₦airaland Forum

...When he was sidelined as Vice President following Yar Adua's illness

The Nobel laureate has proven over time and under successive administrations that he stands on the side of justice and equity

He's always been a social critic and what he said wasn't unsual of him, neither was it his first attack on public officials that are perceived to have used their office for self aggrandizement

The diatribe against him by the First Lady is by all mean uncalled for

Soyinka protested against Turai when she was perceived to have seized control of the apparatus of government at the expense of GEJ.

It is clearly on record that PEJ is perceived to have been involved in the current Rivers State crisis with Bipi confirming it through his utterances.

What I expect her PR advisor to do is to address the issue and not attack the person of Prof. Wole Soyinka who has EARNED his stripes internationally

I see Kenyans on this thread

solomon111: lagos accounts for 12% and not 25%,though we get your point.

[b]While Nigerians await the state-by-state breakdown of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it is great to see that the Lagos State government has gone ahead to calculate its own estimated GDP. The move by the state is not surprising considering it has been in the forefront of economic development in the country. The state currently has one of the best and most complete economic statistics in the country.

The state’s GDP figures released in September 2012 provide some interesting insights into the Lagos economy. The state has a GDP figure put in excess of N12 trillion or $81 billion as of 2010. Its economic size is about 35.6 percent of Nigeria’s 2010 GDP but a significant 62.3 percent of Nigeria’s non-oil GDP.

However, on the African continent, Lagos State GDP figures rank fourth below Cairo ($145 billion), Johannesburg ($110 billion), and Cape Town ($103 billion). The figures show that the Lagos State GDP is higher than 14 of the 51 states in the United States of America. It is also estimated to be bigger than the GDPs of 22 of the 27 states in Brazil, and higher than 42 individual states in Africa, including Kenya with a GDP of $66 billion, Ghana with a GDP of $61.97 billion, and Tanzania with a GDP of $58.44 billion.

Seven different sectors dominate economic activities in Lagos State, led by manufacturing which, interestingly, contributes 29.60 percent of the state’s GDP figures. Road transport follows closely contributing an average of 26.47 percent of economic activities in the state. Other sectors in order of dominance include building and construction (19.60 percent); wholesale and retail (8.39 percent); telecommunications (3.71 percent); financial institutions (3.51 percent); and real estate (2.01 percent). The seven sectors account for 93.39 percent of economic activities in the state.
The Lagos State Bureau of Statistics also breaks down the state’s GDP based on sectors. Livestock is the biggest economic activity in the agricultural sector. This is closely followed by forestry, and then fisheries which is about half the size of the livestock sector. Crop production is almost insignificant in the agricultural sector, contributing just 0.004 percent of economic activities.

Road transport is the giant in the room in the transportation sector in Lagos State, making up more than 90 percent of economic activities in the sector. The road transport sector is only slightly smaller than manufacturing. Manufacturing and road transport activities actually make up an average 56 percent of all economic activities taking place in Lagos. This explains the Lagos State government’s emphasis on road transport infrastructure within the state as both sectors actually feed on each other. The roads need manufacturing goods and passenger traffic while manufacturing needs the roads to move goods from production centres to the market.

The financial services sector of the Lagos State economy is dominated by financial institutions, with the insurance sector almost a negligible player in the sector. Insurance sector’s contribution to economic activities in Lagos State stands at just 0.30 percent compared to 3.51 percent by financial institutions. In the communications sector, telecommunications dominates, with broadcasting and postal services making marginal contribution (0.03 percent).

Under utilities, electricity dominates, but it contributes just an insignificant 0.47 percent of economic activities in Lagos State, a reflection of the challenges faced in the sector in the country. The contribution by the water sector is even more insignificant at just 0.03 percent. In a more ideal situation, these two sectors would be ranking among the highest contributors to economic activities because they are essential to modern living. Unfortunately, this is not the case here. The negligible contribution of these sectors hides the strong growth potential of the Lagos State economy if both sectors are repositioned to play their proper role in economic activities.

Currently, the NBS is compiling GDP figures for about six states of the federation. Ahead of the release of these figures, which was expected in March 2013, BusinessDay research will soon be releasing its report on the states of the Nigerian federation. The report is an in-depth analysis of the macroeconomic environment and fiscal plans of Nigeria’s 36 states and Abuja. It shows what the states are going to spend and how they are going to spend it. It is also a deep analysis of the financial profile of each state, showing internal revenue projections and history, debt overhang, projections and sustainability, projected expenditure-to-consumption ratios, and major projects in each state.

Due to non-availability of the GDP figures for the 36 states and Abuja, BusinessDay Research will be using NBS figures on consumption patterns in the states as a proxy for GDP figures. The report is an invaluable guide to anyone seeking to do business with or in the states and also to state governments wanting to know how their expenditure plans and macroeconomic environment compare competitively with other states and to the needs of the states.

http://businessdaynigeria.com/examining-lagos-state-gdp-figures
[/b]

The macabre dance that was witnessed on Tuesday 9th July 2013, at the Rivers State House of Assembly truly shows the true intention of the so-called Nigerian opposition and their hirelings in the Nigerian media. This show of shame by the opposition and the media, has justified the belief that President Goodluck Jonathan is targeted because he is an Ijaw man or from a nationality that they consider as minor - that ought not to have access to certain offices in the Nigerian contraption; talk less of being President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The unholy alliance between the Gambari invaders from Futa Djalon; and present day Yoruba leaders of doubtful pedigree, who see themselves as having the right to rule, manage and dispense our resources…believe that a Goodluck sustained Presidency is a threat to their evil hegemony. Haven failed in their fifty years of rulership in Nigeria, where Education, Health, Social infrastructure and other services, have totally collapsed; grinding this contraption to the pariah state of a failed nation.

The speed at which President Goodluck Jonathan fixed the nation’s derelict infrastructure – now the railway works, the roads are smooth and safe, electricity is more available, the airports have a facelift, agriculture is being resuscitated, Direct Foreign Investment has increased; even with the daunting opposition of the Gambaris, who vowed to make the country ungovernable and translated these threats into reality through Boko Haram and other secret militia groups, leading to loss of lives, property and social dislocation in the North. Goodluck Jonathan has been able to steer the Ship of Nigeria in these tough and difficult times, where other states like Egypt ,Libya and Tunisia that experienced these turn of crisis have almost become failed states. The IMF report has recently brought out the new Economic growth rate in Africa and has placed Nigeria ahead of South Africa. Where are the score sheets of the Gambaris and Yoruba leaders, who shamelessly and satanically criticized the The Goodluck Jonathan's government that is given hope, succor and pride to the Black Race.

Today,President Goodluck Jonathan’s accomplishment in his administration’s transformation agenda has angered them, and undoubtedly exposed their quackery and evil intention for all of us. Their support for anything abnormal like their widely publicized support for the recent coup that led to the overthrow of Mohammed Morsi, the first democratically elected President of Egypt and the subsequent massacre of innocent Egyptians, clearly unmasked them as people who has never known democracy, nor imbibed it or practiced it. It is clear that their pretension to democracy and promise of reform, hasn’t translated into reality, in any state under their control or those of their ‘Nicodemus supporters,’ who demonstrated their acute, moral deficiency on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Tuesday 9th July, 2013- as a man they imposed on us, as Rivers Governor; was heard and seen on a video clip, doing the unthinkable in a widely circulated criminal actions, in U-Tube and other social media, by his own supporters; as he was heard shouting… wey dem… wey dem… police catch am… catch dem… while a former leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Llyod was caught using the mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to inflict deadly blows on a fellow member of the House, Honourable Okey Chindah; honorable member, representing Obio /Akpor Constituency I, who was beaten to a pulp; his assailants, openly aided by the police that Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi once accused of creating insecurity in Rivers State. God doesn’t sleep. When he comes to judgement, he comes in a way that even Satan will jubilate. If not how can we explain the role the police played in this instructive video-clip, where a policeman was caught throwing punches and kicking an honourable member of the Rivers State House of Assembly?

What were the headlines of the highly compromised media that threw professionalism to the winds and decided to go against the TRUTH? Some intriguing headlines were that “Amaechi Escaped Death” “Chidi Lloyd Hospitalized.” “Chidi Lloyd speaking from his sick bed.” “Attempt to Assassinate Amaechi fails” “Thugs Invade Rivers State House of Assembly. “Plot to unseat Otelemaba Dan Amakiri fails” etc The question I dey ask them bi say, dem no watch the video? Na which time the mace comot go hit the Chidi Llyod, wey dey hospital? So who bi d person wey be thug for this matter? Na who suppose dey hospital? Na de one weyndem beat, or the one wey dey beat person? Now, where is the truth? Where is the defense of public interests that the media ought to protect and uphold?


Was Mr. Mbu, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, when Rotimi Amaechi and his thugs invaded its hallowed Chambers and were shouting, wey dem, wey dem… catch dem, arrest dem - using the Police to execute his evil agenda against the legislators that are against him? This is why Rotimi Amaechi wants the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu to be under his beck and call or compromise his official duties like his lily-livered co-traitors whom he bought over with huge sums - a man who routinely harasses and intimidates those he perceives as his opponents or those who disagree with him on sundry issues within and outside the PDP. This is the same Rivers State where former Legislators, Commissioners and Ambassadors etc where arrested in a meeting, and charged under the Rivers state anti-cultism law as cultist, and the Certificate of Occupancy of the building, where the meeting was held was revoked. The campaign headquarters of Dr. Abiye Sekibo, the Action Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate, was sealed off and kept under lock and key, until after the election. Today, because he stands on the side of truth, justice and morality; there is the orchestrated call for the removal of Mr. Mbu, the Rivers state Commissioner of Police.

While the macabre dance was going on in Portharcourt an hireling of Amaechi, Honorable Andrew Unchendu, moved a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives in Abuja, calling on the Inspector General of Police to reprimand, discipline or remove Mr. Mbu the Rivers State Commissioner of Police from office. Whereas the motion was consequently adopted by a hasty and shallow-minded House of Representatives chamber that are renown for the naked murder of TRUTH, and who have the perchance for supporting injustice and falsehood. With an avalanche of untruth as they did in my case by moving a motion to arrest me, while overlooking the inciting statements made by General Buhari and his Gambari goons - the Senate treaded the path of moderation and investigative inquest and referred the matter to a fact-finding Committee set up to brief it on its findings so it can take appropriate action.

We are not bothered by antics of the House of Representatives that have slowly lost its credibility and is sliding deeper and deeper into the abyss of infamy; and stand TRUTH on its head. With all the avalanche of evidence of recorded proceedings of what happened in Rivers state House of Assembly, this dishonorable men and women, continue to murder the TRUTH with their nature which is steeped in falsehood and fraud.

The video clip shows the Rivers State House of Assembly in a session with the mace, the authority and symbol of the Rivers state House of Assembly in place. Then the former Speaker, Rt. Honourable Otelamba Dan Amachreei is seen sitting and presiding over the legislative session. A motion is moved in the full House; votes are taken from members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and counted by the Clerk of the House. The recorded video clip clearly shows that more than ten members, voted for the lawful removal of Mr. Otelamba Dan Amachree, the former Speaker - while the new Speaker Rt. Honourable Evans Bapakaye Bipi was sworn in. The former Speaker, Mr. Otelamba Dan Amachree, left the House – legal proof that he abided by the decision of the House. At this time, the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the mace and Sergeant-at-arms, were present at the legislative session. The Rivers State House of Assembly members then moved the motion for the election of a new Speaker of the House and the new Speaker Rt. Honourable Evans Bapakaye Bipi was elected. The new Speaker was duly sworn into office in accordance with the rules of the House. He sat and presided over the Rivers State House of Assembly as the new Speaker and directed the proceedings of the House in line with the powers conferred on him. There was no evidence of any attack or crisis of any kind during the smooth transition of power from the old Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly to the new one.

After the new Speaker Rt. Honourable Evans Bapakaye Bipi had finished presiding over the River State House of Assembly, haven performed his first legislative duty, left the house with the Sergeant-at -arms, who was dressed in his official regalia, bearing the mace - the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly, under his leadership and concluded its proceedings, in accordance with the rules of the House. Later, Rotimi Amaechi invaded the Rivers State House of Assembly with thugs and began to attack members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, in the most gruesome and despicable manner. Proof that the unlawful invasion of the Rivers State House of Assembly was headed by Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi is not in doubt. It can be verified as Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi’s voice was heard above the chilling cries of his victims, as he personally directed the bloody assault on innocent members of the Rivers State House of Assembly - this is even as he was clearly seen on the video clip; furious, worked up in frenzy...and shouting wey dem, wey dem, arrest dem…while Mr. Chidi Lloyd, under Rotimi Amaechi’s behest, seized the mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly and dealt several deadly blows on Mr. Okey Chindah; representing Obia/Akor Constituency I… who sustained grave injuries and have since been admitted in hospital. While this was going on, the Police, army and State Security Services – especially the police joined in the brutal assault that Rotimi Amaechi orchestrated, and beat Mr. Okey Chindah to a pulp, with blood-spluttering on the walls and floor of the House.

What did we read in the press concerning the startling violation of the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly by Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi and his ring of armed thugs but the evidence of highly prejudiced members of the National Assembly that built a castle of lies out of the glaring truths everyone saw in the mass media? The question we must ask ourselves is: Was the Rivers State House of Assembly convened in accordance with the rules of the house? Was the Old Speaker impeached? Was a new Speaker sworn in to steer the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly? Did Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi not break the law when he invaded the House uninvited and overwhelm the House with bandits and armed security men? Are armed security men permitted to invade the hallowed chambers of a legislative assembly? Are thugs supposed to be on the floor of the House? How many maces does the House of Assembly suppose to have at any given time? Was the mace Mr. Chidi Lloyd, former Majority Leader used in inflicting near fatal injuries on Mr. Okey Chindah, the official mace of the House? If so how come Mr. Otelamba Dan Amachree, the former Speaker was escorted out of the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, by a non-commissioned Sergeant-at-arms, who impersonated the Sergeant-at-arms in the Rivers State House of Assembly? After the close of the proceedings of the House under the new Speaker of the House, how come the Deputy Governor with the help of the military and police, purportedly presented a supplementary budget that was passed by persons I doubt are members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, whose grotesque forms that were shown in the video clips, didn’t show the faces of the purported members but only their hazy hands that were raised and filmed from a distance.

The ‘Thug-in-Chief’ of Rivers state, Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi should be stopped before we stand up to him. He cannot continually insult our sensibilities and ride over us like nobodies, as we are equal stakeholders in Rivers State. We also call on the Nigerian House of Representatives to caution itself because the people of Rivers State will resist any perfidy of legislative proceedings designed to hijack the lawful duties of the Rivers State House of Assembly as that will belittle and undermine our sensibilities and sovereignty. We call on those who have superior hindsight of the danger ahead to redirect the greedy actions of shortsighted members of the House of Representatives that any attempt to take over the Rivers State House of Assembly, will spell doom for all. Our counter-action will get to where they are cocooned in Abuja. They should know that they are not above the law. We know where their antics is heading, as the Gambaris in the National Assembly and their Yoruba collaborators, continue to slide this entity into the direction we want it go - we will encourage them and push them further, for the foreseeable doom.

Let them plot. We are also plotting. We know that the creator of all things does not support injustice and oppression. He will give us victory as he has given us victory over them for their years of bloody genocide and mass –looting of the resources of our people… we shall utterly defeat those who pursue criminal causes in furtherance of their conspiratorial tendencies, to continually impose stooges and puppets on us, as they did through the seven Supreme Court Judges that foisted Rotimi Chibuke Amaechi on us. But una don fail… t. This time…e no go work for Rivers State!

Finally, the newly elected Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly must be protected at all cost. If the police fails to do so, we the People of Rivers State will rise up with one accord and protect him….we therefore call on all Rivers people to be ready, as this is the time to stand…we have failed severally in the past when those who cannot win elections in their unit became Governors, Legislators, Local Government Chairmen and Councilors in our state. This travesty must stop, as we cannot afford to disappoint ourselves and our generation yet unborn. Therefore the police should beef up the security of the State and be on the side of our people, as what has happened is lawful and justifiable.

We hereby call on the new Speaker, Rt. Honourable Evans Bakapaaye Bipi and the honourable members of River State House of Assembly, to do the job for which they were elected. This time, the will of Rivers people must prevail. I call on all Rivers people to come out en mass and let the new Speaker inform us when the Rivers State House of Assembly will be sitting...I also call on the Nigeria Police force to immediately apprehend Mr. Chidi Lloyd and the police man who assaulted Honorable Okey Chindah, member Representing Obio/Akpor I,Constituency, and bring them to justice.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151697913542929&comment_id=26827649&offset=0&total_comments=1&ref=notif&notif_t=video_comment


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI3wU4jZRCQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player