₦airaland Forum

If there is anybody I can vouch for in Buhari’s Cabinet, it is Senator Udoma Udo Udoma. I have known him, and his best friend Keem Bello Osagie, for 30 years. All three of us are graduates of Oxford University, England, although I was there before him and Keem. Udoma is as sharp as a razor; he is one of the most intelligent people I know. Better still, he is a man of unimpeachable integrity. Udoma cannot be bought. He has a very successful law practice; the last thing he would do is fiddle with public funds.

Udoma was a two-term Senator of the Federal Republic, where he distinguished himself representing Akwa Ibom. His people would always remember him as the man who ensured that Akwa Ibom now receives one of the biggest, if not the biggest, share of oil money from the federal government. While many of his Senate colleagues pocketed N50 million bribes to support Obasanjo’s dastardly third-term bid, including those who nevertheless voted against it; Udoma rejected the bribe and joined the campaign against the scheme.

Thereafter, he knew even his re-nomination as PDP Senate-candidate from Akwa Ibom would be blocked. So he quietly bid the Senate and politics goodbye. But righteousness will always exalt a man. Udoma was sought after by blue-chip companies. He re-surfaced as Chairman of UAC and a Director of Unilever. He also became in 2010 chairman of the Governing Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This comedian Aribisala should go and sit down, or maybe cool off in detention or something. All he managed to tell us here is that he also went to Oxford. All the other flattery of Udoma is not selling. It is contradictory to what follows next. Udoma is smart, sharp, trusted, can't be bought but is in charge of all you are writing against. Senseless and caseless. An unintelligent way to absolve his so called friend of blame.

Planning in a hurry

On November 11, 2015, President Buhari appointed Udoma as Minister of Budget and Planning. Six weeks later, the president presented the 2016 budget to the National Assembly. This makes the budget an inevitable casualty of timing. A new Nigerian president is sworn in at the end of May in an election year. He is expected to have his cabinet in place by June. That would give a Minister of Budget and Planning six months to work on a budget.

However, when Buhari became president in the middle of an economic crisis, the first thing he did was to squander the first five months. In that time, anti-corruption propaganda became a substitute for policy. The economy nose-dived; going from bad to worse. Queried about the delay in choosing his cabinet, the president bad-mouthed anticipated ministers as “noise-makers.” When he finally succumbed to the Constitution by unfolding his Cabinet, the year had virtually come to an end.

Udoma is a man well-prepared for public office. However, in the short-term, he will have to defend as, a team-player minister, a budget unlikely to be his brainchild. Udoma could not have known he would be the Minister of Budget and Planning. But now he has to defend a budget he could not have planned. Frankly, there are a number of things in this budget that are indefensible.

In the medium-term, Udoma is in the unenviable position of being an economics minister to a president who clearly has very limited understanding of economics. Worse-still, he is minister to a president who castigates ministers as noise-makers. That indicates Buhari is not likely to be open to wise counsel. It would not surprise me if schemes like the ante-diluvian counter-trading are mooted again from Aso Rock sooner or later.

A round of foolish rant begins. If the President has not yet presented the appropriation bill, this fellow will be among the chief wailers complaining about slowness and ministers not hitting the ground running. It is not compulsory or in the constitution that ministers must be put in government June. What if the President himself was sworn in in November for instance, we must wait six months before the next year budget or there are no persons working in that ministry and office? Udoma is not complaining or resigning but this busy body is. Also, counter trading is not antediluvian. Countries all over the world are involved in counter trading. Even the past PDP government did some counter-trading. This man should focus on his seminary work and stop displaying his rustiness all the time.

Pretend Budget

The first thing that becomes noticeable in the 2016 budget is that it is a budget of pretension. Nigeria is still a monocultural economy. The oil, on which the lionshare of the nation’s income depends, has suffered a drastic decline in price in the international market. But the government has decided to pretend as if nothing has happened. No austerity whatsoever is entertained. As a matter of fact, in the name of stimulating the economy, the president has decided to present a budget that assumes Nigeria has suddenly become richer overnight, when in fact we have become poorer.

Actually, there is no pretense. Anybody that reads the appropriation bill document sent or listened to the President's speech will see that there was no mincing of words. There were comparison with the previous budgets, there was talk about us been in hard times and there is a lot of borrowing stated to be done. That is not a pretense of been rich. That is the reality we face. Anybody that uses his brain will realise that our economy needs money to be pumped into it to resuscitate. The oil is not expected or depended on for the lionshare of the nation's income again. Oil is just about 30% of the budget estimates for revenue.

This is a very neat trick. In 2015, the total federal budget was N4.45 trillion naira. In 2016, in the middle of an economic downturn, this has been increased dramatically to N6.08 trillion. The new 2016 budget is based on the price of oil being $38 a barrel, ignoring the fact that the price has already fallen below that to $36. Indeed, the IMF projects the price might fall even further in 2016 by $5 to $15; bringing it down to as low as $20. But the government is not prepared to contemplate that eventuality. How can the APC enjoy the trappings of power if, after so long in the political wilderness, its turn is now to be constrained by austerity?

30% of total budget is not a major constraint. The FG is planning to source 70% from other sources and means. The money from oil also factors on plugging leakages of corruption in the oil sector, pipeline vandalism, increase in production etc. It all balances even when the crude price drops. This is even better than the sham the harvard professor coordinating minister presented to us for 2015 budget. You can recall that she initially proposed at $78 per barrel. After different complaints, she came down to $65 per barrel and went about defending it talking about her having intelligence report. They also fixed at about N165 to a dollar after devaluing currency to 199naira to a dollar. Thanks to the Senate that finally approved a $53 per barrel budget, that is about $25 removed for her. Yet 2015 still saw us selling oil for way lower. The Harvard professor and other so called professionals budgeted at oil revenue to be 1.92trillion naira and non-oil to be 1.68trillion naira. So the generated revenue had about 53% expected from oil. Compare to Buhari's 2016 budget that expects about 36% from oil. Only a joker will not see the evident change and less dependence on oil.

Therefore, observe the following contradictions. In the middle of looming economic adversity, the government has decided to be even more profligate than the previous administration. For example, in 2014, the budget for Aso Rock was N12 billion. In 2015, President Jonathan judiciously reduced this to N6.6 billion. But in 2016, Buhari has raised this by 50 percent to N18 billion. One of the more ludicrous aspects of this is the N3.6 billion earmarked for the purchase of an unspecified number of BMW saloon cars!

Clearly, there will be no austerity in Aso Rock in 2016. As a matter of fact, it would appear that elephants will be on the menu for lunch. A whopping N1.75 billion has been budgeted for feeding in Aso Rock in 2016. Goodluck Jonathan was pilloried for spending N1 billion in 2011. He reduced this to N717 million in 2013; N542 million in 2014; and N530 million in 2015. But now Buhari has decided to increase this by more than 100 percent. N115 million is budgeted for foodstuffs and catering materials for President Buhari alone, an increase of over 64 percent above that of President Jonathan.

These are all mere speculation and beer parlor talk without proof. The appropriation bill is easy for anyone to download and verify. A so called pastor should not be lying unnecessarily. The presidency's non-debt recurrent expenditure is about 20billion while capital expenditure is about 19billion. Total recurrent was about 24billion in 2015.

anonimi:
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In all fairness, no one should compare and CONCLUDE the end of a over 5years recovery to a 7month work in progress.

sonOfLucifer:
In the beginning was God.

And he got bored because the world was void. God knew not how he came. He had always existed. He is, was and is.

He couldn't die, so he couldn't be said to be alive. He was. He just was.

At some point, a thought came into his head. Now one can't say where this thought came from. Or if this thought gave him a sense of purpose. But it was a good thought.

So he spoke. And there was light. And with that light, he saw lots of darkness. And space, lots of space. The kind of space that will put a smile on an Ikwerre man's face.

So off to work he set. A planet here and a planet there. The world was his creative playground. All he had to do was speak and it became. The original talk and do.

Setting a foolish premise doesn't help you arrive at where you want to arrive. Your hope to understand is good and God given, but founding it on deceit and twisting of the truth will not help your cause. The truth is right there in the Bible, not these nonsense you have written which can only serve as comedy if there is any tangible purpose to it. i'm certain you really are not out for comedy, you want and need truth. i'll be back to help you, don't worry.

Eeyah, i feel the hunger in your heart. Nothing satisfies like Him.

vooks:
Because we are talking about dancing before the Lord and not the 'thousand and one' other things

Unfortunately, that's what "we" ever talk about, and also David sinned or fell into adultery. The "we" usually hype these two instances to support their vain lifestyles, that's the observation.

I find it decidedly lame to ignore this wonderful record of simply because it is 'not said to have achieved any good'. Can I also argue that that neither is it said to have achieved anything bad?

This particular episode teaches you one thousand and one things;
1. God approved of it
2. It shows that God is not opposed to dancing before Him
3. It teaches that dancing before the Lord was not a preserve of any group of men; Miriam danced in Ex 15:10, a king in 2 Sam 6:14, and he urges us to dance in Psalms
4. Gives powerful insight into the heart of David; he wa so lost in God that he couldn't care about men's opinions
5. Teaches us that David led by example

Meditate on these for now

i find it paralytic and parasitic to dwell on this account to support all the frivolities that go on today in the name of worship. i'm not against dancing, but against its abuse and misuse all in the name of "David danced". Don't want to take anything away from the 5 or more lessons you learnt from any passage of the Bible so will not counter it. The Word of God is living and ministers to us differently, so good thing if it has taught you 5 or more things. However, all of my life, i'm yet to see where God approved of David's dance, maybe you could help quote it specifically. i recall off hand that that same passage talks of God killing somebody while David was dancing the first time. BTW, David was a man after God's heart since like forever. We are not told that he danced his way to that point/position. We can only assume so. i will not rain on the rest of your 'parade'.

It is shameful to obfuscate praise and dance. The question is whether dancing like David is 'all human carnality' or not.

FYI, 'all human carnality' can be hanged on ANY aspect of Christianity you can imagine of and the solution is not to spite the aspect but to trash and divorce 'all human carnality' from it. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ exorcised 'all human carnality' from one too many things including sacrifice,prayer, charity,fasting....

So my good broda image123, if you choose to dance 'in your heart' like a flag pole during national anthem, at the very least get decent excuses. 'Frivolity','moderation','sobriety', 'all human carnality' and all those vocabularies won't wash.

So how did David dance and what extra blessings did he get for it, let me be nice.

Eizy:
5 Men of God who should be ashamed of themselves--Ebubechukwu EI Ibecheozor. (@EI_Eizy)

"Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm" thus says the holy Bilble. But the bible never implored us not to tell them the truth. In fact, silence can sometimes become sinful. Before I go ahead with the list I would like to state that this isn't intended in any way to ridicule any person, church or religion. I am a committed christian and my commitment to simple and honest christianity pushed me to speak up on our men of God who let us down.

No 5 : Prophet T.B Joshua.

The self acclaimed prophet of the Synagogue Church of All Nation( no insults intended) is facing trial for negligence in the collapse of his building that killed 116 of his members. The prophet who claims "vision responsibility"(that's what I call it) for half of the major events around and mostly tragedy couldn't see this one coming. After every major event, videos will surface on how he predicated it before hand and how its a shame we don't follow him. This simply means that if you are his member, you have the opportunity of hearing his prophecies live before they happen. Why didn't he see this one? Why didn't he show up in court to defend himself against the suit of negligence slammed on him? TB Joshua isn't God and as such shouldn't be held responsible for the collapse but his prophet status, the findings about that building and the embarrassing conspiracy theory he put up isn't really helping his cause.

No 4: Pastor W.F kumuyi.

This is a gentleman and a scholar who shouldn't make this list. They say, when you live in a glass house, don't throw stones. Being the General Overseer of one of the biggest churches in Nigeria is the exact definition of glass house. And as such you should be careful of what you preach or teach because you might be an unexpected casualty. When Kumuyi's son wedded, the whole media went agog with pictures which showed that the wedding in Jamaica was a flamboyant wedding which is a taboo in Deeper Life Ministry. Everything which was considered anathema in the ministry were all present. From lipstick, to flowers, earings, seethrough hands etc. Members felt betrayed. To me the most shocking thing was the smiling presence of their mentor kumuyi himself. This alone suggested consent. Never mind the apologies that ensued, what will happen to the thousands of wedded Deeper Life adherents who he ruined the gloss of their wedding by not allowing them look good on their wedding day? Blackmailing them with a doctrine that labelled glamour, make up as sin. Mind you, he didn't even resign.

No 3 Rev.Fr. Ejike Mbaka.

As an unrepentant catholic, this is the hardest one to add on the list but truth must be told. The flamboyant priest's surgeon into politics is embarrassing. Throughout the election, he was inconsistent with his statements. He thought we have forgotten how he said about Jonathan in 2011. God forbid that I should call a man of God a liar but his squabble with Dame Patience Jonathan leaves little to be desired. His attraction to people of power isn't exactly bad but come on!! he is s reverend father. The most shameful being his latest comment aftermath his visit to Buhari. First of all, why should he visit Buhari? Is he a community leader? Why didn't he prophesy to Buhari privately that people want his life? Why did he have to run his mouth publicly either to gain attention or score cheap favour? Its like me telling you that someone wants your life today but God won't allow it happen knowing fully well that because you are healthy there is 99 person you will live till tommorrow. That's not even a prophecy, its a trick. Why is he frolicking with the high and mighty? He should be on the pulpit condemning evil and defending the helpless. Father please stay away from politics.

No 2:Pastor Chris Oyhakilome.

This man is controversy personified. The prosperity preacher whose overwhelming ability to mesmerize people with seasoned panache matches his propensity for mini atrocities cannot be left out. His role in the land dispute with Pastor adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church of God was terrible. He kept acting and saying things that you cannot associate with a man of God. Remember the Transcorp Hilton theft? Why always him?. A church member looted a ludicrous amount of money and donated it to him(not God). When asked to refund, he refused. The simple christian question would have been to ask an ordinary hotel manager how he got millions of Naira and thousands of dollars to sow seed. Of course he knew it was stolen but didn't care anyway. Just when you thought the handsome preacher is off the radar of controversy he pops up. He was invited by the EFCC thrice for money laundering. That's not all, he is currently enjoying his messy divorce. Yes, its not even the wife's infidelity, it was him. Accused of multiple adulterous acts. The most controversial being the rumour of relationship with a church member (names withheld). He should really be no 1 on this list. Mind you he was the one that said masturbation isn't a sin. Just saying.

No 1: Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

The senior pastor of World of life bible church. First of all, this man came against TB joshua in 2012, doubting if he was really a man of God,if he can do it, please don't judge me. He claimed he was presented a private jet by his congregation in 2012.Mind you, his congregation isn't that large. The pastor's air plane was used to illegally ferry money by Nigerian Government to south Africa.The claimed to be oblivious of the deal. The aircraft's registration number is different from the one he claimed his congregation gave him. This suggests that he has more than one private jet,(Think Oyedepo). This makes him a billionaire. The last time I saw him celebrate his birthday with charity, he did with bags of rice.(Really?) As Nigerians continues to marvel at the revelations from #Dasukigate about those involved with the diversion of Arms fund. It is very shameful as a christian to hear that the president of Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) is involved. Why are these men of God embarrassing us?

i think its been harsh to put Kumuyi and maybe Mbaka in that list. They should not be ashamed.

vooks:
Dancing='frivolity'?

nope. i never said so or implied so, why do you think so?

vooks:
By starting with such ill thought presumptions?

Na you sabi oh. Those who have observed his threads know that he is creating discussion. There are many ways to communication and response.

cramjones:
Many people have been saying that Buhari means well with his economic policies including my humble self, however, haven discussed with many people and studying who are affected the most, I am convinced to say that whilst Buhari's economic policies affect all Nigerians, the group it affects the most in a disportionate manner are the Igbos. When you examine most of these policies you would think that Igbos are specifically being targeted on all fronts. Let us examine the facts one after the other.

Not disproportionate at all, seeing that the Igbos are casually the most involved in such business of import/export. Tough decisions should not be waved or neglected because of tribal sentiments. Also, the decisions affect all because there are also businessmen and women from other tribes. Yes, we know the igbos with business but other tribes also do business, it's not like other tribes are being allowed to do things and Igbos are not, there is no partiality involved.

1. According to Vanguard news today, it was stated that Buhari's government have moved Lagos clearing house for imports to Kano. We all know that almost half of Lagos are occupied by Igbos. Igbo business men around the country have their networks in Lagos, and all they have known for many years is clearing their goods in Lagos. Moving it to Kano only adds to their cost without a concomitant value. Does it affect all business men, including hausas? Yes of course, but we all know that at least 70% of imports in Nigeria are carried out by Igbo business men all over Nigeria. This is NOT a good policy in my opinion it creates bad blood for the average Igbo business man, and make life even tougher for them.

(Link here http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/igbo-traders-bemoan-buharis-economic-policies-harsh-business-environment/)

We don't all know that almost half of Lagos are occupied by Igbos. i don't know where you pull out that assumption from. i don't know much about the move of clearing house so won't say much on it for now. However, truth be told, Lagos needs to be decongested. If it is easier and cheaper to do business from another state, people should move there. It would help generally. Business involves risks, survival and challenges. There is no bad blood anywhere.

2. The dollar policy has also disproportionately affected Igbos. Most Igbos have had to close business, because they cannot even find the dollar to pay for their imported goods. Worse still businessess that have millions of USD turn over, are prevented by the banks to collect their money, with the bank claiming they do not have dollar. This essentially grinds businesses and further makes the economy slip into oblivion. Does this policy affect other non-Igbo importers? Ofcourse yes, but given that Igbos are the engine of all of our imports in Nigeria, we can safely say that they are disproportionately affected.

The dollar policy affects every tribe, there is no disproportionate there, stop creating trouble where there is none. All tribes use foreign currency for various things, luxury, travel, internet deals, medical expenses, education. These and more are affected by the policies. Narrowing it to only imports is myopic. And BTW, the hausas and yorubas are also affected because they also do business. They are more in the BDCs(bureau de change business). It hits them most severely but nobody is crying wolf. Everybody imports, there are big businessmen from all tribes and all walks. Multinationals and even the government are all affected. It's not an Igbo thing at all.

3. Two days ago the APC government of Ambode, who in my opinion has been a confused governor, unable to just keep up with what Fashola has done, ordered that Oshodi market be destroyed. This is one of the largest market places in Nigeria and West Africa. Is it a bad policy to destroy Oshodi market for developmental reasons? Absolutely not, depending on its intent. However, what is bad policy, is when you do not give any notice, no alternatives, and then destroy peoples business that took many years to build, throwing thousands off their employment, and making many more people jobless. This is barbaric to say the least. Which group of people dominate Oshodi market? Igbos ofcourse. By many accounts, Igbos make up 85 - 90% of the traders in Oshodi. Was it a way of telling the Igbos that they are not needed in Lagos? Who inspired Ambode to take such actions?

Oshodi market was not destroyed, just a little part of it. The government says that they gave notice, i will rather believe them than assume they did not. Also, they said they made an alternative at Bolade area(the same Oshodi) The state government has a point in reducing the road side hawkers and vendors in that area, the touts, truants and criminals, and also providing a safer and environmentally friendly place is the plan. The want to make the railway place more conducive. All these are developmental strides if they are able to complete the plan. Miscreants, pirates and illegal occupants should find something to do with their lives. They can also be part of the coming agricultural revolution. There are many big markets in Lagos having many Igbo traders there. There is no message being passed to Igbos by bringing sanity to a portion of Oshodi, stop these hyperactivity. Igbo traders are all over Alaba, Apapa, Oshodi, Yaba, Ikeja, Ketu, Eko, Jankara, and many others.

I won't go further than this, but one thing is clear, PMB would have to thread carefully, or else what he thinks he is trying to make better, would only make the country worse. We do not need another civil war, policies like this only make Nigeria more polarized and ungovernable.

God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

-CramJones

Its Ambode, not PMB. PMB will need to step on many toes as possible for this country to move forward. Many of us voted him in so that he should step on those toes and crush them if needed. We need to outgrow tribal and religious sentiments.

vooks:
And this 'form' is devoid of dancing, right?

Nope, devoid of frivolity.

GCFRNG:
Good day Nairalanders,
Please how can one overcome addiction to pornography and masturbation.
Thanks for your anticipated response.

Habits are difficult to break but WITH God,all things are possible. It will take some discipline from you though. As much as humanly possible, abstain from sources of the temptations. Be more prayerful, rely on God. Know God's word and use it in time of temptation, God will help you.

vooks:
Silly logic.
It presumes fighting finds its purpose in death. Have you ever fought in your life?
If you are ancient enough to have sired, ever had your kids especially boys fighting? We're they trying to slay each other?

He's trying to create discussion.

nex:
Nigerians, both home and abroad, have been feeling the bite of the foreign exchange restrictions imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on since 2015. Bureaus De Change (BDCs) have been made to pass through several new regulations in order to remain in operation, and citizens, both home and abroad, wake up everyday to find out they can’t pay for what they used to anymore. Importers are stuck in limbo, travelers don’t know what to expect on trips, and students in foreign universities have been turned to debtors.


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Despite all the pains and confusion caused by these policies, it would interest Nigerians to know that Government and Government officials remain keen on transacting in American Dollars. It may surprise most of you to know that Nigeria’s Budget 2016 is still based on the prices of crude oil in dollars amid all the talks of diversification of the economy, and restriction on FOREX.

This rant is borne out of deep seated ignorance unfortunately. There is no phobia, allegiance or love for the dollars. It is simply the world major currency that most economies are rated with/by. There is no BAN on the dollar as implied in the article, what we have are restrictions and limitations on dollars/foreign currency. This is due to the OBVIOUS scarcity of the dollars. Anywhere, when you have something that is scarce and is yet in high demand, there has to be restructuring and adjustments. The bulk of the dollars used in Nigeria is with and gotten from the FG, and they do not have enough, definitely they have to put some barrier so that it wouldn't hurt us more. The budget is 6.08trillion NAIRA, it is not calculated in dollars. Crude oil price is quoted in dollars worldwide, it is not a Nigerian government obsession. Also, the amount expected from crude oil is about 30% of the total money, the remaining bulk 70% is expected from other sources. That is a good start for diversification.

The N3.6 billion dollars budgeted for BMW cars will not be paid in Nigeria to Bavaria Motor Works, but in dollars. This is at a time when Innoson Motors and Stallion Motors which are both producing cars in Nigeria will shout “Hallelluyah” at the Naira equivalent, which will create more jobs, and deepen automotive technology advancement in Nigeria.


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The figure you quoted is false/wrong. There is no dollars budgeted for BMW cars. And there is no crime to do legitimate business in any currency of choice as far as it doesn't hurt the country. Also, you cannot force people to use stuff or dictate how or where they spend their money. It's a democracy, remember?

It will appear that the Nigerian Government prefer spending dollars to Naira, but it also prefers to receive payments in dollars over its own legal tender. Recently, Africa’s largest telecommunications company, MTN was slapped with a $5.2 billion fine for not disconnection about 5.2 million phone lines. The first day Nigerians first heard this fine, we believed it to be a N5 billion but according to the regulatory body, Nigerian Communications Commission, the penalty was calculated at $1,000 per defaulting MTN line! How so?! Why dollars? As much as some of us have tried to create some logic by explaining the possibility of a typographical error which may have exchanged “N” for “$”, the regulatory body insists and maintains that its fine is in USD.

The dollar is stronger than the naira and more stable. It makes economic sense to do business in dollars and people would crave to rather be paid in dollars than a smaller currency when doing international business. Be that as it may, i do not know of anywhere the FG has stipulated that MTN must pay its fine in dollars. The price of goods, the wealth of people are usually quoted in dollars internationally. That way, people anywhere can easily estimate the amount discussed/said. The first day i heard the fine(and i'm a Nigerian BTW), i also heard about the terms and conditions of the fine, the defaulting by MTN and refusal to comply after several warnings where other GSM networks complied. It is all stated in the companies terms and conditions with the NCC. It is not Buhari that just wrote what he felt, this are measures and conditions that all the GSM companies already signed with Nigeria.

So what exactly inspires this preference of foreign currency over the Nigerian legal tender? In the case of the MTN fine, it is so ridiculous that the NCC has reduced the fine to $3.9 billion, but let’s face things square, no company is will be the scapegoat to foot 15% of your national budget. It has never happened in the history of humanity, and it will never happen! Even though the NCC has slightly reduced that fine in a “show of mercy”, but we should admit our mistakes when them.



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It is not a matter of scape goats, go and read up and find out more on the MTN issue. It is part of the terms and conditions they had earlier signed. And after defaulting, they were warned to register those lines. Airtel, Etisalat and Glo complied but MTN didn't.

We must have a clear economic direction in this country. We’re either restricting FOREX from the entire system or we are not. We’re either growing our economy or we’re not. We’re either encouraging foreign direct investment, or we’re killing off the existing foreign investors who have dared to succeed within all the peculiarities of Nigeria.


SOURCE: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/cbns-forex-restrictions-and-governments-obsession-with-dollars

Duh, the reason for the restriction is not a phobia of dollars or a hate for it. The FG simply doesn't have enough to supply the luxurious demands for it. They need more of it(dollars) for a stronger economy. Nobody is discouraging foreign investment, MTN should obey rules and regulations or back off. Its no longer business as usual where everything goes and a bribe solves it all.

OLAADEGBU:
Happy New Year 2016!

Amen and same to you, my brother.

Thoniameek:
Not disputing that.....

How would you know? About the Angels?

From all the Bible descriptions of them.

dazdilijae:
Please did you see were Dasuki listed the people,
Has Dasuki been allowed to make official statements? Has any evidence been presented in court to that effect? For now it's a one sided story
I don't belief in this media trial please let's wait for the real trials to begin and start hearing the shocking revaluation to be made as evidences in court before we convict innocent people because Mr Integrity ( who also eats yam) n his team said so.
We ve been deceived 4 too long both to loot us n now to crush the opposition so they too can loot. When we are busy trying the PDP on the media they are busy slipping billions into budget to be. Looted.

You saw the letter Ngozi Iweala released about Abacha loot sha?

cktheluckyman:
Bros has Dasuki ever granted any interview nor press conference where he made any such allegations? Dont forget Dasuki pleaded not guilty in court.We will know more in the comming days as the trial unfolds

Have you forgotten Okonjo-Iweala didn't deny this but even published document showing her letter about transferring Abacha loot to Dasuki?

my biggest fear is a lack of credible opposition. i love Buhari but he needs good opposition for balance. The opposition is making it too cheap and easy and we might come to a Mugabe point where majority agree Buhari is our saviour and should legally continue indefinitely. Opposition governors, senators etc should please up their game and stop the folly.

Forwetinnah:
And if the mallam still devalues the Naira after all these Gra gra. ..shame na APC own

so when your sorry sef is rushed to an hospital and the doctor wants to try his best so you don't die. Is it better he doesn't make an attempt since you may die after all?

gentlii:
Some posts are worth quoting.

Kudos to the brain behind this. Nigeria would have gone far with 10% of such mind.

Interesting. What have you and him discovered and what great strides have been made because of this and its type of thinking? Many professors, inventors and geniuses have believed otherwise and still do. Going far is not a function of disbelief or agnosticism. Let that sink into your brain.

Pr0ton:
So I felt I might find this interesting...

Good for you.

He said reality. There is no way you can evidently prove their existence. And scientific discoveries leave no realm for having two probabilities (a) They might have existed. b) they might never have existed) For example, your Y-chromosome, that every living thing descended from paternally, dates back to about 334 thousand years ago; too long for the biblical 6,000 years of human creation.

Homo sapiens have lost the ability to produce their own vitamin C through evolution/mutation, while some other primates like the monkeys can produce this. The lack of vitamin C is a serious problem to us humans as we are prone to this severe disease called scurvy; too illogical of a loving God's creation.

i was actually referring to his remark of an "imaginary PROBLEM", the problem of sin is not imaginary, it is the problem the whole world is experiencing, the wars, the diseases the starvation etc. These are all products of sin(wickedness, selfishness, inability to forgive, lies, greed etc). On your concerns, no one can disprove their existence either. The 'joy' of the christian or the 'religious' is the option of the supernatural, miracles. Scientific blah blah know no such realms. You are prone to scurvy because of sin, not because of God.

All these befall non human animals too. Does that make them also need a saviour to help them out?

And the coloured words show you're confused yourself. If it isn't mysterious why should a mysterious God intervene to it mysteriously?

It befalls all because man is the crown of creation. The rot is from the top-down, make sense? i said people's predisposition to evil, to cheating, lying, anger, selfishness and other such vices is not mysterious. It is something anyone can observe. You don't need brilliance or genius or esoteric stuff to see it.

This isn't in the subject of the OP. It's not necessary.

How can it be unecessary when it puts in the context and address the core of what the OP is saying and assuming. God is not just a Father so the OP and others should not get things twisted, God is also the Creator, the Judge, the Owner and the Lord of all. Satan is the father of sinners. The Bible is clear on those who are sons/children of God.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Then as one man's trespass led to the condemnation of all men... Rom 5:18

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners... Rom 5:19

of course BY it, it led to it. They are two sides of a coin. Bring in the two sides of the coin. If you bring in one side, and i bring in one side, don't accuse me of been wrong, i didn't conclude, you did. You will be punished for your sins, not for the sins of some two guys. If it was for some two guys, then i will also be punished, or so the belief goes, right? You will face judgement for your own sins.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who waswith her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Gen 3:6-7

What is being gotten twisted there?

The Bible says nothing about any two Unclad couple who ate an apple. Anything wrong with your comprehension?

Anything that puts enmity between a person and God.

Good definition. That definitely has weight on morality. God the Father and Creator has a say and more than on the definitions of morality.

Well.. You can accurately define morality when the concept of its relation to human life is understood. And it can be understood, glaringly and apparently. You won't still get this untill you dip yourself into a stream and cool your hot head, then start thinking like a normal human.

i take it you live in a bubble. Our constitutions and laws have no DEFINITION, that is why they keep getting changed and amended. Where is the accuracy in definition when the lower courts can say something different from the so called higher and supreme courts, when the court decisions today are different from that of 20years ago or 10years later. When our house of assemblies are sorry about previous decisions or when two judges using the same references have differing judgements? How can you accurately define morality when crimes with death sentences are no more with such sentences and may be tomorrow, or when each state has their different laws or what used to be criminal is no more more criminal and vice c=versa. Who is the accurate one, the present, the past or the future? Where is the framework and the mark that we are progressing towards(i know your best answers will trend towards making progress etc), so when and how do we know we have gotten there glaringly and apparently? Or do you still think we have gotten there? How do you know, and should there be further adjustments and amendments, how do you react?

So far your religion has been the most subject.. Are you saying your religion can be dismissed but others should be considered?

i didn't hint on any dismissal, are you saying that i did? Here is what i said again "Again, don't get yourself in a fix/twist. Throwing together all the religioin and ideas that you manage to remember doesn't make them the same or make them disappear. It only makes you look like you don't know what you are saying." The OP was quite on to islam BTW.

Apparently he does. You just need to cool your hot head and read calmly and clearly. He said that in relation to the eventual claim of the existence of Adam and Eve, God, Judgement and all.

Evidently, he doesn't. He says we are neither fallen or weak. That is the height of delusion. Anyone who sees nothing wrong with the human race needs a lot of help.

You are biblically confused again.. Haha

How? Being human is not a crime or a sin.

Well I showed you this earlier on; about your Bible making such claim.

The Bible makes no claim of any couple who ate an apple.

Believers.

Everybody is a believer in context. You BELIEVE there is no God, i believe in Jehovah God, many others believe in million other things. Christian believers don't care about angry deities who won't mind their business. i never heard or read of any angry deity who won't mind their business, and i've done some fair share of reading.

Actually yours is. Ours can be felt, utilized and observed. Yours is only imagined and therefore irrelevant.

How can my opinion be irrelevant when we have billions of people all over the world and through out all generations seeking for forgiveness from deities? Do you know what you are saying at all?

Because your God doesn't exist.

Oh yeah, and this is not january 2016, tell me another joke.

Both are obvious.. The former brings peace, the latter avoids it.

The realization that nobody is born a sinner brings peace? i believe you meant to spell "piss". Tell me, the peace you have or had that i have not had. Millions of people will continue to attest forever that they found peace in and with God, after they realized all have sinned and repented of their sins.

anonimi:
You obviously THINK you know more than the Ministers responsible for this area, not so


www.nairaland.com/attachments/2172817_1242032359hatersgonnahate_gif6d4f37b9dd0af73c35b228acedfa5266

No i do not think i do. i'm also not blind or incapacitated.

Thoniameek:
Haa! Op, i was invited to another redeem branch today, and i bet i saw someone dance like David.

A fine looking gentleman like, with a whistle in his mouth and handkerchief in both hands - this dude threw all the rules of dancing to the wind, Oh! how i was disappointed in myself.

We are comfortable dancing in parties, but in church we act cool and gentle

Not supporting hypocrisy, but still there is a form of reverence, worship, moderation and sobriety expected in the gathering and before the Lord. Even angels are not frivolous before God from the bible pictures and portraits despite living with, praising and knowing God far better.

tomzman:
The church is the last place I'll not dance. As long as my mind is focused on God during the dance, I care less what anybody else thinks.

That's selfish and against the central christian command to deny self daily.
1Co 10:32 Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

missingrib:
the annoying part is that during praise and worship ..u will see people especially youths staring and making fun of those dancing and unknown to them they are been robbed of God's blessing in their lives.. praise and worship hour are always my happiest moment in church..

You are not robbed of God's blessings for not dancing. You are robbed due mainly to unbelief, sin and ignorance. It is faith that pleases God, not your dance moves. i'm not against dancing BTW, but against condemning others that don't or justifying all sort of frivolity by using some lamely twisted verse in the Bible.

Toks2008:
2 Samuel 6:14: And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod.

I was in a church last Friday and i gladly danced GODWIN dance moves as well as etigi and it will surprise you how they all looked at me with one funny eyes.

Sometimes i imagine what it feels like to dance with all your might because as a good dancer and one who loves dancing so much,i can't remember anytime in the past where i have danced with all my might.

But the truth is that as Christians, we have allowed timidity of expression before GOD to rob us the privilege of teaching the world great dance steps.

I have been dancing sekem since 1997 and that was my favorite step during praise section that the pastor even wanted to learn that step from me but today if i do that same step, the members will tag me worldly.

Dancing according to Wikipedia is a performance art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of human movement.

[size=13pt]I do not understand why we should stereotype certain dance steps as worldly and probably some as heavenly because to me, dance is dance and it may even come as a surprise that most of these dance steps these circular artistes give names have always been there from time memorial and many of these dance steps are actually the native dance steps of some people like the etigi dance which is a calabar dance as well as the makossa which is the dance of the duala people in Cameroun.[/size]

David danced with all his might and for such to happen he must have thrown all caution to the wind and must have invented many dance steps like azonto,etigi,galala,shoki,sekem and many more.

Judging from the description of the way king David danced, i can say without any fear of contradiction that im yet to see anyone in any christian gathering danced half the way he did and even more annoying is the way Christians move their body whenever they sing the song "when the spirit of the lord....i will dance like David danced".

My admonition to my fellow Christians is to emancipate ourselves from self imposed perpetual bondage of timidity,lets free ourselves and lets invent new dance steps from the church and not be imitators of dance steps that were re-enacted and renamed by the circular world.

Lets learn to dance at least half the way King David danced.

This is a most ridiculous and vain assertion premised on many fallacies. Yes, King David danced, so? King David also did a thousand and one other things, do you? Why are we not talking about David's giving, or his faith, or his humility, or his courage, or his penitence, or his righteousness, or his love for God, or his patience. His dance is not said to have achieved anything good, or is it? It is good to praise God, but it is shameful and carnal to hang all human carnality on david danced with might as some sort of justification.

anonimi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS2a_fGSMD8




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scv76-XLRxU




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEm-cxgKN8A

Lol. With oil prices virtually skyrocketting for long periods of the GEJ tenure. No lasting legacy of what we can call MOTORABLE roads. Whatshould we say of those that built the Lagos Ibadan expressway and all the expressways in the North? The third mainland bridge and other bridges of repute. The roads in the FCT and other major highways. GEJ government mainly repaired bad and neglected roads, and it's not like the repairs are to last for long, some don spoil again again. Yes, some few new roads, but nothing to pat anyone on the back for given the huge funds and opportunities available.

vooks:
And who/what are the trustees of the building? Mountain gorillas?


Image123,
Come lay hands on this joke

Lol, he needs the good Lord Himself to help him.

MCJIKEL22:
Happy Sunday Nairalanders!

After observing, so many churches these days have started entertaining members with dance(break dance,stunts,etc)I want to seek the opinion of my fellow christain brothers,Do you think its spiritually right?

I personally think its wrong until yesterday i had a rethink that God gave them the talent to dance and if they use it in an ungodly way(dancing for the world) and its also a sin to allow your talent to be wasted(matt.25 vs 14-30) and i read an article that said if you dont develop on your talent,you would have an unfulfiled destiny and you might go to hell.

BUT MY QUESTION IS:Is it right to dance break dance,stunts and other dances that seems worldly?
Please,share your views.

True christians are meant to be CIRCUMSPECT about EVERYTHING, and our moderation is paramount.
Phi 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

To be CIRCUMSPECT virtually means to be on the alert, to be watchful, taking into consideration all possible circumstances and consequences before acting. This same thing has to be done in our actions, our worship, our dancing, our living. There is something called WORLDLINESS, it is a very thing line sometimes and it takes discernment and knowledge in many cases. To the individual, what is the definition of worldliness, it varies/differs, and that is where the spirit of discernment comes in.
If a dance is done in the spirit of worldliness, it is not acceptable to the Lord. It may be acceptable to men and to the individual but not to God. It is difficult to define what a worldly dance it, especially with context, time and perhaps knowledge. i say that because some dances may be worldly based on my knowledge and experience perhaps as an unbeliever or growing up. i can have known a style of music or dance or dressing in the hood or streets done by gangstars, etc. Then 15years later, i am converted and in another continent, and dancing that same dance to perform. Now, others do not know, but they may unsuspectingly love it or copy it without discernment or circumspection. You see the two motives and spirits are not the same, but an observer would argue its the same and class them together.
In the end, let believers be moderate, circumspect and SPIRITUAL. Some things are simply NOT spiritual no matter how it is veiled and packaged. Breakdance started with(or was made popular by) James Brown in the 60s. It's street dance requiring much energy etc. Quite an expensive way to glorify God IMO. i dunno about talent to dance and unfulfilled destinies. i don't think those are the kind of talents referred to in Matthew 25. i know a guy that has a talent to lie and decieve, there are people who have grandtheft talents, women deceiver talents, criminal skills and gifts, many who are very good at maths, naturally good at running and sports. Yet, many of these also excelled at other things and live lives that glorified God outside what we called their talents. i have the talent to be Nigeria's President for instance

unstableaswater:
The one reason why I hate APC is that their level of deception is like nothing we have ever seen before in this country.

APC is the King of deception.


Rather than anounce Buhari as appointing another Northerner, they bring in GEJ name to make it seem like Buhari is all inclusive.


If Mr Umaru Ibrahim was Mr Uche Nwosu or Bode Alabi will Buhari reappoint him? No!


Ask and answer that question and u know APC is a fraudulent organisation.


90% of APC members are from PDP , the same corrupt PDP members are the APC members.


If u ask me PDP is a renewed party becos all their corrupt Chief are now the new Chief in APC

What of Emefiele the CBN governor?

seunmsg:
We longer care to know the reason why he's calling our country a zoo. All we care about right now is for the bigot to rot in the zoo's jail. He can't call Nigerians animal and expect us to treat him like a human being. Rule of law doesn't exist in the zoo. He should man up and enjoy the animal treatment while it last. All this crying and explanations are no longer necessary.

i dunno why he and his fans are complaining. i thought they said the plan was to have Nnamdi arrested, the FG is helping with the plan and they are still complaining.

obailala:
What an interesting analysis. But are you by any means the accountant of TheNation newspaper to know all these?

It's plain ridiculous. Wailers must wail. If news reports favour the FG, na complain, if they do not, na still complain. i don't know how they expect totally drastic change like we are not in a democracy.