₦airaland Forum

Thumbs up. But they must act fast and watch other countries closely.

Yes I mean Osama Bin Laden not Obama who I don't envy now.

When Obama was speaking boldy when the Egyptian revolution was brewing most likely did not anticipate what is happening now. The US is tongue-tied.

Beaf, I agree that Nigeria should be watching what is going on closely but my fear is that in all this confusion, Islamic militants could seize power in these countries to the detriment of Nigeria a la boko haram.

I am waiting for Osama to issue a statement on all these. Religion- moderate countries like Egypt, Libya,Bahrain and Yemen are targets for Iran and Al Quaeda.

Egypt has permitted two Iranian warships to cross the Suez Canal. A sign of things to come if the militants seize power in these countries.

Gadhafi has reportedly appeared on TV to say he is still in Tripoli.

Gaddafi has reportedly appeared on TV saying he is still in Tripoli

Fstranger, who? Me?

Eko Ile, how's Baba Pupa?

@op, asari dokubo once confirmed that he had received training in Libya. Maybe he can answer some of your questions.

Gaddafi has variously been fingered in the unrest in various african countries so it should not be difficult for him to mobilise support from some of his proteges.

Can you believe that Bahrain spends USD60m every year to host Motor GP Grand Prix?

Built race track with USD250m?

Is ruled by Sunnis who are about 20 percent of population. Shias are the remaining 80 percent.

Na wa o!

Quatari PM condemns violence in Libya and calls for international action to protect civilians.

Some military officials have called for Gaddafi's ouster.

There are calls on UN to immediately declare military no-fly zone over Libyan airspace to protect civilians. Says NATO should enforce the ban. Former British foreign secretary David Owen says many countries are t
oo "compromised" to act appropriately.

Emergency meeting of Arab League called to discuss Libya.

Libyan envoy to US condemns "repression of protesters" and calls for international action to stop the killings. Says Saif used the language of war in his speech.

He says he has no information from Libya except what he hears from the nedia. He has no info on Gaddafi's whereabouts.

9 Libyan ambassadors have resigned.

Libyan envoy to Sweden refers to killing of protesters as genocide.

CNN only says hundreds have been killed.

Libyans interviewed on Al Jazeera keep referring to the mercenaries as "africans".

The OP knows what he is saying. The Libyans know the distinction between themselves and "blacks"

Gaddafi expected to address the nation shortly according to Al Jazeera.

Two military Libyan jets flown by senior colonels have landed in Malta. According to the officers, they were instructed to bomb the protesters but decided to defect instead. I hope they have made provisions for their families.

With the unrest in Libya, what is the latest on this competition?

Gadaffi is reportedly heading for Venezuela.

Who takes over?

Gadaffi (only he knows the correct spelling of his name) second son Saif had come on national TV that the country could fall into the hands of colonialists or (wait for this) go into civil war along tribal lines like it did in 1936.

Is this the same Quathaffi that suggested last year that Nigeria should split up? Be careful what you wish others!

On the issue of black people being used to crush the uprising, Al Jazeera has shown a video of black man in military fatigue allegedly killed while trying to stop the protesters. The man looked like a somalian to me given the shape of his face/head and complexion. Witnesses within Libya have confirmed that these black merceneries were air lifted to quell the protests.

Meanwhile the army HQ in Benghazi and the national TV Hq in Tripoli have fallen into the hands of the protesters.

Quadaffi's son insists that they will fight till the last man but I think their days are numbered. Where are all those women who "guard" the senior Gaddafi now?

I am afraid, the CAF u2O cup tournament will have to be moved from Libya now. I hope our boys are out of there. NFF!

I look forward to the video.

I think the paths the two of them have chosen raises an interesting about federalism.

How much should the federating units reduce their dependence on the central government?

Meanwhile, I listened to very short sound-bites from the two of them during the news on radio last night.

For the first time, I saw a Fashola that was rattled.

When speaking about the problem of traffic congestion in the state, he made reference to the fact that though the people of Lagos are "coastal", they are afraid of water and that this did not made water transportion popular. He them turned on his opponent blaming him (Dosunmu) for not clearing the state's waterways of shipwrecks when he was in charge of Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) thereby hampering effective water transportation. I was dispappointed that Fashola would want to score such a cheap point especially since the shipwrecks are along the coatal waters and not on inland water ways which are required for mass transpotation.

Interestingly, Dosunmu took advanatage of Fashola's slip by saying something like "I would like to correct an impression about the duties of NIMASA." He then proceed to explain that there are three agencies resposnble for the waterways:

Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)
NIMASA
and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) 

and  that NIMASA is not responsible for the waterways required.

I would like to listen to the whole debate.

Yeah, Let's shake hands like Fashola and Dosunmu.

I have posted your comment here for continuity:
[quote author=eku_bear link=topic=607413.msg7753899#msg7753899 date=1298026458]Thoughts?

Dosunmu's perspective is not unreasonable. Align with the FG, perhaps get more federal gov't spending and thus lower taxes within the state.

But Fashola seems to think Lagos should forge its own path.


Despite this disagreement, both I think want the best for Lagos State, not their own selfish interests.

I liked this picture from the article of them shaking hands afterwards:

[img]http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/thumbnail.php?file=Fashola_363614882.jpg&size=article_medium[/img][/quote]

Fashola, Dosumu differ on devt plans for Lagos
Headlines Feb 17, 2011
By Olasunkanmi Akoni and Monsur Olowoopejo

LAGOS — Ahead of the April gubernatorial poll and in what seemed to be the commencement of political campaigns in Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos Sate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate Dr. Ade Dosumu, Thursday engaged in a heated debate disagreeing over various government policies on development plans for the state.


From left: Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola and ACN Governorship Candidate, and Dr. Ade Dosumu, PDP Governorship Candidate, during the Private Sector interaction with Governorship Candidates of ACN and PDP in Lagos State, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez
The areas of difference were on three categories, namely: infrastructure/utilities, regulatory environment and security.
The duo who spoke at an interactive forum/debate organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, in Ikeja, specifically disagreed on how the dreamed 4th Mainland Bridge would be actualised even as they advocated different tax policy as currently applicable in Lagos.

While Fashola attributed the long delay in the take-off of the 4th Mainland bridge promised by his predecessor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 12 years ago, to the recent global economic meltdown crisis which he said practically made it difficult to secure fund, Dosumu outrightly declared that Lagos lacks the capacity to undertake the project because of the enormity of capital involved.

Dosumu told the audience comprising captains of industry and political chieftains that only the Federal Government could handle the project, insisting that the promise by the ACN government to build the bridge is unrealistic.

Dosumu said: “The ACN told Lagosians many years ago that it would build the bridge. Up till now, the plan is still in the drawing board. The Third Mainland Bridge was built by the Federal Government and the Fourth Mainland Bridge would also be built by the Federal Government under PDP. If the ACN government should undertake the project, it would tax Lagosians out of existence,” Dosumu said.

Taking on Dosumu, Fashola said Lagos would rather “take its destiny in its hands” than wait for the PDP-led Federal Government which in the last 12 years failed to fix Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonsoki Expressway, Benin-Ore Expressway and Lagos-Benin Expressway.

The governor said his government, having begun the infrastructural turn-around of Lagos, the commercial hub of the West African sub-region, was determined to continue this path if re-elected.

Reeling out the laudable achievements of his administration on security, the governor said in the last three and half years night life had been restored in Lagos, while robbery, especially cases of attacks on banks, has been stamped out. He said more was being done to further enhance the confidence of business owners and investors in Lagos.

But while both agreed there is need to pay their taxes to enable the government delivers the goods of governance and hastens development, Dosunmu, however, faulted the tax burden on businesses, corporate bodies and residents of Lagos imposed by the ACN government, insisting that “taxation must have human face.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/02/fashola-dosumu-differ-on-devt-plans-for-lagos/

Lagos’ N6b vote meagre, says Fashola.
Ndikanwu and Toba Agboola 18/02/2011 04:32:00

It was time for stock-taking yesterday by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola. He also gave an insight into the focus of his administration, if elected for a second term.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Dr. Ade Dosunmu said the state would fare better if it is aligned with the ruling party at the federal level.

Fashola, who is the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate and Dosunmu spoke at a debate organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) ahead of April’s general elections. The debate took palace at the LCCI secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja.

Both candidates disagreed on approach to the development of the state, funding of development programmes and the tax system

Managing directors and chief executives of companies, investors as well as supporters of the two gladiators, turned out in large number to witness the session. Fashola was applauded for the way he enunciated his achievements and plans for the future.

Fashola spoke on his administration’s plans for infrastructure and utility; regulatory environment; business support and development and security. He said it would be difficult to engage the future without looking at the past.

　He listed his achievements in infrastructural renewal, health, education, environment and beautification, adding that this would not have been possible if the government　did not institute a viable means of generating revenue but depended on the N6 billion monthly allocation from the Federation Account.

Fashola noted that infrastructural development cannot be achieved without a viable tax system. He dismissed Dosunmu’s suggestion that his administration had engaged in multiple tax system.

"The issue of multiple taxes is being misunderstood. The local governments are democratically elected. They have the power to collect rates on advertisements and sanitation. They also have the constitutional powers to collect taxes. The truth is that the promise we made to you cannot be delivered without tax, we cannot run Lagos on the paltry N6billion we get from the Federation Account. It is not even enough to pay our staff for one month. The transformation you see in the state is because we have strengthened and restructured our policy on tax," the governor said.

Fashola said his administration had harmonised what is collectible by the local governments in the state as a measure to address the complaints of multiple taxes by the organised private sector.

Countering his opponent’s position that the Federal Government’s assistance is required to fast track development in the state, Fashola said:

"Lagos would rather take its destiny in its hands than wait for the PDP-led Federal Government which in the last twelve years failed to fix Apapa-Oshodi Express Road, Oworonsoki Express Road, Benin-Ore Express Road and Lagos-Benin Express Road."

The governor also gave his administration a pass mark on security, saying in the last three-and-a-half years, night life has been restored in Lagos. He said robbery, especially of banks, have been stamped out. He said more would be done to further enhance the confidence of business owners and investors in Lagos.

Fashola said the first intercity rail project would begin operation in the first quarter of next year, adding: "Our concessionaires have engaged 150 Nigerians to get the work done."

He said provision of water would be privatised, adding that by 2020 about 622 million gallons of water will be supplied in Lagos.

　Dosunmu said if elected, his government would be guided by the philosophy of accountability and concern for the social good. He said the state lacked the capacity to undertake certain developmental projects without the backing of the Federal Government.

　He disagreed with Fashola’s policy on tax saying that Lagosians are being made to pay more tax than they ought to. The PDP, if given the mandate, would restructure the policy and grant tax holidays to manufacturers and major industries.

He said a PDP government, if elected, would introduce a business-friendly tax regime that would not only retain existing businesses but attract new entrants.

Dosunmu criticised the Fashola government’s housing policy which he tagged　"commercial housing schemes". He said provision of housing and other infrastructural facilities should be the responsibility of government and must be offered with proper mortgage facility.　

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/28387.html

At A Quasi-Debate: Fashola Admits Failure Of Tinubu’s Administration
LAGOS, Feb 17, (THEWILL) - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola today gave a synoptic background of his administration at a private sector interactive session organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)for himself and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Dr Adegboyega Dosunmu, where he innocently admitted that the 8-year tenure of his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a failure.

Speaking at the interactive session, Fashola pointed out that his administration started on a ‘bad note’, referring to failed institutions of the state, dilapidated infrastructure and porous security apparatus, which he said, his administration has continued to address.

According to him, “we cannot engage the future without looking at the past. When we came on board, we faced the problem of dilapidated infrastructure, porous security system and failed institution.”

Seeing an opportunity to score a political point, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Adegboyega Dosunmu interjected pointing out that the Action Congress, the same party still running the affairs of the state has been unable to deliver development to the state at the pace required.

The PDP candidate whose candidacy for the election has been stalled by an interim injunction however, hailed Fashola for his honesty and objectivity in his appraisal of the Tinubu administration.

Dosunmu however went further to warn that Lagos residents would be “taxed out existence if the administration of Governor Fashola goes ahead with the proposed construction of Fourth Mainland Bridge”, adding that, “infrastructure under federal jurisdiction should be left to be addressed by the federal government. The federal government built the Third Mainland Bridge and the same government will construct the Fourth Mainland Bridge.”

But continuing his presentation after the exchange, Fashola assured the sophisticated gathering of captains of industry of his administration’s agenda to ensure continuity if reelected citing various infrastructural projects which he said his administration was able to execute successfully in the last four years.

He cited a sharp reduction of violent crimes by about 80 percent, decline of murder by 85 percent, regularization of land title deeds, on-going development of the Eko Atlantic City, on-going construction of Lekki-Epe Road, Lagos-Badagry Expressway and Light Blue Rail project, which he said, his administration had been able to achieve.

Fashola said the state government under him would concentrate on full implementation of the first intra-city rail in West Africa; provide portable water for Lagos residents; open Eastern and Western corridors to allow easy entrance and exit into the state; and develop the tourism potentials of the state.

He also gave an insight into the plan of the administration “to unveil Lagos Geographical Information System (GIS); explain the current effort geared at partnering private sector on independent power projects (IPPs); and provide an investment environment that would ensure safety of lives and businesses.”

On his part, Dosunmu, made a costly pledge to grant tax holiday and concession to private businesses, citing a report of the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) that over 100 companies had relocated from the state as a result of what he described as ‘a crisis of multiple taxation.’

Dosunmu gave a five-fold philosophical background of his administration if elected, which he said, would be built on accountability, transparency, people-focused government, liberal tax policy and service-delivery, assuring that the policies “focuses on the need to fill purses of Lagos residents.”

On the power project, Dosunmu said he would create a ministry of power and electricity to address shortfalls in power generation in addition to his promise of “tax holiday, tax concession and pioneer status to all companies which have relocated from the state and those planning to come into the state.”

The session was moderated by Dr Doyin Salami with Dr H. A. Ajayi, Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes Vivour, Dr C. Itsueli, Mallam Mahmood Uthman and Mr. Duro Kuteyi as panelists.

The governorship election is scheduled to hold in April 2011.



http://thewillnigeria.com/politics/7563-Quasi-Debate-Fashola-Admits-Failure-Tinubus-Administration.html

Fashola, Dosunmu differ on Lagos dev plans
By OLUWOLE FAROTIMI and NDUBUISI ORJI
Friday, February 18, 2011


The battle to win the soul of Lagos in the forthcoming April general polls commenced in Lagos on Thursday with the incumbent Governor and candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponent, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, differing on how best to transform the state.

The duo, who locked horns at a debate organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Ikeja, also disagreed on a number of developmental issues which include, the current tax policy in the state, modus for infrastructural development, housing policy, among others.

While Fashola blamed the long delay in the take-off of the fourth mainland bridge promised by his predecessor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 12 years ago, to the recent global economic financial crisis, Dosumu said such project would increase the tax burden already killing Lagos residents.
The PDP candidate told the gathering, which comprised captains of industry and political heavyweights that only the Federal Government had the capacity to handle the project, adding that the promise by the ACN government to build the bridge was foolhardy.

According to him, “the ACN told Lagosians many years ago that it would build the bridge. Up till date, the plan is still on the drawing board; the Federal Government built the Third Mainland Bridge and the Federal Government under PDP will also build Fourth Mainland Bridge. If the ACN government should undertake the project, it would tax Lagosians out of existence.”

Coming down hard on Dosunmu, Fashola said since the Federal Government had failed in its numerous responsibilities to Nigerians, Lagos State would rather take its destiny in its hands. He said his government having started the infrastructural turn-around of Lagos, was determined to continue this path if re-elected.

The governor also gave his administration a pass mark on security, said in the last three and half years night life had been restored in Lagos, while robbery especially cases of attacks on banks had been stamped out.

The PDP candidate, who will formally flag off his campaign for the April 16 gubernatorial election today at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, condemned what he called commercial housing schemes in the state, saying provision of housing and other infrastructural facilities should be the responsibility of government and must not be offered on commercial rate.

“If you build houses and you are selling at N50 million as a government, how many people can afford that?” he queried.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/feb/18/national-18-02-2011-007.htm

noblezone:
I used to have some great respects for Tinubu especially for his role during the dark days of the madness of the military boys (Buhari, IBB, Abache), but of recent, he has become so tyrinical that I am begining to wonder what happened to him. Imagine the Fashola face off, imagine the imposition of candiates, imagine this dictatorial attitude and yet, he expect me to look up to him as a leader?

Nigeria, what manner of leaders do produce?

Na today?

You have forgotten what he did to Abraham Adesanya, Kofo Bucknor and Pedro?

Those who wanted to stand against him at the 2003 AD primaries were locked out of the venue.

I am surprised that people did not know where Tinubu was going when all these were happening back then.

TewMuch:
The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental-Governmental Affairs on Wednesday rejected the N1.2bn proposal by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the upkeep of former Heads of State and their deputies.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said his conscience would not permit him to defend it before the Senate Committee on Appropriation to which he directed the SGF.

Adeyemi was visibly angry at the proposal.

He told the SGF, “I will not be able to defend this before the appropriation committee. My conscience will not permit me to do that. I think that these retired Heads of State should be able to take care of their needs, but we are still paying so much in the face of people not being able to eat three square meals a day. It is unfair.

“I cannot understand why we are going to be spending so much money on former Heads of State who presided over the affairs of this country rightly and wrongly when we are growing an army of unemployed youths who are now capable of staging a revolution.

“It is unfair to set aside N2bn for a few people who were part of those who mismanaged this country when there are no jobs, when there are no drugs in the hospitals and there is so much poverty in the land.”

But Adeyemi noted that though the Act had come into force, he stood against it as it did not represent the interest of the people of Nigerians.


According to him, [b]he would continue to oppose the implementation of the Act, hoping that someday the Act would be revisited for a possible repeal or amendment.[/b]http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110217317617

Pardon my skepticism but if Senator Adeyemi does not have an ulterior motive (e.g. playing to the gallery), kudos to him!

He put the point across very well and I support him.


I am happy that "legislooters" now realise that the Nigerian public is now more politicaly aware and watching their every move.

That's what democracy is all about. When politicians know that their constituents are watching them and they are accountable to them, it is then that we would be able to say that we have true representatives.

Na Atiku dey laff now!

Me sef follow dey laff.

How time flies!

I read this thread again and could help laughing.

Toll gate: Court fixes Feb. 22 for definite hearing
By Agency Reporter
Wednesday, 9 Feb 2011



Justice Bolaji Candido-Johnson of the Lagos High Court on Tuesday fixed February 22 for definite hearing of the substantive suit filed by Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa against Lekki Concession Company, the Lagos State Government and three others.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the claimant is asking the court to declare as illegal, the construction and collection of toll on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel to the LCC, Mr Tunde Fagbounlu (SAN), told the court that the matter was slated for hearing and they were prepared to go on.

Counsel to the claimant, Miss B. Ikpabi, however, told the court that the claimant only received the LCC’s written address and not the counter- affidavit as directed by the court at the last adjourned date.

“We have responded to the written address, but since we did not receive the counter affidavit, we cannot go on with the hearing,’’ she said.

Fagbounlu, however, told the court that the claimant had been served since January 19 and expressed his dismay at the mix up.

“The evidence of service is in the court’s file and we are bound by its records. It is also of concern that they waited till the eve of this matter before writing our office about the non-receipt of the counter-affidavit,’’ he said.

Ikpabi objected to the LCC’s position, saying that the first defendant withdrew the counter-affidavit at the last date to file a tidier copy.

Candide-Johnson adjourned the matter till February 22 to allow the first defendant to properly file the counter affidavit.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201102094565367

Muza:
AC is just another PDP waiting for an opportunity to be even worse than PDP

GBAM!