₦airaland Forum

A very intelligent and forthright mentor of mine is good friends with Gbenga Daniel and has vouched for his character so I don't doubt that he is a good governor.

Negro, this your insult don too much o!

Anyway, you must understand that 4Play is a lawyer and the best debater on Nairaland. That is why I take the google/wikipedia approach with him cos he loves to be pedantic and twist every argument in his favour.

Call it what you want, that is your own wahala.

bawomolo:
and how has such volatility benefitted the people of ND, less oil revenue means less allocation to the new minstry and ND states. u aren't gaining anything at all.

Firstly, the local economy is based on fishing and farming. That is gone now because of pollution. In the eyes of the average Niger-Delta man, we lose more by having crude oil than not having it. Without crude oil, we would still have our local economy and hunger will never cross any of our stomachs. Therefore, we are not spiting ourselves even if we chase all oil companies away. It would be good riddance to bad pollution and health hazards. A man always prefers to rely on his own means rather than Government handouts.

If not for all this agitation, there would not even be any Niger Delta Ministry.

They are even building a new Petroleum Institute in Bayelsa abi Delta state. Not to mention the new N16bn initiative that the EU have agreed with Nigeria for the Niger-Delta. You have to admit that MEND has achieved results.

However, Nigeria keeps supplying all these things that we never asked for. What we asked for was fiscal federalism, a repeal of the Petroleum and Land acts and better industry standards on the emmission of carbon pollutants.

I wish Nigeria responded favourably to peaceful demonstrations and civil disobedience.  I can assure you the Niger Delta people would prefer to seek a peaceful course of action. However, 50 years of empirical evidence has taught us better.

After a period of oppression, a man is ready to spite himself in order to spite you. If we tolerate this, then our children will be next. In other words, "We no go gree. . . . you go kill us today o!"

Negro Ntns has espoused his hatred for the Bush Government and roundly condemned his actions. He is a pan-African and his name would suggest that he loves Negro Nations. He hates Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity and abhors Karl Rove politics. Which leads me to ask - exactly what is it that make Negro Ntns a Republican?

Negro, answer please. Is it the conservative values or is it their strict adherence to Laffer Curve economics? Or are we in different tax brackets?

tpia:
Gas prices have risen and risen yet the world hasnt fallen apart.

The most that can happen is the Republicans get replaced by Democrats and so on. How many Nigerians have you seen returning home because they couldnt afford gas prices or cost of living abroad due to the attacks by Niger Delta militants on oil installations in Nigeria?

People are buying hybrid cars in record numbers, many overseas companies are packing up and returning to the US or their home countries, and China is taking advantage of the whole situation to colonize Africa. So who exactly is the winner or loser here? Gray area, I should think.

So it shouldn't bother you none if our actions lead to higher prices. So why are you sweating us?

No worries, Man Utd will be missing Vidic as well. As long as Carvalho plays against Man Utd, no shaking!

[quote author=Negro_Ntns link=topic=170405.msg2797633#msg2797633 date=1221328387]From a mathematician, wrong answer! The strength of reference materials are supported not in their strength of numbers but rather, by the credibility of its source.[/quote]

Ibime:
The strength of a wikipedia page is backed by the strength and number of its references.

By strength, I mean credibility.

Go and check the wikipedia link again and test the strength of its references.


[quote author=Negro_Ntns link=topic=170405.msg2797633#msg2797633 date=1221328387]Bush doctrine is nothing more than a Bush's goverment policy, period, no more no less![/quote]Yes - and you would expect an aspiring VP to know the foreign policy of the previous government.

6 points today, 9 points next week.

MIND THE GAP!

ANELKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

3-1.

bawomolo:
what a bunch of punks. i know part of guerrilla warfare is sabotage but do these clowns do anything else.

Market utility is inversely proportional to political volatility. . . . lol.

tpia:
What is needed are experts in aerial photography to track the movements of people in the area.

That way more will be revealed and positions captured with minimal collateral damage if possible.

Don't worry, we will employ Nigeria1 to do that one for us. . . .he can head the anti-militant division at NigComSat. . .

lampaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard!

[size=14pt]Reactions to the new Niger Delta ministry:[/size]



Niger Delta leaders were sharply divided, yesterday, in their reactions to Tuesday’s creation of an exclusive ministry for the region with the militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), and one-time deputy president of the former Midwest Region, Chief James Otobo, strongly objecting to its establishment.

On the other side of the divide is Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark; retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte; Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Magnus Abe; and Rivers State warlord, Ateke Tom.

Support for the new ministry also came from the opposition Action Congress (AC); prominent lawyer, Chief Richard Akinjide; former Petroleum Resources Minister, Professor Tam David-West; and Second Republic Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa.

MEND calls for caution

MEND in an online statement said: “The people of the region should receive this latest dish with apprehension and not allow the over five decades of starvation to rule our emotions as this is not the first time such “palatable” offers have been served to the region from the late 50’s to date.

“Creating a ‘Ministry’ is not the coming of the much awaited messiah. Nigeria has in existence, ministries over 40 years old which have not positively impacted on the people. It will be yet another avenue for corruption and political favoritism.

“Some examples of moribund ministries include Energy, with its epileptic power supply; Health, with hospitals that have turned to dispensing clinics such that even the president prefers to be treated in Saudi Arabia or Germany; Works and Transport, responsible for the untimely deaths and maiming of road users due to poorly maintained roads and bridges in spite of availability of funds; Education, with the elite losing confidence that their children study in foreign tertiary institutions; Special Duties, with a minister that has been made redundant that he spends his time in office watching television. The list is endless.

“MEND will know the government is sincere when it offers true federalism in all its ramifications which includes resource control. The unconditional release of all detained activists in its custody is another.”


Otobo kicks


Chief Otobo reacting in an interview with Vanguard said: “As far as I am concerned, it is like creating an intermediary between the people of the Niger Delta and the Federal Government and that is not what the people of the Niger Delta are asking for.

“As one of those who fought for the independence of this country, I want to say that it is an insult that the Federal Government is creating a Ministry of Niger Delta in 2008 instead of giving us true federalism, which we asked for.”

Chief Otobo said the issue at stake in the Niger Delta was not the creation of a Ministry of Niger Delta but allowing true federalism to be practised with the full components of resource control and devolution of powers.

“It is another form of colonisation by the government because they want to perpetually control the Niger Delta and its resources and when the oil is finished, they will leave it helpless and wretched,” he said.

The Federal Government, according to him, explained that the one of the ministers in the ministry would take care of infrastructure and the other, youth empowerment, but, he countered the position by positing that the Federal Government had no business in providing infrastructure in the states if true federalism were in place.

His words: “Infrastructure is not the business of the Federal Government but the federating states in a true federal structure, which is what the Niger Delta people want.”

He dismissed the ministry as a Greek gift and wondered whether the Federal Government would also create a special ministry for the North-Central, South-West and other zones of the country the way it had done with the Ministry of the Niger Delta.


Welcome devt — Clark


But in a separate interview, Ijaw leader, Chief Clark said: “It is a welcome development. It shows the commitment of President Yar’Adua to his seven-point agenda.”

He said Yar’Adua’s father was the one appointed when a special ministry was created to develop the Victoria Island in Lagos, in the First Republic, and Nigerians knew what happened then, as well as what the creation of a special ministry for the development of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has achieved.

Chief Clark said in Britain and some other countries of the world, governments created some special ministries to tackle development problems in certain areas, adding: “That is what the new Ministry of Niger Delta is going to achieve and I am happy about that.”

He appealed to the youths and militant groups in the Niger Delta to give the Federal Government a chance to develop the region, now that President Yar’Adua had demonstrated that he wants to turn the region around.


Ayemi-Botu hails


Former National Chairman of the Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing States of Nigeria (TROMPCON), Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, hailed President Yar’Adua for creating the Ministry.

Ayemi-Botu, who is also the Paramount Ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State implored the youths of the region to support and encourage Yar’Adua to succeed by laying down their arms and embrace peace.

He said the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the region had been realised following the creation of the ministry, adding that the much_ needed development and empowerment were on the way to the region.

“I am appealing for a ceasefire because it is almost Uhuru, no more hostage taking, no more militancy, no more pipeline vandalism because we must all cooperate with Yar’Adua to succeed. Anybody who engages in criminal act again would be seen as anti-Niger Delta,” he added.


Good measure — Okotie-Eboh


A PDP chieftain, Chief Okotie-Eboh, said: “It is a very good measure and it shows the sincerity of President Yar’Adua to resolving the Niger Delta crisis. We should give him a chance. This ministry will get allocations like other ministries to tackle the problems of the Niger Delta. t is a good development.”


David-West, Akinjide give thumbs-up


Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Professor Tam David-West and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), lauded the creation of the Ministry.

But Chief Akinjide who spoke in Ibadan said in as much as he would appreciate the move by the president, the quality of the person chosen to man the ministry would determine the success of the ministry.

“It is an excellent move in the right direction, but a crucial test is the content of the portfolio of the ministry. The creation of the ministry may not put a final end to the crisis in the region unless the Federal Government does the right thing,” he said.

On his part, Professor David-West advised President Yar’Adua not to nominate a Niger Deltan as head of the ministry so that the issue of sentiment and corrupt practices could be taken care of.

His words: “The minister must not come from Niger Delta. The fact that the minister comes from Niger Delta does not mean such person is committed to the cause of the region. If you make a Niger Deltan a minister, he will complicate the issue. He will come with his biases and sentiments.

“So, the president must ensure a good Nigerian outside Niger Delta region is made the minister. The permanent secretary can be from the region but not the accounting officer of the ministry,” said the Professor of Virology, adding: “I give kudos to Yar’Adua. Without taking out anything out of his tremendous achievements, what he has done is highly commendable. But it is one thing to create a ministry it is another thing for the ministry to work.”

MEND are claiming soldiers attacked them whilst soldiers are claiming that MEND attacked them. PR propaganda will never end.


Nigerian gov't forces exchange fires with militant forces 



    LAGOS, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian military force spokesman Sagir Musa said on Saturday that the military in the country's oil-rich Niger Delta region countered an offensive by the militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Saturday.

    He told local media that the militant group launched an attack on troops patrolling Eleme-Tombia, a riverside community in the Degema council area of Rivers State.

    "Our men were patrolling the area when MEND opened fire on them. There was an exchange of fire, but we did not record any casualty," he said.

    But spokesman of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), with the alias "Jomo Gbomo," said in a statement reaching here via Internet on Saturday that Nigerian military forces had launched full scale attack on militant camps in the country's southeastern Rivers State.

    "At about 0900 Hrs today, September 13, 2008, the armed forces of Nigeria began a full scale aerial and marine offensive on the MEND positions and neighboring Ijaw communities in Rivers state with helicopter gunships, jet fighters and over 20 gun boats and landing crafts filled with heavily armed soldiers mainly from the northern axis of Nigeria," said the statement.

    "All MEND positions in the Niger delta will respond to this unprovoked attack coming at a time the government is canvassing the so-called Niger Delta Ministry to hoodwink the people," it said.

    The statement also revealed that civilians near the camps were under attacks from government forces.

    Oil companies are warned to move out their workers within the next 24 hours, "because a hurricane is about to sweep through oil installations in the entire Niger Delta region," MEND warned in the statement.

    In an updated statement received at midday, MEND, an active militant group operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, also reported three casualties of its side during the crossfire, saying a military helicopter was damaged by MEND fighters as the battle is going on.

    Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua on Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet and created a new Ministry of Niger Delta, vowing to promote development and peace in the country's oil-producing area.

hmmmm. . . . tory don burst.

How are we not winning this game? We are completely dominating. It is frustrating.

Man City will not make it this easy in 2nd half. We saw that with Spurs last fortnight.

Anelka is like a boxer who has all the jabs, hooks and combinations but no knockout punch. He is getting on everybody's nerves.

Malouda needs to go and rest his tired legs somewhere. I wanna see Kalou.

Pablo Zabaleta is no substitute for Corluka.

Dis Guy:
bloody hell, willy2 should take the crown if you call those 'insightful' abi na me just miss english class

Na wetin I dey tell them since.

BTW, are you the guerilla artist Banksy? So what is that stuff on your sig? I no know say Banksy na Naija man since he refused to reveal himself.

Dis Guy:
when will ijaw youth start campaigning for their tribesmen to quit the PDP party, that way they know their own people are not contributing to the problems of the region

lol. . . we will withdraw from the political process when the Hausas, Igbos and Yorubas do likewise.

Cheya, make una no vex iya. By the end of next week, we will be 9 points ahead of y'all.

Vidic suspended and Carrick injured - what could be better?

MIND THE GAP!

Come on man, Steven Appiah has been injured since God knows when.

There was no common ground on national service between Obama and McCain. Infact, that was the only issue on which their views widely differed. Obama made a clear and concise argument for state-induced volunteer schemes. McCain on the other hand vaguely alluded to a market-induced volunteer scheme, although we all know that will not be very practical when implemented.

Here was the point I made on the other thread about both party's approach to the issue:

Republicans tendencies to promote market-induced social responsibility is a total failure. Profit margins and social responsibility do not belong in the same sentence. It may work for sometime but it will always go bust as greed and fear weave their inevitable patterns. Republicans should understand that social utilities should not be held subject to market volatility. The only way it can work is through strong regulation.

tpia:
I don't see Ibime or any other militant supporter on this thread, in spite of the useless noise empty Mpele is making here.

lol. . . .why should I respond?. . . I see this militancy thing gores your ox well well. . . . don't worry, when foreigners hear that someone got kidnapped in Nigeria, all they will say is "Those Nigerians need to get their shit together". . . .the same way we Ijaws say "Those Nigerians need to get their shit together". . . . anyway, I have kept mum on this subject because I am waiting to see who claims responsibility for the kidnapping. . . . just remember that market utility is indirectly proportional to political volatility. . . . so until we find a political solution to this thing, expect more fluctuations in the price of bitumen.   

hmmmm. . . .abi the deaths caused by environmental problems and polluted water and air, the dead fish, periwinkles and subsequent loss of local economy, the lung cancer, the PDP election clashes that created all this mayhem. . .  and the miscarriages. . . Ken Saro-Wiwa, the 2000 dead Ogonis and hundreds of Odi's. . . .the internal displacement of 80,000 Ogonis. . . . . is that not blood?. . . no, it must be plasma. . . plasma TV, that is!

I heard that Ijaw Youth Congress submitted a petition to the UN, warning all countries not to buy Nigerian oil period. . . according to them, it is blood oil. 

It looks like we may have some short term relief from Essien's injury.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are poised to snatch Brazilian midfielder Mineiro from under Arsenal's noses to fill the void left by Michael Essien's long-term injury. (Daily Mirror)

Mineiro is currently a free agent and a specialist holding midfielder. He must be about 33 or 34 though.

You make some good points and some bad points. All sensible Governments employ both strategies during periods of slow growth by reducing taxes (supply-side for high-income) and by reducing interest rates (demand-side). One thing is clear though - reducing corporate taxes during an economic downturn makes perfect sense. Supply increases demand because suppliers must buy in order to produce. Supply also employs labour which stimulates demand. However, demand-side economics cannot be ignored. At some point between the two, society achieves maximum utility. Governments must ensure that they have saved enough during boom periods to pursue both strategies.

Your critique of the Republican strategy would be that they tend to favour supply-side economics regardless of the economic cycle. At this present moment though, it is exactly what is needed.

The systematic risk posed by Frannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Washington Mutual were such that they had to be bailed out. Any argument against state intervention is a condonement of laissez faire economics which has been proven to fail time and time again. During the dot com implosion, there wasn't much Government intervention. Many of the companies that suffered were not 'old economic institutions' and they presented no systematic risk. On the other hand Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the American dream and are still largely viewed as a Government enterprise although they were privatised in 1968. All confidence will be sucked from the market if they are allowed to fail. Money is in short supply simply because of lack of confidence. Everybody suspects that the other person has more debts than they claim to have and so they will not lend to them. There is more than enough demand for credit but not enough supply and the only way Government can fix that is to open credit lines - inducing Banks to supply money to one another and guaranteeing their debts to any potential creditors. That is why Government must bail out certain institutions. It will cost more to bring supply back up in the event of a bank failure than it will to actually bail the bank out. Therefore, you can say that the main commodity the Feds are trading right now is 'Confidence' - and though 'Confidence' is a very expensive good, it is still cheaper than 'Fear'. That is why supply side economics is the most effective way of combating the current crisis and I think both Republicans and Democrats recognise this.

On the other hand, like you say, Government bailouts can lead to fiscal irresponsibility in the long run. On a political level, you can argue that Governments lassie faire attitude to regulation contributed to the current crisis, although how much is hard to measure. Markets always control their own cycles. I also doubt that Government has the capability to properly regulate the market nowadays. It is a wild wild west out there. People are trading such complex financial instruments nowadays, it would take an army to regulate. What we see now is derivatives upon derivatives of derivatives.

Like I said in the other thread, Governments should always lower taxes during recessions and raise them back up during boom periods. This promotes fiscal responsibility and absorbs the shock to the economy. Republican fiscal policies tend to promote big booms followed by big busts whilsts Democratic policies would tend to promote medium booms followed by medium busts. Don't quote me on that sha before partizan gra-gra start here.

Off topic - On a side note, Republicans tendencies to promote market-induced social responsibility is a total failure. Profit margins and social responsibility do not belong in the same sentence. It may work for sometime but it will always go bust as greed and fear weave their inevitable patterns. Republicans should understand that social utilities should not be held subject to market volatility. (Hmmmm. . . . I shall put that in my sig). . . .It can only work under strong regulation - and I mean really strong. This was the main point of difference between Obama and McCain during the 9/11 forum when they were discussing their plans for volunteering.

lol. . . . Tpia, feel how you feel. . . . I no get your time. . . .

tpia:
Ibime is an open supporter of Ijaw Niger Delta militants. In what way is he detribalized?

Sorry, I think you mean to say freedom fighters. Please correct yourself sharp sharp. 

I have only professed support for MEND, not 'Ironmonger' or 'Double Tragedy' 

Based on your assessment, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Francis Ona, Agim Ceku, Robert the Bruce and Joe Slovo are tribalists. No, I didn't make them up. Google it.

I aint a tribalist. . . I'm a survivalist. The only tribalists are those who would deny my people equity and justice.


Anyway, I didn't know that Nairaland is handing out awards. Please Mr Seun, send me my certificate sharp sharp so it can take pride of place on my living room wall. 


By far, the best political analyst on Nairaland is Willy Willy. The young man impressed me so much when he uttered those famous words "Phock the parasites!" 


Long live Asari-Dokubo, Victor Ben and MEND!

[quote author=Negro_Ntns link=topic=170405.msg2794509#msg2794509 date=1221256503]Admit it, you didn't know what the doctrine was before that question. Agreed, you know a lot about it now that you have been on the internet and researched it. If you didn't know that preemptive strike existed before Bush, then hardly true that you knew about the Bush doctrine.[/quote]I don't have to know what Bush Doctrine is. I am a mathematician, not a politician like Sarah Palin.


[quote author=Negro_Ntns link=topic=170405.msg2794509#msg2794509 date=1221256503]You and wikipedia! Let me clear some misconceptions for you before I respond to the points you made. Anybody can create Wiki article. I have a subscription in it and I can go there and creata an article and call it "IBIME - An African Astronaut". Before you know it, the internet will be bombarded with blogs about your mission to Pluto. Lmao. So calm down about wiki. Ok?[/quote]The strength of a wikipedia page is backed by the strength and number of its references. Please visit the page again. When I did google search on Bush Doctrine, I found many academic papers on it and even modules on Political Science degrees. Guaranteed, it is a new theory, but I expect a web analyst to understand how Page Ranking works even if he graduated in 1995 and Page Ranking came out in 1998-2000.

[quote author=Negro_Ntns link=topic=170405.msg2794509#msg2794509 date=1221256503]Preemptive strike is not a Bush Doctrine. Calling it that will be like saying white man started slave trade.

You are sounding as if Bush Doctrine is an academic "must read".[/quote]Newton introduced the term 'gravity'. However, if you ask any fool on earth they know that whatever goes up must come down. Even a dog knows this. That is why when you throw a stick, he knows he must catch it because it will come back down. However the difference between a dog and a scientist is that a scientist can define gravity whilst a dog cannot. Therefore we must call him what he is - a dog! Even if he wears lipstick! 

I am sure McCain, Obama and Biden know exactly what the Bush doctrine is. Sarah Palin simply doesn't belong in this category. It is her academic history that rankles with me more than anything.

Abia or Aba is so densely populated, trust me, Ondo state doesn't even compare.

[quote author=$$Rhino link=topic=170783.msg2793149#msg2793149 date=1221241295]So now any area that feel neglected wil get a ministry.
What a direction the guy has gone, and the money meant to be used for the area will be used by some directors, ministers and stuff.[/quote]The ministry is simply to take the burden of development out of the hands of corrupt state governments and NDDC officials. This ministry is of strategic national importance and the usual level of corruption we see in Nigerian political structures will not be allowed in it. Let us give it a chance.


However, the constitution review is coming up and we would like to see the following:

A repealing of the Petroleum act and the Land act.

A derivation system that better reflects true fiscal federalism.

A repealing of the law that protects Government officials from prosecution whilst they are still in office.



I believe Nigeria is headed in the right direction however slowly.

[quote author=Negro_Ntns link=topic=170405.msg2789291#msg2789291 date=1221199177]How did that become Bush doctrine? Thats what American forces did when they went into Sudan and bombed out a pharmaceutical plant.[/quote]Mba. . . that was in reaction to the bombings in Kenya.

The Somalia thing was a peacekeeping mission or so I believe, I am not sure.

Look this 'Bush doctrine' is a new and groundbreaking theory in the world of foreign affairs. Several journals, papers, PHD theis have been written on it. . . .if I lie, google search it. . . . infact, just click on the wikipedia link I provided, you will see that this 'Bush Doctrine' no be small thing in the world of political science.

We are talking about the central tenet of George Bush foreign policy here. . . if Mrs Palin doesn't know that, then what is she doing trying to replace Cheney?. . . .look what that wikipedia link has to say:

During an interview on September 11, 2008 with Charles Gibson of ABC News, Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin was asked about her opinion of the Bush Doctrine. Palin appeared to be unfamiliar with the policy, and, once provided with the definition, demurred from providing her opinion.[24] As the Bush Doctrine is a major part of the outgoing Bush Administration's foreign policy, as well as the current foreign policy of the United States Department of Defense, several policy experts voiced strong concerns regarding Palin's fitness for office following the interview's broadcast.[25][26][27]

Well, there is nothing wrong with Palin's statement. NATO has an obligation to defend all it's member states from attack, whether from Russia, Nigeria or Takishistan. It is up to Russia not to attack any NATO country and it is up to America not to make Georgia a NATO country cos that is taking the piss.