By Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji


The political crisis in Ogun State c,imaxed yesterday, as nine of the 26-member House of Assembly said it has removed the Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun. He was immediately replaced with Soyemi Coker.

We reliably gathered that the nine lawmakers, who are said to be loyalists of the governor, Gbenga Daniel, slept within the Assembly complex on Sunday night, to enable them carry out the impeachment, which they did as early as 7am.

They were alleged to have made use of the mace belonging to the Abeokuta South Local Government legislative arm, to carry out the operation, having burgled the Assembly’s chambers.

It can’t be

But Mr Egbetokun, in a swift response, described the purported impeachment as illegal and part of a plot to scuttle the proposed debate of the N100 billion controversial bond slated for Wednesday. He reaffirmed his leadership in the House of Assembly.

However, Mr Coker later told journalists that the reign of his predecessor was over and that the House under his leadership has approved the bond requested by the governor.

“After due consultation with our various constituents, traditional rulers and chiefs, labour unions, clubs and associations, prominent Ogun stakeholders, we hereby, approve the House resolution that the state government should proceed to the bond market immediately to source for N100 billion in tranches of N26 billion, N34 billion and N40 billion for various outstanding and developmental projects evenly spread across the three senatorial districts of the state,” he said.

To create a conducive atmosphere for the lawmakers to carry out their plot, a private security official attached to the complex, identified as Nureni, was said to have been held hostage and his mobile phone seized by the lawmakers while the operations lasted.

At 8.30am when we visited the Assembly complex, the lawmakers who claimed to have impeached Mr Egbetokun, were sighted. Also on the premises were Titi Oseni (former Speaker) and Omosanya Solaja who are known supporters of the governor and who had been suspended by the House. Staff of the Assembly were not allowed in by policemen guarding the premises.

The commissioner of police in the state was said not to be aware of the deployment of a new set of police officers to complement efforts of those already assigned to the Assembly before yesterday’s incident.

A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was sighted at the Assembly questioning the presence of a large number of police officers there. In response, one of them told him that they were deployed there on alert, that there was a plot by some people to bomb the Assembly.

Lingering crisis

The nine lawmakers, in a statement, said their action was necessitated “by the cry of our various constituents to bail out Ogun State from the lingering crisis that has beset us for the past two to three years.”

He equally read out a riot act that all the other factions of the Assembly, known as G-15, have been suspended “for gross misconduct against the institution of the Ogun State Legislature, the government and people of Ogun State”. Mr Soyemi, in addition, said he had reviewed the suspension of Titi Oseni and Omosanya Solaja and found it wholly unnecessary, unjust and overdue, and lifted the suspension with all legislative privileges restored and all losses to be paid in full.

Other resolutions reached by them ,according to him, include: approval of the 2010 supplementary budget of N26 billion, appointment of Yemi Akinwonmi as the new Commissioner of Education, confirmed the nominee of the governor into Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission and dissolution of all existing committees.

He said the principal officers for the House include: Ayo-Odugbesan (Deputy Speaker), Bankole Durotolu Oyebode (majority leader), Musa Maruf (Chief Whip), Abiodun Oluseyi Moses (Deputy Majority Leader) and Adeleke Salmon (Deputy Chief Whip).

Mr Egebtokun, in his reaction said, “They know the debate will open everything. The governor did not know we will go for the debate. Four days ago, he called the clerk of the House to know whether we are serious about the debate, and when the clerk told him that we are going ahead and even armed with documents, he became more apprehensive.”

“The commissioner of finance is on the run, the accountant-general is nowhere to be found. They cannot impeach me. They are just nine and two of them are still under suspension. They are wasting their time. I don’t want to join issues with them. They are acting under some spell. We are on top of the situation.” Meanwhile, there were reports last night that Mr Egbetokun’s house in Akute, Ogun State, was invaded by armed bandits yesterday. He was not at home when they came. The former Speaker said his landlord called him to confirm the incident.

They did 'petition' the Presidency and nothing happened !!! I think , for some of us , it is still not clear that Jonathan is a Wolf in Sheep clothing happy to act as bad and as callously as OBJ did if that will get Mr.President what he wants. OGD is now an "untouchable" because he has pledged to work for Jonathan. Is this not how OBJ announced , circa 2006/7 , something to the effect that "Daniel may be a rogue/devil but he is our (PDP) rogue/devil" after Daniel had pledged to work to secure the victory of Yardy?

When we chastise Jonathan for his failure to show leadership , with how he is totally distracted with trying to buy a win in 2011, his fans come here making rabid noise. This impeachment is a blatant attempt of the OGD-led Government to gain a 100 billion naira 'retirement' fund. The lawmakers are firmly against this shameless and non-too-subtle attempt at daylight robbery . Naturally, OGD and his acolytes know that the speaker must go to pave the way for a 'friendly' Speaker that will 'move things along' . OGD is encouraged to act like this because he knows that the President will turn a blind eye to his lawlessness.

Jonathan will not see the need to urgently get involved , since Daniel has sworn allegiance, to prevent blatant and desperate looting of Ogun State coffers but he is happy to deploy every EFCC operative against those who are against his 2011 ambitions. Ogun State may go broke but that is no concern to GEJ since Daniel is now an "untouchable" .

Is this the type of President we want to give a 4 year term to? A President who will hound his enemies yet ignore those who are getting away with murder because they are his pals ? Have we not been down this road many times before ? Jonathan's kinsmen may support him blindly but that is because they are failing to take off their ethnic goggles to note the putrefication going on under their kinsman. If any State Government deserves the immediate attention of the EFCC it is Ogun State under the ruinous leadership of OGD. Our compromised President will not act since Daniel has promised to deliver Ogun State.

Clerverly: Jonathan is an evil man who is ready to trade Nigeria for his inordinate ambition. The ealier we stop him by any means the better for Nigeria and its furture generations. I wonder where he would run to after his tenure.

The Benefits Of New Abeokuta City Centre By Consultant
Published on July 11, 2013 by · No Comments

The proposed new Abeokuta city centre planned to be built by Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration in Ogun State, southwest, Nigeria will significantly enhance the socio-economic growth of the State and attract international visitors to the Gateway State.

This was made known by Muhammed Hafiz, the Lead Urban Designer/ Project Director for Urbanisma, the Malaysian Consulting firm handling the design of the Master Plan for the centre.
He stated this Thursday morning in Putrajaya, the capital city of Malaysia when speaking in an interactive session with a visiting team from the Ogun State, where he gave a run-down of the design and actualisation of Putrajaya, the adorable new administrative Capital City of Malaysia.

Hafiz believed that the Abeokuta City Centre will be a major landmark that will not only be a source of inspiration and pride to the people of Ogun State but also create ample opportunities for local and foreign investors.
According to him, “a project of such magnitude will greatly spur the economy of the state in rural and urban areas as it will meet the interests of investors in diverse sectors of the economy.

“The Convention Centre, which is a major aspect of the project would attract world-wide patronage because of the international programmes that would be organised there. We have looked at the whole programme as a socio-economic generator that will have a place for various sectors of businesses, and we are guided by the five cardinal programme of the government of Ogun State which will give room for all the sectors to be fully integrated’’, he said.
Hafiz stated further that the Retail Centre for instance, would create space for small retail outlets as well as cater for big shopping malls.

He revealed that the first phase of the project will include, Shopping Mall, Recreation Centre, Signature Tower, offices, hotels and the Convention Centre, which he noted would kick start development.
Speaking on the New Government City project, which is also being handled by his firm, Hafiz said it will give priority to housing and industrial development, adding that it will feature complete infrastructure which will make Ogun State, a investors destination of choice for businesses in the upstream or downstream industry and also accommodate migrants from neighbouring Lagos State.
—Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Rivers Assembly Fracas: Soyinka, Falana Slam Jonathan – PM News


https://cdn.pmnewsnigeria.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Femi-Falana-l-and-Prof.-Wole-Soyinka-at-the-conference.jpg
Femi Falana (l) and Prof. Wole Soyinka at the conference

As the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly degenerated with the removal of soldiers guarding Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and Femi Falana this morning criticised President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the matter.
Addressing a press conference this morning, both of them agreed that the country had passed this road before and is not what the country should be doing now.
Soyinka said: “I’m insulted by what is going on in Rivers State. We have been through this before. Why is the Presidency boring us. There are serious issues confronting us.

“This is the time the president should be mobilizing the entire country for positive things. This is the time the President should worry about how to protect our little children being murdered in their schools.
“Instead, he’s busy reducing the authority of an elected governor in Rivers State.”

He asked rhetorically: “will no one rid me of this pestilence?”
He also condemned Jonathan, saying his silence and indifference have created an enabling environment for his followers who are acting in Rivers State with impunity.

In his own comment, Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana cited various sections of the constitution which condemn what is going on in Rivers State.
He said an elected Speaker of the House of Assembly can only be removed by 2/3 majority of members of the House.
Falana explained that the Supreme court made it clear that any business conducted outside of the legislature can’t stand. He cited the cases of Plateau and Oyo states to buttress his point.

He said what is going on in Rivers State is absurd and odious. According to him, the silence of the President wherever he may be is a confirmation of what is going in Rivers State.
He then called on the Inspector General of Police to remove the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Joseph Mbu, who has violated the code of conduct of the police.
He insisted the officers should be removed, not transferred

eGuerrilla: This is an earlier post of mine on the same subject.

Well, I have been tracking some of the players in the so-called "merger party" in relation to this very issue.

APC aims at true federalism – Fayemi

on February 18, 2013 / in News 12:08 am / Comments


BY BGENGA ARIYIBI

Ado Ekiti – GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, yesterday said All Progressive Congress, APC, aimed at promoting true federalism with its attendant features of decentralisation and devolution of powers, allowing all parts of the country to feel a sense of belonging and ownership.

Fayemi in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Yinka Oyebode in Ado-Ekiti, assured that APC’s membership would be opened to all progressive Nigerians who were ready to wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the centre.

Fayemi, who is also Chairman, APC’s Contact and Mobilis- ation Committee in the South West, said the party would restore the values of federalism and internal democracy in the country.

According to him, APC would not limit its membership drive in the Southwest to political parties in the merger arrangement; instead it would open its doors to other progressive platforms and interest groups outside the merger plan, as well as individuals willing to be part of the new arrangement aimed at rescuing the nation.

The APC (which is a merger of ACN, ANPP, CPC and APGA) would extend its mobilisation drive to socio-political groups in the bid to create a robust platform that would work for the realisation of a better Nigeria.

According to Fayemi, the birth of APC at a time Nigerians earnestly yearned for accountable, responsive and responsible leadership was quite significant.

He said: “Our party will undertake to facilitate radical socio-economic and political transformation of the country. Our programme priorities shall be agricultural development, jobs creation, free education, infrastructural development, poverty eradication and rapid technological development.”

He added that the APC manifesto would highlight strategic short, medium and long term pragmatic initiatives to be undertaken by all governments produced by the party.

HNosegbe: I was waiting to see any indication of APC's proposed agenda before commenting on this thread.

Unlike most people, I believe Nigeria's biggest problem is neither GEJ/Buhari/Tinubu, nor PDP/APC (or whatever "party" ), nor even corruption, but the warped oil-based patronage network (feeding bottle federalism) that has seen most states in Nigeria reduced to beggars, shamelessly making routine trips to Abuja to share "oyel" money.

Nigeria's entire political system is built on oil-based patronage, and the PDP has done almost nothing tangible to address this very serious structural flaw. When will this madness stop?

Sharing oil money in Abuja has killed off the incentive to innovate, to promote local industry, and to drill the limitless human resources, potentials and capabilities of 170 million Nigerians rather than the ultimately finite "black gold" under the ground.

If the APC can present a clear, compelling narrative, a gameplan and agenda for getting Nigeria out of this mess, then I WILL join the party (despite its faults).

For now though, I remain on the fence.

Nigeria: Fiscal Federalism, Panacea for Power Struggle - Tinubu
BY IME AKPAN, 3 MAY 2011
Lagos — The former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu has advocated for practice of fiscal federalism so as to make the centre less attractive as well as lessen the desire get to power by all means.Tinubu who spoke at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos yesterday argued that the federal government "is taking too much and that is why there is always the struggle for power at the centre."

"Bring more money to the states; if you are asked to do something for the country, you must give the money and the resources to do it. We have been talking about this true federalism, fiscal federalism for years, we did nothing about it," he said.

Ola one: That's our game in Nigeria.

Up North, up till now, there has never been any protests/riots against a Hausa/Fulani sitting president.

Ditto for South-south right now with GEJ.

A game of "where he comes from before manifestos" is what we play in Nigeria.

Manifestos that they will never follow once elected. So, why bother?

Afam4eva: Majority of Nigerians including PDP members believe in the devolution of power. That way, development gets closer to the power. It's not an ACN issue.

Afam4eva: Ideologies are wayyy deeper than manifestos. Ideologies are deep rooted in behaviors.

Afam4eva: Whoever said anything about ACN/APC not having a manifesto. There's a difference between a manifesto and an ideology. Anybody can have a manifesto and coming up with manifestos is not a big deal, so i don't know why you feel we should clap for ACN/APC because they have a manifesto.

Afam4eva: I'm surprised that free education was listed as part of ACN's cardinal programmes. Was it not in this same forum that some ACN propagandists downplayed the free educational program in Imo state stating that ACN does not involve in free education as it's not sustainable now.

Ola one: Leave eGuerrilla out of this, okay? This is because, unlike you, he is not known for vitriolic posts. Okay?

You really need to refine yourself, trust me.

eGuerrilla: You are doing it again. Talking at cross-purposes.
Did you read the article written by Peter Watt (General Secretary of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom from January 2006 until he resigned in November 2007) at all?

What exactly have you proven with your wikipedia reference? That primaries held Nigeria are not dominated by money-bags?

ABC of APC manifesto that caused a stir in ruling party


The APC manifesto specifically offers 8 cardinal programmes under WBA-IFD acronym to the Nigerian populace. These programmes include War Against Corruption, Food Security, Accelerated Power Supply, Integrated Transport Network, Free Education, Devolution of Power, Accelerated Economic Growth and Affordable Health Care. It says it will offer all these without any intention to abandon any ideal which will guarantee the corporate welfare and security of people.
In its introduction, the manifesto notes that Nigeria which was Africa’s hope and pool of human resources, a rising star and role model at independence has suffered and endured outrageous shocks and tribulations over five decades and lost her place on the global stage.

Today, it adds, Nigeria is faced with tragic incapacity to feed herself, support her institutions, produce electricity, provide health facilities, educate her children, provide security of life and property for her citizenry, and provide jobs, housing and basic necessities of life for her citizenry.

The preamble also reads that “Democracy, to be stable and meaningful, must be anchored on the principle that government derives its powers from the consent of the governed. This is the ideal of All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Those compatriots who have lost faith in our dear country because of inefficient and corrupt leadership; count on us for we represent an Agent of change for committed, transparent and focused leadership.
“To achieve this laudable programme, APC government shall restructure the country, devolve power to the units, with the best practices of federalism and eliminate unintended paralysis of the center.

The 29-page document, which was produced by Chief Audu Ogbeh-led 20-man Manifesto (Logo, Slogan and Motto) Committee, states that the APC vision statement among others is to chart a new course for a better future, while its guiding philosophy is anchored on the point that the task before the current generation is to build on the achievements of our heroes past, and bequeath an enduring legacy for future generations.

In the pursuit of these ideals, the APC says it shall enlist all Nigerians based on the party’s guiding philosophy, which derives impetus from six principles of “Belief in, and the fear of God’; Upholding the rule of law; Preserving national unity; Pursuit of a just and egalitarian society; Building of strong institutions; Commitment to social justice and economic progress; and Promoting representative and functional participatory democracy”.
On the war against corruption and national re-orientation, the manifesto says the APC in government shall muster the political will to wage strident war against corruption to avoid disastrous post-oil-economy, stressing that “It is our considered view that none of our cardinal programs will succeed if the current level of corruption and looting going on in the land is allowed to continue”.

The document, which highlights the action plan on corruption menace, states that the strategy shall plug all the leakages which accelerate monumental corruption, recover looted funds, cap and trim unwarranted allowances to public office holders.

The Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RAMAFC) will be mandated to review the unwarranted perks and allowances to public office holders in the midst of ravaging poverty, ensure strict surveillance of unremitted funds to Federation Account and guide at all times the fleece of funds in liaison with other anti-graft agencies.
“We shall renegotiate oil deals, unveil the secrecy surrounding the ownership of 49% of the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), query the over N50 trillion Oil Revenue which accrued to the Federation Account between 2000-2013 and recover billions of US Dollars which Ministries, Department and Agencies, failed to remit to the Federation Account.
“We shall strengthen and make independent the EFCC, ICPC and other Anti-graft agencies and repeal the laws which inhibit their independence. The APC will review public service rules and financial regulations which currently permit outrageous impropriety in public finances.

“We shall embark on public sensitization campaign and civic education against corruption in schools and town halls. We shall encourage Civil Society Organizations, Advocacy groups and Whistle-Blowers in the anti-graft vanguard.
“We shall stop the corruption of our electoral process by making the Independent National and State Electoral Commissions (INEC) truly independent. We shall establish Special Courts for corruption after due and thorough review of the penal code.

“To actualize this, we shall make the appointment of the chairman and top officials of National and State Electoral Commissions public as enunciated in the Uwais Electoral Reform Report. On all election matters, the Burden of Proof shall rest on the Commissions,” the manifesto further outlines measures to tackle corruption.

On agriculture and food security, the document says APC will embark on a massive and comprehensive re-organization and revolutionalisation of the agricultural industry. The objective, it adds, is to sustain agriculture as the strategic engine and prime-mover of national economic development to feed the nation; to supply the raw material for industrial processing and manufacturing; and to earn stable remunerative prices in the local and international market.
On power supply, the APC in government, it states, shall vigorously pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000 megawatts in the four to eight years. The party will also work assiduously at making available power from renewable energy sources such as coal solar, wind and biomass for domestic and industrial use, whenever these prove viable.

To address challenges in the transportation sector, the manifesto stresses that railways, waterways and road transportation are key and germane to economic growth and development. It notes that the movement of people, goods and services in Nigeria will continue to be a challenge, which cannot be met efficiently and cost-effectively by road transportation alone as long as the railway system remains undeveloped and road construction remain recurrent expenditure and an unsustainable drain on the economy.

On mineral and steel development, APC in government, it states, will invest heavily in the abundant solid mineral resources in all parts of Nigeria in a bid to create jobs, alleviate poverty and provide critical infrastructure.
For education sector to develop, the manifesto says the APC in government will, after carrying out a thorough review of the education sector and having established the main causes of the sectors’ terrible decline, fully implement and enforce the provisions of the Universal Basic Education Act with emphasis on gender equity in primary and secondary school enrolment whilst improving the quality and substance of our schools.

It adds that it shall reinstate the now abandoned Teacher Teaching Colleges to train teachers, target up to 10% of our annual budget for the sector whilst making substantial investments in training programmes at all levels of the educational system, re-introduce Technical and vocational education nationwide by giving adequate materials support to such institutions, energise the inspectorate divisions of education ministries nationwide, and offer free and qualitative primary and secondary education to all but to tertiary level for women among others.
To tackle challenges in the health sector, it hopes to rationalize health care delivery through conscious efforts to enhance primary health care facilities across Nigeria and reduce costs and unnecessary pressure on secondary/tertiary health care facilities and increases the quality of all Federal Government owned hospitals to world class standard within five years.

The document also espouses APC’s readiness to provide free ante-natal care for pregnant women, free health care for babies and children up to school going age and for the aged and free treatment for those afflicted with infectious disease such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS and to boost the local manufacture of 70 percent of pharmaceuticals and make drugs for HIV/AIDS available.

For industrialization, the APC manifesto stresses that the process of industrialization is necessary to promote and accelerate economic and social development in the country, pointing out that industrialization is crucial to job creation, technology development, wealth creation and poverty alleviation and currency stabilization.

The APC manifesto also highlights the party’s programmes under the following sub-headings: Guiding Economic Policy; Jobs and the Economy; Oil and Gas Industry; Environment; Housing; Human Rights; Women and Gender Issues; Mass Media and Labour; Local Government System; The Niger Delta; Political Violence; Persons Living with Disability; Prisons Service and Corrections; Foreign Policy and International Relations; National Security and Defence; Politics and Governance; Conflict Resolution, National Unity and Social Harmony; Senior Citizens, Youths, Sports And Culture as well as Code of Conduct and Policy Conferences.

Speaking with Sunday Trust on the APC manifesto, the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) Mr Osita Okechukwu hailed the document for making the War Against Corruption number one on its agenda.
Okechukwu, who lauded what he called intense and rabid attention of the PDP to APC manifesto, said the return of manifesto war in our national political discourse was healthy in liberal democracy because it presented the electorate with alternative view points to choose from.

plaindealer: Gbawe, why bother with this empty and shallow 2 liner joker?

Ola one: Gbawe doing what he does best. Long posts, vitriol and sheer hypocrisy.


Yes. It indicates lack of democracy. Selection is foreign to democracy.

Ola one: ACN members, now that you are a 'big' part of APC, what do you all think about primaries?


Will primaries be allowed?

Answer, please

vedd: How can this be happening in a 21st century democracy? Next time we'll hear news of his death & forget about him in lessthan two months as if nothing happened. This is not good.

People Of Nigeria Under Siege:[b][/b] Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Convenes Civic Exchange
Posted: July 10, 2013 - 14:33


https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/news-page-images-480-wide/page_images/news/2013/Wole_Soyinka_SR.jpg
Wole Soyinka
By SaharaReporters, New York
Nobel Prize winner, Professor Wole Soyinka, has invited the press and democracy, civic and human rights organizations to a civic exchange on “A PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY: A PEOPLE UNDER SIEGE!”.

The event is scheduled for FREEDOM PARK, Broad Street, Lagos, tomorrow, July 11, at 12.30 pm.

“Wole Soyinka cordially invites you to a Civic Exchange on the above subject,” the terse notice said.

ceejayluv: Actual link pls....

JTF Soldiers, Armored Cars, Withdrawn From Rivers Governor's Lodge
Posted: July 10, 2013 - 18:38

https://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/news-page-images-480-wide/page_images/news/2013/breaking_news3wide_2.jpg
By SaharaReporters, New York
As the political chaos in Rivers State edges towards the cliff, about 30 soldiers guarding the Governor's lodge have been summarily withdrawn by the Brigade Commander in charge of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Port Harcourt at the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.

SaharaReporters also learnt that the soldiers took with them two Armored Personnel Cars (APC) usually stationed at Government House.

A military source told our correspondent that the removal of the soldiers was ordered from Abuja. He warned that things might get bloodier in the state capital with the JTF gone from Government House leaving the security of the governor and his aides in the hands of a few police officers and State Security Services agents.

An eyewitness said a new detachment of soldiers came briefly to inspect a third APC that seems disabled.

Saharareporters could not confirm further reports that the soldiers that were removed are being detained and interrogated at the barracks.

President Jonathan is currently on a state visit to China.

software man: MY MAN AM COMPLETELY NEW TO THIS FORUM AND YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE ME TO START FORMING AN OPINION THAT YOU 100 PERCENT IN SUPPORT OF JONATHAN . HOW CAN YOU NOW SAY YOU WILL EVER CONSIDER ANY CANDIDATE OF APC . OF COURSE ONLY IF PDP DO NOT PRESENT JONATHAN. I FEEL FOR YOU. YOU DON'T LIKE PDP BUT YOU LOVE JONATHAN SO YOU HAVE TO DEFEND PDP IN ORDER TO DEFEND JONATHAN. I DON'T ENVY MOST OF YOU GUYS BECAUSE PDP RECPRDS OF THE PAST 14 YEARS IS TRULY INDEFENSIBLE