₦airaland Forum

NgeneUkwenu:
Things we cannot feel, touch or relate with, always padded in Vanguard Newspaper like a copy-and-paste stereotyped achievement!

Nigerians, relect failure at your own peril!

SaTANs are re-branding Failure! Beware!

Please, kindly point out where the writer lied. Speak the truth irrespective of your political affiliation. You can support who you want, that's why it is democracy, but speak the truth always.

By Johnson Adeyemi
*Adeyemi is a Lagos based development analyst

Not so long ago in Nigeria, a personal car was not only the prized asset of many years of savings and austere sacrifices; it had also become the source of a constant battle. To drive a personal car around town, required having a very vibrant network of friends who could quickly inform you about what part of town you could source black-market fuel for almost twice, if not thrice the official pump price. On very good days, fuel may be available at the official pump price, but to buy a reasonable quantity, you may have to spend half a day, if not all day in a fuel queue that may extend several blocks within a metropolis.
There were days when people had to park their cars all night or slept in them in such queues, to buy such precious fuel. For those who used public transportation on intercity routes, it was not uncommon to sit in such queues for hours before finally setting out on their destination, or stopping on the way to join such queues before proceeding to their final destinations. Sometimes, the drivers of such commercial vehicles were compelled to carry an extra barrel of such fuel in a vehicle on such journeys to guarantee his return trip, in doing so; the passengers were vulnerable to the risk of being roasted at every point in the journey. This writer lost an aunt who was a family bread-winner when one of such vehicles got burnt from its incendiary 50 litres plastic petrol can, in the trunk of the passenger vehicle, on her way from Lagos to lbadan. Today, some Nigerians who came out of such experiences alive are being nudged by power seeking ‘’born to rule’’ politicians who are now recruiting some politicians of the South West region, to describe the end of such pains as the work of a clueless president.
Not very long ago in Nigeria, to contest an election was the cause of much consternation for family and friends, especially if you were in a party other than the Peoples’ Democratic Party. Before elections, it took much bravery to conduct political campaigns. On Election Day, you will be lucky to get accredited by election managers, and you will be luckier still to be given a ballot paper to vote. If you were diligent enough to mobilize your supporters to go to the polling units to vote and they were lucky to cast such votes. It would still make very little difference. The results that will be announced would have been written in the living room of your opponent, if he was anointed by the ruling party, sometimes you may callously be told that the election was conducted the day before.
Even more astonishing, there were occasions when the elections were conducted with voting done normally to present a farcical reality, and at the end, while voters were waiting for the results to be collated, an announcement will be made in the electronic media, presenting results in which the number of voters will appears as numerous as the number of bacteria in contaminated culture, without reference to any existing voter register.
Today, when even opposition party officials strut around election venues and national party officials are able to visit polling units as election observers instead of being represented by party agents, power seeking politicians, who have won landslide local government elections without releasing the voting figures, want us to believe that president Jonathan is dictatorial.

Specifically for the South West, the difference between elections under diktat and democratically conducted elections under the Jonathan administration are remarkable, dictatorship was visited on the South West when the people of Ondo burnt properties of election usurpers, when leaders were given to the people by the Obasanjo regime in 2003 and 2007, this contrast markedly with the processes and outcome of elections in Lagos, Ogun,Oyo in 2011 and recently Ondo, Ekiti and Osun where the declared winners of the elections were well received by the voting public under the Jonathan era, unlike the “takeover” of the South West by our own Obasanjo in 2003 and 2007. Its therefore surprising how the so-called new breed of leaders are now leading the South West to slaughter under those who have persistently stood against her interest and who have historically repressed the will of the South West people in many previous elections since 1964/65 and imprisoned Awo, denied him victory in 1979, 1983 and also brutally did worse to another illustrious son of south west, Chief Abiola whose pan Nigeria mandate was annulled, himself imprisoned and eventually killed in detention.
Not quite long ago in Nigeria, to travel through a local airport was an ordeal and it was easier to wait to board a flight before relieving oneself in-flight, because of the poor state of the facilities. Today local airports are comfortable ambiances even though it can still be better.
Also, it was not unusual to borrow money to send children out of the country, to even French-speaking African countries because of limited university spaces.
But today 12 additional universities have rapidly expanded not only the university spaces available within Nigeria for tertiary study, but have also increased the job opportunities for academics and the job and business creating capacities of 12 previously quiet towns in Nigeria, like the previously quiet towns of Oye-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Kashere in Gombe state, Dutsin-Ma in Katsina state and many others.
Additionally, roads that have been abandoned for decades are receiving the first major federal attention. Still, we are being nudged by power seeking politicians, who can only point to the efforts of far-away governments who built bridges for constituents, and then compelled them to pay 130,000 Naira yearly at 250 Naira per crossing per day, for using such bridges daily as their proof that the Jonathan government is not progressive and has done nothing but inflict pains on Nigerians. We do accept that Nigerians still have much to gain from democratic governance; that there are many roads that have not been attended to; that the railway couches and rail station termini can be more modern, that election outcomes can still improve; that the new investors of the power companies can make power supply more predictable by targeting the most critical hours of the day before progressing to full power supply; that corruption can and should be fought more forcefully, but looking at our past and what efforts president Jonathan has put in to bring about transformation, there are many pains he has helped us to put behind us and deserves our commendation.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/2015-presidential-series-jonathans-works-yesterdays-pains-weve-forgotten/

mrvitalis:
were do u stay cos ...i know u dont stay in ph ..cos if u do u will know better.....believe ameachi has done far better than that akpabo or whats his name....715MW is enof ...just tell foolish jona to distribute it

The independent power project was started by Odili back in the days. Amaechi added capacity. There are also independent power plants developed and launched by Akpabyo. The amount received by Rivers State in 9 years is way way more than 50 times enough to power Rivers State, especially as Oil Companies made lots of financial and human contributions. So, that is not enough justification.

I go to City like my kitchen. So, don't ask me about staying there. I don't have to stay there to demand for accountability from Amaechi. I am a Nigerian.

abagoro:
You are uninformed I guess. Everything you wrote there are in place at the moment. The underground sewage of the new city has been competed as well as sandfilling. Bridges have been put in place as well as flyovers where designated. Housing development has not commenced but the sports complex is completed.

All the ones in bold are not worth using to justify the income that I mentioned.

The mono-rail project is stagnant at the moment. If it is still going on, it is way long overdue. Amaechi needs to explain why it is taking him years to do.

The sports complex with its stadium that you said has been completed must be below the world class that he bragged that it would be. Please, can you show me the picture? If it is what I am finding in google, then I am very disappointed. Amaechi have got some explanation to do there.

In your own sincere view, without pride of political affiliation, are all these projects worth the amount that Amaechi has received since he became a governor?

abagoro:
I guess you did not know Port Harcourt before Omehia/Amaechi. Rivers State has witnessed so much infrastructural development in all sectors from roads, monorail, schools, drainages, water channels, several long bridges, flyovers, mega farms, international scholarships etc.

The truth is that most of these things that you call state projects are within the jurisdiction of local government areas. How can you be telling me that in 8 years, Amaechi used over 3 trillion Naira to build flyovers, schools, drainages, scholarships......na wa o.

I was excited when he came up with the monorail idea. Now, where is the monorail? Lagos state is moving on with theirs. He even promised a world standard stadium and a brand new city like Eko Atlantic called some'n like new Portharcourt or so? Where dem dey?

....and mind you, we are only talking of federal government allocations here. Other billion billions in incomes still dey enter as a result of the status of the state as a major oil producing area. WHERE ARE ALL THESE INCOMES GOING TO?

otokx:
There are many Akwa Ibom people in Rivers State as they are also in other parts of Nigeria, can't say if there are more Akwa Ibom people outside the state. There is this particular family in the area and every time we will not hear word, Akpabio is working wonders and all they say. Some of us ignorantly start repeating what we have heard and few others who visit Uyo even want to say something. Recently this family relocated to stay in Uyo and we were all happy for them. They say light is almost near constant and the roads have no potholes, house rent is cheap and food too so we should give God praise. That was last year, 2 months ago they returned back to Port Harcourt that is always in constant darkness and the point was simple. There is population and money here in Port Harcourt unlike all of Akwa Ibom, the opportunities here are second only to Lagos. So for those shouting Akpabio, keep on shouting. The family in question trades in selling of smoked fish and plantain mainly.

There is a difference between business opportunities and development. Portharcourt is a part of Rivers State that is densely populated. So, preference for Portharcourt over Uyo is not surprising. That does not however imply that Rivers state has seen more development in 9 years than Akwa Ibom.

Rivers state have received enough money to develop beyond where it is now. Why is it stagnant? AMAECHI IS STEALING THE MONEY LIKE HIS PREDECESSOR, ODILI.

banki:
Mr op is this because amechi asked the fg to show one project started and completed in rivers state by the fg?

Instead of you to answer the question you and yor friends are making banana noise.......

I will ask this question again like i have done severally......

What did gej do as govrrnor of bayelsa state for almost 2years
Since every govrrnor that disagrees with the ptesodency is termed a failure

This has nothing to do with partisan politics. Clear your mind from bias and look at things with a clear view of the reality on ground.

Governors like Amaechi have responsibilities and should be accountable to the electorates. He needs to be held accountable. Holding him accountable does not mean that one is from another political party.

If you think that Amaechi is not a thief, show me what he has done with the billions that he has controlled for 8 years. Show me, I promise to shut up and apologize if the projects are really worth these billions. SEE MONORAIL, the dude could not complete. Upon all the free money.

Leopantro:
Can you compare Rivers state to Abia state or Imo state. Rivers state is heaven compared to those two states.

You don't have to compare other states with Rivers State to justify Amaechi's robbery of The State. This dude is overseeing one of the only three states to surpass the trillion Naira mark in 9 years, yet he is showing nothing outstanding like Lagos state and Akwa Ibom state. The guy is a thief. Other thieving Nigerian politicians are learners when compared to Amaechi.

If you are from Rivers State and you are eager to divert attention from this thief called Amaechi, then I weep for you and your future generations. Your oil advantage is fast disappearing. It will be a shame that you achieved nothing with it.

texazzpete:
Can you please post the amount Akwa Ibom has received from 2011 to date and tell us what that amount has been used to do?

You need to do this... Your OP held up that state as a model for others so it would be nice to see what makes that acceptable to you. Thanks

No no, don't shift the focus here. I'll talk about the thief in Akwa Ibom too, although that one is a learner compared to Amaechi. Amaechi's case is most painful because he is claiming to be an angel now.

FYI, I never implied that Akwa Ibom is a model state. I just said that Akwa Ibom has shown more focus on development than Rivers State.

texazzpete:
I lived in Rivers State until recently. All I see is the same under-performance that is in every single state in Nigeria, including the Akwa Ibom you hold up as an example.
Doesn't mean there isn't anything going on, though. There are areas such as education where amaechi has done much better than his predecessors, and some effort is ongoing to get roads in the Woji-slaughter axis refurbished or replaced.

Thank you for affirming that you have no defence for your statements if you are brought up on libel charges.

And there you go. This is the attitude that gives room for thieves like Amaechi to go free without being questioned. You stayed in Rivers state, did you feel like it was a place that takes up billions every month?

In no time, he'll start dancing and telling you that he was possessed by an evil spirit when he was in PDP, and you will believe him.

In 2011, Rivers State fed allocation was 415.9 billion

In 2012, Rivers State fed allocation was 438 billion

In 2013, Rivers State fed allocation was 490.32 billion

Six months into 2014, Rivers State fed allocation was 99.7 billion

In 9 years, total amount of Rivers State allocation is 3.079 trillion

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/fg-states-lgas-squander-n80-trn-in-9-years/


Yet, you get mind dey post model schools, one lousy power plant and some plans that are yet to be actualized till date.

I repeat, Amaechi is a thief and he will continue stealing and telling his gullible followers like you that it is Patience Jonathan's fault.

Rivers State deserves better.

texazzpete:
1. You may think the title of your thread is pretty catchy, but you're being incredibly silly. You have no evidence of any money being 'stolen' yet you're babbling about 'theft'.


2. I'm not sure what you mean by 'Rivers state should be like Akwa Ibom'. What exactly makes Akwa Ibom better?


I can't wait for 2015 to roll past. GEJ will most likely be re-elected and PDP will have dealt a mortal blow to APC. And then you lazy rascals that are paid to post propaganda and spread misinformation will be thrown out in the streets

You don't need too much of investigation to see that these billions are not reflecting in Rivers state. Mention one sector that justifies a prudent management of the funds shown above. Have you been to Rivers State lately?

This has nothing to do with partisan politics. Thief na thief irrespective of party, ethnicity or religion.

otokx:
una no dey tire?

No, we no go tire until all of them, irrespective of political party, account for all the money. Why is Rivers State not reflecting these billions?

Within 6 months of 2014 i.e. January to June, federal allocation to Rivers State was 99.47 billion as shown below. With this type of allocation, Rivers State should atleast be like Akwa Ibom state, irrespective of the difference in population cluster.

What is Amaechi spending the federal allocation on? Rivers State is in a horrendous condition.

AMAECHI IS A BIGGER THIEF THAN THE THIEVES THAT HE KEEPS ACCUSING?

IF HE IS NOT, please show me what he is doing with Rivers State's funds?

Two people who were facing the death penalty for drug trafficking have just been given very different outcomes.

A Nigerian man, Ilechukwu Uchechuku Chukwudi, 29 was found not guilty and acquitted of all charges while his accomplice, a Singaporean woman Hamidah Awang, 49, was found guilty.

The two had been involved in a case of smuggling about 2kgs of Methamphetamines (Steet name, ‘Ice’) across Woodlands Checkpoints on November 13, 2011.

The drugs were found in a luggage bag in the boot of the car belonging to Hamidah.

Justice Lee Seiu Kin explained that Hamidah’s account of the events was inconsistent with the evidence.

Hamidah had claimed that she had been instructed by her lover, a man named Goodman, to bring a luggage bag out of Singapore and she said that she trusted the man and didn’t know what was inside the bag.

However, when she was questioned about the bad in her boot, she was nervous and she also explained that her lover had offered her RM1,000 to carry it with her.

When authorities cut open the bag and found two bags of powdery substances, she did not express any surprise or shock.

During initial interrogation, Hamidah had also said that she was guilty and she begged the officer not to give her the death penalty because of her children.

However, she later claimed that she did not say this and the interpreter had translated the statement inaccurately.

Given her mixed statements and behaviour during the bust, the judge said that he was satisfied that she was guilty, beyond reasonable doubt.

For the Nigerian man, Ilechuwu, the judge believed his account of facts as they had not conflicted with any of the available evidence.​
The man was arrested the day after Hamidah was busted at the checkpoint as investigations had revealed that he had passed the luggage to Hamidah at a Chinatown budget hotel shortly before she tried to take it across the causeway.

He also claimed that he didn’t know the bag contained any drugs.

Justice Lee believed him as his behaviour when handling the bag reflected the behaviour of someone who wasn’t aware that it contained drugs.

For example, the evidence showed that he had left the bag unattended in the hotel lobby for 12 minutes before returning to retrieve it and he also casually went out to eat with Hamidah with the bag.

Justice Lee explained that someone who is knowingly part of a drug syndicate would not likely leave the bag around or take it to too many places as the consequence of losing it is very severe.

Therefore he was acquitted on the grounds that he likely didn’t know what was in the bag.

Source: http://therealsingapore.com/content/singaporean-woman-found-guilty-while-nigerian-man-acquitted-drug-trafficking

Singaporeans are calling the Nigerian a smooth criminal. The comments are in the link.

Is it not time these APC guys come up with a more compelling plan of how they intend to solve these problems that they seem to identify easily. That will make a better campaign strategy than bedeviling another party without stating what they'll do differently.

That been said, APC should better dump Buhari and ATIKU and consider Fashola for president. If they don't, NOTHING FOR THEM.

hifaif:
Who takes the credit when this insurgency is finally dealt with? An honest answer, please.

And why was the supposed Shekau killed without trial and the soldier that pulled the trigger not charged?

For 3-4 years, there have been arrests of key BH members and yet no tangible information was got about the group.

Muhammad was killed without trial, under Yar'Adua. Some policemen and a soldier were charged and the case was swept under the carpet.

Read this, please:

Commenting on the death of Muhammed Yusuf, Professor Zacarys Anger Gundu of Ahmadu Bello University stated:

“Some things might have come out if he had gone to trial. There are a lot of things we don't know about the group, and killing the leader removes the issue from public scrutiny.” [30]

An indication of the attitude of the police to Yusuf’s death comes from an unnamed police officer quoted by This Day, as saying “It’s good riddance
because our judiciary system has many loopholes.”

http://www.legalaidboard.ie/lab/publishing.nsf/content/The_Researcher_October_2009_Article_4

Shekau 2 was killed without trial under GEJ. Nothing came out of it. Maku was even happy about it that he immediately came online.

I guess, according to you, the state governors are still to blame for that.

These quotes were collected from the article in the link that you posted;

1. The Boko Haram was founded in 2002 by a self-styled Islamic preacher named Muhammed Yusuf.

2. Commenting on the underlying reasons behind the Boko Haram revolt Professor Murtalal Muhibbu-Din, head of the department of religion at Lagos State University, (LASU) stated:

"The people are frustrated and they are just looking for any means to confront the government of the day for not providing them the basic necessities of life. The teeming unemployed youths can be easily mobilised. What they said they were fighting against, such as Western education and Western values, are just smokescreens to vent their anger on the government. That is why they are attacking police stations, which they see as government establishments."

3. Prior to the events of July 2009 the Boko Haram had allegedly attacked the authorities on a number of previous occasions, including incidents in Yobe in 2003 and in Kano in 2004. In April 2007 ten policemen and a divisional commander’s wife were killed in an attack on the police headquarters in Kano.

4. The Nigerian Bar Association and the Afenifere Renewal Group also condemned the killing of Yusuf, with a spokesman for the latter speculating that he had been killed to prevent his backers from being exposed. Among others who died in police custody were Alhaji Buji Foi, who was believed to be the groups sponsor and Mohammed Yusuf’s father-in-law Alhaji Baa Fugu Mohammed.

As you can see, Boko Haram started in 2002 and carried out small scale attacks from 2003. It all started from state and local government politics, which was not properly managed by the state and local government authorities. Why is it now fashionable to blame the GEJ's led FG for Boko Haram as if he is incharge of this group? What about those state governors and local government chairmen that oversaw the political dynamics that led to an increase of Boko Haram's struggle? Why are fingers not pointing at them?

hifaif:
Somebody should help me explain to this guy all I have been saying all this while.

OK, listen, who should receive the blame for the present Boko Haram insurgency? We should blame the governor for the sect's bombings in Abuja? Who should curb full-blown war? You are talking state governors after I had painstakingly explained to you that BH started out as a peaceful movement that originally wanted a sharia state. Read the link and see what the Borno governor said after the 2009 BH uprising.

Please, read the link I gave you and check your last line.

I was already respecting your views as a patriot until I realized that you have decided to lean towards GEJ in a sort of sentimental way.

If GEJ were not himself so corrupt, why are a lot public officers so corrupt under him?

And please, refer to a single post were LG chairmen and governors were praised.

I am not leaning towards Jonathan as you implied. I am not impressed with his performance, that also does not imply that I am now leaning towards Atiku or Buhari. I am just saying that we must know the root of our problem in order to solve them. GEJ is not the root of our problem. It is wrong to heap the blame on him. I am saying so because I have seen some contributions that he has made. If the leaders before him made contributions of the same measure, we'll all be better off by now.

I read the link that you posted, and it showed that the emergence of the sect was due to the failure of the state and local authorities to give them justice when their members were killed. You said that they were peaceful, it would have been easy for the governor or local government chairmen to demand and obtain justice on-behalf of the sect. My point is, what actions were taken to address the grievances of the sect when they were angry? Whose responsibility was it to address those grievances from the start?

I must tell you that it will amount to a wild goose chase for the FG to attempt to solve the Boko Haram issue without a meaningful input from the state governments and local governments. The most difficult aspect of handling internal aggression is in trying to differentiate civilians from the rogues. This was evident in the attack of Mubi by Boko Haram, where the criminals had already infiltrated the city before they attacked. You can blame the FG as much as you want, but it will be quite myopic to do that because questions need to be asked about the efficiency of the other tiers of government. Until we start doing that, the reflection of development at the grassroots level will remain a challenge.

chamboy:
d same bode George n Alams that is being praised by ur President
.. Abeg Wat dis one saying

I am saying that it is people like you that are responsible for the political blackmails that forces the FG to bend to those thieves. Along with the people mentioned above, people like BUHARI, ATIKU and TINUBU are culpable as well. They have no business outside the nation's prisons. But with people like you lurking around and ready to die fighting the FG if they are arrested, they walk free and continue their blackmails.

You seem not to understand that politics is about who gets what, when and how. Dirty politics begets dirty politics. If BUHARI AND ATIKU can be audacious enough to come out to contest for the presidency, then it means that despotism and political pilferage can be cordoned in Nigeria. If they can walk free, why can't ALAMS and Bode George do same?

You reap what you sow. To change Nigeria, change yourself first.

hifaif:
I can see that you did not read my posts well cos if you did, you won't still be comparing the Ebola crisis with that of the BH insurgency.

Reverend Stephen Davis' initial contact with BH was through the Women Peace and Security Network. BH didn't start as a violent group at all. Ebola started in its original form and was curbed. It gave early warning signs.

As for BH, there were reports made to the FG when the group grew increasingly radical. The porous border of Nigeria was also an advantage to smuggle in weapons.

Here is a link for you:

Prior to the clashes, many local Muslim leaders
and at least one military official had warned the
Nigerian authorities about Boko Haram. Those
warnings were reportedly ignored.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Boko_Haram_uprising

Stephen Davis has not brought any concrete evidence forward. You don't arrest and try people based on hearsay. If GEJ acts now, it is the same people that are screaming about his hesitant approach that will call him a despot.

In terms of crisis management, there is a similarity between the Boko haram saga and the Ebola saga. Have you stopped to ask yourself about what brought about the whole "WESTERN EDUCATION IS EVIL" campaign? How did it start that it could not be managed before the interference of security forces? It was simply not managed at the local government and state levels.

The way you guys argue can make one to think that the governors and local government chairmen in the north east are from Bayelsa state. In my local government, I know the chairman and councillors. I know their fore-fathers and their siblings. You cannot tell me that some charlatans will start an anti-developmental group without words reaching the councillors, LG chairmen and governor. The governor and LG chairman can crush such organizations from the start or even look for a way to contain them before they blow out of proportion. What you are suggesting is that as soon as they sense the emergence of such an organization, they should run to the FG and report without containing them.

I am just saying that it is wrong, very wrong to blame Jonathan when things get out of hand and praise LG chairmen and Governors when things are done properly. It is unfair and wrong. Look for your local government chairmen and governors, demand for accountability and good leadership, then blame the FG if these officials are steadfast but frustrated by lack of federal support.

celeron40:
@justcash
You killed what would have been an insightful thread with the ignorant conclusion you included so cunningly..There is a difference between Economic Growth and Economic Development..They are both Economics terms but differ in economic implications..You mentioned "macro-economic change" as an achievement of this present administration..well, ill educate you, Economic growth, which is what Nigeria is experiencing now, is inconsequential to over 75percent of the population if there is no rise in the standard of living of citizens..This is where Economic Development comes in..Any Economy that is actually growing, and not just basking in some "IMF-defined" concept of growth, must have an excess labour "spill-over effect" into its Industrial sector..Economists sometimes use the "Multiplier Effect" to analyse this concept..Now, in Nigeria the Industrial sector is in a state of coma..which it will never come out from unless it fixes its Power supply..Now ill ask you; Where are the jobs the FG has been providing so far? What effect will the increased Agric. Production have if the products cannot be used to fuel the Industrial sector? Ill be honest with you, the economy is not doing well..For a population our size, our GDP is very low..because most prod. takes place in the Informal Sector...Its very easy for the FG to splash figures in the faces of Nigerians and confuse them with GDP data, but any Economist like myself will tell you..Economic growth doesn't mean jackshit if Economic devt. Is not taking place..so stop cloaking your 2015 TAN work here with muddled-up economic arguements.

What I need to ask you first and foremost is;
WHAT WAS OUR GDP YEARS BEFORE GEJ CAME TO POWER? IF IT WAS LOW, WHY?
You seem to forget that the macro-economic data that you call rubbish gradually waters down to the micro-economic sector. For example, when farmers get an opportunity to ride on the backdrop of government policies to expand their farms, they see the need to employ Nigerians in order to manage the expanded farms. Like wise, when auto manufacturers invest in Nigeria due to an attractive economic growth figure which portends economic opportunities, new jobs are created. The issue is that it is a gradual process. You, like most Nigerians, want this to reflect overnight.

Economic development comes after economic growth. With the enormous rise in FDI INTO Nigeria, it is a matter of time before this is reflected as reduction in UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

IF OTHER GOVERNMENTS HAD DONE WHAT THEY SHOULD DO, ECONOMIC GROWTH WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED ALONG WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

You are being biased in your analysis. This is not about politics for me. When you analyse based on political affiliation, you miss the truth.

hifaif:
The beauty of true civil rule indeed. If it were true civil rule, we won't be in this mess. Security operations keeps receiving the lion's share of the national budget for a third consecutive year and you come here talking about approach as if the military is not already committing crimes against humanity. Even on a normal day, we know how they bully helpless civilians and go Scot free.

And if GEJ is as consultative as you say, why did he dismiss Stephen Davis' claims, knowing fully well that Stephen Davis played an important role in how the Niger-Delta crisis ended under Yar'Adua?

The Ebola case is different. The FG provided intervention fund but the manpower included FG and State workers and hundreds of volunteers. Directives and speedy implementation came from the state in spite of the fact that the intervention fund was delayed. It was not totally an FG activity. How do you expect people to then say he curbed it?

As for BH, only the president can deploy the troops with or without the National Assembly. If he curbs insurgency today, he would take the credit

Who is Davis? Where is he from and on what basis should his statements be believed as a reflection of Boko Haram's statements? You must be joking if you wanted the FG to act on mere statements without solid evidence. Again, this shows the beauty of a true civil rule. You don't just go around arresting people because someone made a claim.

Contrary to your argument, the Ebola case is not different. The governors and local government leaders of these North East states should normally have means of calling their people to order or settling grassroots disputes no matter the antecedents. Just like in your Ebola argument, they normally should have taken the first steps to control the agitations before calling on the FG to intervene to avoid the disaster we are experiencing now. Do you know what you are implying? You are implying that the Same speedy directives by state governments and local government leaders would not have made these militants to wait for government to settle their grievance. That is not true. Like Ebola like Boko Haram. The only difference is that in Boko Haram's case, the state and local government leaders did nothing to stem the rise of the group. This is their fault because they know these Boko haram guys better, and are aware of what they are capable of. Like Wole Soyinka said, if Americans wake one day and decides to start blowing themselves up in their streets, Obama will not be able to control it. Let's be factual here.

I agree that the president can deploy troops unilaterally, but is that the solution to the insurgency? It is not. It is beyond the barrels of guns. This is evident in the rise of new shekaus with the death of every Shekau. It will take an understanding of what the group wànts, and a negotiation of a reasonable truce to end Boko Haram, which the federal government must do in collaboration with the state and local governments. The men that are fanning this conflict needs to be talked to and they will never be known until they are effectively traced and found in the grassroots. If that is not done, FG go bomb tire and nothing will be achieved. If, however, this is political, it is also within the jurisdiction of the state and local government leaders to mobilize the people to support the FG with info, without which the FG will be on a wild goose chase.

hifaif:
Your post is great but your original stand is weak. You talk like GEJ is different. Don't forget he was once a state governor. He is just as corrupt (or too weak) as the rest of them. It was not like he transformed Bayelsa or curbed militancy when he was governor.
The FG under Obasanjo took all the blames then. I can't even remember anyone mentioning Goodluck's name in those days.

You cannot compare the approach that OBJ took in handling MEND with the approach that GEJ is taking now. OBJ's approach was more unilateral, despotic and military in nature. GEJ's approach is more consultative and hesitant with lots of consideration for human rights and the lives of civilians. That is the beauty of a true civil rule. You will not understand what I am saying until you stay in a position where the president will have to order a military action that will impact on you and your family.

That being said, I am not trying to imply that GEJ is a saint. I am just fed up with people screaming like the dude is responsible for the rot in Nigeria. Worse still, these passionate antagonists are not presenting viable options. They keep screaming sai Buhari and sai Atiku, the same men under whose hegemonic rules Nigeria was serially molested and battered. GEJ, with all his shortcomings, has achieved more than these two men under very unstable conditions. I am talking about the power sector, gross domestic product (GDP), influx of foreign direct investments, import vs export differentials, respect for opposition, fair electoral process, press freedom, independence of judiciary, agricultural transformation, rehabilitation of railways etc. Please, I ask you to prove me wrong.

Lastly, a state governor or a local government chairman does not need to be a saint before aiding the conflict resolution efforts of the federal government. Timipre Sylva is the most audaciously corrupt governor that I have ever seen, but he was very vital, along with local government chairmen, in quelling the anger of MEND. As long as the state and local government leaders in those Boko haram ravaged areas of Nigeria remain inept, there will be no solution in sight. Now elections are coming, and these same inept governors and local government chairmen are hiding under the Arewa Consultative Forum and other ethnic based organizations to play their usual ethnic political cards. They are convincing the masses to vote for a Northern Muslim, and the people are not asking them to be accountable. After all, to them, it is president Jonathan's fault.

YOU ARE IMPLYING THAT BOKO HARAM IS PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S ISSUE BECAUSE HE IS THE PRESIDENT, WHY THEN ARE PEOPLE NOT PRAISING HIM FOR CURBING EBOLA?

hifaif:
FYI, Boko Haram did not start as a terrorist group. As at 2002 when Muhammad founded the sect, there were no government rules certifying Muslim preachers so the religious leaders of Borno could only isolate Muhammed because of his conservative Islamic beliefs. When the sect became increasingly radical, reports were made to the government. By that time, there was nothing more the LG or governor could do.
You wouldn't expect an LG chairman or a governor to arrest gullible almajiris following a conservative leader like Muhammad when there were no government rules certifying a preacher peacefully asking for Sharia rule?
But forget that for now, bro. As far as we are concerned, it is GEJ's responsibility now to end it. And if it is not going as expected, it is only him we can scream at.

Yes, you are correct about how they started. I am not trying to argue about that. I am only trying to make you understand that the under-development and suffering that is fanning the embers of poverty in the North and Nigeria as a whole is more of a result of the impunity with which local government and state governments misappropriate funds, knowing fully well that the masses will blame the federal government. Then, when the FG demands for accountability, the same masses call it a witch-hunt and read tribal or religious meanings in it. If FG insists, the same thieves at the state and local government levels will cross-carpet to the opposition and use the masses against the government. Then the FG is forced to play along or lose their popularity. That was how people like BODE GEORGE, ALAMS and co wriggled their ways out.

If you think that Boko Haram conflict is an FG issue, then you have underrated the enormity of the issue on ground. The sabotage you see all around in this conflict is mainly due to the ineptitude of the state and local government officials of these states. It is easy to see that there is a big gap between these state and LG leaders and the people that they claim to govern.

We need to ask certain questions;
Why is it so difficult for the state and LG officials to mobilize their people to aid federal troops in varying capacities in this fight?

Boko haram members are Nigerians from the states and local governments that are being attacked, why do they seem so alien to these state and local government leaders?

How come Boko Haram is taking Emirs palaces and destroying government institutions at state and local government levels if not to protest social injustice?

Do you sincerely think that Jonathan or any other president can command a defeat from Abuja without a solid state and local government backing?

Finally, one is tempted to ask about the ROLE OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS? ARE THEY MEANT TO SIT AND BLAME THE FG WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?

hifaif:
Do LG chairmen and state governors have the authority to deploy troops?

That is a wrong question. The question should be, Should LG chairmen and state Governors ensure that development reflects in the grassroots? The answer is YES.

You have to sense the symptoms and prevent a sickness from being full blown. Look at Boko Haram, they all emerged from the prevalence of almajiris in the North. Is it not ironic that northern leaders have ruled Nigeria for over 30 years, with trillions of Naira allocated to their states. Why then couldn't the trillions translate into development at the state and local government level? It is GEJ's fault abi?

Look at Kwakwanso screaming as if he has been able to transform Kano into Dubai. If with all the money that he controlled he could not develop Kano, how can he develop Nigeria if he is in charge?

The FG wouldn't need to deploy troops if the populace demands for development from the people that are directly in charge of them. See people like Amaechi, what excuse does he have for the condition that Rivers state is currently in? Upon all the trillions that he controlled as a PDP member? Na wa o!

kestolove95:
@op...may God punish u for sayin that gej is pushin for macro economic growth..it should b macro corrptn growth nd boko haram develpmnt..useless president eva in nigeria.

Justify why you think that he is not pushing for macro-economic growth and I'll tell you why he is with evident examples.

You keep screaming Jonathan and corruption but if I ask you what the name of your local government chairman is, you cannot answer. That is exactly why you see corruption and Boko Haramic activities in your local government as being the fault of Jonathan, while the thieves and inept leaders that you elected as your local government and state leaders suck you dry and arm you to scream Jonathan. Meanwhile, if any positive achievement is recorded, you scream the name of these local government and state leaders and forget to commend GEJ.

I am waiting for your justification.

BRIEF LEADERSHIP BIOGRAPHY OF BUHARI

Muhammad also spelled Muhammadu (born Dec. 17, 1942, Daura, Nigeria), Nigerian military leader and politician, who served as head of state (1984–85).

Educated largely in Katsina, Buhari took military training in Kaduna as well as in Great Britain, India, and the United States. He was involved in the military coup that ousted Yakubu Gowon in 1975 and was appointed military governor of North Eastern state (now Borno) that same year. He was appointed federal commissioner for petroleum resources by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who became military head of state when Gowon’s successor, Murtala Mohammed, was assassinated in 1976. By 1977 Buhari had become the military secretary at Supreme Military Headquarters, which was the seat of government. By September 1979 he had returned to regular army duties and commanded a division based in Kaduna. Although elected government had returned to Nigeria in 1979, dissatisfaction with what the military perceived as corrupt politicians led to another military coup on Dec. 31, 1983, and Buhari was chosen unanimously to be the new head of state.

Insurmountable economic problems plagued the Buhari regime as petroleum prices collapsed in the face of expanding foreign debt. Buhari instituted austerity measures that caused severe hardship to the average Nigerian. In addition, political corruption continued unabated, with politicians escaping to Western countries with millions of dollars in government money. In an effort to stop dissension, Buhari instituted restrictions on the press, political freedoms, and trade unionists. By August 1985 even the military had had enough, and Ibrahim Babangida took control of the government. Buhari was detained in Benin City but was released at the end of 1988.

In 2003 Buhari ran for president; he was defeated by the incumbent, Olusegun Obasanjo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Buhari ran again in 2007 but was defeated by the PDP’s candidate, Umaru Yar’Adua, in an election that was strongly criticized by international observers as being marred by voting irregularities. Buhari also stood in the 2011 presidential election, which was praised for largely being transparent, free, and fair, but he again lost to the PDP’s candidate, incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.

SOURCE: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/83801/Muhammad-Buhari

If you hear how people insult president Goodluck Jonathan, you will think that he is responsible for the under-development of Nigeria. Before GEJ came to power;

-THERE WAS NO RAILWAY SYSTEM
-THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY WAS STRUGGLING
-WE HAD SECURITY CHALLENGES
-ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY WAS WORSE
-THERE WERE LONG QUEUES AT FUEL STATIONS
-POVERTY RATE WAS VERY HIGH
-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION WAS LOW
-THERE WAS NO ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE
-CORRUPTION WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY

The list can go on and on. President Jonathan met things worse than they are now. I have no doubt that he is grappling with the challenges of developing Nigeria, but is that enough reason to blame him for Nigeria's under-development.

MY QUESTION IS, WHICH LEADERS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR NIGERIA'S UNDER-DEVELOPMENT?

I personally have issues with BUHARI AND ATIKU claiming to be the change that we need in Nigeria. These guys had the chance to make a change in Nigeria, but they contributed to the retrogression of Nigeria. HOW CAN THEY BRING CHANGE WHEN THEY COULD NOT BRING PROGRESS IN THE PAST?

The main people that destroyed Nigeria are;

1: SHEHU SHAGARI (for corruption and destruction of existing infrastructures)
2: BUHARI (for delaying civil rule and focusing on brute despotism instead of enhancing infrastructures)
3: IBB (for introducing deliberate, systemic corruption and despotism)
4: SANI ABACHA (for advancing IBB's philosophy of systemic corruption and despotism)

The people that have attempted to salvage Nigeria so far are;

1.OLUSEGUN OBASANJO (for trying to fight cooruption, advocating for real transformation and paving way for true civil leaders)
2. MUSA YARADUA (for providing exemplary leadership i.e. Honesty, patience, promotion of due process and fighting corruption)
3. GOODLUCK JONATHAN (for radical push towards macro-economic growth, improved domestic production, patience, leadership based on consensus etc.)

We must not be blinded by ethno-religious and political affiliation to install the old brigade that destroyed Nigeria with their despotic and vengeance based aims. We need growth and development, not stagnancy for the sake of political witch-hunt and vengeance.

When elephants fight, the grasses suffer.

I have written this as a neutral political observer.

ichidodo:
[color=#1980BC] With the fall of Oil price to $77 the spectre of Fracking by western countries keen to wean themselves off sweet West African crude will be done away with leading to an increased demand for Bonny light Crude,Al mubarak Crude and their cheapest mode of extraction....What is the use employing relatively significant resource to establishing and maintaining Fracking units when the output is dangerously effected by volatile oil prices....All nija must do is cut govtcosts by 10% and see to an increase production- curbing oil bunkering wouldn't be a bad idea- [/color]

You hit the nail on its head. However, your observation is dependent on the counteractive measures taken by OPEC. If they decide to allow free market principles to play out, your observation will come to pass. If, however, they decide to cut production, I see a jolly wild boom for the fracking firms and countries.

SamIkenna:
Many ethnic groups will abandon Nigeria if that happens.

Powers that be know better than to try such referendum. Nigeria and Nigerians have shed so much blood for Nigeria that even the devil himself is probably wondering if he actually is the one and only true Lucifer. What kind of a country continues to break its own blood soaked record every single year? 1945 through 2014 is how many years?

For some inexplicable reasons peace continues to be elusive in Nigeria. Many in the Middle Belt today can't even step their feet in their own bought/ inherited farms and you think they wouldn't pay anything to be separated from their murderers? I guess the only reason majority of people might decide to stick it out in Nigeria is because they've come to a point where they no longer have any kind formula. They've been battered to a point they're willing to accept the current fate as God's plan, hence no need to leave.

If Nigeria stays as is for another 100 years with no structural changes it'll be the capital of Hades. For long we've been frittering away our solutions, so now we have only two left: (1) Fiscal and political restructuring down to the smallest brick, and (2) break the country into as many nations as people desire. The problem is that both solutions are going to be painful in the short term but they're the only magic we've got left. We've gone past piecemeal solution. Failure to apply any of the two solutions above will eventually lead to an explosive head-on collision.

So, yea. If you give people the option of aborting now without the guaranteed collision that awaits them if they wait for much
longer you bet they would take it.

Your write up is very impressive. However, I don't think "complete" break up is possible in Nigeria ever again. We have actually come too far to break into pieces. I think the country is in utter need of political and economic restructuring, which you rightly observed.

As difficult as it may seem, the means of making ethnic champions like MEND, MASSOB, ACF, OPC etc to keep silent and embrace nationalism is very easy to implement. There are two major ways of ensuring this;

1: National Referendum (NR):
A NR that does not have deceitful clauses should be organized for members of the diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria to choose to remain or leave. This must be organized for everyone at a voting age at home and abroad to partake.

If this is properly organized, I can assure you that you will be very surprised that most ethnic groups will choose to stay irrespective of the seeming division in the country. This will efficiently shut down the rise of criminals that cover themselves in the cloaks of ethnic redemption.

However, if an ethnic group decides to walk, it is very important to let them go. This is because there needs to be agreement for peace to reign, and there needs to be peace for progress to be achieved. Nigeria is too blessed with diverse human and natural resources that can see her rise in any situation. Peace and patriotism is a prerequisite for that.

2: Con Federalism:
A confederal system of government allows for several independent nations to exist under one central government. The component nations are stronger than the central government. If a referendum is scary to Nigerians, a confederal system will be a viable option. This is because groups like MEND, MASSOB, OPC, ACF etc will have control of their nations, but will still remain in a Nigerian union. They will contribute little to the central government and will support other component nations if need be. CANADA is practicing this system. This system will ensure that no group can lord over other groups. It will make the ethnic and religious based struggle for the central government unattractive, thereby increasing focus on regional development.

The system noted above is good for a nation like Nigeria where so much strife and suspicion exist between the ethnic groups in the nation. Most importantly, this system will ensure that no group can blame anyone for their misfortunes, like MEND is doing. Moreover, governments will be close to their people, and the brunt of the people can be felt very well by under-performing politicians.

With this system, it will be delusional for anyone to come up with an idea to get out of the union. If they can't develop themselves in a confederal union, how can they develop themselves independently?

Rilwayne001:
[size=15pt] Our Vice President in embryo [/size]



Change is inevitable

If APC does not deem it fit to present this guy as a presidential aspirant, then you guys have nothing to offer. If it is not FASHOLA for President, APC will be roundly defeated next year in the presidential poll.