₦airaland Forum

Hmmmm, What actually interests people A matter as important as this attracts '0' response(s). Nairalanders!!!

It is rather pathetic that we are a country that lays more emphasis on religion, ethnicity rather than competence, achievement, ideologies and personalities. It is sad when you hear supporters rooting for a particular candidate mainly because of his ethnicity or religion.  I have no doubt in my mind that rationale of this kind can never lead us to any meaningful development.
However, I have taken the pain to put the voter's demographics in a graphical form for people to analyse further.

It appears GEJ would be shocked by the outcome of this voter's registration and I fear He might be having a rethink about free & fair election.
https://img833.imageshack.us/img833/2281/inecregion.png

BUT IF ANY OF YOU IS INTERESTED IN MOVING AWAY FROM THE USUAL MEDIOCRITY THAT HAS PLAGUED THE HIGHEST OFFICES IN GOVERNMENT THAN HE / SHE SHOULD HAVE HOPE IN RIBADU/FOLA ADEOLA. There is surely a lot of hope in this partnership.

Ultrame:
LOL. Too bad its their stomachs that is now running on water. Its progress. At least, something is running on water.

LOL. Bros no kill me with laughter I beg.

Kobojunkie:
Population of Bayelsa State is about 2 million compared with Lagos State estimated to be above 15 million.

I get your point, but I think the estimations were based on percentage and not the actual figures; perhaps what it meant is that Bayelsa has a higher percentage of unemployed people per state population. My worry really is with the state Governor, and this has nothing to do with GEJ.

Gbawe:
Look , I can't remember all the words I have used to qualifiy GEJ but non would be of a personally insultive nature because I have nothing against GEJ personally. Instead I am totally opposed to what he stands for . Our Country will see no progress till those who have rendered her wretched have totally miniscule involvement in the way Nigeria is governed. They are all behind Jonathan and we see their hands in the deleterious policies , poor and politically motivated appointments plus the callous profligacy of GEJ , reminiscent of the past, that is unsustainable in a modern democracy and in these financially trying times for the entire globe.

We are not all morbidly scared of the SSS you know. I know that might be difficult for you to understand. Next time don't make idle threats against people you know nothing about.

@Gbawe, there is no point trying hard to make these people see reason, because they have deliberately decided to stop thinking. Instead of admitting that Jonathan erred in his comments and advise/hope He doesn't make such comments again, they are busy trying to defend him stupidly.

One was even talking about achievements in power sector etc; and I wonder how GEJ had suddenly been able to build new power plants and refineries, within a very short period of time;as for performance I wouldn't rate GEJ, because He couldn't have possibly done much given the time limitations, however He shouldn't be credited with what is not his due.Lest I forget, if He successfully pulls this "free and fair" election thing off, then He would have painted his name in Gold, in the sands of time.

allycat:
I work in the medical feild and  I have personal expirience of two of my patients who stopped their medication and refused further treatment and died after attending CEC Healing shcool. On the other hand I have no personal expirience of any patient that has been cured after attending CEC Healing school. Similarly a friends father had a chronic cough and instead of taking him to hospital he was taken to Redemmed Camp and was 'healed' of his cough. When I then suggested they bringing him to the hospital for a check up I was accused of having no faith and being a fake Christian. Next time I heard of him he had been rushed to hospital with severe breathing difficulties and died within 48 hours. It turned out he had TB a disease that is easily curable these days and this man who had enogh money to train all his children abroad and had property all over the place died like a chicken.
I believe God does miracles but not the way they are being touted in Nigeria. People are still being healed at Lourdes in France but the Catholic church investigates every healing and scrutinizes it scientifically before it is declared as such, so as not to bring the name of God to disrepute and shame.

Don't mind this brain-washed people, Pastor Chris goes for Medical check-up abroad, He perhaps uses the best of Hospitals, and his followers shockingly are aware of this but they still choose to follow him.Pastor Kumuyi's wife recently died of a disease all these pastors have been claiming to heal; I wonder who could have been more deserving of a miraculous healing than a "man of god's wife"? People wake up!

Hope it works out, but I think it should promoted as "non-interest" banking rather than Islamic banking.

jumobi1:
Aandaoka was AG when yar'Adua was in charge. It was during GEJ's tenure he got extradited.
He might be campaign manager for GEJ now but that doesn't mean it was by choice. He still has to appease his party or else they wont support him

You are a clown. What that means is that He has settled with GEJ and to further appease He is offering his services, amongst other things. Sounds unbelievable to me that GEJ would even allow that man tag along with anything that has to do with his campaign.

Oladiran:
This is why im fedup wit this animal farm country! Where are those so called human right lawyers? This guy seems to have comited an offence (he has not been found guilty!), does he need to be remanded in jail or prison? Can the governor not also be accused of abusing the power of his office? I guess the guy is a poor lad who only post once in a month whenever he manage to get 100naira to enter cafér.

I think you are the one bent on determining what the law should be for yourself. The law has already been quoted here so what is your grouse again?

375. Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, any person who publishes any defamatory matter is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for one year; and any person who publishes any defamatory matter knowing it to be false is liable to imprisonment for two years.

376. Any person who publishes, or threatens to publish, or offers to abstain from publishing, or offers to prevent the publication of defamatory matter, with intent to extort money or other property, or with intent to induce any person to give, confer, procure, or attempt to procure, to, upon, or for, any person, any property or benefit of any kind. is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.;

^^^
As a follow up to the above,the Kano votes will be split between GEJ(PDP) and Shekarau(ANPP),Shekarau(not Buhari) is the only candidate that can upset GEJ in Kano.As for Kaduna,just forget it,as Sambo and governor Patrick Yakowa will deliver Kaduna to GEJ.Borno will most likely vote ANPP cos of the strangle hold of Sherrif in the state.That leaves Bauchi,Borno and Jigawa states which have a population figure in excess of 4 million(in the north).Whilst Borno is firmly in the hands of ANPP,Jigawa is a PDP-controlled state,where the political dexterity of governor Sule Lamido will surely swing the votes GEJ's way.
So except you're telling me that Buhari hopes to get votes from Bayelsa and Delta states,I don't see where he hopes to get the votes that could pose any serious challenge to GEJ.
From the benefit of hind sight,this is going to be Buhari's worst outing thus far,I see him coming a distant third,behind Shekarau who has all it takes to come a distant second behind GEJ

This is very theoretical, in fact quite distant from the reality. The fact that ANPP governs a state does not guarantee that  it has strong followership amongst her people. CPC is what it is today single handedly because of Buhari. So it is not about the party but about the personality. This man enjoys a lot of respect from the ordinary man in the north, only the elites and politicians have issues with him. Don't be deceived by the current composition of the Governors of many states now, PDP is really very unpopular and will likely lose most of her states in a free and fair election. In fact GEJ has done PDP a great good, because most of the popularity PDP is gaining is as a result of sentimental support for GEJ (although the northern PDP leaders caused it, with the way they handled Yar'adua's illness); very few people truly want GEJ, but they support him because they don't want the North to have the last laugh after the whole zoning debacle; Ribadu is also suffering because of this, I hope the Ribadu/Okonjo Iweala bid works, I wouldn't hesitate to vote ACN.However, I must say GEJ still has an edge over all of them; but PDP wouldn't enjoy the same support when it comes to other political positions.

rasputinn:
Err,which Buhari will that be,yours or the ex-dictators

In any case,that religious gambit will not work as christians cannot be fooled into voting for a team of inexperienced political baggage just because a pastor happens to be on the ticket.
Even if all members of latter rain assembly were to vote for Bakare(which I doubt as I know so many Householders that have never voted for Okotie),it'd still be very insignificant as latter rain I believe latter rain is not on the list of the 10 most populated churches in Nigeria

So your reason for not voting Buhari is because He is not a CHRISTIAN?; because from what I can gather from your statement, if He was a xtian it wouldn't have been an issue. And He is more experienced than GEJ.

marvix:
Did anyone even notice the statement of Buharis Media Adviser "Bakare's decision will excite the polity". I make bold to say that is the best it can achieve, its a good combination, I have said Jonathans era will end the era of all the old corrupt politicians.

A lot of us passionate about this country are not really analysing the nation properly PDP is not the problem it is the absolute power the PDP enjoys, the 1999 PDP could not have gotten away the way the 2003 PDP got away with its actions.

What we need in 2011 is a not too strong President, a President from the PDP working with a senate president from the opposition, a chairman of the Gov forum from the opposition, then the people will actually wield their power, just like Obama would rely on the republicans sometimes to have his way against democrats that do not agree with his actions or plans that is the way the Nigerian president of 2011 and beyond should be.

If we sack PDP enmasse we would only end up creating another monster that can even claim the personality who engineered the process like Buhari and Bakare today.

This combination will give GEJ a run for the presidency but can never cost him the presidency because the kind of following Buhari has in the north, Jonathan has it in the Niger Delta, dont forget that this voters registration would also enable us know which part of the country has the population.

If we really want to be honest with our analysis, we would all agree that Jonathan is trying his best to ensure that the elections are credible fair and free to his best capability, the current registration would surely seve better to ensure a one man one vote, and Jonathan is letting all this because he can tell fairly that in a free and fair contest he stands a good chance of claiming the presidency no matter how many of his govs and senators fall off.

It was our frustration with the military and the rush to send them packing that produced the PDP of today, we should be careful because it is absolute power that corrupts absolutely, so the PDP problem has been that they control every arm of govt, they can all sit in a PDP NEC and decide what policy the whole nation would adopt, same with Lagos, the ACN can decide if Lagos should move forward or not, this kind of power is good when we have a benevolent leader but this power also has the capability to corrupt this benevolent leader.

I am interested in a Nigeria with two Nationally strong political powers where the members can never jump from either to the other, this is what will bring the balance and development we seek.

Competition is what is lacking not will to fight corruption, If PDP controls 18 states in the country and CPC controls 7, ACN controls 5,  ANPP controls 4 and APGA controls 2 you would see that when all the opposition gather together all they need is to break into PDPs ranks of govs to influence decision, so if a minority in PDP stands in the interest of the nation can mobilize the opposition, that is the beauty of democracy if the National Assembly has 50% PDP members and all the opposition share 50% they could even frustrate PDPs zoning formula if only to cause disaffection in the PDP fold, this would be better for our democracy than having a CPC control everything from Presidency to NASS, to GOV forum.

That is the dream I agree 90%,we need to reduce PDP's influence / power, in fact I had predicted that GEJ would win the Presidency but PDP will lose most of their governors. But my fear again is that we need a strong incorruptible leader that will put everyone on the line, regardless of where they come from CPC, PDP, ANPP, APGA, ACN if they have the enabling environment to aid looting; they will loot.  

GEJ has shown some sincerity, at least with the way He has given support to INEC to conduct a free & fair election, but the kind of money He spent during the primaries to buy delegates over and the way He practically arm twisted and negotiated his emergence, one had to have a 2nd thought. It was more like you rub more back I rub your back situation. That is definitely an unholy alliance

bishoptboy:
The people that condemns Bakare are those that never listened to him as he talks about his passion for Nigeria. I listen to some of his sermons and thats why I support him. He loves Nigeria so much that he is ready to put everything on the line-even his own reputation. For a chance i will vote for him. I personally dont think GEJ is the change we need. How has he proven himself to be different? I stand to be corrected

People need to first take away their  hate for the north before they can reason correctly, I tell you that a lot of all this anti-Buhari people would choose an Ibori over Buhari. For them, It is not really about the personalities but the region they come from.Personally I am torn between supporting Buhari or Ribadu, I am hoping that Ribadu can come up with very competent and "non-politician" character like  Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. We just need a departure from the usual PDP people, we  need technocrats, professionals, people that have succeeded in their chosen career.

Firstly, I pray Nigeria will not break up (because all those asking for it, definitely have no idea of how much damage this will cause in terms of human life and property, the last thing we need is war); I pray vehemently that all this blood shed will stop.The writer has mentioned the main cause of this crisis, but a lot of people are not reading with a clear mind, from all I have gathered and looking at issues objectively both the Hausa/fulani militia and Berom Militia are guilty. All these issues really have nothing to do with religion but envy and dominance.

It is quite clear that the success and the comfort the Hausa/fulani people enjoy in Plateau upsets the indigenes of Plateau, whom feel cheated. That is the real crux of the matter; However the Hausa man feels that they are essentially the major essence of Nigeria and should have equal rights anywhere, they are courageous and ready to die. I am not trying to defend any group as both groups have exceeded the limits; but it is only fair we discuss the issues in the right context, the Hausa/fulani(esp. the cattle rearers whom are mainly traditionalists than Muslims). isn't any more of an aggressor than the Beroms

I live in the North and as a result I am privilege to hear their own side of the story; just as a lot of people cry of casualities caused by northerners so do they too, but it amazes me theirs never get as much condemnation.Yesterday, there was a  post about how fight broke out in a pool house and 4 mosques were burnt; the responses from forumites were stark different from the usual had the reverse been the case, one would wonder how a fight at a pool house resulted to burning Mosques The same way one wonders how fights results in burning churches

Pharoh:
To say the truth brother . . it is not about interest but incompetence . . they don't know how to manage or sponsor a league. MTN and south africans have been in this business of advertising before us so glo should just step aside and try tp build their competence first before throwing their weight around. They don't have the resources and competence to sponsor the nigerian league, package, brand and make profits out of it.


@Topic


Never never compete on the basis of price because it will erode your profits margins and that of your competitors when there is no brand advantage.
I am not sure glo has a stronger brand than MTN neither do they have the resources to lower thier operating cost more than mtn so they should scrap this price wars for now. They should focus on quality service and differentiation in the market with a focus or technology/market push. They are a very bad follower and it will be best for them to take the princible of first movers.

Yeah I agree with you Pharoh; but Glo has really achieved a lot in an industry that previously never existed in Nigeria, an industry they entered into as new players. They are the 2nd largest network in Nigeria and this isn't because they got favours from FG or any undue advantage. It is because they worked hard for it. I Guarantee you that if there is any network MTN is scared of then it is GLO. Glo has its challenges, but for an indigenous company to achieve this feat; I have to doff my hat for Mike Adenuga. Lastly, we all need to start inculcating the culture of supporting our own. If you look around the chinese and Korean companies in this country you would notice they all make sure they buy Chinese buses or kia products even though they are poor qualities;GLO is a good brand that competes fairly with any other brand in the market, so let us give it the home advantage other companies enjoy in their homeland over foreign competitors.

deygame:
Copy cats. they can never be original. Let them go and sort out their outstanding with NPL and pay up the over N900m owed Nigeria Football before they parade themselves as a caring brand. Nigerians know better!!!

deygame:
what i'm saying is that Glo should try and be original. All they do is copy and paste what competition brings on board and thats not proper marketing. They still owe the NPL over N900m and they should pay that money so our Football will come out of this state of comatose

Oh my God, what sort of breed of mankind are we; the Americans will always stand by their brand and promote it even if there are better brands; the british would do the same, the french, the chinese; even the south-Africans but We(Nigerians) would rather bad-mouth ours, I don't know what it is, is it jealousy or whatEvery body in the Telecomms industry have been responding to changes in tariff, and Glo shouldn't be different. Copy cat ko Copy cat nii.As regard the NPL money, the court has ruled they can either pay or go to an higher court. That is why we have courts.

favouredjb:
get your facts right bEfore posting anything,so who told you this is PDP?

Mr. Facts; so what are the facts
I am appalled by the no. of comments by Igbos accusing the north of murdering Igbos, one even talked about 1966 May be Igbos should be reminded that they were at war with Nigeria and not just the North; in fact it was Awolowo's brilliant idea ("starve the Igbos of food) that brought an end to the war.Also the Igbos murdered Nigerian soldiers with impunity both Northerners and non-northerners; and The genesis of the war was as a result of insensitivities by some Igbo Military officers. So stop all these spread of hate; Igbos enjoy their lives better in the North than what the northerners face in the east; I ve' witnessed this first-hand, their women are continuously taunted and harassed (pulling their head covers is very common) in the east, they are abused and insulted at will.

ndukwejoe:
i am sorry to say this but the muslim there enjoy bloodbath. which is appalling.

Was this what you could gather from the above story or this is just what has been hard coded on to your mind. 4 Mosques were burnt, but you wouldn't even dare criticize the Christians for it Shameful indeed.And when there is a retaliation, you would all come here crying blue murder, raining insults on Islam. Same thing is happening in Jos over and over again, you kill the fulanis and their cattles, they retaliate and then it becomes big news.Schewww

solihu:
I have taken my time to read through all the comments, and have come to a verdict that some people are even worse than the devil they detest vehemently.

Tell me about it.

odumchi:
Sudan, a nation with a Muslim herding north and a Sedentary agricultural South is experiencing a civil war and the nation was divided so that peace would reign. Hmmm I wonder what nation this reminds me of, ?

Don't worry when the Igbos and Yorubas decide to break away from Nigeria without taking the South-South with them, then it would be a piece of cake. Nigeria would just let them go. But the thing is you all wouldn't dare, you are all asking for a break-up because you feel naturally the "south-south" will go with the rest of the south.Greedy people;

untainted:
To be fair to Oronsaye (former Head of Service), he insisted on the electronic biometric whatever and other reforms in pensions to check such occurences.

He said after the contributory pension scheme was introduced and government was supposed to pay off all who retired before the scheme was introduced, the number kept growing every year even though they (pensioners) were supposed to be dying and the number reducing.

After the first phase of the exercise, the wage bill reduced from about N1.9bn or thereabout to N600 million.

why do you think some civil servants were bent on seeing his back. hopefully the new HOS will comntinue with the reforms

Bros, do you think it is possible to pull this off without the collaboration of ministers and the Head of Service. 800 million no be small money o. I wonder how much the Head of Service would have in his account

ayubam:
Thank you my brother. I am not a member of CPC and do not belong to any party but sincerely passionate about good governance in our nation. I hate standing on ques being treated with disdain each time I travelled to visit other nations because I am a Nigeria. I hate driving in hrs of traffic when there is no natural disaster. Above all, I desire to see a nation where my children will feel proud and say boldly like an American will say GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

Lets educate our people. Let us unblock their minds. They need to see what the problem really is and stop this tribal and religious sentiments. These guys are neither xtian nor muslim. Their religion is LOOTING and they have not shown us by their last primaries that things will change. The hole in the treasury must be blocked. MONEY MUST FAIL. TRUTH MUST WIN,  LETS FOLLOW THE PATH OF TRUTH AND COME OUT OF THE WOODS. GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

FINALLY, I RAP UP WITH THIS VERSE OF THE SCRIPTURE;

UNTIL THE JUDGMENT OF GOD COMES TO THE EARTH, THE INHABITANTS OF THE HEART WILL NOT LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS I am not talking of God's judgment to destroy our leaders but to let them see the foolishness of their ways. PDP will not learn unless they loose

If only 10% of Nigerians were like you then we would have been on the road to becoming the next china. If Nigerian youths can speak objectively reason objectively then we are there already. But most of them have been brain-washed by sentiments and most just don't want to reason. I wish Nigerians the best President come 2011, and may GOD make it peaceful. [b]Having said that, I don't think I can resist a combination of Buhari / Okonjo Iweala; for me that is a dream come true. GEJ / SAMBO can't be a match for that anyday. [/b]It will be a big departure from the usual, and I think that is what we need at the moment, a big departure from the usual.

Source:http://www.channelstv.com/global/news_details.php?nid=25241&cat=Local

Tragedy struck again in Jos, North Central Nigeria as three people were confirmed dead Monday morning over the ongoing voters� registration exercise
That turned violent in one of the Independence National Electoral Commission Centre.


Trouble started at Saint Philip secondary school, tina junction in Jos North Local government area when military personnel escorted some INEC Ad-hoc staff believed to be Hausa/Fulani to the centre to collect registration materials and were accosted by youths in the area asking why the soldiers were escorting the people to the area.


The ensuing encounter resulted in pandemonium as the youths insisted that the soldiers were aiding the Hausas to launch attack on their people and resist the soldiers� attempt in escorting the ad-hoc staff to the area.


The disturbance attracted other members of the special task force within the vicinity who made spirited efforts to rescue the visitors.


Plateau state police commissioner, abdelrahman akano confirmed the incident, explaining that men of the special task force in self defence and an attempt to rescue the inec ad hoc staff from being lynched mistakenly fire on the rampaging youths, killing two on the spot with four others sustaining various degrees of injuries while one of the protected staff also died.

The police boss appealed to citizens especially residents of Jos north local government area and environs to desist from taking laws into their hands and
always consider the consequences of their actions.

eewule:
God protect Nigeria from the kind of candidates aiming for presidency. First Babangida, then Atiku and now Buhari's, each with there individual evil plans to impose on an innocent population. May Jonathan succeed in snatching the power away from them come April.

Sadly GEJ falls in the same category as IBB and ATIKU, but BUKHARI stands out. A lot of people seem to forget that in GEJ's short stint as Governor of Bayelsa He embezzled so much fund that EFCC had to interrogate his wife; but after He became V.P, immunity deterred EFCC. Perhaps if some of us can come up with GEJ's achievements as Governor of Bayelsa it will be better rather than towing the path of sentimental support.

Source:http://www.africasia.com/archive/na/98_06/abcr0604.htm
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COUNTRY REPORT
NIGERIA
Development: PTF - shining in the gloom

The Petroleum Trust Fund, headed by former President, Gen. Buhari, has confounded all its critics. As a development agency, it has succeeded spectacularly where all others failed. Pini Jason has the details.

The one silver lining to emerge from the current heavy economic cloud must be the performance of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF). In October 1994, General Sani Abacha hiked the pump price of petrol from N3.25 to N11 per litre, promising, with Decree 25, to set up a Petroleum Trust Fund to distribute the gains from the increase on social and infrasturctural projects. The board of the fund, headed by former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, was eventually inaugurated on March 21, 1995.

The Fund began with an initial capital of about N60bn in 1996. Its all encompassing mandate includes the rehabilitation of roads and waterways, educational and health institutions, providing textbooks and stationary, procuring essential drugs and vaccines, providing water supply systems, reviving crumbling agricultural sectors, connecting outlying areas to the national electricity grid, extending railways and telecommunications and ensuring consistent food supply.

The huge budget and all-embracing mandate earned PTF some criticisms. Some dubbed it "the alternative government," accusing it of duplicating the responsibilities of other existing government agencies. There was for instance an initial conflict about who should be tarring which road, between PTF and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

Yet, for once, other Nigerians began to hope that here was an agency that took its work seriously. The question was: could it carry out its entire mandate, or even a part of it? Everyone waited to see what would happen.

Initially PTF awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of 12,000km of federal highways (including drainages) nationwide, and between 25-100km of urban road in major cities such as Gusau, Benin, Funtua, Zaria, Enugu, Kaduna, Aba, Lagos, Lokoja, and Port Harcourt. A N27.3bn contract was awarded for road rehabilitation in the first quarter of 1996. The sum of N1.328bn was awarded to 53 pharmaceutical companies for the supply of drugs, while the importation of vaccines cost N229.9m. As at December 31, 1997, funds available to PTF stood at N115.1bn.

One thing even the most uncharitable critic of PTF will admit is that it has evolved a new way of doing things. This is true to its mission statement which is 'to establish and operate an open, modest and efficient organisation for the purpose of achieving the honest and timely execution of carefully designed socio-economic projects.'

Right from its inception, the Head of State directed the fund to operate a lean bureaucracy. It depends therefore largely on consultants supervised by Afri-Projects Consortium, the management consultant to PTF. This policy has created jobs and boosted the confidence of Nigerian professionals such as architects, engineers and quantity surveyors.

In many other ways, PTF has thrown a lifeline to dying sectors of the economy. Most of Nigeria's pharmaceutical companies were failing, and the foreign multinationals were divesting. But through its drugs procurement programme, PTF has turned the balance sheet of most of them into profit. Equipment and car leasing companies are also benefitting from the multiplier effects of PTF operations.

Banks and insurance companies have also benefited. Nigeria has a history of contractors collecting mobilisation (advance) fees and not carrying out the contract. But not with PTF. Every advance payment up to N10m must be guaranteed by a PTF-approved bank, while other advance payments are covered by performance bonds issued by similarly approved insurance companies. This method, apart from increasing solvency through cash deposits, has created business for banks and insurance companies.

One of the insurance companies that has benefited from PTF as a provider of performance bonds is The United Nigeria Insurance Company (UNIC), a composite insurance company which provides both life and non-life insurance. The total assets of UNIC stood at N979m while it grossed premium income of N916m and settled claims of N263m in 1996. With a staff of 552 spread all over its nationwide branch network, UNIC is today one of the leading insurance company in Nigeria.

Another company that has done good business with PTF is IPWA plc, formerly International Paints (West Africa) Ltd. IPWA is today one of the biggest and most diversified paint manufacturers in Nigeria. The company product range spans automotive paints, building paints, industrial coatings and marine coatings. Others are packaging coatings, protective coatings and wood finishes.

Most PTF contractors, specialist advisers and consultants lease and use computers, fax machines, printers and photocopiers. This has provided a new market for computer companies like Leading Edge Ltd., headed by Mr Tony Edoro, the managing director. Leading Edge is foremost in cloning computers with parts from diverse companies such as US Micro-Generation, IBM Direct, Merisel and Gateway. According to Mr Edoro, a widely experienced computer systems engineer, the advent of PTF has been good for Leading Edge. The company's turnover has grown from N50m in 1995 to well over N100m in 1997.

Apart from energising several sectors of the economy, PTF is also setting the pace in another direction. In the words of Mr Salihijo Ahmad, of Afri-Projects Consortium, the twin objectives of PTF are to "rehabilitate infrastructures and reorientate the people." This the fund does through its insistence on transparency even though some critics still accuse it of lopsidedness in project execution and selection of consultants and contractors.

In a country dogged by lack of transparency, PTF is the first, and perhaps the only public institution in Nigeria to publish its annual accounts. Last year, when he presented the annual report and accounts of 1996, Gen. Buhari promised to present the 1997 accounts before the end of the first quarter of 1998. He fulfilled that promise.

The 1997 account of PTF shows that it disbursed N24.3bn on roads, N21.2bn on security, N7.8bn on health, and N3bn on other projects. Other disbursements include N2.2bn on water supply, N936m on food supply and N476m on education. It realised a total of N1.049bn from various investment activities.

Reviewing the success story of PTF, Gen. Buhari said: "We have consolidated our execution of the take-off projects for the previous year and increased our intervention within the sectors. There is no doubt that the years ahead will witness even more intervention, as reports of some of the studies commissioned are received and project execution commenced."

The fund has embarked on community education to sensitise and enlighten communities of its activities. The idea is to bring recipients closer to the objectives of the fund, so that they can participate in project identification and selection as well as eventual PTF projects in their areas.

One aspect of the overall project that the public has raised an eyebrow over is the Armed Forces PTF. According to Gen. Buhari, PTF is under instruction to allocate 20% of its funds to the armed forces, and another 1% to the Federal Capital Territory. The allocation to the Armed Forces is probably a continuation of a practice that started during Gen. Babangida's time when he used to allocate excess revenue from the projected price of crude directly to the commanding officers. But what worries critics of PTF is that the military is not accountable to anyone regarding its utilisation of funds. Moreover, critics question the wisdom of allocating such a huge chunk to the military (who also usually takes the lion's share of the budget) over and above food supply, education and health. Apart from roads, the allocation to all other sectors does not add up to the Armed Forces PTF allocation.

Nobody knows how long PTF, a purely intensive intervention agency, will last or whether there will be a place for such an agency under a democratic set up. That decision, Gen. Buhari said, will be up to Nigerians. For now his preoccupation is to rehabilitate infrastructure and reorientate the people towards a new, effective and efficient way of executing uninflated contracts without kickbacks and without consuming mobilisation fees. Said Gen. Buhari to PTF contractors: "If you perform well, you get a hand shake. If you perform badly, you get a handcuff."

Nsiman:
If u need a consensus candidate, gej is the answer. Buhari can never and ever be a secular president as u alleged, during the late Abacha's regime he headed the ptf, he was sectional, infact 1/2 of n.delta's problem would have been if not laid to rest, a foundation laid for take off, the s.w, and other parts of nigeria were marginalised, except the part he comes from. Infact i have a copy of an open letter sent to him, i may upload it here later. I have a lot to say about his -ve attitudes while he headed the ptf, that's why i posted the one b4 this

It is either you don't know what you are talking about or you are just being malicious. The impact of PTF, was felt across South-West, that I can speak for because I am from there.The buses were seen in almost every federal higher institution you can think of. There were also buildings they were as a result of PTDF. Infact I kept seeing PTF in many campuses that it became synonymous with universities.

To add to that, the impact of PTF was felt in the health sector, a lot of drugs were supplied at subsidised rate to the hospitals. and the signs are still there for us to see till today.

You may dislike the North, but the man Buhari's image remains that of a straightforward personality.

Limaoscar:
First I want to say good job guys for a job well done and of course for staying up late in Naija to report this results.

I am so, so, so shocked Atiku got whupped at home but consoled that atleast IBB delivered Niger state to him at least to say "hey guy, you ran me out but at least I delivered my state to you, i kept my word "
Thank God it was peaceful (my greatest fear), transparent and results counted on the spot, God bless Nigeria!!!

Oh btw, where is beaf, I'm surprised you are not all over the place already . I think I can go to sleep now.

Perhaps you should also add that He got whooped in Adamu Ciroma's home state (YOBE) too.

kpozite:
so much for northern concensus candidate crap

That was a figment of their own imagination, GEJ competed well in the northern states, winning Katsina, JIgawa, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna. Gombe, Nassarawa [/b]and shockingly [b]Adamawa. I think Atiku only won [b]Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kano.[/b]However, for those of us close to the ground but yet non-beneficiaries we will be weeping for Nigeria. The amount of money spent by both camps was atrocious. Abuja banks went dry yesterday, the banks were practically exhausted.

I am must also mention that a lot have been unfair to the Northern elites, they have once again shown that they can stand behind a non-northerner and support him at the expense of a northerner, given the right conditions(Money) !!!

Question Pls?? Are the National Assembly members automatic delegates for this congress, because I just saw one of them carrying a DELEGATE's tag.

jason123:
I wonder oo!

It is most unlikely that GEJ will lose. But I like what I am seeing. Everything is open, it appears there is going to be a free and fair contest here. May the best win. (But is there really any best here!!!). And thank God they are not starting at 11:00P.M  as usual.

londoner:
@Fellis, ok so Islam does not promote violence, people have said it, I agree, but what does that have to do with the fact that a group of muslim extremists are bombing in the name of Islam?


Is it US here you have to confince or your fellow muslims who have now taken to killing in the very NAME of Islam?

It is THEY you should be teaching and telling to go and search your holy book. THEY are the ones who obviously do not know that Islam is peaceful as you say.


I feel  quite uneasy that there are muslims here who have come out simply to defend the image of Islam, as if in all this that is the only thing you care about. Barely 24 hrs after what has happened with the other killings in Jos over Christmas, please excuse us if we are not enthusiatic about sitting down to be educated on the peace of Islam.

Sorry for taking your missile comment out of context, but I think you should have used a different term in light of what we are discussing.

I really do understand your anger and deservedly so. I as a Muslim I am very shamed because of these events and I believe the poster as a Muslim is also ashamed of these developments. His call was to Nigerian Muslims to rise up against this scourge called "Boko-Haram" lest it hijacks our identity. I commiserate with all the Christians that have suffered because of these Bombing events and pray the Perpetrators are not only brought to book but be paid in their coins.

I also believe majority of Muslims (and Hausa Muslims inclusive) do not support this kind of radicalism (which has also caused the death of many Muslims either directly or as a result of retaliation) but I must also say we as Muslims have come to terms with the reality that we have "extremist" amongst us. And we have to do all we can to fight against this extremism.
Islam doesn't preach this violence.

dvee2:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday 26 December, 2010

MPAC Strongly Condemns Attacks in Jos and Maiduguri

Nigerians witnessed another bloody days of barbaric and gruesome murders when civilians became soft targets for murderers in both Jos and Maiduguri on Christmas eve. While the Jos blasts claimed 32 human lives and injured 74, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and the Police Command in Borno claimed that the Maiduguri attacks, which claimed 6 people, including a pastor and a retired soldier and injured 25 at two churches, were perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect members.

These incessant acts of terrorism represent another low point for our nation. For more than two decades now, inter-religious tragedies seem to be occurring with depressing frequency as political leaders have failed time and time again to find the solutions to the underlying causes. Most Nigerians actually know that these root causes rest squarely with unscrupulous politicians who have absolutely no value for human lives and no scruples about damaging societal cohesion and peace.

As Muslims, it is important to reiterate unequivocally that the Christians are our brothers and sisters in humanity, co-citizens and most especially people of the covenant of the prophet of Islam (See A Forgotten Covenant below). Their lives and places of worship must be respected and protected from any violation as commanded by Islam. We therefore use these times of murderous attacks during their celebration to remind ourselves of the commonalities of our religious heritages, both of which hold the life of Jesus Christ (AS) to be an example for humanity. The Qur’an states "Behold! The angels said: 'O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter and in the company of those nearest to God.'"

Anger, rage or urge for revenge cannot be a valid justification for ignoring the most basic principles of our religion and its core values of justice, mercy, human dignity, freedom, sanctity of human life and equality for all. As the Qur’an states in Chapter 5, verse 6: "And never let hatred of anyone lead you into the sin of deviating from justice." Attacking civilians, even during the time of war, or attacking Christian places of worship are clear deviation from the tenets of Islam, which upholds the sanctity of life and forbids crimes against humanity. When such crimes are attributed to people who claim to be Muslims, as Muslim ourselves we cannot be bystanders, we must be involved in constructive intervention at all levels of crime prevention and law enforcement.

We call on all decent Nigerians not to loose heart and to stay determined to work together across barriers of faith and ethnicity, to rid the nation of the scourge of terrorism and those incubating it. Islam does not tolerate the use of terrorism for any purpose, regardless of the identity of the aggressors or the nature of their motives. Furthermore, individual members of society are not allowed to take the law into their own hands and render punishment, regardless of whether a similar crime had been committed against the Muslims or not. The case of these latest victims can be viewed only as a horrible murders for which the perpetrators, whomever and wherever they are, should be hunted down and punished under the full extent of the law.
________________________________________
A Forgotten Covenant
________________________________________

(Also called 'Charter of Privileges': to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai .)

"This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah (Prophet Muhammad, SAW), as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries

No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world)."
-End-

Link: http://www.mpac-ng.org/mpac-positions/590-mpac-strongly-condemns-attacks-in-jos-and-maiduguri.html

Very sad; such beautiful teachings. But a few are rubbishing them and we are all paying for them. It is pitiful.

LIBS:
When we talked about the bombings been the silly acts of our so called muslim brothers,they were all complaining and pouring insults on Christians. Can you Now see what that barbaric religion called islam has caused,mohammed is a naughty person and he will rot in hell and his so called followers that are still blind to see things that are glaring to the eyes are retards.
Even mohammed himself was asked where he was heading to after his death (this was asked at the point if his death), he said he doesnt know.In essence,its a case of a blind man leading millions of blind men. Imaging Jesus Christ been asked such a question.To sum it all up, If anyone on earth is still practicing that act of barbarism called islam at this point,then that person is the biggest fool on earth.

Why are you more interested in abusing the Prophet, or tarnishing his image. The Prophet died thousands of years ago but all you could do is to insult his personality for what happened thousands of years after him.
It is obvious that your aim is to take a swipe at Islam and not even the perpetrators of this evil. Muslims have condemned this action and have dissociated themselves from this action, Many Muslims have suffered and lost their lives either because of the direct impact of the bomb or the reprisal attack by angry christian non-hausa youths that killed more than twice as many people.

No sane Muslim is happy about this, we are all worried and sad about the development. And Islam definitely doesn't preach violence against christians.