₦airaland Forum

There's a lot of things Jonathan and the present NASS can do to mend or should I say patch the present set-up.

First things first, unbundle LG and State govt acs, bring the LGs directly under INEC so the average Nigerian would know who he's LG chairman is - as they also vote for their Pres and Gov.

Other issues such as allowing the states dig up their own solid minerals and pay taxes could be embarked upon on an experimental scale to see how it'd work out in the long run.

They should abolish the entire concept of Federal roads and allow each state create its own road safety agency, as well as have deir own Number plates and licenses.

Once we begin to have a more robust nation with these things in place, it'd be eaSier for us all to understand our positions.

Cause right nw, the chances that any SNC will end in fist-fights is more like 95% in my books. I can only imagine.

If I remember correctly OBJ did an SNC with no results. Its one thing to clamour for an SNC, its another to hold one that truly reflects the minds of the average Nigerian and not the elite class from the different tribes.

Instead of an SNC why not these noisemakers come up with relevant bills and rally support for their passage in the NASS. Funny thing is whatever resolutions or outcome the SNC comes up with, the NASS will still have to be the ones to pass it into law, so why bit around the bush.

We just like deceiving ourselves in this country. The North and South can never disintegrate peacefully so why bother. Come up with true Federalism bills encouraging a bottom-up approach to development and IGR instead of the present Up-bottom national cake system we are presently practicing.

I find it difficult to believe families still reject proposed spouses based on tribe.

I fink the ultimate decider should be the person's self and then immediate family. Provided it's not a North/South marriage, once there's cordial relations btw both parties then everyfin is alright by me.

What are the chances that a whooping 125 passengers from a single flight carried fake documents. That's absolutely ridiculous. Including going as far as deporting a serving senator.

I'm happy with GEJs foreign policy soo far. An eye for an eye. No time. SA, UK dem all have more to loose from us than we have to loose from them.

^^

Don't you think politically and financially is still a huge contribution Its not like we could have shipped Nigerian foot soldiers to hustle their way out of apartheid. So basically those two things that Nigeria did verifiable contribute are what was most important towards the success of the ANCs mission back then.

This is why the states should begin collecting a 5 or 10% development levy from all religious houses.

This has potential to become a huge revenue boost for the states and local councils.

@LagosShia,

Before shouting murder over this issue not that the mosques and churches affected were built inside the lagos state secretariat complex, who do you think owns the land? Do you think the rightful owner of the land doesn't have a right to dictate what happens and what doesn't to these makeshit religious buildings?

Like it or not, it makes sense from a security stand-point to have everyone either move out of the complex entirely for religious activities, or make use of a place that can be well protected by the security forces. And read the article very well, there's a clear alternative for any muslim or christian to worship so why complain?

The way you people carry religion on your heads ehn, I just tire. Anybody can demolish any church or mosque, these are just buildings and God doesn't reside in them.

Anybody can claim to be boko haram, any news agency can claim to receive a letter from boko haram. Its actually in their interest to disperse Boko Haram news cause that's what people want to hear.

In any case Boko Haram don't have any reason to attack anywhere in the south, but if they mistakenly do, then Okpari for Nigeria and the North.

@yinchar,

I think they said they won't post to kano, borno, yobe and bauchi or so.

Good development but what's the layman explanation of this posting policy. Will corpers be made to farm or what? Cause I don't see any large scale agricultural firms or even govt initiatives right nw.

@mkm,

I do not asset that they were drunk but going from the governor's statement, don't you think it would have been common place for men to get drunk @ weddings. Remember the fact that he said well-drunk and then the more quality wines should come before the lesser stuff which invariably implied that weddings were an opportunity for the guests to make merry, drink good wine, and then go home.

In the cause of making merry and drinking good wine, don't you think a portion of these individuals would have gotten drunk?am talking generally nw given the circumstances of the day not necessarily what transpried @ the Cana wedding.

@Jmoore, I take it that your reference to being intoxicated means a state of drukenness. My point still stands. If Jesus was aware that wine could make men drunk and lead them to commit the sin of drunkennes why then di he convert the water to wine or make the wine more available in the first place. Do you get my point?

I've had a sister in the lord argue with that the wine in the bible was non-alcoholic (just like Eva wine) but I'm sure you knw that's out of it.

My thoughts prior to now were that alcohol isn't bad but too much of it is. Does drunkenness means you have sinned in the eyes of God? Right now, I think NO. What if you kill someone or lie or commit adultery while drunk then you've SINNED all the same.

I don't really get your point bro.

My main issue is finding out if Drunkenness is a Sin?

Do you thing it is? Also note the fact that it's morally incorrect may not make it sinful.

When you give me you give me your feedback, I'd share my thoughts on this issue and hear what you have to say about that too.

@jmoore,

Pls you could do well by offering your own objective comments next time.


@mkm,

I have several reasons for asking this question but foremost on my mind is for us to have an objective discussion. I personally don't drink so have little to gain from being pro or against the discussion.

I just want to understand the fact that in John 2:10 (NKJV) the governor of the wedding confirmed the superiority of the wine Jesus had just converted and asked why it hadn't being brought out first before men were "well drunk".

My opinion is that if Jesus knew that wine could lead to intoxication and drunkenness why did.he do it? Does this mean it isn't a Sin? He knew it would lead to drunkenness as the governor confirmed through he's statement that it was common practice for men to get drunk @ weddings. I suspect that men were already drunk @ the wedding (possibly including the governor himself) before the quality wine of Jesus was served.

Please think deeply and objectively before commenting. You have nothing to benefit from posting bigoted messages here besides wasting precious time.

I'm a Christian and we should all seek to learn from one another intellectually.

As most people seem to believe that drunkenness is a sin, then why did Jesus convert water to wine?

Pastor Chris said what he said based on his understand while the other pastors oppose his view based on their own understanding.

Don't think there's any clear cut place in the bible that dissuades self-service or even infers it to mean fornication or sex @ all.

Self service is not a sin onto itself. Whether you think of 70 virgins while serving yourself is another matter entirely.

@Kobojunkie,

Correction. INEC doesn't conduct local govt elections. There's what they call a SIEC (State Independent Electoral Commission) for that. The SIEC is autonomous from INEC and they don't work together or have same officials.

The guy is correct to say an ACN led govt organised elections in Lagos.

Depends who is to fund the monument. If from federal pockets it makes little sense placing the monument in the east. Sumwhere in the capital Abuja is ok. A mark of respect for someone who fought for true federalism and the emancipation of his people.

If any of the eastern state govts they sud place it anywhere in the east.

It serves the same purpose both ways. No need for yall to get ur feathers ruffled over a simple matter.

@OP,

The last elections were mostly free and fair as they reflected the views of the electorate.

Then, there's nothing like equal access to news media. Take this as an example, in the US you would never see an Obama campaign advert or indeed any dems campaign advert aired on FOX NEWS. This is because they've strongly aligned themselves with the republicans.

Here in Nigeria, money talks. NTA might not run an advert frm the opposing parties (I said might coz am not sure) but you still have tons of channels to air ur adverts on.

2. Claiming no PDP govt will ever run free and fair elections is laughable. All other political parties in Nigeria partake in one form of rigging or the other. Be it the use of underaged voters, to influencing voters and ballot stuffin. The reason why everybodi shouts PDP is because they've been the best @ everybodi already does aka riggin. But atleast no can argue that the PDP doesn't spent much more than other parties in politicial campaign tours around the country and ads on paper and tv.

Good news. The Minister is trying his best. Nigerians should lend their support by not vandalizing the little gas pipelines we have.

Well, if the husband and wife are jointly listed are owners of said property, or @ the very least the wife becomes default owner in event the man dies, then anything her mother-in-law told her is invalid.case closed

Nigerians are some of the most amusing people in the world. Little wonder why we command little respect internationally.

Someone says there needs to be a revision on an earlier document given income projections for the projects listed have changed, and instead of the NLC to lend support and ensure important projects are included this time around, all they can come up with is ask the FG to go back to N65?

We really need to promote intellectualism @ the top levels. Too many dull leaders.

The problem is how do you prevent underaged kids from registering?

The law says 18years if am correct, and these guys keep on coming up with different stories of how their kids are malnourished, have stunted growth and all that. Under normal conditions, a normal ARO 1 always ends up registering a few voters (say 1 of 100 registered) that in retrospect it would be conceeded that the voter is less than 18years, but in the heat of the moment was allowed to partake in the exercise.

Another issue is when these underaged voters come up with previous voters cards. How do you reject someone who's voted in previous elections as underaged? This happened to me and I couldn't shout. You just have to register these cases as they come.

Then again, underaged voting is the new form of rigging or should I say influencing votes with already influenced voters. A solution would have to come out soon.

The PDP will continue to win elections until the opposition decides to rise above regional politics. What effort did the ACN as a party make to "promote" their candidate to the people of Bayelsa. During elections we see PDP party stalwarts including enemies, come together and smile to the people. The PDP goes far and wide to each and every local govt promoting their candidates.

For national elections, the PDP train visited all the 36 states in Nigeria. How many states did ACN go to? How many states did the CPC go to?  Until these guys begin to take politics as serious business like the PDP has done, they won't go far.

Forget bribbery and all what not that the PDP may have used to win elections. Now, that we are drawing nearer to free and fair elections of international standard, one that the people's will actually prevails, where are these opposition parties?

It's either they've collected "shutup" money (which will be a shame) or they just don't knw what they are doing (which is an even bigger shame). You just can't expect people to vote you in based on sympathy and the mere fact that you are the opposition alone.

ACN, CPC, ANPP, its time for you to merge into a single party with a national vision or remain regional parties for the next 50 years as the PDP predicted.

@Malboro1,

80% of people who voted (amongst the low turnout votes) voted for PDP. You seem to be looking for what isn't.

Perhaps free and fair elections in our elections would help bring to fore the basic fact that the average Nigerian isn't ready for radical change without tribalism or religious bigotry involved.

We keep on electing the same bad leaders and then shout PDP, PDP like they are our problem.

My fingers crossed, but PDP's got this one, no two ways about it.

Sometimes we Nigerians act retarded. Army kills 8 bk members and its a lie. Army kills 0 bk members and they are a lazy bunch of soldiers that let the terrorists escape. Which one is it? You can distrust good news and expect good performance @ the same time.

Saw what I believed to be the buses @ Mile 2 some two weeks ago. Large luxurious-like buses painted in green. It said FGN assisted mass transit blah blah blah to be managed by an Urban bla bla agency. Don't rili know if they were the buses but they were new and about 10 or so in convoy.

Guess they are now parked somewhere gathering dust till de commence work.

Price should not be more than 35k. It may be faily used but should include all accessories including the casing and not more than 2 to 3 weeks old.

If interested leave a message here.

Location: Lagos

Core Boko Haram members may not wear jeans like El-Rufai said but that doesn't mean the Al-majiris who couldn't care less what they wear aren't part of the boko menace. They are the pawns of the BH sect. The Pic proves this.

AjanleKoko:
What you're proposing will never happen, unless we get a Rawlings-type benevolent dictator, or the country splits into many components.
As it stands, the latter is more feasible. It is practically impossible for any individual to be accepted across the length and breadth of this nation, and have their government supported by every Nigerian. The nation is way too polarized along ethnic and religious lines, and that is what the politicians have been selling since 1999.

Even if the army takes over, it should be to preside over an orderly breakup of the country.

hehehe it seems to me that the points you've raised against would work for the both of us. check it, what military regime would want to break up the country in orderly fashion it wouldnt appeal to the people at the center for the very same reasons as in a civilian govt.

this is unless of course we get a benevolent rawlings type dictator like you also mentioned


this country is in a difficult space right now. even if we are to divide, into how many portions would it be - def more than 6. we are just too selfish and greedy as human beings, and i mean the average nigerian citizen

PointB:
^^There is no assumption here. Because you cannot deny the fact that Igbos in south south would gladly join Biafra - hence the frequent use of the word SS/SE. And if fellers is anything to go by Ijaws, Ogoni will most likely want to be part of the new Biafra. Can't say much about the other ethnic groups in SS.

Well I think some of ur assumptions are wrong. The SS owns the oil and would never give anybody on a platter of gold should it be their choice.

I should also point out that the Igbos in the SS to my knowledge are in the minority both in numbers compared to all the other minority tribes combined that traditionally makeip the SS and also in political power to control the decision of joining the SE or not.

I'm partly Ijaw and I can tell u that the Biafra days weren't happy days for most. People like my mom had to go school in Lagos cause the Igbos were marginalizing the few schools there to their benefit.

What am I saying? If left to a referendum the SS would likely choose to stay on its own. Same wiv the middle belt. An alliance between states  is a different thing all together and would be very much possible.

I'd like to draw thoughts from as many intellectual minds in the house.

I simply don't believe that Boko Haram is out for an islamic north or nation whichever the case may be. I only think they use that to gain the sympathy of the Northern public and then draw in recruits by radicalizing their islamic thoughts.

What do you think are the possible scenarios in which the Boko Haram achieves its aim?

Could it be that want the country in Anarchy? If yes how does this benefit their sponsors.

I always believe terrorism is about two things, power and money,