₦airaland Forum

Why don't you go through the constitution and find a charge on that - that seems to be all GEJ's govt. is capable of achieving by 2015.

You will reap what you sow. Today, it is Tinubu answering to whatever charge(s) the "law" brought against him (and rightly so if according to the law), but "turn by turn" is the name of the game.

shawonlese:
I don't see a reasons why a serving Governor should abandon state duties and go and seat in a court house.

Aren't you a fool all by yourself? Boy, some people will try to squeeze water out of a stone.

kukulaja:
look at aregbesola and ajimobi,both governors left state duties to follow crowd of clowns to show solidarity with someone caught stealing , imagine the calibre of people we have in charge of state affairs, only God can save nigeria from looters. ,, YOU CAN NEVER SEE people like gov. fashola of lagos state , gov. fayemi of ekiti state and gov adams of edo state in such gathering of tout , they appreciate the responsibility and their position and they know better 'cos they are learned men and they are working for the people and not for any godfather , that is the difference between a learned person and a mediocre, a challatan and half educated people like ajimobi and boko something aregbesola ,

This is the problem with Nigeria.

Almost to the last one of them this norther politicians keep defending BH implicitly.

BH is nothing like OPC or the ND militants or the Arewa Youth Vanguard. The OPC do not plant bombs, call for no education or the like. ND militants had a legitimate underlying cause for their rebellion - although when factions got political they led the group into terrorist behavior.

Yuguda needs to tell us which social injustice they are protesting by blowing away innocent folks. Can't they just keep their mouth shut or [size=14pt]is this their way of buying BH INSURANCE[/size].

During his visit yesterday, the governor said; The Boko Haram, were like other pressure groups such as the paramilitary arms of political parties or the youth organisations like the Niger Delta militants in the South South; the Odua People’s Congress, OPC in the South West and the Arewa Youth Vanguard in the North.

What's funny here?

OBJ took great risks to act on behalf of GEJ, now you want to help wash GEJ's hand off the obviously foolish adventure.

Wonders shall never end in the land of synchophants 

The move was actually a good idea - [size=14pt]IF THE "REAL" BOKO HARAM WERE AT BABA FUGU'S HOUSE[/size].

PointB:
Funny thing is that, Obj actually looks like the Retardeens  Odesanjo with his action; while Gej keeps his hands clean, as usual.
I dey laff ooo.  

Are you drunk or just working with a repressive mind?

How is an interview taking place by phone from America supposed to lead to an AK47 totting fellow walking in on the guy to do him in? The mistake SR made was they were trying to set things up too perfectly and missed a potential scoop of a lifetime.

Still, their reporting and quick move to get to the man provides insight into what was going on with the man before his death.

Omooba77:
Sahara Reporters tto has a hand in his death. They were interviewing him,before the phone went dead, according to SR. BH thought that the man wanted to expose them to the world. SR made lots of noise about the interview with this man. I dont blame Sani, because people behind BH are highly placed. God will expose them too.

Beaf, I hope you will stop telling white lies about Aregbesola now. Here are report cards for mostly PDP governors - so what do you say?

http://www.sunday.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7882:now-many-governors-abandon-states-operate-from-abuja&catid=54:lead-stories&Itemid=127

Written by Onimisi Alao & Sanusi Hamid Babagoro (Abuja), Aliyu M. Hamagam (Minna), Ismail Mudashir (Kaduna), Hamisu Kabir Matazu (Damaturu), Patrick Odey (Uyo), Ismail Mudashir (Kaduna), Ahmed Mohammed (Bauchi), Joseph Hir (Lafia), Usman A. Bello (Lokoja), Yahaya I Sunday, 18 September 2011 05:00

Since he assumed office in May this year he has not stayed in the state for more than three days of every week .He is always out of the state for one reason or the other. Unfortunately, each time he leaves, the entire state, particularly the state capital, which is the hub of economic activities, is usually at a standstill. The civil servant state-controlled economy, which made government the only source of income, makes it bad for business because anytime the governor leaves town the entire activities in government and private sector are paralyzed.

As one of the critics of the governor puts it ‘’ each time he leaves town, it’s like locking up the state and going away with the keys. Activities are at a halt, the entire secretariat completely deserted by civil servants, commissioners who should be up and doing are not usually on seat and the state is left at the mercy of permanent secretaries. Normal activities only resumes in the state when the governor returns.


The presence of political hanger-on, beggars, party followers and party officials around the government House always signaled the arrival of the governor. It’s usual to see them sitting in hundreds at the gate and around the fence of the Government House, while commissioners who had tried to get him to sign some files before his departure but without success, are at the airstrip to show their loyalty so that their files to be considered on his arrival. This is a situation in one of the Northern states, but it is replicated in almost all states in Nigeria.


EXTROVERT BABANGIDA ALIYU LIKES LIFE OUTSIDE MINNA

Opposition leaders in Niger State say Governor Mu’azu Babagida Aliyu virtually relocated from the state capital Minna to foreign countries in the last 100 days. Many government activities have been grounded as the self-styled chief servant is rarely around to show leadership, the critics complain.

Chairman of the Niger State chapter of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Umar Shuaibu told Sunday Trust that the governor had not been in his office to attend to state matters up to 20 days at a stretch in the last 100 days.

Shuaibu said, “Government activities frequently come to a standstill while the governor is busy going round the globe at the expense of the public treasury. He indulges in his expensive local and foreign trips, busy doing only God Knows what.”

The forgoing is the view of many across the state on Babangida Aliyu’s approach to governance. Some who spoke on it say rampant television reports showing the governor on many occasions in different parts of the country are evident of the governor’s penchant for travels across the country and beyond.

But the state Head of Service, Alhaji Kabir Matane punched the view, saying the governor had visited only Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj since his return for the second term as governor of the state in April.

The Head of Service added that most often when the chief servant is to leave the state, he would ensure that state executive council meeting was held and a lot of issues concerning the activities of government were first thrashed out. “Beginning from his first term to now, government activities have never stopped for even once in Niger state, because the governor always ensures that he hands over affairs of the state to his deputy before leaving for anywhere,” Matane said.


YAKOWA, SAMBO’S SUCCESSOR IN MANY RESPECTS

Like his predecessor, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State goes to Abuja often. An insider says the governor visits Abuja at least twice a week. The source recalled that when Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo was the governor of Kaduna State, “he visited Abuja constantly.”

Sunday Trust confirmed that Yakowa has indeed been a frequent visitor to Abuja since he became the governor of Kaduna State following the elevation of Namadi Sambo to Abuja as the Vice President last year. When President Umaru Yar’adua died in May 2010, Goodluck Jonathan who replaced him picked Sambo for the Vice President’s office. Both Jonathan and Sambo retained the Presidency in April after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returned them as the winners of the presidential election of that month.

According to the President of the Civil Right Congress, Comrade Shehu Sani, “Governors are running away from their states for a number of reasons, including lack of clear agenda of what to do with power; inability to meet the financial demands of political cronies and godfathers; escaping from the shadows of their false promises during their campaigns; fear of implementing the new minimum wage; personal safety, and fear of the unknown.”

Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Barrister Musa Soba, describes Yakowa as an absentee governor. He told Sunday Trust, “It is unfortunate that Yakowa is another absentee governor with a shallow perception of the ethics of governance in a democratic setting where elected leaders are supposed to be accountable to the electorate. Worse still, Yakowa has become an irredeemable adherent of the politics of godfatherism in which case issues are determined arbitrarily outside the constituencies of the so-called elected leaders.”

Reacting to the criticisms, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Ibrahim Yakowa, Mr. Reuben Buhari said, “It’s regrettable that certain people who deliberately refuse to understand how governance works in Nigeria will make careless allegations. With the system of governance we are practising in Nigeria and the concentration of so much power at the centre in Abuja, how on earth do you expect a governor not to travel to Abuja? People alleging that the governor frequents Abuja are mischief-makers. Those who know him well and choose to be sincere will tell you that he only goes to Abuja when it is official and absolutely necessary. It is also not true that his travels are at the expense of the state because it is for the good of the state that he travels. Some people may care to know that Governor Yakowa puts in more number of office hours than probably any other governor in Nigeria.’’


YOBE’S GAIDAM rarely goes to abuja but,

In Yobe State, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is one of few governors who spend, much of their time in their states. He rarely travels to Abuja unless on special occasions when his presence is most needful. On many occasions he assigns his deputy to take his place in functions outside the state. He spends some of his weekends in his village, Bukarti, but seldom travels abroad, except to Saudi Arabia and principally for religious purposes.

He was in Saudi Arabia, in company of some top government officials, for almost two weeks after he won the last election. Many believe they went to the Holy Land for thanksgiving for his triumph at the April poll. He was also in Ghana for a retreat which the state House of Assembly held in that country. His last visit to Saudi Arabia was for the just concluded Lesser Hajj.

Going for the Lesser Hajj, however, exerted much pressure on government service delivery. It placed governance almost entirely on the deputy governor, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, as the governor, the Secretary to the state Government (SSG), Head of service, all Commissioners except four, advisers, and House of Assembly members left for Saudi Arabia. The deputy governor found himself shuttling between Yobe and Abuja and all around Yobe to retain a semblance of governance.

The effect of the exodus of government officials to Saudi Arabia was particularly evident on 27 August, 2011 and the days leading to it when the state clocked 20 but went uncelebrated. The military government of President Ibrahim Babangida created Yobe State on August 27, 1991. While most other states created same time with it marked their 20th anniversary with pomp and pageantry, Yobe did nothing. This was also contrary to years back when Yobe dedicated a whole week of activities to celebrate its creation.

Meanwhile, when many state governments were busy interacting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over minimum wage, the NLC’s Yobe State council had to wait for the government to return from Saudi Arabia. And as soon as the governor landed, minimum wage deliberations took the government’s attention from other affairs of state. And discussions are still on between the government and the NLC.

Speaking on phone with Sunday Trust, a stalwart of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Honorable Ibrahim Ali Gadaka, said the state governor and members of his cabinet like to travel because it gives them undeserved freedom from the people who voted them into power

“They used people to get into power after making promises that they cannot fulfill,” Gadaka said, explaining, “If not, why does the governor travel out anyhow? The governor said during his campaign that he would pay minimum wage as soon as it but now he is making hidden moves with leaders of the NLC to frustrate the expectations of workers over minimum wage.”

In response to all this, a government official who would not be named because he has no authority to speak for the government, said curtly, “Never mind what opposition elements say. They have the freedom to talk, and talk is easy. Gaidam is doing a lot more for the state than any of the cheap critics could do if they are the government.”


FOR AKPABIO, IT IS ABUJA, LAGOS, OR OVERSEAS

In Akwa Ibom State, some members of the public complain that Governor Godswill Akpabio rarely settles down to business. They say since his inauguration for another term in office on May 29, 2011 the governor has not spent up to four uninterrupted weeks in his office. They allege that he is in constant move, that if he is not in Abuja or Lagos, he is away abroad.

Findings are that shortly after he was inaugurated for a second term following his declaration as the winner of the April governorship election, the governor proceeded on an annual leave, which was reported as his first leave in four years. The governor, it was learnt, cut short the leave to receive Vice President Namadi Sambo who stood in for President Goodluck Jonathan at the grand finale of the Army Day Celebration, which took place in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.

Shortly after the tribunal judgment which affirmed him the winner of the April governorship election in a case filed by Senator John James Udoedege, the governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the governor, who was still basking in the euphoria of his victory travelled out to Texas, United States of America, where he was honoured by the American Congressional for his ‘outstanding contribution to the development’ of the state. That trip to Texas reportedly lasted for three weeks.

The governor has constantly been on the move since, and analysts hold that while some of the trips outside Akwa Ibom may be commendable, some of them only succeed in dragging development. For instance, the civil service virtually collapses and the environment becomes dull and quiet when it becomes evident that the chief executive is not around. Even commissioners feel free to stay out of office because their boss is away.

A member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) who gave his name as Ime Bassey said the governor is the moving spirit of the government, for which reason virtually everything comes to a halt when he is away. “This is particularly regretful because the frequent travels bring little development to the state,” Bassey said.

The traditional celebration of the first 100 days of the current government done in most cases around the country was skipped in Akwa Ibom. People who expressed disappointment over this feel the marking of the first 100 days in office is good for the government itself because it is an opportunity to speak of their achievements, and good for the public because they get to know what future plans the government has.

The Chief Press Secretary of Governor Akpabio, Anntie Ukpe, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report as he was said to have travelled to Kaduna with the governor for the award of a honorary doctorate degree to the governor by the National Defence Academy (NDA).


YUGUDA OPERATES FROM ABUJA –Opposition. NO, HE DOESN’T -Govt

The opposition Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) party in Bauchi State alleges that the Bauchi State Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda left the state for over two weeks now and has since operated from the Federal Capital, Abuja, but government officials deny the allegations, saying the governor could only have been to Abuja to pursue matters of interest to the state.

Bauchi State Chairperson of the DPP Hajiya Sa’adatu Mamuda told Sunday Trust that her party was not happy with the governor who leaves the state always. She said, “Since after Sallah break when he left to Abuja, Yuguda has not come back. Not being around stalls government activities. For instance, uptill now he has not appointed advisers, special assistants, personal assistants and board chairmen and members of parastatals.”

Sa’adatu said the governor pledged to commission some projects when he was 100 days in office, but uptill now he had not done so because he is always away.

An official of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim Darazo, said not being around when he should, makes governors unable to supervise their projects, such as government’s offer of free treatment to pregnant women and children under the age of five years.

Darazo narrated his experience: “I took my wife to Kofar Ran Maternity to deliver but what we witnessed there is far from what government is boasting about. You have to buy everything. No drug and most such other things that the governor promised. There is little to show in the hospital that government is giving health care free to pregnant women and children under five.”

He recalled that when Yuguda assumed duty he pledged to embark on meet-the-people tour to every ward to hear directly from the grassroots what their feelings and needs are.

“He is yet to start this,” Darazo said. He added, “He should emulate his predecessors like Ahmadu Mu’azu, General Sani Sami, and Chris Abutu Garuba who always went round the town and supervised projects and government policies even in the night. They visited hospitals to know the people’s problems. A governor can only do this when he stays in the state.”

But the State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Umaru said a lot has been done by the governor to develop the state. Umaru made his point: “Even when he travels out of the state, we usually have no problem because he is always in touch with us; we communicate with him on daily basis and he receives briefs from his commissioners and activities of every arm of government, you are aware a lot of people don’t want Mallam Isa Yuguda to come back as the governor of Bauchi State. That is why they are always eager to cast aspersion on him. The governor travels out when he does to pursue matters of state interest from the federal government and federal government agencies”

On his own, Chief Press secretary to the governor Mr Ishola Michael Adeyemi, said, “The governor always supervise projects. Last week, we supervised Rahama Rishi Gumau Road with the governor himself up to 9pm. As I keep saying, if the governor is not around, he is working and where ever he is, he is out in the interest of the state, because he is working.”

Adeyemi said those who complain about free medical care for pregnant women and under- five children should forward their complaints to the state ministry of health for necessary action.”


AL-MAKURA SHOULD TRAVEL HOW HE WISHES -Nasarawa PDP

The Nasarawa State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Yunana Iliya who has remained a leading opposition voice in the state since May 29 when Al-Makura snatched Government House from his party, said he will prefer to talk only on “matters that have direct bearing on the people”, explaining that whether Alhaji Umar Tanko Al-Makura travels often to Abuja, and stays there for weeks, does not merit his comments because “it is trivial.”

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State left Abuja where he had been for decades as an investor in the property industry, and returned to his state where he contested and won the governorship election to become governor. He has a home, his business office, and a guest house in Abuja.

But statistical enquiries about his visits and stay in Abuja within the period he has been governor show that he has had minimal periods away from the state. The enquiries confirm that Al-Makura has visited Abuja no more than six times since he was sworn in on May 29.

Sunday Trust confirmed reports that as part of the prudence he promised during campaigns, Al-Makura prefers to take half of his Basic Transport Allowance (BTA), while completely avoiding contingency expenditure. He has continually kicked against waste, and has been working to cut costs, preferring to save for development.

“If I don’t take certain benefits, it is so that I will serve as example; so that my subordinates will learn to do so”, Al-Amkaura had said when he spoke earlier about the need for sacrifice as a basic ingredient for change. “This is part of the efforts to actualize the ideals of change. We have to be practical”, he had added.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hamza Elayo told Sunday Trust, “Even when he (the governor) travels, the state doesn’t suffer because he hands over everything to his deputy properly because, to him, the deputy governor is not a spare tyre but a valuable second-in-command.”




KOGI SUFFERS FROM A GOVERNOR’S CONSTANT TRAVELS

Opposition forces in Kogi State complain that management of the state is suffering on many fronts because of frequent travels of Governor Ibrahim Idris.

Murtala Muhammed, a businessman and politician, said most of the travels run into weeks and that in many cases the governor does not handover his powers to anyone. “During such periods the state becomes a ghost town as most activities of government are usually centred on the governor,” Muhammad said.

Muhammad asserted that most of the trips are a jamboree as they do not bring investments to the state. “The trips are a mere jamboree for siphoning public funds,” he added.

Another citizen, Engineer Muhammed Haruna, said the governor at times seems not to know that his presence alone can be re-assuring to a people who do not really expect much else. “The governor has never stayed in the state for a month without travelling two or three weeks, and this has translated to the underdevelopment of the state,” Haruna said, with a voice laden with apparent concern. “If the state governor is always in the state, the state would have been more developed than it is now,” he concluded.

Conversely, according to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Elesho, Governor Idris is always on sit except when there are matters of public importance that need his attention in some other parts of the state and the country. Elesho said, “You may not expect to find him in the office at all times. Don’t forget that there are instance when his attention could be needed in Abuja for meetings, like party and government meetings; otherwise, the governor would normally be in the state.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Zakari Adamu, said the governor coming from the private sector is in a hurry to achieve development. He said the governor would need to travel occasionally in the course of time.

“Bureaucracy is about files and memos and the rest of them. And Governor Idris, because he was a business man before becoming the governor, has no problem attending to files,” he added.

In Borno State, government officials told Sunday Trust that although Governor Kashim Shettima goes to Abuja rather frequently, he does so in connection with the perennial crisis the state is contending with, involving the Boko Haram sect. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Inuwa Bwala, said in an interview with Sunday Trust, “Our own governor is a full time chief executive who is always available attending to matters that concern the state. He seldom travels except if clearly necessary. He is a workaholic who goes to office even on weekends.”

Unlike many other state governors, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has since inception as second term governor spent most of his time in the state. Sunday Trust gathered that apart from the Lesser Hajj the governor observed during Ramadan Fasting, Shema has largely remained in the state. He was out of the state for almost a week and said to be in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj.


GOVERNORS NEED ABUJA TO RUN THEIR STATES –Balarabe Musa

A former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa told Sunday Trust towards the weekend that state governors are spending the better part of their administration in Abuja at the expense of what they are elected for because the governors need go to Abuja to bribe their way to what should normally come to the state. The opposition leader said, “I sympathize with the governors who visit Abuja frequently but when you have a central government which is too strong you will be having this problem. Under the present system, the Federal Government is too strong; it controls all the finances and all other things. I tasted it during our time when things were still good. For a governor to do his work in the state, in particular to get the resources of the state from the central government, he has to go to Abuja regularly though is unfortunate.”

He added, “During our time, most governors frequented the federal capital, but I didn’t do it because I was lucky enough to have civil servants and politicians who were capable of doing what will take me to Abuja for the state… Today, if a governor does not go to Abuja regularly the right of his state will not come from the Federal Government.”

But is the lobbying for funds more important than doing the job for which governors were elected?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Presidency Cancels Customs’ Contract - The Fin. Minister'contract

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/28391-presidency-cancels-customs-contract
Written by Olawale Rasheed, Abuja
Monday, 19 September 2011

Following  the ongoing probe by the House of Representatives, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the cancellation of an ongoing contract designed to create a single window system for the operations of the nation‘s port system.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the contract agreement, yet to be finalised with the consultant, was cancelled at the request of the Minister of Finance to allow for a proper review of the objections and complaints raised by the House panel.

The Federal Ministry of Finance had signed a preliminary agreement with the Single Window Systems Technology Limited under a private sector financed arrangement to replace an existing consultant to which the nation is reported to have paid N40billion between 2006 and 2011.

The ministry had accused the existing consultant of failure to comply with contract agreements and meet targets for deliverables despite being fully paid.

A House motion however faulted the procedure adopted in the contract , accusing the ministry of breaching due process as well as engaging a company whose competence could not be ascertained.

The Finance Minister was said to have subsequently sought the approval of the president to cancel the contract to allow her time to review the entire contract including the performance of the existing consultant, the Fountains Consortium.

I think you are ascribing too much skill to Nigeria's policy "thinkers". OBJ had no such agenda - all he wanted to do was follow on the notion that all this mayhem was due to the killing of their leader.

Apart from the four potential groups using the BH mask there is one other possibility of who eliminated Baba Fugu. That would be the SSS. However, this sounds unreasonable to me since the SSS or the other arms of the NIA should have taken Baba Fugu into secret custody in order to extract information from him b/4 doing whatever they want with him.

ayzree:
This is exactly OBJ'S objective , to confuse them and make them not come together, so it will be easier crushing them and its working, if u criticize OBJ , ure on your own, go read the Book WAR- confuse your enemy, make their motives different.

This is not the point. GEJ and his aides need to stop looking for excuses for events in Nigeria. They need to figure out the real nature of the problem. If Blair met with the IRA leadership it was after having done the necessary underground work to ensure that it did not become an egg in the face of his govt.

Obviously OBJ was sent on a fruitless mission because the govt. did not really know who was behind BH - contrary to public pronouncements by GEJ.

Let me quickly add that the kind of terrorism that Osama Bin Laden perpetrated was a good reason why some of the terrorists group in Europe accelerated reconciliatory moves. Since 2001 the IRA & Basque Separatist groups have either settled with their govts. or shut down their previously incessant bombings. The reason is they realized the danger & real possibility of being mixed up with Osama Bin Laden type terrorism.

Instead, Nigeria's BH is trying its level best to project itself as al-qaeda's next offspring - different strokes for different folks.

Beaf:
Where do you guy's get all these "laws of talking to terrorists" from?
Here is pictorial proof that govts can talk to terrorists and that such talks do indeed yield great results.

Tony Blair (British Prime Minister) and Gerry Adams of the IRA (terrorist group).
The IRA did much more damage than boko haram can ever muster.

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/everyone-was-nervous-gerry-adams-hands-were-visibly-shaking-1324808.html

[img]http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00175/gerrytony_175992t.jpg[/img]

https://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01706/adams_1706302c.jpg

https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41376000/jpg/_41376443_blairadams203.jpg

You haven't cleared the mess in Nigeria, you are starting another high fallutin talk about other countries!!!!!!!

You better beware that a million ants can drag an elephant and tear it to pieces.

What are you going to be leveling these places with anyway - 20 year-old donated MiGs? I hope you understand that Libya has just donated high grade weaponry to Niger in exchange for asylum for Saif - weapons and people that a responsible government should have confisticated immediately they strayed into Nigerian territory.

Beaf:
This is a very good development indeed. Baba Fugu told Obj that 40% of boko harams members are in Chad and Niger.
If fact, if any of our neighbours misbehaves or doesn't cooperate fully, Nigeria should go ahead, invade and level the phucking place.
Our neighbours cannot be the launchpad for terrorist actions against us,

Yeah!!! The wisdom he used to bring the nation together in 1993.

The guy is too selfish to do anything that doesn't enhance his own ego. It is who he is, and he cannot change - you know what they say about old dogs new tricks.

The fact that you are here telling us how HE will have the best solution without even speaking up in the middle of all these mess is a pointer to that ego and the reliance on praise-singers by IBB.

I am afraid you are confusing issues. The amnesty in the Niger Delta was less than the FG needed to resolve the problem in that region, but one that has calmed things down "for now" - and I emphasize "for now".

Back to the point, ND militants were protesting the national "taking" of resources from the region and destruction of their land. That is a legitimate basis for protest.

The question is what is BH's grouse that they have to go into bombing innocent lives a.k.a. terrorism?

alj_harem:
that is the main point to this amnesty that the FG started at the first place

it shows that[b] terrorism and crime does pay[/b] if u are violent enough

Still tied to this idea that you are dealing with a cohesive group that one man can speak for. Didn't u state somewhere else that his killing is enough to show that there is more than one BH. The man acted because he, like the policy thinkers in Nigeria (he he he policy thinkers in Nigeria) thought the BH of yesterday is the same BH of today.

As the first item on the list suggested the message of eliminating him was to let the FG know that he was not in command of BH - at least the one carrying out the most deadly attacks at this point. This group has been directly taken over by another element. Methinks it is either al-qaeda or the fifth columnists of our armed forces. These are the people with the wherewithal to command assets of this nature. There is no doubt some politicians are complicit in this, but I bet they don't like the direction this is going at this point.

If there is really a politician within Nigeria commanding this type of assets then Nigeria's condition is even worse.

As I said elsewhere, GEJ needs to identify these groups (my list includes 4 but there may be others), their individual end games, and their network of operation (there are potentially 15 different ways these 4 groups may be combining efforts).

Beaf:
Beautiful analysis.
Unfortunately, it is shot down by the fact that a man actually came forward to negotiate on behalf of boko haram, he planned the meeting, consulted with others and finally met Obj, he even had the confidence to organise newspaper interviews after the event; in all that time, he wasn't killed, he was a man in control. Baba Fugu was even ready to point out where almost half of boko haram members are resident in Chad and Niger.
It would seem more like something went wrong after the meeting.

IMHO, your analysis has some truths, but it over-exaggerates the influence of al qaeda and downgrades the influence of local politicians. Baba Fugu was certainly not scared of al qaeda's influence otherwise he wouldn't have come forward.

The fact that Baba Fugu made such high demands is a common bargaining trick, of course they would have been watered down if any negotiations where to take place. There is no proof that negotiations were on either, lets have it in mind that the least of demands came solely from Baba Fugu, maybe he even wrote them long after the meeting.

Ok, mo ti gbo o. As if negotiation was not GEJ's plan before BH went after the U.N. building. E ma tan ra yin je.

wesley80:
Like I said, if there's one in a million chances of ending this on a table, its worth taking. The question of sincerity does not arise until we've exhausted all avenues to peace but we've only just began. This is not the time to trade blames either, there's a problem at hand and its on all of us regardless of who started it. Permit me to draw this analogy, BH is like a tsetse fly perched on a mans scrotu-m, you just cant crush it cos u hate it, You've got to find the subtlest means to get it off and crushing is only the very last of resorts and even then the consequences could be grave. So let Obj do what he can and let Gej explore all options available, its our collective sac on the line here!

Your fascination with Aregbe is amusing, but thanks for posting the entire piece. If someone read it all it is apparent that the gov. is hard at work for his people, even with the PDP hell-bent on causing mayhem. The two points you raised below are wrong, probably in your hurry to find some spec of dirt to point to. Look here:

1. He was speaking in Osogbo not Lagos - if you noticed he pointed to his waiting room in relation to "people [size=14pt]FROM [/size] Lagos".

2. Another demonstration of your penchant for white lies about Aregbe. He never said he wanted to construct roads through Ogun and Lagos, but roads in Osun that would link the state to Ogun and Lagos without having to go through the congested Ibadan route.

With the way you are going perhaps Aregbe needs to guide against some with Beaf as his moniker on NL. Is Aregbe safe from you?

Beaf:
. . .But . . .But. . . We don't understand, sir!
Ain't you the governor of Osun? Has Fashola begged you to be his deputy, wetin na?!

Can someone ask this man to pack back to Osun and forget Lagos? How Can the Osun state governor live in Lagos? Last time he was even talking about constructing roads through Ogun and lagos! Are we safe?

Negotiations? You can only negotiate when two parties are being honest. The BH Nigeria is dealing with wants no negotiations, and in fact there is no basis for negotiations. The only reason why negotiation is in play here is because the Nigeria government is itself a violator of law. If justice had been done at the right time nobody would be giving silly excuses such as compensation for killing of their leader - after they had taken 100s of lives. Are they going to bring those people back to life at the negotiation table? If they are willing to settle for a couple of N100 million, how many millions of Naira do they owe the families of those killed during their uprisings and bombings?

wesley80:
If there's just 1 in a million chance of ending this on the negotiation table, then it's a chance worth taking. You guys really need to face the reality of what's staring us all in the face here, the almighty US have been battling for over a decade in Afghanistan and with billions of dollars and thousands of lives gone, victory is no closer than it was in 2001 and even they are now dangling carrots. Forget the rhetoric, the slogan is now 'Do what you must'. Obj should be commended and shame on the so called Northern elites. Friggin cowards!

The problem has gone beyond internet suggestions. We are way past Nigeria as a single nation. Given that elements of the armed forces seem to be participating in this mess the solution would involve what I have called a coup-against-own government. It sounds crazy, but perhaps by 2015 it would become obvious that this is what needs to happen - if things had not escalated beyond that approach by then.

GEJ needs to basically think ahead of these groups, figure out what their end game is, and act based on that. He cannot afford to be following their script - right now they are writing the script and leading his government by the nose to fulfill it.

Beaf:
Bruv, I will defend "the mantra" if I'm asked to, however thats not the case now. I'm simply trying to find out if you have a suggestion for the crushing of boko haram. I would imagine that anyone shouting down the rooftops will. Wouldn't you?

Please tell us how to finish off boko haram, and don't let "the mantra" or the NL penchant for screaming get in the way of your answer. Thank you.

The bolded below show that u people are yet to grasp the full extent of the war you are engaged in. Which politician has the logistics to reach Baba Fugu with an AK47 within 24hrs of OBJ's visit ? That politician must really be getting ready to move into Aso Rock by force of arms or this is some greater militant threat.

There is no doubt that some politicians have sordid their hands in the BH affairs, but I bet you they did not realize what they were getting into. The monster they fed for selfish political purposes has taken on a life of its own, and will consume them in due time. There are at least four elements making up the BH menace, and they are not necessarily working hand-in-glove. Perhaps that would help:

1. The original BH which unfortunately doesn't realize they have lost out in the control of the group. That message was soundly blasted with the immediate killing of Baba Fugu for daring to speak for the group.
2. the politicians that promised to make Nigeria ungovernable for GEJ if he ever stood for and won the election - these ones are currently shaking in their boots wherever they are.
3. al-qaeda affliates who we have been warned many moons ago were seeking to open another front of its useless war in Northern Nigeria. They are good at taking advantage of political conflicts to establish themselves, and probably flocking across our northern border by the day.
4. Disgruntled elements of the Nigerian armed forces. These people are probably the most dangerous because they are part and parcel of the Nigerian security system.

Beaf:
Obj did very well with his mission to Maiduguri. Perhaps the full impact of his mission is captured in the bolded above. Added to the reasons given elsewhere, [size=14pt]it is possible that Baba Fugu's killing was ordered by a politician who felt upstaged or sidelined by Obj[/size]. That is an important angle to investigate.

We have to first figure out whether the enemy is using words of a deal as a tactic or looking for genuine reconciliation. The examples of BH new & old show that they are in the former category. This is the signature of taliban- and al-qaeda-like elements worldwide.

A few months ago they asked several govs to apologize and against better judgment many of them did. Well BH then rejected it and went ahead with new bombings. The Somalian version of al-qaeda would rather watch the people die rather than allow food in even in the face of the worst famine in recent times.

Those who are against a military approach to BH have no imagination about the groups long-term plans. This is a fight that "their ancestors" have being fighting over centuries, hence any affairs of the present are just tools to continue that fight. Although the solution is not a "firefight" one alone it must be clear to BH without equivocation that terrorism of any kind would be met with death for those behind it.

Seun:
I don't have a problem with making deals to save lives. Human life is the most precious thing in the world.

Are u asking me?

Is that because I refrained from mentioning that this was your mantra before the elections.

It is either you are trying to be clever or have actually forgotten, but I remembered cautioning you that statements like "cut them loose in the desert" are unlikely to be forgotten quickly by those being addressed.

Now that those concerned are calling the bluff of the FG, surely the approach you guys had in mind for doing this should suffice.

Beaf:
We've heard similar words a million times. Its always the same screaming without even a hint of a solution, so lets take this in a practical direction and hear what practical things the govt could do to, in your own words, cut boko haram loose into the desert?

How do you propose this be done?

He is always warning!!!! It sounds very hollow, and sometimes descending on these criminals without warning is the only way to finish them off.

Depointer1:
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday warned that his administration would not spare violators of national security, calling on those who hide under religion and ethnicity to perpetrate evil to stop forthwith.

He gave the warning at the passing-out parade of 196 cadets of 58 Regular Course and 153 postgraduate students, who were conferred with degrees in various disciplines at a colourful ceremony held at the permanent site of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to security, he noted that the development of any nation is hinged on security and peace.



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2011/sept/18/newsbreak-18-09-2011-001.html

Ileke-Idi, this has nothing to do with Yoruba people. The new BH killed the original BH, and our government's silly approach to national issues facilitated it. OBJ always has to feel he is powerful, when over and over again they call on him only when they need a dirty job done. If there are any "burnt ends" to this it is GEJ, OBJ and the rest of their cohorts to feel.

In any case, Yorubas must be ready secure their region out of the chaos that this is leading to.

Ileke-IdI:
Why do I feel like Yorubas will feel the burnt end of all this?

See wetin OBJ do again.

Thank you for the bolded. When a nations policy caucus are filed with 70 year-old brains designed in the colonial era, assisted by syncophant brains bred on corruption this is what you have for a nation.

A govt. that is sitting on a war-head but keeps pursuing a self-serving agenda is going to take us all down with its incompetence.

okada_man:
Evil brain said;
You know this because you are using your brain correctly. well done.

But the idiots that killed the man's father probably did not use their brain before acting.

Those who suggested that a visit to Babakura mean't they have sensible access to Boko Haram [size=14pt]apparently did not use their brain[/size].

Let's see who they will visit and beg next. 

Let's just keep finding a strawman problem and beating it to death.

The reality is this is a faceless forum (although quite a few people have connected physically through it). The nature of this kind of fora is "race-to-the-bottomness". So keeping fighting strawman issues and looking for decorum on a forum, while bad leaders with clueless policies strangle your nation to death.

That decorum would certainly be useful for Nigeria in its grave!!!!!!!!!!!

Pukkah:
@Beaf, the issue of decorum which you raised is very pertinent. It is another worrisome trend that the so-called educated Nigerians cannot hold a conversation without resorting to insults and abuse. Instead of addressing the issues raised, regardless of the point of view of the other person, they pounce on him and start to call him names.

Whatever the opinion of the other man is, it is better to address the issues he's raising or addressing instead of shifting the argument to his person.

Abeg commot make I see front. Blame NL for the govt's ineptitude. Wonders shall never end!!!!!!

GEJ obviously sent OBJ on a mission after their Council of State "security" meeting. It is as if GEJ lives in another planet where he & his advisers have a "special" solution to Nigeria's situation. There is only one problem. These solutions are always self-serving, not well thoughtout, and often aggravates the problem. That was the case here, with you & the rest of the mouth-pieces jumping the gun just yesterday to praise the move and stamping GEJ's approval on it. What do you have to say now? Blame NLers, who sitting in front of a computer, can see the foolishness of this move and said so.

As I stated on hearing this news of OBJ's latest "adventure", it is simply unbelievable. GEJ obviously doesn't have an understanding of the enemy he faces, and is groping in the dark for solutions.

For the upteenth time, these people have decided they want out of the federation. They actually want to be "cut loose in the desert" as was often mentioned here before the elections Let them set up their Taliban State so that the world would be clear which country would be bombed to submission a few years hence.

Beaf:
I wonder.
It is part of a deep rooted rot in society, we have been so pulverised by life's wicked blows that many of us have forgotten how to be civilised and imagine that being loud and rude cuts them out as wise and intelligent, when the opposite is the reality.
Many times one comes on NL, only to wonder in despair if our average IQ has been hurt by years of brutal repression and the brazen wickedness of past govts. Its really saddening.

Obviously OBJ didn't make the visit on his own decision. This was one of the "great" solutions our eggheads at the Council of State came up with when they met about the security situation in Nigeria a couple of weeks ago.

[size=14pt]I say all of them are foolish people[/size]. This is what happens when our leaders go from dumb to dumber each day.

Let anybody that has an ear hear this is the beginning of a full war. I hope GEJ begins to lay down the battle line right away, but who am I kidding. Look at the way they described the FG under his command "Babakura Fugu's killing comes as [size=14pt]Nigeria's weak central government [/size] struggles to stop attacks carried out by the feared sect."

Let nobody fool themselves, it is time for Nigeria to dissolve.

junegirl:
I'm still trying to figure out why Obj decided to pay the family a visit. Is he giving a tacit approval to the activities of Boko Haram?
www.heal9ja..com

umechuma:
OBJ is the most foolish president Nigeria has ever produced.His visit to the terrorist has just made Boko Haram larger than life and created more complexities to it.Fooolish man

So Bola Ige was gone in a few after that.

Could this be the reason why people believed the parties mentioned in the last paragraph were responsible for his death 

And how long do you think that is going to take? At least several decades in my opinion.

quid:
Green Energy is BOUND to replace crude oil based energy, its only a matter of time now.

When that happens, the disgraceful oil bond that has kept Nigeria together will degenerate . . .and Nigeria will naturally disintegrate.

Somebody better not come here telling me how bad it is that the West gives African leaders no respect. See why now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Almost all of them, in the presence of their "masters", become loose lips, singing like canneries in betrayal of each other.

Yesterday, it was Atiku trying to curry favor by telling the Americans in 2005 not to be surprised if OBJ dropped dead "tomorrow".

I can't wait to hear what names OBJ called these people in front of the Ambassador.

Leave God out of yeye politics.

In any case people need to keep this day in mind for when Fashola hops on the plane to Imo for campaign. Hope nobody will be calling for the killing of ACN supporters then.

alj_harem:
i think it is a good development but how do they intend to do that

ACN is still in lagos, PDP and even CPC

i don't see APGA getting those LG just like that, but then again there is nothing God cannot do

Chei, Ileke-Idi, who be oga for here

Anyway, mo wa kampe .

Ileke-IdI:
Long time oga, se e wa pa?

Obasanjo Leads Peace Talks With Boko Haram


Unbelievable - enough said.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/19751-obasanjo-leads-peace-talks-with-boko-haram.html
By Yusuf Alli, Abuja 1 hour ago

The Federal Government yesterday opened talks with members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is leading the peace moves, visited the family of the slain leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, in Maiduguri for a closed-door session.

Obasanjo, who arrived in Maiduguri at about 11.40am, was received by Borno State Deputy Governor Zanna Umar Mustapha.

Although the former President claimed that he was on a private visit, it was learnt that the visit was to initiate the talks, which the government plans to have with the Boko Haram (Western education is sin) members.

A source, who pleaded not to be named because of the "sensitivity" of the matter, said: "Obasanjo met Mohammed Yusuf’s family at Railway Quarters, the demolished headquarters of Boko Haram.

"The ex-President stayed with them for about one and a half hours before departing for the airport."

Obasanjo was said to have flown into Maiduguri from Jos where he had a joint peace meeting with the Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Plateau leaders.

The source said Obasanjo pleaded with Yusuf’s family to prevail on Boko Haram members to sheathe their sword and stop the spate of bombings nationwide.

The source quoted Obasanjo as saying: "This is a personal initiative. I urge you to forgive and forget the past.

"I plead with you to give me the chance to mediate between the family and the government."

The brother-in-law of the slain Boko Haram leader, Babakura Fuggu, whose father was also executed in 2009, reportedly said: "Since 2009, this is the first time any high-profile figure has commiserated with the family.

"We are happy with this visit. About 30-40 per cent of our members are scattered in neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun."

The source added that Obasanjo may brief President Goodluck Jonathan on his mission on or before this weekend.

A top government source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: "The government is ready for talks with Boko Haram, like it did in the Niger Delta.

"The ex-President has decided to avail the government of his experience in peace-keeping operations. He believes dialogue could save the nation from bomb explosions.

"You should expect more follow-up talks with the Boko Haram sect. After all, after returning from the battle front, we go back to the peace table."