₦airaland Forum

Wow Mukina, that story of yours really moved me.

As of today,  1 US $ = N133.25 (officially)


So, that means Peter Odili refunded over $172 million dollars ($172, 607,879 to be precise) to the Rivers State Government !!!!!!!!!!!

I have said this before, the EFCC is not perfect, but it is doing its little part in curbing corruption in Nigeria. More Kudos to Ribadu.

@ashala

My brother, I was just kidding ooh I just wanted to get a reaction from you, lol

ashala,

you said Seun doesn't look bad and you want to meet him in person ooo, and you are a guy

Na waa oo

Most of our political leaders na thief thief

lmao

4 Play:
About time.After 8 full years in power,he is building power stations.What about all the money that has been spent on the sector over the past 8 years?Where is the end product?

Good Point !  Well, we were generating 1,900 MW when he assumed power and we are now generating 4,000 MW.  You don't notice any improvement at all because our demand is in excess of 10,000 MW. Plus, the gas pipelines are always vandalized, so they have to reduce output at the power stations

4 Play:
A Nigerian Govt building something is nothing new,we have countless abandoned projects .

True, but OBJ means business.

Please visit this thread and see for yourself !

I forgot to add that OBJ is building 7 new power stations in the Niger Delta states.

Now tell me, when has so much been done for the Niger Delta people ?

The problem with lack of infrastructure in the South South has been there for decades and OBJ can't solve everything in 8 years. But if Rivers can collect $100 million (N14B) monthly, I think that is definately improvement.

dayokanu,

Well, as far as security is concerned, I have to admit that OBJ's govt has not performed well at all. I also admit that there are people like Chris Uba and Adedibu that the man is protecting. If you go through my initial post on this thread, you will see that I stated that the man is not flawless.

Now, you mentioned that OBJ has crippled NEPA - How did he cripple NEPA ? He has been reforming that organization, the reason why there has been no improvement is because of the magnitude of the rot of the system. Haven't you read about all the vandalizations taking place to cut the gas supply to the power stations ?

The only thing I blame OBJ for is not embarking on NIPP right from 1999. He was ill-advised at the time that once we attain 4,000 MW (we were at 1,900 MW when he assumed power) we will see a dramatic improvement in power suuply. That turned out to be so untrue because our power needs are in excess of 10,000 MW.

As far as the crises in the Niger Delta, you have to realize that the people of the South South have been brewing for a very long time. They could not come out like they are now during Abacha's time because he would have killed them mercilessly. Afterall, despite all the foreign intervention, Abacha still killed Ken Saro Wiwa.

Is that What you want OBJ to do ? Send in Army Battalions and wipe out all the people living in the creeks because of the hostage takers ?

It is under OBJ that the South South states started receiving 13% derivation. Rivers state collects around $100 million a month sometimes. It is under OBJ that the NDDC came into being. OBJ has just awarded the East-West Multi-billion naira road contract to connect all the Niger Delta states.

So, please the man is trying for the Niger Delta people. Try and put your criticism in perspective.

I understand, its just that sometimes an incoming administration tries to undo some of the policies of the former.

But you are right, I don't think any incoming President really has any other choice.

Alright BigB1, I get your point 

Lets just cross our fingers and hope our new incoming President continues with the privitization initiative.

Good point @ 4play .

That is why we must do more to improve our GDP growth rate. We have to aim higher than 5.7%, we need double digit growth rates and it must be sustained for a long period of time.

I hope our next president won't make us regress sha.

If the problem was just planning & organization, may be, but unfortunately, that is not just the problem.

The problem entails more than that.

Bankole01:
I will be a fool to say Obasanjo did not achieve or record any developments or good deeds, but he is like a man with his foot in his mouth, one step forward and five back.

Atleast you admit the man has achieved something. In all honesty, I have to agree with you that he seems to take a step forward and five back .

Abubakar Rimi said 40 years !


----------> the other 5 geo-political zones * 8 years !!

@kdships

Before you consider using anything related to NIPOST, I suggest you read this thread:-

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-334.0.html#msg189266

@BigB1

Please explain how we will meet 80% of our power needs within 15 months of privatization. Don't get me wrong, I am all for privitization, but there is no way 80% of our power needs can be met within 15 months of privatization.

We might see good improvement within 3 years (after heavy investment by the private entities), but definately not 80% within 15 months. But you can explain your rationale.

Big B1:
15 months after the privatizing transition of NEPA has been completed, I predict that Nigerian citizens will experience 80% improvement in power supply through out the nation.

Have you really thought this through ? Complete privatization will not automatically bring our generated power to 10,000 MW, so how can we experience 85% improvement as you stated ?

Bankole,

[Continuing from where I left off]

And in order to increase our GDP, we need to focus on the non-oil sector. That is why you saw the reform in the banking sector, that is why you saw the reform in our telecommunications, that is why you saw the reform in our federal work force (we cannot spend 15% - 20% of our revenues taking care of federal employees, much of which are redundant), that is why you saw the winding down of Nigeria Airways and the entrance of Virgin Airways and Arik Air.

You would also notice that OBJ has placed lots of emphasis on going into farming. Cassava Production has tripled since he has been in office, and states like Delta and Cross River are investing heavily in Agriculture.

It is all aimed at increasing our GDP through the non-oil sector. This is not a feat that one achieves overnight, OBJ inherited a big rot and it is going to take time to feel the impact of his reform program. But we are on the right track.

Bankole01:
The big chance to institutionalize democracy, unit the nation, sweep away corruption, good infrastucture, good schools which are not perpetually on stike, good health facilities, run away inflation, (what about water, light and housing-in Fela's words).

Rewrite a good constitution for the nation, not one to perpetuate himself.

The chance to realy make a difference in the people's day to day life, and not not making life harder for the people.

Obasanjo failed and will forever be known as the president who earned a lot but failed to make a difference. He is an evil egotistical maniacal desport.

Bankole,

So basically what you are saying is that OBJ should have completely solved all of Nigeria's problems within 8 years in office ! Listen, I have said this earlier, I said OBJ is not flawless. The man has made mistakes, no doubt. But at the sametime, there are some achievements that have been made since he has been in office.

As far as the laundry list of problems you have listed are concerned, no one can solve all those problems in 8 years ! No one.

People are under the impression that Nigeria is so rich because we are the 7th/8th largest oil exporter in the world. Nigeria's GDP, with our population of 140 million is estimated at $77 billion. That makes our per capita income less than $600

Now, New York City is estimated to have about 8 million inhabitants. Do you know what NYC's GDP is ? A whopping $413.9 billion !! That is just for 8 million people !! Do you now see the meaning of wealth ! Bear in mind that NYC has no Navy, No Army or Air force to cater for.

There is no way anyone can provide all that laundry list of yours with our meager resources. You understand !!

I have given you the numbers, so quit relying on what you read on the news or from critics as a means of judging OBJ's administration. It is going to take years of continued growth in GDP before we can reduce poverty and increase our standard of living in Nigeria.

Axiomlogic:
GTB's Eurobond,     1st Bank 's Wall st Bond.

Excellent mention!!

You don't know how happy I was when I read about this. When Europeans and Americans can buy bonds in GTB and 1st Bank, it means we have made progress !!  These are indigenous Nigerian Banks and we are talking about the Non-oil sector. This is just a classic example of foreign direct investment.

OBJ's hard fight on corruption has created an environment in which our banks can raise bonds abroad. I swear, I was so happy when I read about this.

For those that say Abacha was Better than OBJ, do you think indigenous Nigerian banks could raise millions of dollars/euros by issuing their bonds overseas during Abacha's tenure ? I think we all know the obvious answer to this question.

Its just a generational thing. Nigerian guys between 16 and [early to mid twenties] can be found trying to be gangsters. Its more of the youth in them driving this than anything.

joshO:
I'm a supporter of OBJ in spite of his inperfections,  I admire him mostly for his
courage and wisdom in engaging the likes of Chukwuma Soludu, Dora Akinluyi, Okonji Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili, El Rufai, Ribadu, Irene Chigbue,  Ernest Ndukwe etc,  Our past leaders played politics with everything and our lives, 

(As I list out this names, it's hard to ignore that most of the over-achievers in Nigerian goverment today are Igbos!!! hmmmm ,  and some Hausa).

That is what you get for having a Southerner as President !  People were given portfolios based on their competence, not their ethnicity. People like Ezekwesili, Soludo, Okonjo-Iweala were all OBJ's advisers and he was so impressed with them that he made them ministers.

I recall Ezekwesili wanted to remain at the Due Process office, but OBJ insisted that she be a minister.

There is this lady named Ifueko Omoigui, she heads the Federal Inland Revenue Service. She is also doing a fantastic job !

I agree with Afam.

OBJ by no means is flawless, but he has set a stage for fighting corruption in Nigeria. I don't think it is a mere coincidence that we received a BB- rating from Fitch international. We did not receive an A, but we are atleast getting somewhere.

Also, the foreign exchange rate of $1 to N128 (I think its N128 - N135) has been fairly stable in the last couple of years. I also credit OBJ for bringing some sanity to our Banking industry in Nigeria. Charles Soludo's N25 billion capitalization requirement means Nigerians can make bank deposits and safely sleep at night without fear of liquidation.

I really wish Obasanjo had started his National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) right from 1999 so we can have some relief by now with our power situation in the country. Another thing that baffles me about Obasanjo's administration is how the federal government owes so many contrators and retirees billions of naira; also, we continue to take world bank loans, even though we have over $40 billion in reserves.

The money we owe our road contractors and retirees is not even up to $3 billion, Why not pay them off so they can rest in peace when the funds are available ? It really puzzles me.