₦airaland Forum

Agreed. Looks like she dropped some weight.

Ileke-IdI:
Gorgeous!!

All you have listed here are CORRUPTION-related. Subsidy is simply one of the large vehicles for the real disease of corruption.
Remove subsidy and there remain many hundred of ways for stealing that money in Nigeria.

What happened to the funds from the part-removal of subbsidies last year?
On the way to the accounts of government officials - that's what.

PointB: Yes subsidy is. 90% of the corruption in Nigeria is tied to the subsidy on Petroleum product. The subsidy also account for why enough money is not available for the comatose education system. The insecurity in the ND and up North are all tied to who control the center, due to the same subsidy money. Subsidy lush fund also account for the bloated civil service and dilapidated infrastructure.

So take it or leave it, the death of subsidy will stem corruption and other vices.

No but note I said probably.
Details?
Even if u tild us u heard it on a TV station that would have helped.
So did you hear it on TV?

Optimisticgondy: do you live in Ado-Ekiti? Did you listen to EKTV (the state TV station) this afternoon?

Subsidy is one of the two greatest demons Nigeria faces?
Are u kidding? Corruption, comatose educational system, insecurity are what?

PointB: Great citation and endorsement for these tireless folks, and global thinker - Achebe and Okonjo Iweala.

Hopefully, their effort to transform Nigeria will yield the necessary result.

Nigeria must surely confront it's two greatest demon

- Wasteful subsidy of Petrol Pump Price, and
- The attempted genocide of Igbo via brutish Biafran War

We must keep working at it, and must support them in their bid to transform Nigeria.

Obviously you are afraid of real thinkers.
I should just endorse these self-serving citations because of what...
Take off your sentimental "hats" and see the truth.
If those three are the "great thinkers" Africa can produce in the 21st century then we are travelling in reverse.

This falls in the same category as Nigeria once displaying cocoa beans at an international tech. expo!!!

Chima_Adeoye: No wonder they call you a Dagbo thinker.

Probably a hoax!!!
Some evil souls have been spreading such rumours lately.

Thinkers of 2012?
Exhuming old disunifying episodes of your nation's history is not thinking - it is called "attention seeking".
Conducting a subsidy campaign that brought mass pain to the masses and death of 19 innocent civilians is not thinking, it is called "heartless".

No wonder Nigeria is in the doldrums - the West would endorse those who sing in tune with them (not their fault by any measure), even if they disregard the welfare of their own people (and that is the fault of people like Okonjo-Iweala).

As for Banda, they praised her for devaluing her country's currency by one-third so as to get a $157 million loan. Can anyone say SAP circa 1990 in Nigeria? It doesn't work at the end of the day.

All these people have done very good things, but the first two have not shown that they know what Nigeria needs by their acts in 2012.

As for Banda - I say good start so far in Malawi, but be careful of Greeks bearing gifts!!!

How about pure simple hate?
You forgot about that?
A police officer recently resigned because he jokingly (according to him) would volunteer to JFKed Obama - is that because Obama would not print currency or conduct a full scale war in "Vietnam" too?
A girl recently opined openly that she hopes that Obama gets JFKed this time around - is that because Obama would not print curreny or conduct a full scale war in "Vietnam" too?

CFCfan: I have theorized that JFK was murdered because he either planned to print U.S. currency and/or he didn't want to escalate America's military involvement in Vietnam. The U.S. dollar, contrary to what most people believe, isn't printed by the U.S. government. Instead, the Federal Reserve, which is a private institution, has been doing the printing. The Fed essentially 'loans' out the printed money to the government and the government in turn, has to pay back the 'interest'. You would ask, how is this interest paid? Well, the income tax is the avenue thru which the U.S. govt pays the interest owed to the Fed. Only a fraction of the federal tax receipts are used to fund government programs.

On my second theory, the military-industrial-complex may have wanted a full-scale military campaign in Vietnam in order to have a steady stream of revenue from govt patronage. Kennedy was making initial moves to end U.S. military involvement in Vietnam by the late 1960s, therefore it is entirely plausible that an agent or agents of the MIC assassinated him.

There is no need to add so many states.
Why don't you just add California and Florida's electoral votes to Romney's electoral votes?
Romney would still be president and you won't need to count as much.

...In Pennsylvania the hooligans behind Romney a member of the stage congress openly said "Voter ID law that will ensure Romney wins Pennsylvania - Done."
...Some CEOs warned their employees not to vote for Obama, and Romney unabashedly endorsed such behavior in the open.
...A judge in Texas or was it Florida said there would be blood if Obama gets re-elected.
...Just today a former head of the Republican party and a former Republican governor of Florida admitted that their party enacted laws to suppress Obama votes

Despite all that, and many more, Obama overcame.
Meanwhile you are here hallucinating.

kikuyu1: Its been 3 weeks. Heads have cooled,data has been collated,recollated and reexamined. One fact stands out-somehow he lost every state where photo ID was required. I've long believed US prez elections were simply a legitimisation of who the Elite has previously chosen and his s/election confirms it.

http://karanjazplace..com/2012/11/did-obama-rig.html
I wonder if the AU will be sending any investigators? Hmmm.......

When we say sue the Lagos state government for unjust laws we are not talking about this type.
Government has the power to charge a rate on a service they provide.
[size=14pt]That the government used tax payer's money to build infrastructure doesn't mean it should be free!!![/size]

In fact, this particular road was a public-private deal - this is however besides the point.

The only argument would be if the charge can be shown to be non-comparable to similar services all over the country or in comparable nations.
That would be hard to prove.

I am waiting for someone serious to sue over that law prescribing a 1-year jail for driving against traffic.

acidtalk: REVOLUTION! REVOLUTION!! REVOLUTION!!!

That's all Nigeria needs to get better.

Where else on this earth except Nigeria will the government use Tax payers money to do road and still fine the same people for the usage of it not like it was a consetioning deal or private partnership deal..

A country filled with so much riches but yet the people drown in so much poverty.

None, except for perhaps Buhari in a little way.
In reality, they have very little to say that address Nigeria's current predicament.
In fact, most of our politicians are bats in mid-day.
There are a few, but they don't form a quorum to move Nigeria in the right direction.

bilms: Who among the former Nigerian Presidents will speak and the whole country would listen and why?

1.Olusegun Obasanjo
2.Ibrahim Babangida
3.Muhammed Buhari
4.AbdulSalam Abubakar
5.Yakubu Gowon

I hope VP Sambo and his mouth-pieces will also give him the "credit" for the impending collapse of the electrical system.
Afterall they proudly marched in here to announce that he was "responsible" for the sacking of Prof. Bart Nnaji.

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/other-sections/lead-stories/181913-yola-power-coy-cries-for-bailout-as-tcn-withdraws-lifeline
Written by Yunus Abdulhamid Monday, 26 November 2012 05:00
The Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) faces imminent collapse due to huge financial constraints, Daily Trust has learnt. YEDC, which is one of the 10 distribution companies drawn from the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is so broke that it is now difficult for it to pay its workers.
For months, it has not been able to remit its dues to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) which is the market operator. Instead, the TCN has been giving it a lifeline to augment shortfalls in revenue to run its operations. But that lifeline has been withdrawn now, Daily Trust check revealed.

The Yola DISCO is responsible for distributing electricity to four north eastern states of Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Yobe. Sources with knowledge of the problem told Daily Trust that the situation resulted from the low load allocation to the DISCO from the national grid, leading to abysmally poor power supply to electricity consumers in the area.

The poor security situation in the area has led many businesses who patronise the company to close shop and there seems to be no end in sight yet, investigations by Daily Trust show.

A source told Daily Trust that staffs of the company have been attacked in recent times, leading to the death of two workers. This has heightened workers’ fear in the course of discharging their duties.

The big customers including banks and industries have reportedly disconnected from the services of the utility due to the near absence of power supply. This has compounded the woes of the company’s finances.

Another reason for the situation, according to Daily Trust source, is the poor revenue collection drive of the DISCO. There is poor metering and billing system in place and incidences of electricity theft, occasioned by meter bypassing, Daily Trust further gathered.

In view of its predicament, the management of the company is desperately asking the federal government for a bailout which is a new concept in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.

A source in the ministry of power who does not want to be mentioned confirmed that the management of the Yola DISCO requested for a bailout, but expressed doubt if they would get one.

“There is no assurance they would be able to pay back. If they can’t even recover debts at the moment to improve their books, then there is little hope that they would be able to pay up if they get any bailout,” the source in the power ministry said.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Dr Sam Amadi, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which regulates Nigeria’s electricity industry denied that load allocation to the DISCO was low. He said technical challenges leading to poor revenue as well as some element of insecurity were to blame.

“The load allocation has been increased. In fact, they cannot even take the allocation given to them because the network has got a challenge. When they get better transformers to stabilize their network, they can get additional load,” he said. According to Amadi, “the market operator had been intervening to raise the distribution company but we have written to the operator to stop it because the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) fund is for market participants. If the market operator keeps taking money from the fund to raise the DISCO which is not able to meet with its financial commitment, it would affect other participants and the entire market.”

He said the technical issues within the purview of the commission and ministry of power were being addressed through the provision of more transformers and meters to help strengthen the network and improve the revenue collection drive.

The NERC chairman said, “the matter has got to the highest level and has been discussed by the National Economic Management team. “The DISCO has been having problems. They have challenges of network, low voltage, and some element of insecurity. Due to the technical challenges giving rise to low voltage, many of their customers are negatively affected and have therefore got out of the grid. That has made them to lose revenue.”

When asked if the power sector reform roadmap provided for bailout for market participant, Dr Amadi said government could only help pay up in case of serious emergency such as insecurity to ensure there is light. But the problem with the Yola DISCO is not only about insecurity.

He said the challenges are being addressed by the federal government. “We have recommended to the government to provide transformers, meters and other technical facilities to help it out of the low voltage challenge in the area. The meters would assist in revenue collection if they are having problems going out to collect it,” he said.

Engr. M. S Roro, Chief Executive Officer of the Yola DISCO declined to comment when our reporter reached him on telephone, insisting that he wanted to physically identify the reporter. “Anybody can claim to be a journalist with Daily Trust,” he said, adding “it’s not something I will be discussing with somebody I am not able to establish his true identity. You can come or send a representative and we would then listen to your questions, if it’s the ones we can respond to, we would do so.”

Later when the Yola correspondent called him to request for a one-on-one interview, he said he was out of Yola. He said he should be contacted this week.

The Yola Electricity Distribution Company is one of the companies put up for sale in the ongoing power sector reform by the federal government. The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) recently declared Integrated Energy Distribution and Retail Marketing Limited, which is chaired by former military head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) as the preferred bidder for the Yola utility.

It is not clear yet how the present finances of the DISCO would affect the transaction. In April this year, electricity consumers in the zone lamented to a committee on metering set up by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over what they described as absence of power supply.

The committee led by human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, has since submitted its report to the commission. The DISCO’s customers had complained bitterly about what they described as unfair distribution of electricity in the area. They alleged that electricity was being enjoyed by a privileged few, based on who is able to pay and earn dedicated direct supply, which they termed ‘hotline.’

It is simple, challenge laws that you think are unjust in court.
I do think part of the recent traffic laws made by Lagos is too drastic - e.g. 1 year jail and seizing & selling off your vehicle for driving against traffic.
A hefty fine and perhaps temporary impoundment of the vehicle would be reasonable, even for such a terrible traffic offence. One year jail and losing a vehicle is way on the other side of reason. Perhaps a 3-month jail for a 3rd offense, but 1 year jail is simply crazy.

soulfood: I was in my office when the gate man came to call me that there was something happening downstairs. On stepping out to the balcony,I saw a truck driving off with metal plates that we use for writing vacant positions in the building.
I learnt they were LASAA officials and I wondered if they had the right to take away such materials being used by an office complex to make unemployed youths know when there is vacancy. The writings are not printed but written with chalk and the metal board is placed next to the security post.
I also learnt that LASG is planning to seize cars parked by the roadside even if its in front of your House.
I think its about time we challenge all these unfair seizure and outright extortion of citizens by Government in court.
The laws being enacted in Lagos as well meaning as they may seem have penalties that I consider excessive and unjust. Forfeiting your car to LASG for plying one way route is another example. Wetin?! Please lawyers and legal experts. How can these penalties be challenged.

Some laws are too drastic. That it is the law of the land doesn't mean it can't be challenged, although it should be obeyed as long as it exists. But if it is unjust people with the means should seek to have it repealed!!!

malc619: 1. Know the laws of the land.
2. Obey the laws of the land.

That's the way out!!!!

This subject will certainly rank high on the next list of "You might be a bad president"!!!

Respected global audit and financial advisory firm, KPMG, has rated Nigeria as the most fraudulent country in Africa, with the cost of fraud during the first half of 2012 estimated at N225 billion ($1.5 billion).

The firm’s Africa Fraud Barometer, instituted this year, measures fraud on the continent and asses the fraud risk that confronts companies in their operations.

In KPMG’s second report, issued last Wednesday, it identified Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa as accounting for 74% of the total number of cases on the African continent, with Nigeria recording the highest overall value of fraud in the first half of the2012.

Reported cases of fraud, however dropped from 520 in the first half of 2011 to 503 in the first half of 2012, and the value of fraud fell from $ 3.3 billion to $ 2 billion.

KPMG compiles the data for the Africa Fraud Barometer by analysing available news articles and reviewing fraud cases from designated databases.

The new report observed that Nigeria’s fraud profile has been compounded by fraud and corruption in the oil sector, with “bribes in the private and public sector, misappropriation, and contract inflation” as common forms of fraud.

By contrast, Nigeria’s President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, last Sunday in his chat with the media bragged that his administration is fighting and winning the war on corruption, and that he has done better than his predecessors in combating corruption.

In another report, “Global States of Mind: New Metrics for World Leaders,” published on November 14, Gallop Poll declared Nigeria one of the two most corrupt countries in the world, superior only to Kenya.

Contrary to Mr. Jonathan’s claims, the Gallup report showed that 94 percent of Nigerians believe there is widespread corruption in the government.

How does this relate to the fact that completely innocent people were hacked down for doing absolutely "nothing"?

Many of the things people did in the name of religion in Bible times are unacceptable today and most Christians and followers of Judaism recognize that.
The problem for followers of Islam is that "every single letter" of the Quran is considered sanctified - not to be spoken against.
Hence many will come here saying that no true muslim will carry out such evil acts, as if this is not being done on a global basis by those who claim to be muslims.
Yet, these people will never quote a verse of the Quran with which they disagree - even though many are glaringly in the same category as those in the Bible.
Well, I guess that is for good reason anyway - they are scared of people among them, like those who committed this crime.

[size=14pt]Stop confusing injustice with religious idiocy, barbarism and down-right stupidity.[/size]
Let's stop this attitude of "they are doing it so why are we condemned for it".

Ezeufi: The islamophobia is perpetuated by those who have stopped to think and expect america think for them. I was not old enough to remember when Nelson Mandela was labelled a terrorist but I have read books and saw videos where Ronald Reagan and margrath Thatcher declared him a terrorist.

As an african, that was a lesson to me. If you are willing to let them devour you, then you are good. If you refuse to bend over to them, they label you a terrorist. And NATO aspirant brigade of Nigerians have fallen for the cheap trap fair and square. And if you refuse to be one of them, they Nigerian NATO brigade call you brainwashed

My advice to you is: Think carefully when using words that do not exist in your vernacular

I thought it was obvious, but here goes:
The British never left because rather than hand over the nation to those who really wanted independence and fought for it, they rigged elections to install a government headed by those who had rejected independence. Guess who the latter were supporting - their British masters. The same group of people constituted most of the British force in Nigeria. It would come as a surprise to many that the British never had to use its own soldiers in large numbers to perform their dirty work in West Africa. In Nigeria they found willing fiefdom heads & peoples who became trained in the "colonial" ways.

That generation of "Replacement Colonialists" have never been replaced in Nigeria.
The "Black" British simply took the baton from the "White" British.
Find the Video of Tafawa Balewa and listen to it then read the comments.
You will note that the most common comment was "how British" he sounded.
Find the video of Sardauna ranking the type of people he would employ in the North: 1) Northerners; 2) If we cannot find qualified northerners, he said to the British reporter, we will employ expatriates like yourself. Southerners, in Sardauna's eyes, count or not at all after the British - the "Black" and "White" British - perfect together.
For modern-day examples note how every so often our government official's beg the British to do something for Nigeria because - and this is the part you need to pay attention to - because they were our "former colonial masters". Just the other day, Mr. Senate president said those exact words!!!
There are many more instances of the unmbilical cord attachment to the "crown".
That line of command led directly through most of our rulers down to Mr. GEJ himself - they were all "Black" British.
I recently heard a person describe our rulers as follows - "they behave like aliens who have been sent to take the resources and destroy the country before they leave for home". I think that is a perfect description of the British in Nigeria and our successive governments since dependent independence.
Hence, I submit that the British never left - the "White" British simply "stepped aside" for the "Black" British.

Nautillus: hmmmm...how do you mean?

koruji: Your premise for this question is wrong:
[size=14pt]The British Never Left[/size]
I know this sounds contradictory, but think about it a little more and you will realize how true.

Your premise for this question is wrong:
[size=14pt]The British Never Left[/size]
I know this sounds contradictory, but think about it a little more and you will realize how true.

Nautillus: this is just an opinion poll thing.

referencing the development of South Africa, Do you think that the British left us to ourselves too early?

Would we have fared better - infrastructure wise etc.

whats your take?

That's the problem.
He promises and promises again.
I don't know where you saw "does what he promises" in all of these.
All he has done is allocate money, like many things, but where are those things now - simply another promise.
When can we expect this airport to be finished?
They are awarding contracts on money they don't have, since they have no way of knowing how much money is coming into the nation and being spent at any time T.

Remember how GEJ immediately after inauguration allocated money for 4 or so universities, including one in Otuoke.
I would like to know the stage of work on those universities now.
The last I heard was GEJ complaining of how there were no funds available for the universities because of some issues at the CBN.

Johndoe100: Then why are you Neanderthals complaining when he does what he promises.

You don't understand the lessons of history, do you?

Lagos-Ibadan road has been constructed 10 times over already.
Benin-Ore road needs a second round of tears from Diezani
Enugu International Airport that GEJ "commissioned" is still a dirt-field.
How is the dredging of that River Niger coming now?

When someone is supposed to be a President, promises heaven and earth, and fails to deliver - the thing to do in sane environments is to take him to task.
Not Nigerians - foremost because of the chronic cronyism, tribalism and religion, but also because of a fear of "rocking" the boat - I don't know which boat you are afraid to rock - the one filled with maggots and pecking birds?

The man at inauguration says: "assess me in one year". After one year, he says Boko Haram disrupted my plans for governance - you would think he was doing anything about Boko Haram or that Boko Haram followed him to his various Jamboree trips around the world - collecting undeserved estacodes. Now he says "I will surprise Nigerians in 2013".
In 2013 he will say,...

All we hear about is the allocation, where is the delivered work - please show me.

Being president of a nation is not about the "person of the president", it is about the "people of the nation".
If you can't do what the people need, you need to move on instead of trying to hoodwink all of us.

As I once said before, the Old Yoruba Empire was better run than 20th century Nigeria, if only for one thing.
...When a ruler of old Oyo becomes an albatross on the neck of the people they will get together and send him a calabash - he knows what to do afterwards.
...Only when this check and balance was broken or misused did the empire begin to decline.
...The rot in Nigeria certainly did not start with GEJ, but he has taken it to the height of shame.
...At least OBJ will call thieves out to their face.
...GEJ will instead smile while thieves swarm all over Abuja.
...Foolishly, the man has, because of the fear of Boko Haram, given up the levers of power to those that really, really hate him.
...Is his government talking to Boko Haram as he made us believe for months, or it is not as he recently said on his so-called chat? - how can you stomach such nonsense.
...The real Boko Haram has achieved its objective, GEJ is virtually a captive to the forces that never wanted him there in the first place.
...I could go on and on, but what's the use.

taharqa: Why dont you do keep ya Mouth Shut my frnd...u must nt comment on every thread u know

Your rudimentary and stoic defense of the indefensible has destroyed your ability to reason on behalf of those who matter most - the people.
The success that GEJ is looking for will never come to him as long as he acts scared when he is supposed to take action on behalf of the people, yet declares "I am battle-ready" when his action is guaranteed to inflict maximum pain on those same people.

I'll leave you to ponder how such bi-polarism at the topmost level of governance could produce a situation where a self-confessed bribe-demander and -taker could be left off the hook.

henrysam: What concern GEJ about this. Have you forgotten what is called Principle of separation of powers. What do you expect GEJ to do put Facroock in prison without due process and its people like you that will tag him as autocratic. You just can't hide your hatred for GEJ and I wonder how far you want to go with this behaviour.

And how did you know this?
I forgot:
they gathered egg-heads like you together,
read from the word of God,
put some spittle on your heads,
commanded you to dip into your pockets,
they expanded their churches and then their businesses,
they are flying around the world in jets arranging business deals with the agents of evil,
but to you - you in the same dilapidated state they met you minus a couple of thousand naira,
think they are "anointed men of God".

Check yourself - you have been had big time.

Treasured-Glory:
. These are anointed men of God; we need to be careful to avoid the judgement of God. Let God who has called and anointed them be their judge. God bless you.

What about the insult of incompetence GEJ parades around the globe as if that is the best Nigerians could do?
He is simply reaping the reward for cronyism, avarice and general weakness.
And those countries that are in your mind are examples of what we don't want to be in Nigeria - exactly the reason to resist GEJ anyway possible.
I hope Aso Rock is reading - since they have lost touch with reality in there, maybe the rain of abuse & sometimes curses will wake them up to the fact that no ruler, no matter how powerful, no matter how will end up well if he treats his people like scum.
If nothing else, they live to see their efforts at keeping the people down come to nothing - that in itself is a big punishment.

360command: This thing wey una dey do , for some countries dem fit arrest you. Abeg, make una kno do make dem begin restructure various act under the indecent use of computer. 9ja is good . One can actually sit and type insultive words against its polititians. Gej and co, are u reading ?

Instead of educating his people and lifting them out of poverty GEJ busy thinking of an edifice that will be named after him in the future.
What am I even blabbing about?
N13.9 billion that will disappear into thin air.

Are you kidding?
GEJ's weakness is what makes this possible.

Dollarman101: This is really a show of SHAME...... I thank GEJ for all he has been doing to make sure we are not left at the mercy of these rogues. I guess people will now see how good and transperent GEJ is in the fight for the reformation of this nation. We await for truth as they unfold.

Even SATAN is blushing at such audacity!!!

For my next list of you might be a bad president!!!
Please make sure to read (below) how the president of the world's superpower spends in the whitehouse.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/n1-305b-not-enough-for-refreshments-meals-presidential-villa-tells-senate/
N1.305b not enough for refreshments, meals, Presidential Villa tells Senate
On November 21, 2012 · In News
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA —THE Senate was, yesterday, told that the N1, 305, 292, 050 set aside in the 2013 budget for refreshment and meals and other miscellaneous expenses in the State House will not be enough.

This is just as a breakdown of the Miscellaneous sub-head in Aso Rock’s budget shows that N203,752,432 was allocated for refreshment and meals; N107,412,768 would be spent on honorarium and sitting allowance while N37, 277,825 will be for publicity and advertisement.

These were disclosed, yesterday, when the State House Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbile appeared before the Senator Dahiru Kuta-led Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to defend the N14,715,566,104 budget for next year.

Ogbile also told the senators some other expenses that were being taken care of in the refreshment and meals vote, which he said include National Economic Council (NEC), Council of State, conferences in the Banquet Hall, Presidential retreats, National Merit Award, Children’s Day as well as hosting of dignitaries. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, however, countered the Permanent Secretary on the provision for the Merit Award which he said has its own budget.

The Permanent Secretary also gave a further breakdown of the 2013 State House budget as thus, Medical expenses (N50,308,546); Postage and courier services (N10,035,583); Welfare packages (N195,066,223); Subscription to professional bodies (N4,589,793); and Sporting activities (N32,910,730).

According to him, Overtime will gulp, N250,455,589; Feeding of animals including animal supplements for the veterinary clinic (N30,584,144); Summit/ Extra ordinary sessions including the UN, African Union, ECOWAS, etc (N228,112,862); and NYSC, IT, LOCUM, Housemanship and contract staff allowance (N144,788,555).

According to Ogbile: “I have taken pains to explain that this money is not just to fund the residence of the President and that of the Vice President. The experience I have had is that this fund is grossly insufficient. It is not even enough.”

The Permanent Secretary noted that “it is also from the budget of N1.305 billion that we take care of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which holds every Wednesday.”

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/cost-living-white-house
Interview by Tess Vigeland
Marketplace Money for Friday, March 2, 2012
Jodi Kantor
In her new book "The Obamas," New York Times Washington correspondent Jodi Kantor goes behind the scenes in the White House to report on what life’s like in the most famous house in America. Kantor has been following President Obama and First Lady Michelle since 2007, when they made the leap from being an exceptional young family from Chicago to occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Most of us probably think the Obamas live a lavish life on the taxpayers’ dime, but, according to Kantor, finances are tight in the White House. While rent is free, just about nothing else is. The president and first lady pay for their food, parties, vacations, butlers, housekeepers, ushers… and at Ritz Carleton prices. If they want to bring someone on Air Force One who isn’t in the official traveling delegation, they have to reimburse the American people the equivalent of first-class airfare for the flight.

“People say that there’s kind of a ritual with every new president and first lady. They get to the White House, they move in, they start to live there. A month or so in, they get their first bill, and there is a moment of shock,” says Kantor. Being wealthy gives a first family a real advantage and -- while the Obamas are rich Americans by just about any measure -- they don’t have the kind of personal wealth that can move the needle in the White House. It makes you wonder: can we ever have a truly middle-class president?

Truly, I coined that name for BEAF for all the names he gave to people around here. But u should stop flattering Beaf. He is nothing but a political lackey!

Demdem: Beaf (he is a political figure) - Accursed.

Sanusi - Gov. of Nigeria's 37th state.
That's my name for SLS given the way he's being running the CBN

Your statements below show that you are using a wrong yardstick to measure people.
If you lived in Nigeria all through high school and most of the university you are bound to speak in a way similar to those around you.
In addition, everyone in the world has an "accent" - even the English speak English with an "accent".
All you have to do is listen to our leaders to realize Nigerians speak differently.
Personally, I have found that those of us from the SW of Nigeria have the strongest tendency to reflect the local way of speaking in our English - not just in how it sounds, but in the thought process. Although not based on any science, yet, I think this reveals how long the SWers have being speaking/living in this particular way - which is also seen in what little of our ancient history has been researched.

Advice: Listen to what you are hearing instead of how it is being spoken
Don't turn yourself into racists, who use how you sound to judge your intelligence.
Unfortunately, they don't apply this same reasoning to the Indian or Chinese, but see nothing wrong in applying it to the African.

As one Japanese professor, forced to give an English lecture in Nigeria, stated in his opening statement: "My speech is not very good, but my head is clear."

afam4eva: The good thing about Nairaland is that it hides the flaws of so many people. People are only judged on how they reason and out it in typing and not how they look and whether or not they have an Accent. I've noticed that so many people that engage in intelligent talks in the politics, culture, celebrity and other sections, they come across as people that are very fluent in real life. That's why you see people drooling over people that they've never heard talk or seen the person's face. Everybody just dey blow grammar but what we don't know is the accent that comes with that grammar.

Now, for the benefit of Nairalanders tell us if you have an Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, American, British etc Accent.

The man is trying to appear amicable and responsible for one and only one reason - he hopes to hoodwink Nigerians again in 2015.
His approach to national affairs is to wait, hoping that problems will go away, and when they don't promise they will soon become history, and when they don't become history make the promise again.
By his approach you would think this is a land where everything is working smoothly and all that needs to be done is not to rock the boat.
The reality is that the country is a burning inferno, and no amount of spittle can put it out.
This presidential media chat was mere spittle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF-msbONhCg