₦airaland Forum

occam: This isn't about Jonathan. He's a status quo leader and has never demonstrated the will to fight corruption. He doesn't have the mental fortitude; that's his nature. Unfortunately, Nigerians voted for him and for better for worse, are stuck with him for the next 2 yrs.

No my concern is that anyone Nigerian can accept this mediocre ranking as improvement. Remember, this is only a perception index that's akin to a poll or research. We're still rocking at the bottom with the Pakistanis and Tajikistans after all hue and cry by Jonathan. Corruption is so pervasive in our country that one miniscule movement changes nothing. No serious person should pay attention to this latest ranking.

My guy, I have already put the 2012 TI rating to the logical test to show that our Nation is going down with how so many throw away the keys to their brain to begin celebrating abject failure. That is another sign of a failing state i.e citizens brainwashed to the extent of nauseating sycophancy that makes them see 'progress' when every sane and objective person sees anarchy and retrogression.

I am really disappointed with Nigerians in regards to how their brand of partisanship is a variety that completely destroys even the simplest of logical inference. Usually, and throughout the world, normal citizens, for the sake of their Nation, are still able to call a spade a spade.

https://www.nairaland.com/1123619/nigeria-35th-most-corrupt-world

Thank you !!! How will Nigeria ever improve if its young folks are blind, self-destructive and unambitious supporters of mediocrity? Is it that Nigerians are now brutalised and brainwashed to the point they cannot reason beyond petty clannishness? Even the article, a rather neutral one, makes it clear that more nations were judged in 2011 than in 2012. To a logical person, able to think critically, then it is clear Nigeria may even have shown a worse rating than 2011 because if the six Nation not included in 2012 all ended up above Nigeria then we would be worse off than in 2011. The issue is that GEJ fans do not have anything tangible or genuinely transformational to celebrate so they thrive on half-truths and 'grey areas' they can manipulate with propagandist zeal to attempt making pseudo-positive points that do not exists.

They can fool some here, but will never get beyond the bright folks who can do research in seconds. In 2011 when 182 Countries were rated, 33 Countries remained below Nigeria. In 2012 when 174 Countries are rated 33 Countries still remained below Nigeria. What is the improvement those happy to celebrate idiocy are jubilating? Some should check to see that Togo, on par with us in 2011, has moved 9 places above us now. Russia on par with us in 2011 has moved above us today. Timor-leste on par with us in 2011 has moved a whole 21 places above us. Kenya, several places below us in 2011, is now equal to Nigeria. Uganda, several places below us in 2011, are now above us !!!

What is wrong with Nigeria and what manner of unique brainwashing is our nation cursed with that so many can automatically come out to defend backwardness and create propaganda over things that damn us negatively and that we should seriously introspect about so our nation can get better? Which sick man gets better when he cannot even admit he is sick let alone agree to take medicine?

http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results

I am browsing while mobile so folks can go to the link below and download the PDF for 2011 to gain confirmation of all I have said:

http://www.financialtaskforce.org/2011/12/01/transparency-international-2011-corruption-perceptions-index-released/

berem: WTF! Elueme, i can't believe you wrote this! Did you actually read the thread before writing? SMFH!!

Thank you !!! How will Nigeria ever improve if its young folks are blind, self-destructive and unambitious supporters of mediocrity? Is it that Nigerians are now brutalised and brainwashed to the point they cannot reason beyond petty clannishness? Even the article, a rather neutral one, makes it clear that more nations were judged in 2011 than in 2012. To a logical person, able to think critically, then it is clear Nigeria may even have shown a worse rating than 2011 because if the six Nation not included in 2012 all ended up above Nigeria then we would be worse off than in 2011. The issue is that GEJ fans do not have anything tangible or genuinely transformational to celebrate so they thrive on half-truths and 'grey areas' they can manipulate with propagandist zeal to attempt making pseudo-positive points that do not exists.

They can fool some here, but will never get beyond the bright folks who can do research in seconds. In 2011 when 182 Countries were rated, 33 Countries remained below Nigeria. In 2012 when 174 Countries are rated 33 Countries still remained below Nigeria. What is the improvement those happy to celebrate idiocy are jubilating? Some should check to see that Togo, on par with us in 2011, has moved 9 places above us now. Russia on par with us in 2011 has moved above us today. Timor-leste on par with us in 2011 has moved a whole 21 places above us. Kenya, several places below us in 2011, is now equal to Nigeria. Uganda, several places below us in 2011, are now above us !!!

What is wrong with Nigeria and what manner of unique brainwashing is our nation cursed with that so many can automatically come out to defend backwardness and create propaganda over things that damn us negatively and that we should seriously introspect about so our nation can get better? Which sick man gets better when he cannot even admit he is sick let alone agree to take medicine?

http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results

I am browsing while mobile so folks can go to the link below and download the PDF for 2011 to gain confirmation of all I have said:

http://www.financialtaskforce.org/2011/12/01/transparency-international-2011-corruption-perceptions-index-released/

@OP

Don't you get what is very obvious? In the SW people love to talk about themselves and limit their focus to their own affairs and how to better themselves. That is the best way to be as a human being because it is unhealthy focusing on others as many like you do even on this forum daily. It is all about inferiority complex and a lack of self-satisfaction, self-confidence or the absence of self-fulfilment that leads a man to always crave to be involved in the affair of others.

America and Britain have people who are introspective yet they are criticised for this and I tell those critics that "what would you have them do"? Ignore their own affairs, as many Nigerians do, to be focused entirely on that of others? When you are satisfied with yourself you keep your eyes on yourself. Others not happy with themselves keep their eyes on you. Very simple.

That is why ACN/SW governors are in the news. It is because their own talk about them and others , who should mind their business, are obsessed with talking about them too while ignoring their own. The sum effect is that it will appear as if the opposition own the press whereas the reality is that it is everyone converging to talk about SW affairs/people. Don't blame the opposition for that.

OYINBOGOJU: I Smell Rat

How would they know the total number of security personel,since new people are still applying for security job and are also eligible to vote?

Isn`t this a smart way to rig?

Nigerians and our suspicious minds. Members of the security services have been voting across Accra. I have seen them everywhere and things have been peaceful and no one has complained of rigging or anything like that as far as I know. I think the whole election should go okay.

litaninja: All i can say is that the ogun state govt must be rather silly for neglecting Sango otta and environa.....ninja out

No responsible governor can afford to ignore any part of a State. I am sure those areas will receive requisite attention soon. Also, why not try and contact the office of the Governor to make your dissatisfaction known? You may actually gain satisfactory information , as a stakeholder, making pertinent enquiry rather than concluding the State Government is "silly" when it may just be the case that you judge prematurely.

Below, a non-Yoruba person , Paul Onyeama, in Ogun State tells it as it is. Some of us should realise that Nairaland simply does not attract enough of the type of person who wrote what is shown below. I also agree with him regarding his advice for Amosun. I am indeed happy Barr Onyeama is a "stakeholder" in the Ogun project because every State need the talented people within its landmass to remain committed to the State and supportive of efforts at good governance. I am impressed by this guy who attended the budget presentation, and unlike many talking here, has a first hand and factual appreciation of how the budget fared. It is informed, balanced and sophisticated folks like this Nigeria needs at this trying times.

http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/NIgerianWorldForum/message/264488?l=1

Every government has a responsibility to ensure that the people are informed of its programmes and activities. Where this is not done, rumour mongers and information hawkers take over and mislead the populace.
When the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, made the above statement while presenting the 2013 Appropriation Bill to the Ogun State House of Assembly on Tuesday, 20th November, 2012, little did he know that mischief-makers and idle minds - the relics of the collapsed empire - were lurking in the dark to discredit the visible outstanding achievements of the governor through campaign of falsehood and disinformation.

[size=14pt]As a stakeholder in the Ogun project “ I gave the reason in my last publication, I made it a point of duty to attend the budget presentation, and I can say I am proud of what Amosun achieved in the last 18 months, and what he intends to do with the new budget.[/size]
Prof Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of NAFDAC and ex-Minister of Information and Communications, is not from Ogun State but she cried out aloud for everyone to hear recently when he came to Abeokuta for the Conference of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria: "Ogun State has suddenly become a construction site; what a transformation! This is different from the state I saw a couple of years ago."

My advice to Amosun is to ignore the detractors, masters of disinformation who governed Ogun State only in the media for 8 lamentable years. Citizens of Ogun are educated enough to know that the ex-emperor is smarting from inferiority complex: I am an Engineer, I spent 8 years without constructing a single bridge or modern road but this Chartered Accountant has built a first-class bridge in less than 2 years and constructed an international standard road!
I advise the ex-Ogun emperor to either accept his failures or go on exile, if the EFCC will allow him, because Amosun has just begun his development strides.
I should also warn the relics of the discredited empire to know the limit of freedom of expression. Attempting to incite the public through false publications is a criminal offence in our laws.
Barr Paul Onyeama
Ibafo, Ogun State

[quote author=lanre_front]I laugh when I hear some people on this thread saying Jonathan has cut cost of governance more than any other before.

Are you people living in another country? Didn't you hear the investigative report which asserted that 5 Trillion naira has been embezzled since the commencement of Jonathan's Administration. I know you will come and say all that is fake too.

Nobody can be this daft. It is clear that you guys, taraqua, Point B, sincere Ngerian are paid agents on Nairaland to confuse people.

And if u want to start a thread on Tinubu's and Fashola's corruption, by all means do. I'm sure many Nairalanders will only be too happy to join you in condemning them.

But right now, the topic is Jonathan's obscene corruption and not Tinubu's. Let's stick to the topic.

I don't understand u guys: Does Tinubu's corruption justifies Jonathan's corruption? Like someone said, if our President, Jonathan was not a hopelessly corrupt human-being, the likes of Tinubu will already be residing in jail.[/quote]You do know that it is deliberate? I.e some purposely try to derail any thread critical of GEJ by routinely mentioning issues and names not at all pertinent to the topic.

taharqa: You are by far the most nauseauting character i hv seen both on NL or on any online forum; by far and i hv seen eediots aplenty. Your comments are always long 'epistles' with no value except to attack d character of JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL; you surf round NL everyday just to write long sentences with d SOLE purpose of achieving dis...HYPOCRITE! There is presently a thread on Politics describing the current escapade of all the membas of the Ogun State Assembly to d USA unda the cover of 'going for legislative training', and the outrageous cost is borne by d governor Amosun (these kind of mass travelling, including for 1st ladies, is becoming d norm for most SW govts CONTROLLED BY YOUR PARTY ACN). Is Amosun an incompetent mediocre cos he sponsord dis silly expensive 'travelling'? Are oda govs in the party dat sent you to be d chief Propagandists on NL also mediocre 'fools' cos they also sponsor these kinds of nonsense? I didnt by chance see you on dat thread d last time i was there, nor where u attacking their character ; you obviously hvn't 'seen' it abi?.. There is a diff bw peeps like @take dat and goons like yrself- one is a consistent critic, the oda a slimming internet creature...... HYPOCRITE!! *spitsindisgust*

You GEJ fans are always the most palpably angry, childish, rabidly rude, emotional, pre-menstrual, uncouth and ridiculously immature here. Is it that you have nothing going for you in real life to the extent this forum means more to you than it should? Did I address you or did I speak to someone who quoted me and thus engaged me in conversation? Learn the difference m0r0n and you will realize it is you who is a nauseating character and the loser who come here looking to attack others who criticize the bad product he supports so passionately and blindly.

dounleedee: You guys should not relent in giving us your constructive and educative comments.
The challenges we have in re-building this country are always better depicted by some of the bizarre comments on this forum.
Africans have never really enjoyed or witnessed true democracy and this sometimes explains our myopic and pessimistic attitude towards the rule of law, constitutional rights, and roles of organs and agents of governments.
The sad and ironic part is the unwillingness of our people to educate their minds through the words and actions of those pointing us in the right directions.

Very true. Many , instead of tackling the substantive issue, would rather hurl insults, call others names and heap unwarranted attention/curses on the family of other posters here. This behaviour, at best , get us nowhere and , at worst, actually contributing to a general loss of focus on what is fundamental and paramount to the development of our development. Your statement below is pure gold:

The challenges we have in re-building this country are always better depicted by some of the bizarre comments on this forum.

lagerwhenindoubt: yea yea.. fresh air is stale.. as typical Nigerians we breath it everyday and fart as necessary. OBJ, GEJ, Yar-Adua. it is all the same story

Indeed. This is all PDP can ever provide at Presidential level i.e someone to protect the entrenched interest of a few detrimental to what is best for the majority.

ULSHERLAN: You wanna show your typing skills or what. Even if its just what you claim @least he is achieving that in a lil period. What has your president achieved in that same lil time. You mean to tell me Uyo was changed in a day or with just a sitting governor in power. Dude you need to get something check upstairs cos it seems its ticking anti clockwise

Djustice is the sort blinded by party/ethnic affiliation to the extent he can never admit the truth about certain folks. If Amosun even turned Ogun into Dubai in 6 months when it used to be worse than the most devastated war-torn Nation, Djustice and others like him would still say exactly what they say above.

I always say it here that we will all have our ethnic/political differences but it is sad to see some so unreasonably blinded by their hatred of others to the extent they are unable to call a spade a spade, give credit where due and move on. Those of us who still retain our humanity and refuse to degenrate into animals still remain happy to give credit where due in the interest of the development of all parts of Nigeria. What, for example, is to be gained going around trying to discredit Akpabio or Chime's achievements merely because they are PDP Governor?

No one is saying Ogun is now paradise or that everywhere has been affected spectacularly but the Governor is working and he enjoys a high approval rating from those who matter i.e those he serves. Some things make him stand out as very caring as well. During the elections, he promised 100 transformer to improve electrification across the State. He ended up delivering 500 brand new transformers after the elections i.e 400 more than promised. All children in the State have free educational materials and teachers are supported with car purchase schemes. These are a few of the many things the Governor has done. It is therefore perfectly acceptable for folks to be optimistic and supportive based on what Amosun has achieved in a year.

naijababe: Thank you o baba chef hat! Omo Ogun ise ya, e bere mole o, Oluwa mbe fun wa e tera mose o. Ise ya, omo Ogun ise ya.

Indeed. Folks should acknowledge what the man has done and urge him to do more.

Sincere 9gerian: My friend, stop comparing apples with oranges. Nigeria is not Ghana. Ghana is not as complex and complicated as Nigeria. There's no northern governors forum in Ghana, No states in Ghana, Ghana population is small and effectively served by a meagre 2,000 megawatts of power. More importantly, the average Ghaninian see himself first as a Ghaninian while other things come secondary. Also, Ghana had the privillege of having NATIONAL leaders like Kwame Nkrumah. Nigeria on the other hand had NO national leader (Zik, Awo and Sarduna were tribal leaders) neither is it a united country. The hausa man see himself first as a hausa man before being a Nigerian. Same also applies to other tribes. I can bet you today that majority of hausas do not see Jonathan as their president simply because he's not hausa. We have northern governors forum, eastern governors forum,etc Most importantly is that Nigeria is many nations in one country and each of this nations have been trying to outdo one another since independence. This is the TRAGEDY of Nigeria

The vacuous arrogance of the deluded citizens of a semi-failed nation on display again. Folks like you can never simply tell the truth and call a spade a spade. You are the sort ready always to begin the diversionary talk, such as that in bold above, instead of admitting that GEJ is mediocre and indeed spendthrift.

Keep fooling yourself with your silly and empty "apples and oranges' that lack intellectual sense or logic. We are talking about competence and good record of solutions provisions , as pertains to leadership, and you are here paying homage, once again, to the notion you and others like you are too given to the worship of personalities to the extent you can never grasp ideas.

I don't know which is more pitiful. The highly mediocre and clueless President or those into trying to launder his poor image with pathetic, lame and entirely impertinent excuses.

I think Akuffo Addo and NPP may just take the day. I think he is generally regarded as very competent, confident and a 'man on a mission'. Mahama is a great candidate also and I must say, as an unbiased observer, that Ghana is in a good position because the Nation will still be in capable hands whoever wins. I have been visiting since the Kuffuor days and he did well given the precise challenges faced by Ghana then.

Atta Mills came in and did well also. In fact, I saw more infrastructural development under Atta-Mills in 3 years than witnessed under the 8 years of the Kuffour government. John Dramani Mahama is clearly intelligent and many voters may see him as the right man to continue some of the good work of the current administration.
All in all, from what I have seen so far, it may be a close race. Speaking purely about who is best for Ghana, I think that is for Ghanaians to decide and I would hope they contribute their opinion here

[quote author=Soul_caine]Dear Mr president,

I write this letter in the hope one of your aides will come accross it and bring it to your notice, if they fail i will write it continously on every social networking site i can access every 11:29 pm from the 9th of december 2012 until you answer, am not the busiest guy in the world (you have a Phd, figure it out).

You were voted into power because you promised change and fresh air, we all love that don't we now ?
Your deliveries have not been in sync with you promises and the air is more repugnant (hope i got it right, we cant all have Phd's) and you who had no shoes now have pairs and even collected ours !

I have so much to say to you in person which is the main aim of this letter.

I WANT A ''HARDCORE'' NO WORDS BARRED DISCUSS WITH YOU LIVE!!!!!!

if you can make us friends on facebook during your campaign, should we now be enemies ?

Just an hour chat with you live on tv and no holds barred.

Anticipating your response.

Your patriotic citizen
soul-caine[/quote] Funny but true.

Lasinoh: I see no benefits with either.
No need increasing the PQ in the Nigerian populace.
PQ=Psychotic Quotient!

Indeed. Imagine some of our policemen on cocaine. The would make Tony Montana (Al Pacino in scarface) look like a choir boy !!!!!

Prof Corruption: That tells it all. GEJ does not have history of competence and can not all of a sudden become a competent leader.

This is the damn truth and all the ethnically bigoted folks can follow me around as long as they want saying absolutely senseless and irrelevant things repetitively. Those who don't lie to themselves know the truth.

I am in Ghana currently. There is the Presidential election coming up on Friday. Ask Nigerians here if they are not ashamed of Nigeria and our clueless and gaffe prone President who sweats bucket when he has to address Nigerians because of his mediocre mind and total unreadiness for the job he gained .

The two main candidates here have been eloquent and knowledgeable when speaking , several times since I got here, in details about plans and policies. You know they are fully up to speed with what they want to achieve. Their history is there for Ghanaians to inspect. No one has gone and brought any mediocrity from anywhere and roped a 'catchphrase' around his neck only for Ghanaians to be shouting that around naively while ignoring other dangerous signs such as empty and unimpressive CV, corrupt past et al.

It was what I said before the 2011 elections only to be insulted by bigoted people ever ready to spite their face by cutting their nose. Many Nigerians voted with their eyes fully closed to what matters i.e GEJ's abject mediocrity and sordid past that should make him far below the standard Nigeria or any ambitious Nation, with many great leaders, must demand.

Instead everything remained about how 'Aboki' should not lead us despite many of us urging folks to please look at Jonathan's past before they voted. Anyway, I may be sad for my own Country but happy for Ghana and other African Countries because they seem to have gotten to a place, democratically, where only a certain calibre of leader can become President and VP. In that respect the Nation will be okay and developing whoever wins. Let us remain in Nigeria insulting others, hating others automatically because of their ethnicity, rejecting and/or nominating leaders based on ethnicity and bigotedly backing our kinsmen blindly.

teetee123: Jonathan Spendthrift: Enough is enough - Punch Editorial



http:///5MvImpVx
Jonathan Spendthrift: Enough is enough

December 3, 2012 by Punch Editorial Board ⁠48 Comments

NOTHING typifies the frivolous, insensitive and completely inept leadership troubling Nigeria currently than the recent approval of a N2.2bn banquet hall for Aso Villa by the Federal Executive Council. Coming at a time when the country is buffeted by serious security and other challenges, it demonstrates that this government is not a thinking one. Just one of the dozens of eye-opening government expenses, President Goodluck Jonathan is proposing to build a party hall in the palatial Aso Villa while millions of Nigerians are hungry and jobless. Like the fifth Roman Emperor, Nero, Jonathan is fiddling around while the nation is burning. This disgustingly lavish lifestyle must be curbed. 

President Goodluck Jonathan
| credits:

The justification is as galling as the project. The FEC hinged its decision to award this contract mainly on its belief that smaller countries have better banquet halls near their seats of power. The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Muhammed, who briefed the press on the issue, added that the existing hall was inconveniencing and that the proposed 150-seater hall would have such facilities as “security, hall conveniences, technical room and press briefing room that are more and more enhanced so that national broadcast can be done from there.” This has taken profligacy in public expenditure to absurd lengths.

Jonathan probably expects Nigerians to give him and the other FEC members a standing ovation for initiating the project. But he is greatly mistaken. This is as reckless as it is feckless. With all its wealth, the United Kingdom houses its Prime Minister modestly at 10 Downing Street.  Its State Dining Room accommodates just up to 65 guests and is also used to host the PM’s monthly press conference.

Other reasonable leaders, including the Presidents of Malawi and Uruguay, have demonstrated good leadership values by their modest lifestyles. As soon as she came to power earlier this year, Malawian President, Joyce Banda, decided to sell off the country’s only Presidential aircraft and a fleet of 60 Mercedes Limousines. She prefers to use private airlines. Banda’s predecessor, Bingu wa Mutharika, had defended the purchase of the jet as a “must” for a national leader in 2009. The same woman recently announced a 30 per cent cut in her salary. This means that Mrs. Banda’s salary will drop from the reported £37,000 a year to £26,000.

On his part, the Uruguayan President, Jose Mujica, not only drives a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle, but also stays at his wife’s farmhouse. Besides, he donates 90 per cent of his monthly salary to charity.  “I’m called the poorest president”, he had said, “but I don’t feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more…This is a matter of freedom. If you don’t have many possessions then you don’t need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself.” 

Also, the King and Prime Minister of Norway reportedly fly commercial airlines. The interesting thing about Norway is that it produces almost the same amount of oil as Nigeria. But while it has successfully navigated through resource curse to be among the richest countries in the world, Nigeria, in spite of its abundant natural resources, is among the poorest. Norway’s success is not by magic but by prudent management of its resources.

Jonathan government has continuously demonstrated that the interest of the larger Nigerian citizens is not its priority and that profligacy is its cardinal principle. There are many depressing examples.  In the 2011 budget, N18bn went for the maintenance of presidential planes, which could provide decent accommodation for 18 million people going by the UN-Habitat estimates. In the 2012 budget, it set aside N1.9bn for the purchase of an additional aircraft for the already bloated Presidential fleet and N1.5bn for guest houses for some senior lawmakers.  This is happening in a country where a prized possession for many is a generating set.

Nigeria is buckling under the weight of Jonathan’s propensity for the absurd. Allegations are flying everywhere about the monumental level of government ineptitude in responding to insecurity. Almost on a daily basis, bandits and Boko Haram terrorists are killing scores of innocent Nigerians.  A recent report by the British-based Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Nigeria as the worst place for a baby to be born in 2013. Nigeria is 80th out of the 80 countries surveyed. Infant and maternal mortality in the country is among the highest in the world. Life expectancy for a child born in Nigeria is 51.9 years whereas, for a small country like Gabon, it is 62.7 years; Mauritius is 73.4 years; and Libya, 74 years.

The 2011 Human Development Index report by the United Nations’ Development Programme placed Nigeria 156th out of 187 countries surveyed. UNDP says, for almost a decade now, Nigeria has been recording consistently high economic growth rate that has not produced commensurate employment opportunities and reduction in poverty among its citizens. Poverty is endemic in the country as over 70 per cent of the citizens live from hand to mouth. An estimated 11 million Nigerian children of school age are out of school. Out of this number, about 7.5 million are girls.

With a GDP Per Capita of $2,500, malnutrition wracks 46 per cent of the population, unemployment rate was 23.9 per cent in 2011 and youth unemployment rate was as high as 46.5 per cent in the same year.  It is insulting that the President is creating an atmosphere of wealth and luxury for himself.  In the 2012 Mo Ibrahim Index for African Governance, Nigeria was ranked 43 out of 52 countries assessed. The country’s overall score of 42.0 did not even match up to the West African average score of 51.9. Smaller countries just emerging from the ravages of war, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Angola, are relatively better in development indices. Poor infrastructure and harsh economic environment have led to the shutdown of many companies. Some of these companies have relocated to these same smaller countries, leading to massive loss of jobs in Nigeria. This is a grim reminder of North Korea whose leader lives in opulence while the entire populace live in abject poverty.

Regrettably, the Jonathan administration is no longer evincing any hope. The cavalier attitude of the National Assembly is also regrettable. In the life of this administration, corruption has assumed a monstrous status. According to SUNDAY PUNCH investigation, over N5tn in government funds has been stolen through fraud, embezzlement and theft since President Jonathan assumed office on May 6, 2010. Sadly, as The Economist puts it, “Many Africans are ambivalent about their leaders’ extravagance; disgust at profligacy mingles with pride at the display.”

The Jonathan government has demonstrated complete lack of judgement in initiating this project. The citizens, through civil society groups, should rise up to salvage what is remaining of this country. Nigerians should wake up and demand modesty from their rulers. Leadership is about self sacrifice, assertiveness, service, prudent management and the ability to think and galvanise the populace towards achieving the vision of the leader for the common good of all.

Jonathan should curb this regal lifestyle and lavish spending of public money. He should step aside if he cannot do this.

Jonathan is simply a very, very mediocre administrator promoted far, far above his station . Him and his ilk are clueless folks just happy to loot while enjoying the good fortune , courtesy of malevolent leaders like OBJ, "the lord has provided" by miraculously making it "our turn". Sad Nigeria is still grappling with crass feudalism while the world moves ahead using the simplistic concept that society must utilise it's brightest and most innovative folks to secure development.

[quote author=lanre_front]You better stop that brand of weed you are smoking. Obviously, it's contaminated and affecting your brain.

Only that be the reason you must have written the above.[/quote]

lukaino: tot this guy has a bunch of advisers who should prevent these gaffes; whats their job? Falana has a valid point on this

Precisely. Your perspective is totally correct. Why, with so many expensively maintained advisers, does this government keep managing to do things that show open disregard for the rule of law? Making this about Falana is asinine. We should worry about what these sort of actions portend for Nigeria.

Good article that mainly states the truth as it is.

The grand larceny called the Jonathan government by Ayobami Oyalowo
Premium Times
Published: December 2,2012

Ayobami Oyalowo
Mr. Jonathan. Kill corruption, not Nigerians!!!
A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.
~Thomas Jefferson
[b]During the 2011 electioneering campaigns in Nigeria, there were three major contenders for the topmost job in the land, namely General Muhammadu Buhari of the CPC, Nuhu Ribadu of the ACN and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the PDP. Of the three, it was clear Jonathan was going to win and it had nothing to do with his “excellent” antecedents or track records. It was solely based on sentiments and the power of incumbency. The Jonathan team had, from the outset, primed itself to play on our famous religious and ethnic sentiments. No wonder he was at the RCCG camp, where he knelt down unabashedly and was prayed for.
He didn’t stop at that, he constantly drummed it into the ears of anyone who cared to listen, that he had no shoes, as a boy, he had no enemies to fight and he was not going to rock any boat. Little did the hordes of cheering fans realize the poignant truth in his “no fight” cry. Indeed Jonathan is everyone’s ‘Mr. Nice Guy’, corruption inclusive.
From his antecedents, Jonathan is corruption personified and I say this without a tongue bridging my cheek. However, intellectual laziness has blinded most of us from researching his past. Here is a little snippet into the past of Mr. Jonathan, a creation of the corruption he unashamedly tells people that he is fighting: In 2006, he was indicted for false declaration of assets by a Joint Task Force (JTF) on corruption that was set up by Obasanjo’s government. That powerful panel was headed by Nuhu Ribadu, who was then chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Joint Task Force said Mr. Jonathan was in possession of illegally-acquired property such as homes and exotic cars, all of which he could not explain within his legitimate income. While he was invited for hearing, he claimed he bought them from his “savings”. Meanwhile, he was a lecturer preceding his becoming a deputy governor. Kindly see for yourselves, the worth of the properties which were bought from Mr. Jonathan’s ‘savings’: a seven-bedroom duplex worth N18 million at Otueke Ogbia LGA acquired in 2001; a four-bedroom duplex, valued at N15 million at Goodluck Jonathan Street, Yenegoa, acquired in 2003; and a five-bedroom duplex, at Citec Villas, Gwarimpa II – Abuja, valued at N25 million, also acquired in 2003. There were also two cars: a Lexus Jeep valued at N18 million; and a BMW 7351 Series worth N5.5 million. If you check the dates the purchases were made from 2001, it was just two years after GEJ became a deputy to a criminal governor, Alamieyeisigha, convicted for fleecing Bayelsa State dry.
Since Jonathan became the president, it has been one sad tale of corruption after another. While previous governments have even pretended to wage a war against corruption, Mr. Jonathan on the other hand, has no room for such pretense or luxury. He romances and dines with corruption and the corrupt. The Malabu scam comes into mind. N155billion paid into fictitious companies with fake or unknown addresses. Yet not one person has been brought to book as we speak.[/b]
The ministry of finance recently published a list of about 27 companies who received subsidy payments, but to the consternation of right thinking Nigerians, Pinnacle Construction was on the list released by the ministry. Further investigations revealed that about N2.7billion had been paid to that same construction company as subsidy payment! Investigations also showed that the company was not even registered with the CAC.
Various probes and commissions of enquiries have at different times shown the grand larceny being superintended over by the powers that be. It gets more nauseating when one considers that the report of such probes have at various times being either discarded or deliberately rubbished using individuals of questionable integrity. Nigerians are regularly mocked by those in government– they see trillions being misappropriated and the scoundrels have not only gone scot free, they are either rewarded with board appointments, national honors or are frequent callers in Aso Rock, the Nigerian seat of power.
A recent Gallup poll showed that Nigeria is the second most corrupt country in the world. Also according to International audit firm KPMG, the cost of fraud in the first half of 2012 alone is $1.5bn (N225bn), the highest on the African continent. And that is only because they have no real idea of what is going on in government circles. While Nigeria is ranked third behind the USA and China in backlogs of orders for personal private jets, the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) asserted that our nation is the worst place to be born in 2013 due to deteriorating indicators of human security. What a damning submission!
The power conundrum is another avenue for the grand larceny being committed against Nigerians. Billions have been spent on power but all Nigerians can see is darkness. It is so bad that the president had to come on National TV to lie to Nigerians about generating 5,000 megawatts. With no visible improvement in our various homes, one can only conclude that the megawatts he quoted are only being generated in his dreams. A quick math will suffice: let us assume that at N97/litre, Nigerians effectively burn N5.66 billion annually, with the attendant environmental and the accompanying health hazard to boot. Using our elementary mathematics, in 29years, Nigerians would have spent N5.66trillion or $354billion. How much do we need to generate proper and clean energy? I would have asked some of our Government officials to tell us, but I guess they are busy chasing some “evil spirits” that those in government believe are the cause of our blackout. How laughable?
A research shows that Dubai is building a 1000 MW solar power plant that should be operational by 2013. The planned facility would stretch 48 square kilometers along the Dubai-Al Ain road and cost 12 billion U.A.E. dirham ($3.27 billion) to construct. What is therefore required to give Nigerians 24 hours of power supply will cost $160 Billion. Now allow for country specific variables, fund-mismanagement and country-specific price disparity and add some $20 Billion more, then we would have not only solved our power needs but would manage to keep a savings of $174 Billion from the amount constantly burned per litre of PMS, from using generators.
Recently, Punch Newspaper reported that a staggering N5trillion or $31billion has been reportedly stolen by the Jonathan government. Let’s put this into perspective. If a person lives for 100 years, he would have to spend the sum of $310m dollars a year for an entire century – near a million dollars a day, (weekends inclusive) to finish it all. To put things in context, if one spends one hundred thousand naira daily, it will take about 53 years to spend one billion naira! A billion dollars is of course some 150 billion naira. You can go ahead and do the maths.
Imagine what that amount, N5trillion, could have done. According to an MoU signed by government earlier this year, 6 refineries would be constructed in modular forms within 30 months at a cost of $4.5bn. Each refinery would process 30,000 barrels of crude per day with an output of 5 million litres of gasoline. This means that with $31bn about 41 new refineries can be built and if we used professor Tam David-West analysis, Nigerians would be buying PMS at the cost of about N35-40/litre. In other words, we could have built world class hospitals, refurbished the moribund railways and generally made life more bearable and comfortable for the generality of Nigerians.
But all the above will remain a pipe dream as long as the Jonathan government and his over bloated cabinet continue to fleece the country and fritter away her commonwealth. The government of Jonathan, going by the Punch newspaper revelation, is stealing an incredulous $1billion monthly. This is the same government that wants Nigerians to “sacrifice” to make the country better. The same government wants Nigerians to buy PMS at the cost of N140-150/litre; so that they can have more money for “capital and infrastructural” development. Who is fooling whom?
The larceny committed against Nigerians by this government, would have, in some climes, in the Far East, earned the bare-faced looters the death penalty. But as it were, it is business as usual. It will be advisable for the Jonathan led government to heed wise counsel. Nobody hates Jonathan (and I say this because his hired goons and ‘voltrons’ sadly feed him this impression daily) . But a man who superintends over such monumental thievery is not only worthy of opprobrium, he must also be extremely callous and unconscionable to assume that all should be well.
The government must be told in no uncertain terms, that enough is enough. The stealing and gang raping of Nigerians and its resources is no longer sustainable. The facts on ground lead to this submission: this government is corrupt and lacks empathy. The government of Jonathan must reverse the trend and curb the massive looting being perpetrated by its officials and agents. Since the coming into power of Mr. Jonathan, Nigeria has become one big SUPERHIGHWAY of corruption, with the president unashamedly directing the traffic.
Until they stop stealing, we will not stop screaming. Not only shall we vehemently reject the proposed ungodly official increment in the cost of PMS all in the guise of deregulation or subsidy removal, we shall fight against it with the last drop of our blood. No longer shall it be said of Nigerians: “monkey dey work, baboon, dey chop.” Mr. Jonathan. Kill corruption, not Nigerians!!!
I am on twitter @Ayourb

This is what I was saying on another thread i.e Amosun is doing what Fashola and others did to popular acclaim. That he has achieved this much, silently and minus propaganda, after one year in power is a measure of how the man is a talented administrator who is totally focused on the people he servex. He goes about his business efficiently and without fanfare.

Frightening to think , if he stays focused, what he can achieve with the support and compliance of the people over the next 3 years. I love Ogun State because that is where my family is from even as I have always lived in Lagos. I am just happy Ogun has gained an administrator who appears to be a great governor in the making. What should get Ogun folks excited is that Amosun is insistent on quality work by using proven construction companies ,both local and foreign, that can deliver high standard of construction work.

omowolewa: Source please?


Given the enabling environment, you don't have to be a native of a state before you participate in its development. Just pay you taxes as and when due.
Ask Britain, Dubai and Ghana.

If you get any other Igboman that want to invest, abeg tell him that Ogun state is a choice destination.

Kudos. Very mature response. For the sake of indulging those with a braggart and or clannish mentality pertaining to ethnicity, even as it stated clearly that this is a venture between Ogun State and a Chinese company, will this factory import workers from outside Ogun State? Or is it the State that will gain in terms of economic benefit because this company, regardless of its ownership, is sited within the borders of the State?

[quote author=geez*]When they were planning, no one heard a word
When they did the ground breaking, no cameras flashed
When they were 'nearing 80% completion' it wasn't all over Nairaland
It's complete now ... And no one is commenting

The SW is quietly racing ahead, creating platforms for industries and businesses to thrive. Unemployment rate in Osun is 3% and the state has about the lowest poverty rate in the country. Silently but swiftly, we are getting there [/quote]Amosun is turning out to be a very good Governor and methodical worker. This is why I always urge people to conquer ignorance and not allow their thinking to be defined by others working with their own agenda of mischief and hatred. Those who can even take 10 minutes to investigate issues will know how baseless the lies are that "ACN Governors are doing nothing". It is the lies trotted out routinely by ethnic bigots, desperado PDP, ignorant diasporan folks or indigenes who want the Governor to bring them N4,000.00 daily so they can adjudge him as performing. Everything Fashola, Mimiko et al did to be acclaimed as "performers", Amosun is doing too i.e BRT, mechanic Village, ultra-modern markets, road construction, Hospital renovation and building of brnad new ones, new cars for teachers etc, etc, etc.

Personally, I will once again urge people to conquer ignorance by embracing a love of reading and making the mind an inquisitive one. "An idle mind is the devils workshop". In our case the "devils" are the politician.

take dat: Nigerians are so nonchalant and oppressed to the extent that we fail to question our government while those who take up the gauntlet to do so are called names. Its highly disturbing that till date none has asked the government the cost of the contract awarded to JB and RCC to rehabilitate the Lagos Ibadan expressway after the concession given to Bi Courtney was withdrawn. Similar infractions like the mentioned where government arbitrarily took decisions without no one to question them.
Not until we collectively begin to question and hold these guys accountable to us, before we can make progress.

Correct. In West Africa today, I am noting , from direct experience, that it is Nigerians , a very divided and frustrated people, most notorious for doing this i.e hounding the few good guys they have in a unique form of self-immolation.

For me it boils down to the fact that others do not have the toxic and malevolent ethnic hatred that makes Nigerians ready to castigate and insult anyone, regardless of their good effort, who is not from their ethnic group. Very sad my guy.

When the likes of Falana give up the struggle, then Nigeria is a fully failed State because the government will be happy to act with total impunity and reckless abandon secure in the knowledge that no one will challenge its actions.

k2039: At the end of the case we will know who are really daft,those who believe something will come out of this or those who believe otherwise.

Frankly if he takes the federal goverment to a court outside the shores of Nigeria he may win,but sueing federal goverment in a Nigeria court on this particular matter and believing he will win is just being plain stupi.d and those also believing he will win are just extremely stupi.d as well

Dude, you don't really see the big picture to note the fundamental importance of the likes of Falana. It is not really about whether anything will come out of this or not. The bigger issue is that passionate and brave Nigerians like Falana, always ready to challenge government impunity, still exist.

Falana's actions, always rapier sharp, sensitizes Nigerians to Government misrule and lawlessness. The 'intangibles', e.g the concept of adhering to the rule of law, contribute immensely to the development of political sophistication and helps raise awareness of how citizens must fulfil their duties of check-and-balance by holding leaders to account.

We need more Falanas and we need more checks-and-balances to counter government impunity - especially when the Government of the day is one that revels in lawless and shameless behaviour.

honeric01: Just imagine the kind of posts we are seeing on this thread

Chai, are most Nigerians normal ni?

Man mi, sometimes, it makes one want to cry for Nigeria. Falana reveals the total arbitrariness and disregard for the law with which the Country is being run and some are distractingly only able to contribute silly comments while ignoring the very grave subject matter.

Ordinarily, Nigerians, if politically sophisticated, should be enraged by this adhoc and disdainful disregard for legal provisions. If the NNPC act stipulates that the number of board members for the parastatal should be 7 why has it now gone up to 9 with the appointment of Orasanye and Otti?

Are we just a daft people or is the wider implication not obvious? I.e the thought that this same lawlessness is routine in every aspect and area of the administration of Nigeria under this government?

k2039: Obviously,that's one case he knows he wont win.

Though I dont have a problem with his suit,just that I'm beginning to suspect this man has political ambitions,just trying to be popular.

You should be careful making insinuations that belittles the genuine efforts of the patriotic and dedicated few who see things differently to the majority of prominent Nigerians who are indifferent generally or have even contributed negatively to give rise to what Nigeria is today. I think the likes of Falana , and Gani before him, are driven by the mantra "evil thrives when good men do nothing".

Falana, correctly, is quoting the provisions of the NNPC act and you are here talking for the sake of it. Where will the political sophistication and development of Nigerians emanate from if the likes of Falana just look on, like everyone else, to let politicians act with total impunity and as lawless as they want? If you fully understand the deep shite Nigeria is in, vis-a-vis Government arbitrariness and lawlessness plus institutional impotence, you will appreciate that we should be praying for far more Falanas to carry out checks-and-balance duty officially empowered authorities/institutions have derelicted.

Ajimobi was the ACN governor I was most critical of but I think I judged him hastily. The man now seems to be moving Oyo in the right directions. The slow start may be due to his dedication to meticulous planning. We urge him to keep up the pace. Oyo deserves to be a rejuvenated and great State.

Please, first and foremost, I respectfully want the opinion of Ghanaians, Nairalanders in Ghana and Nigerians specifically interested in the Ghana election. So anyone with the usual "take this to Cediland' mindset should kindly stay away.


@ Topic.

I am currently in Ghana and covering the Ghana elections for an online blog. I was scheduled to be in Ghana around election time so I agreed to do it. I would therefore like input especially from non-Ghanaians about the Ghana election. The opinions of Nigerians in Ghana would be very much appreciated.

What are your thoughts on the process so far? What do you think of the campaign strategy, policies and conducts of the candidates? Who would you vote for if you could vote? Does the NDC government deserve a second term for sake of continuity? Do you think NPP can be better?

0lumide: My friend comot that Warri pikin user name! You no be Wafi boy, you dey fall hand. Just let the hatorade sipping people be and you don't have to be involved.

What's wrong in calling Ogunde the father of Nollywood? Because he is Yoruba?

Nollywood is just a name there was nothing like Nollywood before 2000 was there? People were just making movies and nobody cared to give Nigerian movie industry any name same way our music industry has no name.

Ogunde was the first to make a movie not some dude in Onitcha. The dude in Onitcha made a movie quite alright but it wasn't made under "Nollywood" either.

Appreciate the pioneer and kill your tribal hatred. Nothing dey warri you so o na only worry you dey worry lol...

Where for warri you stay? no google! Wafi boiz wey i sabi no dey dabble into them vs us crap wey you show here. You just dey kata yan so!

Look, it is even insulting for Ogunde to be associated with Nollywood. The OP does the great man a disservice.

Nollywood that is all about terrible and over-dramatic acting, shrieking men and women , predictable and childish plots, abject picture quality and piss-poor noise control that can damage the eardrum? What was OP thinking?

It is a disgrace to Nigeria, and an indicator of the corner-cutting purveyors of inferior products we have become, that Ogunde was making quality films back then only for the Nigerian movie industry of today to be a poor throwback in comparison when it should be much more if we are a people dedicated to consolidating on what we have and moving on to do things to the highest standards. I personally don't watch Nollywood movies because they are total rubbish and an embarrassment to Nigeria in my opinion.

Certainly some posters will not appreciate my frankness but I believe that if you cannot do something well don't do it at all. Abeg, OP stop exposing a great man and a pioneer like Ogunde to ridicule by associating him with Nollywood. Find other things to talk about and spare those who are a great part of our heritage, with their exemplary actions, the insults traded on NL by those who are into unthinking tribalism, over every issue, more than they are into knowledge and the quest to conquer ignorance.