₦airaland Forum

quest003:
@lfj, whats d credibility of your informatn?d source? Its either based on hear say or softsell mag. If u say gbemi is a partyfreak, at least she'll be seen nd her pix probably snapped, plz come up here wit her pix at any social gatherin whatsoevr

I don’t want to go into argument about Gbemi; I am just providing this information to refresh the mind of Kwarans about our next governor. You have the best opportunity now to tell us more about your candidate who will be 12years in the house by April without any impressive outing.

Dimeji Bankole's wife Dares Gbemi Saraki, Drags hubby out of Gbemi's Party.


Senator Gbemi Saraki's exclusive birthday party is now the talk of the town, due to the an incident involving her and the wife of our dear speaker.

The senator and the speaker has been very close since Dimeji emerged as number 4man in the country.


Both the speaker and his beautiful medical doctor's wife were invited to the bash.

No sooner had the couple arrived at the event than they were separated by the celebrant. Gbemi.

who was said to be all over him, clinching amorously to him, much to the amazement of other guests who felt uncomfortable with the situation.

Worse still was the fact that Dimeji seemed to be enjoying the special attention the celebrant was giving him, to the chagrin of his wife. Dimeji's wife was forced to act, considering all the speculations being peddled about her husband and Gbemi.

She angrily drew her husband's hand away from Gbemi and forced her husband to make a hasty exit from the party.

Reckless Lifestyle Of Senator Gbemi Saraki

Aside from the beautiful face of Senator Gbemisola Saraki, daughter of the strongman of Kwara politics Chief Olusola Saraki, underneath is a woman who enjoys life to the hilt.

Those who know her well claimed that since she became an adult, she has been living a carefree life, going from one party to another in company of numerous friends, drinking and smoking as if they are going out of fashion.
This reckless lifestyle accounted for why her marriage to Segun Fowora that produced two lovely children packed up like a badly arranged pack of cards. Those who are in the know claim that when she got married, she practically forgot that she was no longer a spinster and found it hard to normalise her lifestyle.

Before the marriage finally collapsed, the two families had on several occasions waded in trying to make the marriage work, but Gbemi being a spoilt child who doesn’t want to subject herself to her husband’s control, didn’t help matters and the marriage finally packed up.

Since the marriage collapsed she became free like a bird and preferred the company of men more than that of her fellow women and her relationship with them has done more harm than good.

One of them is one Farouk Farouk, a former House of Representatives member from 1999-2003 who is so close to Gbemi, to the extent that he was nursing the idea of marrying her and he allegedly sent packing his wife, all because of Gbemi.

But unknown to him, the friendship didn’t go down well with the Saraki family, who felt slighted that somebody who was benefiting from the political structure of the family could turn around to be in a sordid relationship with his mentor’s daughter. This cost him a second term to the National Assembly.

However, this did not go down well with Gbemi, who had by then got promotion from the House of Representatives to the Senate. She made a case for him with Baba Oloye, who pleaded with Bukola who made him a commissioner. But he didn’t serve long in the cabinet before he was shown the way out.

It was further gathered that on several occasions, the wives of men she was allegedly very close to had warned her to stay away from their husbands.

Meanwhile, her governorship ambition is setting her against his blood brother and the incumbent governor, Bukola Saraki, because of the fact that he wants somebody who he can control unlike his sister who is a loose cannon. Aside this, there is no love lost between Bukola’s wife Toyin who was a close friend of the senator before the relationship went sour.

We learnt that Toyin has not forgiven Gbemi who slapped her over a disagreement they had sometime ago and she is also working behind the scene against Gbemi. Bukola himself has also said that he will hand over to someone who has been part and parcel of his administration, a statement many see as against Gbemi’s ambition.

Gbemi’s marital status is another minus as many people in Kwara State who are predominantly Muslims believe that any woman who is not under the roof of a husband is not responsible and is unfit to handle any position of responsibility.

http://www.jangola.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=692:reckless-lifestyle-of-senator-gbemi-saraki-&catid=44:politics&Itemid=164

OVER N2 trillion depositors funds would have been lost in the banking sector if not for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s intervention through the set of reforms in the sector. This was disclosed by the CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at the Nigerian Tribune Special Award Ceremony, held at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday.

Mallam Sanusi, who won The Tribune Man of the Year Award, said the impacts would have been monumental if the Nigerian banking sector had collapsed.

“The banking reforms were met with anger, condemnation and allegation of ethnic agenda at the inception. Those who condemned the reforms, I knew, had no access to the information available to us. But I knew that when Nigerians begin to see the good side of the reforms, they will appreciate our efforts,” the CBN governor said.

The CBN governor said further, “we are not at the end of it all. By the first half of the year, we have to complete the recapitalisation of the banks. At least four of the big banks will sign MoU.


“Through the reforms, the foreign exchange has been stable and confidence has returned to the banks.”

He said a lot of progress had also been made on the power sector reforms while the CBN had released N200 billion to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Reacting to the rumour regarding massive retrenchment in the banking sector, the apex bank governor said there was no plan to retrench workers in the banking sector, but added that any retrenchment in an organisation could be as a result of excess load of staff carried by it, noting that banks were not exempted from such reforms.

“Every time an institution finds out that it is carrying excess capacity as far as staff are concerned, you do  some downsizing. It’s happening all over the world.

“If you look at America, Europe and some African countries, there has been financial crisis and many bankers have found themselves on the street.
“This is because these banks were making profits or claimed to be making profits and they are not, but discovered they needed to reduce costs. It’s a natural fallout of the financial crisis.

“However, as we recapitalise these banks, you find out that these banks are actually recruiting. As I speak to you, banks like Union Bank and Oceanic Bank are recruiting and the truth is there has been an increase in recruitment,” the CBN governor said.

Earlier in his address, the MD/EIC, African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Reverend Sam Adesua, said the social, economic and political surveillance of the polity informed the decision of top editorial members of the Tribune titles to review the Nigerian environment in the outgoing year.

He said it was unanimously decided at the meeting that as a way of encouraging public officers to be on the side of probity and good governance, some outstanding public officers should be honoured.

Rev. Adesua urged all those appointed or elected into public positions throughout the country to bear in mind that the searchlight of those who appointed or elected them as well that of press was on them.

On the award winners, he said out of several eminent Nigerians who qualified for the award, the two award winners, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (The Tribune Man of The Year) and  Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief  Godswill Akpabio (The Tribune Governor of The Year) were found to be outstanding.

“May I seize this opportunity to congratulate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, on their sterling achievements and I urge them to sustain the performances for which we are honouring them today.

“We feel proud to recommend these illustrious and outstanding Nigerians to other public officers in the country for emulation of their patriotism and doggedness,” Rev. Adesua admonished.

The CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi,  started his banking career in 1985 with Icon Limited later with the United Bank for Africa Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

He has worked in various fields in the banking profession, including Issuing House activity, financial advisory services and credit marketing.
He distinguished himself as the Chief Risk Officer in the two largest banks in the country, UBA Plc and FBN Plc.

In January 2009, Sanusi rose to the position of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Plc and in June 2009, he was appointed the 10th governor of the CBN.

Sanusi became the CBN governor at a period the global financial crisis was biting hard on nations and at a period the banking sector in the country was at the verge of collapse due to its over- exposure to the stock market and excessive margin lending, leading to a bubble in the capital market.
In his resolve to put things right in the banking sector, Sanusi introduced and implemented a far-reaching reforms aimed at addressing poor corporate governance, poor risk management practices, management fraud, insider abuse and weak regulation supervision and enforcement, which were identified as the bane of the country’s banking sector.

A joint audit exercise carried out by CBN and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) revealed that eight out of the 24 deposit money banks in the country were unhealthy.

This led to the removal of the CEOs of the banks, including Intercontinental, Oceanic, Union, Afribank, FinBank, Bank PHB, Spring Bank, and Equatorial Trust Bank.

To put the banks on the path of profitability and ensure stability in the institution, the Sanusi-led CBN injected nearly N1trillion as bailout funds to the banking sector.

He also set up the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (Amcon) to mop up the toxic assets in the balance sheets of the rescued banks in preparation for their takeover by new investors.

Also, to ensure sanity in the sector, Sanusi ensured compulsory retirement of CEOs, who had spent more than 10 years in office.

He also set tenure-limit of 12 years for non-executive directors and change of external auditors after 10 years.

Other reforms introduced by the Sanusi-led CBN included abolition of universal banking licence. Banks in the country can now operate as national bank, regional bank or international bank depending on the licences they obtained.

The microfinance banks and other institutions were also not left out in the reforms of Mallam Sanusi-led CBN. Last year, licences of 224 microfinance banks were withdrawn by the CBN for their failure in the target examination carried out on them by the CBN and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was born in Kano, Kano State, on July 31, 1961. He obtained  degrees in Economics and Islamic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the International University of Africa, Khartoum, respectively.



http://tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/front-page-articles/3099-how-cbn-saved-depositors-from-losing-n2tr-to-sick-banks-sanusi.html

“Things will never change in Nigeria, no one has the audacity and the bravery to clean up Nigeria, that person would be dead before he starts.” By Tafa Balogun in UK few weeks to his arrest and arraignment for corruption.

In ten years to come, we will all come back here to praise the good work of Sahara Reporters. It is part of our custom in Nigeria; you cannot get praise when you are alive.

I don't think patriotism has anything to do with fact on ground. To me, all indicators of failure pointed to our direction. The early we face reality the better equipped we are to solve the various problems confronting us as a nation. Let do our own analysis and see if we need somebody else to tell us what is obvious:

Political indicators
1.   Criminalization and/or delegitimisation of the state: endemic corruption or profiteering by ruling elites and resistance to transparency, accountability and political representation. Includes any widespread loss of popular confidence in state institutions and processes.

2.   Progressive deterioration of public services: a disappearance of basic state functions that serve the people, including failure to protect citizens from terrorism and violence and to provide essential services, such as health, education, sanitation, public transportation. Also using the state apparatus for agencies that serve the ruling elites, such as the security forces, presidential staff, central bank, diplomatic service, customs and collection agencies.

3.   Widespread violation of human rights: an emergence of authoritarian, dictatorial or military rule in which constitutional and democratic institutions and processes are suspended or manipulated. Outbreaks of politically inspired (as opposed to criminal) violence against innocent civilians. A rising number of political prisoners or dissidents who are denied due process consistent with international norms and practices. Any widespread abuse of legal, political and social rights, including those of individuals, groups or cultural institutions (e.g., harassment of the press, politicization of the judiciary, internal use of military for political ends, public repression of political opponents, religious or cultural persecution.)

4.   Security apparatus as ‘state within a state’: an emergence of elite or praetorian guards that operate with impunity. Emergence of state-sponsored or state-supported private militias that terrorize political opponents, suspected "enemies," or civilians seen to be sympathetic to the opposition. An "army within an army" that serves the interests of the dominant military or political clique. Emergence of rival militias, guerilla forces or private armies in an armed struggle or protracted violent campaigns against state security forces.

5.   Rise of factionalised elites: a fragmentation of ruling elites and state institutions along group lines. Use of aggressive nationalistic rhetoric by ruling elites, especially destructive forms of communal irredentism (e.g., "Greater Serbia" or communal solidarity (e.g., "ethnic cleansing", "defending the faith".

6.   Intervention of other states or external factors: military or Para-military engagement in the internal affairs of the state at risk by outside armies, states, identity groups or entities that affect the internal balance of power or resolution of the conflict. Intervention by donors, especially if there is a tendency towards over-dependence on foreign aid or peacekeeping missions.

Social indicators
1.   Demographic pressures: including the pressures deriving from high population density relative to food supply and other life-sustaining resources. The pressure from a population's settlement patterns and physical settings, including border disputes, ownership or occupancy of land, access to transportation outlets, control of religious or historical sites, and proximity to environmental hazards.

2.    Massive movement of refugees and internally displaced peoples: forced uprooting of large communities as a result of random or targeted violence and/or repression, causing food shortages, disease, lack of clean water, land competition, and turmoil that can spiral into larger humanitarian and security problems, both within and between countries.

3.    Legacy of vengeance-seeking group grievance: based on recent or past injustices, this could date back centuries. Including atrocities committed with impunity against communal groups and/or specific groups singled out by state authorities, or by dominant groups, for persecution or repression. Institutionalized political exclusion. Public scapegoating of groups believed to have acquired wealth, status or power as evidenced in the emergence of "hate" radio, pamphleteering and stereotypical or nationalistic political rhetoric.

4.   Chronic and sustained human flight: both the "brain drain" of professionals, intellectuals and political dissidents and voluntary emigration of "the middle class." Growth of exile/expat communities are also used as part of this indicator.

Economic indicators
1.   Uneven economic development along group lines: determined by group-based inequality, or perceived inequality, in education, jobs, and economic status. Also measured by group-based poverty levels, infant mortality rates, and education levels.

2.   Sharp and/or severe economic decline: measured by a progressive economic decline of the society as a whole (using: per capita income, GNP, debt, child mortality rates, poverty levels, business failures.) A sudden drop in commodity prices, trade revenue, foreign investment or debt payments. Collapse or devaluation of the national currency and a growth of hidden economies, including the drug trade, smuggling, and capital flight. Failure of the state to pay salaries of government employees and armed forces or to meet other financial obligations to its citizens, such as pension payment


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failed_state

jmaine:
Only a dunce will make such a statement as the one below which is credited to you . . haba bros.

Rather than give your own view, you result to insult. Who cares, if your family own all the media houses in Nigeria? I will love seeing you continue to display your stupidity. If my statement is what is given you headache, I advice you go PHY for proper examination. No matter how civil you are to a psycho person, he will always comeback to tell who he is.

jmaine:
Messed up dude. . Mumu

If am Mumu then what are you? Think before you talk , this opportunity does not give you liberty to insult others.

The worst of SAHARA REPORTERS is better than all Nigeria media houses put together.

If definition of doing well is to be able to afford three meals square, clothing and have a place to put your head without worry about the other neighbors disturbing your peace after working day, then I will say they are doing well. But, if your definition of doing well is to have 3 cars, plenty of money in the bank, then it will be hard to say they are doing well.

Hello Uncle Jonathan,
I am obliged to write this letter to you as a concerned citizen of Nigeria, the giant of Africa in deceit, a nation of great people - bad leaders, perhaps, bad rulers as their attributes and qualities are in sharp contrast to what leadership stands for. The idea of writing this letter came to my mind when the thought of how we have failed as a nation continue to torment my mind.
Thanks to your star for the unprecedented rise in your profile; the son of a peasant farmer becoming the president of the largest country in Africa. While some say it is luck, some call it destiny, some see it as a miracle, and others refer to it as providence. Whichever way, what is clear is that; God has chosen you above every other person to control the affairs of our country; there is definitely an invisible hand that influences the affairs of men. This further explains why the likes of Awolowo and Ojukwu labored so hard to have this privilege, but their dream was never actualized.
Less than 12 years ago, you were like every other struggling and helpless Nigerian, crying for good governance. Together, we cursed those in position of authority because of their failure to give us hope; today, we are feeling the same way about you, because you have in no way demonstrated that with you as our ruler, our future and that of our children are secured. Some might argue that four months is too short to achieve any meaningful thing in Nigeria, we are definitely not expecting a miracle, but we want to see you take bold steps; give us a ray of hope. It is said that the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step, we want to see those first steps; we have been patient enough. These charade needs to stop.
While I was in secondary school, teachers like you enshrined certain doctrines into our brains, doctrines like “good names are better than riches”, you taught us to strive hard as youths so that we can become future leaders. As a former teacher Sir, what legacy do you want to leave behind, what kinds of names do you want us to adore? Patience Jonathan? - Definitely not a name we would like to emulate, not with her shopping sprees around the world with citizen’s money and abuse of power that the Nigerian constitution never sanctioned! It seems the legacies we have right now are those of failures, and the names that our youths adore today are those of Babangida, Sani Abacha, Obasanjo, Yara’dua and their cronies. These are failures that looted the country dry and turned our government to a tool for stealing. They refused to alleviate our poverty stricken lives with vast opportunities presented to them; instead, they made abundant fortunes out of our national resources. Where do you belong? In the last four months, Nigerians are not convinced that this government is not a continuation of what those looters left behind.
Of what benefit will it be for you, if you gain all the presidential privileges, immense wealth, all at the expense of helpless Nigerians for eight years and regret the rest of your life like Obasanjo who realized after 8 years that there is need for a third term to find the solution to the perennial problems of the nation, or Babangida who is struggling hard to redeem his battered image, because he lost the opportunity to make his name great when he had the greatest opportunity.
Presently, all indicators of failure are pointed in our direction as a failed state. A nation that cannot provide basic necessities of life to her citizenry is considered a failed state; where are employment opportunities for our able youth? Where is stable electricity supply? Where is Health care? Where is Portable water? Where is security? Where is rule of law? What of good governance? The list is endless.
Mr. President, I am not holding you responsible for the decay in our system, even though you cannot be exonerated; you were a deputy governor in an administration that was funding militants in the Niger-delta region and one of the highest contributors to the third term agenda of Baba Iyabo; you were also a Vice President in a comatose government, a government that fooled 142 million Nigerians for thirty six months. Nigerians are either patient or they must be in a perplexed state of mind; they are not expecting development to happen overnight, it did not happen in fifty years of independence. But, there could be a process towards that, a process that will ensure that Nigerians enjoy educational funding for their best brains in Nigerian schools, it is heartbreaking to see that thousands of Nigerians jet out of Nigeria each year to school in foreign countries where they are placed on scholarships, they even travel to Ghana, Ghana! A country with the same population as Lagos, a nation, whose only achievements are stable electricity and electoral reform, small as these achievements may seem, they are absent in a country supposedly filled with milk and honey. This is why, Nigerians find it absurd that N6.6 billion was budgeted by you for the Independence Day celebration, the question is: what are we celebrating?
I do not want to believe that five months or one year is too short for you to make an impact in the lives of helpless Nigerians. If you do not have any development plan for the country, you can harmonize the NEEDS policy with the seven point agenda and do something! If you cannot make meaningful contribution in five months, then where is the wisdom in giving you another four years? What plans do you have for the economy when oil revenue drops to an abysmally low level as a result of exploitation of alternative sources of energy by buyers of our crude oil? Break away from the ideologies of PDP if you have to, just like the far extremist Tea party movement is breaking away from the Republican Party in America. The PDP has failed this nation for twelve years; this party has only brought sadness to Nigerians.
I have watched with keen interest how our past rulers, had given us the impression that Nigeria problems are multitudinous, and that it will take forever to solve. It is true that our problems are numerous, but that they will take forever to solve is just a figment of imagination of those criminals in authority, even though the good citizens of Nigeria do not subscribe to this, we remain helpless. The foundation of our problems can be easily resolved if we are determined and sincere. The foundation of Nigeria’s problem is the absence of rule of law. The rule of law is fundamental to any democratic process, rule of law respects us as equals, it allows us to organize our lives and plan our futures. All other problem exists because we do not allow the rule of law to prevail in our national affair. By rule of law, I do not refer to the one propagated by the Yar’adua administration, an administration you were a major player, where perpetrators of corruption were not prosecuted, a rule of law that encouraged Police brutality and killing of innocent people. Our system had impliedly accepted two sets of rule, one for the rich, and the other for the helpless Nigerians, a rule of law that only fostered seasons of anomie in our society.
I would like to remind you that there is life after office, your position today is temporary, no matter how long, it will come to an end one day and everything will become history and you will surely give account of your actions or inaction after death. This is the right time for you to shine, the time to put your name in gold by excelling where the likes of IBB, Abacha, OBJ, Abdul Salam and others failed. To start with, in your declaration for president, you promised the country nothing, saying “The only promise I make to you my friends, fellow citizens and Nigeria, is to promise LESS and deliver MORE if I am elected”. This is ridiculous; this shows nothing but sheer cowardice on your part, is this done so that Nigerians will not hold you accountable for not doing anything? You were wrongly advised on this one. Let us know what you plan to do. If you do not have any plan, organize a credible election and leave, why must you be the next president of Nigeria if you are not ready to give us hope?
I suggest that you start championing the course of the Nigerian masses by disappointing the looters. They are already waiting to milk us again with the budgeted amount for this Independence Day celebration, their shenanigans just won’t stop! This is the time to deny them the privilege to steal from our national wealth. Let us use the money for something more important. What are we celebrating; 85% of able youths roaming the street without jobs, our economy is struggling, our roads are death traps, and hospitals are begging for attention, security is a mirage, what is our pride?
I hope that one day, you will remember this day, this hour, this minute and this second as a period when God, through one of His humble servants reminded you of where you are coming from, your position as a privilege to put your name, your family name and your entire ethnicity in the good record of history.
Thanks you and God bless.

The following are the indicators of a failed state. Let do our own analysis and see where we belong.

Political indicators
1. Criminalization and/or delegitimisation of the state: endemic corruption or profiteering by ruling elites and resistance to transparency, accountability and political representation. Includes any widespread loss of popular confidence in state institutions and processes.
2. Progressive deterioration of public services: a disappearance of basic state functions that serve the people, including failure to protect citizens from terrorism and violence and to provide essential services, such as health, education, sanitation, public transportation. Also using the state apparatus for agencies that serve the ruling elites, such as the security forces, presidential staff, central bank, diplomatic service, customs and collection agencies.
3. Widespread violation of human rights: an emergence of authoritarian, dictatorial or military rule in which constitutional and democratic institutions and processes are suspended or manipulated. Outbreaks of politically inspired (as opposed to criminal) violence against innocent civilians. A rising number of political prisoners or dissidents who are denied due process consistent with international norms and practices. Any widespread abuse of legal, political and social rights, including those of individuals, groups or cultural institutions (e.g., harassment of the press, politicization of the judiciary, internal use of military for political ends, public repression of political opponents, religious or cultural persecution.)
4. Security apparatus as ‘state within a state’: an emergence of elite or praetorian guards that operate with impunity. Emergence of state-sponsored or state-supported private militias that terrorize political opponents, suspected "enemies," or civilians seen to be sympathetic to the opposition. An "army within an army" that serves the interests of the dominant military or political clique. Emergence of rival militias, guerilla forces or private armies in an armed struggle or protracted violent campaigns against state security forces.
5. Rise of factionalised elites: a fragmentation of ruling elites and state institutions along group lines. Use of aggressive nationalistic rhetoric by ruling elites, especially destructive forms of communal irredentism (e.g., "Greater Serbia" or communal solidarity (e.g., "ethnic cleansing", "defending the faith".
6. Intervention of other states or external factors: military or Para-military engagement in the internal affairs of the state at risk by outside armies, states, identity groups or entities that affect the internal balance of power or resolution of the conflict. Intervention by donors, especially if there is a tendency towards over-dependence on foreign aid or peacekeeping missions.

Social indicators
1. Demographic pressures: including the pressures deriving from high population density relative to food supply and other life-sustaining resources. The pressure from a population's settlement patterns and physical settings, including border disputes, ownership or occupancy of land, access to transportation outlets, control of religious or historical sites, and proximity to environmental hazards.
2. Massive movement of refugees and internally displaced peoples: forced uprooting of large communities as a result of random or targeted violence and/or repression, causing food shortages, disease, lack of clean water, land competition, and turmoil that can spiral into larger humanitarian and security problems, both within and between countries.
3. Legacy of vengeance-seeking group grievance: based on recent or past injustices, this could date back centuries. Including atrocities committed with impunity against communal groups and/or specific groups singled out by state authorities, or by dominant groups, for persecution or repression. Institutionalized political exclusion. Public scapegoating of groups believed to have acquired wealth, status or power as evidenced in the emergence of "hate" radio, pamphleteering and stereotypical or nationalistic political rhetoric.
4. Chronic and sustained human flight: both the "brain drain" of professionals, intellectuals and political dissidents and voluntary emigration of "the middle class." Growth of exile/expat communities are also used as part of this indicator.

Economic indicators
1. Uneven economic development along group lines: determined by group-based inequality, or perceived inequality, in education, jobs, and economic status. Also measured by group-based poverty levels, infant mortality rates, and education levels.
2. Sharp and/or severe economic decline: measured by a progressive economic decline of the society as a whole (using: per capita income, GNP, debt, child mortality rates, poverty levels, business failures.) A sudden drop in commodity prices, trade revenue, foreign investment or debt payments. Collapse or devaluation of the national currency and a growth of hidden economies, including the drug trade, smuggling, and capital flight. Failure of the state to pay salaries of government employees and armed forces or to meet other financial obligations to its citizens, such as pension payment


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failed_state

Failed States List
Failed States according to the "Failed States Index 2010" of Foreign Policy
177 states were included in the list, of which 37 were classified as "alert", 92 as "warning", 35 as "moderate", 13 as "sustainable". The worst 20 states are shown below. For the entire ranking see List of countries by Failed States Index. Change in rank from 2009 is shown in parentheses. There was a tie for 19th place between North Korea and Niger.[18]

1.   Somalia (0)
2.   Chad (+2)
3.   Sudan (0)
4.   Zimbabwe (-2)
5.   Democratic Republic of the Congo (0)
6.   Afghanistan (+1)
7.   Iraq (-1)
8.   Central African Republic (0)
9.   Guinea (0)
10.   Pakistan (0)
11.   Haiti (+1)
12.   Côte d'Ivoire (-1)
13.   Kenya (+1)
14.   Nigeria (+1)
15.   Yemen (+4)
16.   Burma (-3)
17.   Ethiopia (-1)
18.   Timor-Leste (+2)
19.   North Korea (-2)
19.   Niger (+4)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failed_state

Major Ibrahim Babangida, the self-aclaimed "evil genius" and Nigeria's most corrupt dictator is seen here standing with his bossom friend (both of them Army Majors) in Okigwe in 1969. 17 years later IBB framed Vatsa in a phantom coup. He set up a military tribunal to try the "coupists" but the tribunal led by  Major Geneal Domkat Bali found no evidence of Vatsa's involvement. But blood thirsty won't have none of that, he had to kill Vatsa.

When Vatsa was facing the firing squad, he was asked what his last words were, he didn't say much, after checking what time it was, he removed his wristwatch and asked his would be killers to pass it on to his wife.

IBB went on to become one the biggest socio-political menace to confront the Nigerian state. In 1993, he annulled Nigeria's freest election that he 'd organized, claiming that he had access to security reports that would have led Nigeria on the part of war. Almost 17 years after, Babangida wants to come back to power. You can imagine what he will do to Nigerians if he could have done this to Vatsa!

http://www.saharareporters.com/photo/ibb-murders-major-ibrahim-babangida-and-major-mammam-vatsa-okigwe-1969

change ur password and security question.

By Bassey Udo
September 22, 2010 12:48AM print email

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday reacted to recent criticisms credited to his predecessor, Chukwuma Soludo, on the management of the nation’s economic policies, describing it as “alarmist.”
Mr Sanusi, who was briefing reporters on the resolutions by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting yesterday in Abuja, said Mr Soludo could not have been right to declare that the country’s economy was facing imminent collapse, considering the damning situation the global economy is currently going through.
“I wish he (Soludo) was specific on some of those things he thinks we should do to save the economy from the crisis or collapse he is talking about, and give recommendations,” Mr Sanusi said, adding, “I think some of those remarks were alarmist and did not take full cognizance of the situation we are in today.”
Failing short of tracing the root of the present crisis in the economy to Mr Soludo’s administration, the CBN Governor explained, “We are in the middle of global economic crisis (where our country’s) banking system has lost 66 per cent of its capital. The reality is that if we had intervened in 2007 or 2008, when the warning signals were becoming clear that the banking system was heading towards a point of crisis, due to the opaque situation in the capital market, we would not be dealing with the kind of crisis we are facing at this moment.
“Once it became clear that the banks had lost capital, because of margin loans and exposure to petroleum products importation and very weak regulation and supervision, it was clear that the banks cannot continue to lend at the rate they were used to,” Mr Sanusi said.
“For that reason, I supported the decision of the National Economic Council that government should draw down on the Excess Crude Account in order to augment government payments. And if credit is not flowing into the economy and government is not lending, we will have a full blown recession.
“Excess Crude Account was saving for a rainy day. And when price of crude oil crashed from $147 per barrel to $40, and output crashed from 2.3million barrels a day to less than one million barrels per day, it is not just raining, it pouring.
“One needed to have counter-fiscal condition. The Excess crude Account was used to fund that counter-fiscality.”
Playing politics
Mr Sanusi said Mr Soludo himself pursued counter-fiscal monetary policy measures and reduced the liquidity ratio from 40 to 25 per cent, and cash reserve requirement from 42 per cent.
“These were appropriate quality responses in the time of crisis,” he said. “For me, the decision of government to implement financial sector reforms was long overdue. The announcement that petroleum products distribution should be deregulated over time is also a very good decision that should be implemented.
“The focus of the Minister of Finance on employment generation and industrial development policy are long overdue and should be encouraged. The reforms in the capital market are good. We are not exactly there yet, but in terms of taking the right steps, I think the government has done all that is necessary to do.”
Mr Sanusi said some of the comments credited to Mr Soludo might be political.
“Soludo had contested an election some time ago, and as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one does not know how much his statement is economics and how much of it is politics. But I am responding to the economic aspect of the discussion and not involved in the internal PDP family political affair,” he said

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5621794-146/soludos_criticism_of_economy_alarmist_says.csp

What other evidence do will need to tell us that we are a failed Nation. I weep for my country! The future is not sure for the young generation. The criminals are now the ruler.

Please, whoever that know the phone number and e-mail address of the principal officers of Yaba College of Tech should I help me post it online. They have 7 phone numbers on their site, 01-800160-4, 794077, 87888; the number ring when you call but nobody answer your call. I guess those numbers are not functioning; they are there to fill the gap.

Please, help me it is very urgent!

ROSSIKE:
ziga said to LFJ:


Thank you ziga. You see, people like LFJ are simply not what we need for Nigeria. This one is zero. That one is zero. Everything is ''zero''. Yet he learned to read, write, get a university education, make money, and travel to US, to settle and work comfortably among world class people in a world class environment, all coming from a land of ''zero''.

Is that possible?

No.

In his bitter world, 2+3 = 0.

Insufficiency means absence.

In fact when I tell you that Nigerians are their own worst enemies, you can see exactly what I mean.

No wonder the whites he worships enter the country and are surprised that we are NOT a land of ''zero'', but simply a developing nation.

But Mr Zero sees different. He sees a country that is not like America and hence, is ''zero''.

Tragic.

LFJ, aka Mr Zero, I think it's best you remain in the US Army, and I hope you are not among the soldiers the US is planning to send in its AFRICOM missions to destabilize African countries in its planned imperialist drive. I learnt they were actively canvassing for Nigerian recruits a while back.

I don't imagine YOU would have problem obeying their orders.

The more I read from you, the more convinced I am about the femi fani kayode and Remi oyo in you, these are people who will fight tooth and nail to defend the corrupt establishment they were serving all because of what got into their pockets. To them, Nigeria was a bad country until they got presidential appointments, and then Nigeria became the best country in the world! These are hypocrites living a fool’s paradise. You probably work for a commissioner like ANIEKAN UMANAH, the Akwa Ibom State Information Commissioner who called the issue of child witches in his state a ruse, when the evidence is there for all to see.

Thanks to Seun for this initiative, this is not cedeland.com, it is not dollarland.com, for your information, this is nairaland.com. It is an avenue to express our feelings about the positives and negatives within our system.

The attack on me is unnecessary; you are fighting the wrong person, an innocent soul for that matter. You are fighting somebody that pays his taxes and have every right to say it when he feels that his taxes are not channeled to the right direction but rather to private pockets for self aggrandizement. I have not only taken to the street, home and abroad to protest the inefficiency in our system, I have also contributed financially to support the course.

If you want to die in silence, that is your problem my good friend. If my list is your headache, I have no apologies for that; I am a true Nigerian, a proud one for that matter. Silence may not be golden at this stage of our life. I want people across the world to accord my green passport genuine respect.

There are no two ways to the truth, what we lack is what we lack, let us call a spade a spade. Calling Nigeria a failed state does not make you a bad citizen, if it is out of genuine concern for your country. As great as America is today, people still complain, then what is wrong if we list and complain what is wrong with our own system.
What other evidence do we need to see that we are failing as a nation? Criminals become king-makers, police kill at will, Kidnappers name their price, our votes are not counted, justice is to the highest bidder, unemployment and the state of our education is not a concern as long there is money for them to steal. If I lay much emphasis on my ‘NO’ to drive home my point that all these are not in existence in my country, then I don’t think I deserve your insult.

America experienced oil pollution in the gulf for just three months, Americans called for the president’s head, calling him a failure who didn’t respond on time even though the pollution was caused by a private company. Nigeria’s Niger-delta has been witnessing oil pollution for over two decades rendering their environment inhabitable, destroying their source of livelihood a la fishing, farming, yet hypocrites like you advertise it as a normal thing. With people like you in Nigeria, Jerry Gana is definitely a saint!

ziga:
When you present facts, you have to present it in an objective way.

All the facts you highlighted happen in every country in the world to varying degrees, so it seems to me like you picked these things out of grudge rather than true objectivity.

I think this is where you get it wrong; it is painful to hear the truth, because it is bitter. What grudges do I have against my country, except that I am not happy with the system, and I don’t want to pretend that all is gold when millions are crying and dying of hunger? We are both Nigeria, if we don’t accept the fact that we have problem, how do we want to solve it. How does listing what I feel is missing in my country make me an unpatriotic citizen.

What I listed happened in other countries but definitely not at our own level. I feel concern like every Nigerians. I want a better Nigeria; I want my children to see a better Nigeria. I want to see democracy the way it should be; I want to see good governance. If life is about me and my family you will not see me making comment here because I thank God for His mercy. I am contributing in my own way; I am hardworking Nigeria like you. I have contributed physically and financially to see a better Nigeria. I am not a lazy type; I don’t just sit and talk. I love Nigeria and I pray that one day we will conquer the criminals in power who is profiting from helpless Nigerians.

ROSSIKE:
LFJ said:




It is idiots like you with a deep inferiority complex who will readily spit on anything Nigerian.

Fact is, if you DON'T want to see anything positive about Nigeria, you won't. If you DO, you will.

The fact you DON'T want to see anything positive can be seen by your silly list above: ''Chilld abuse - yes, women abuse - yes'' etc etc.

What rubbish is that?

What country on earth does not experience child abuse and so on, even more than Nigeria?

Or ''company closing down - yes''.

What about the companies STARTING UP?

Are they not Nigerian?

''Roads - no''.

Which large developing country on earth has a perfect road network? Not one. Those things take time to accomplish, and it's no reason for you to insult the country.

If you wish to see bad alone, that's ALL you'll see.

And as for the original poster, I think you're a complete disgrace, although I don't really blame you, since you picked up your inferiority complex and self hatred from other so-called Nigerians.

I had your attitude many many years ago when I lived in the US. There I met a Liberian guy at a party, who'd just fled the civil war there. We began discussing outside the gig. He asked me about Nigeria. I began insulting the country, almost without thinking. Just a stream of negativities,   The guy was shocked and looked at me in horror. ''How can you speak like that about your country''? he asked. He said Liberia was a total wreck, having fled from civil war, but he could never speak of his country with such disdain.

I felt so little -  me,  a pampered middle class Nigerian who'd benefitted from some of the best services an African country could offer its citizens, from a good education at a Federal govt college, to well paid parents living the Nigerian Dream, with two cars and a duplex + househelps, and the odd summer trip to London, and here I was being lectured on love for my country by a guy who was fleeing civil war and societal breakdown of a kind I couldn't imagine.

From that day, I began to love Nigeria, and will always thank God for Nigeria, and pray for its continued progress come what may, and highlight, when speaking to foreigners especially, the beauty and generosity of its people, and the mighty potential of the country.

@Rossike, I believe I am entitled to my opinion the same way you are entitled to yours.  What is wrong with saying what you feel about your country or about the opinion of others without insulting the other person for not saying it the way you want it. There was no courtesy in your writing and it is very disappointing for a self acclaimed globe trotter like yourself. You should know better!

Your manner of response clearly defined the kind of misguided education you have if you really had any; calling me an "idiots"  shows what you lack in home training and concluding that my position has to do with inferiority complex shows how myopic your brain is. You would have done better by lecturing me on all the positives things you know about our country which I don’t know or, perhaps, write about the positive things about Nigeria which I discredited before resulting to name calling. Is it an offence to have different perspectives on issues?  Perhaps, my  refusal to be fooled and brainwashed like yourself who pretend that everything is gold when it’s very clear that our future and that of our children are in danger makes me an "idiots" .
Mr. Good citizen or Patriotic Nigerian, Please, can you tell me which one is not true about Nigeria from my list; 
Electricity     - No
Health care system   - No
Security            -   No
Road            -   No
Education            -   Zero
Economic Development      -   Zero
Good water system                       -   Zero
Transportation system       -   Hun! Hun!
Good Governance         -    zero
Criminals in position of Authority   -   Yes
Corruption          -   Yes
Fake pharmaceutical drugs            -   Yes
Company shutting down      -   Yes
Unemployment          –    yes
Poverty             –    yes
Child abuse          –    yes
Women abuse          –    yes
Sound Financial Institution      -   No

Mr. Patriotic Nigerian, who told you that you love Nigeria more than I do or more than anyone, what gave you the impression that you have a higher stake than I do or who told you that you have contributed to the growth of Nigeria more than what I have done. You should be disturbed if I say what the world doesn’t know about us. If you are widely travelled as you claimed, you will not come over here to insult anybody, if out of concern for my country, I listed all what I feel should not be only for you and your rich parents who are living their Nigerian dream. Except your sojourn across the globe includes only countries like the Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Afghanistan amongst other war ravaged countries, then I’ll understand your ridiculous argument.
A proud Nigerian will not be ashamed to tell people that at this age in the life of our country, all the under listed are still a nightmare in a country that claims to be the giant of Africa;
• Stable electricity
• Sound education
• Good Health care
• Road
• Security
• Transportation
• Good Water system
• Governance, Etc

I am not proud and will never be proud of the fact that at this age we are still struggling with what democracy is all about. Where is the freedom of speech if a young man like you comes online to insult people just because they refuse to praise inefficiency in our system? You should be worried if I condemn our beautiful culture, the struggle of our fore fathers, the effort of hardworking Nigerians and those who have labored hard to see that we achieve a better Nigeria.

For your knowledge, it is not an error to add child abuse to my list, if that is not a concern to you because you and your family had never witnessed one, click on the links below, and prove me wrong that this should not be a concern to any right thinking Nigerian!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/08/25/nigeria.child.witches/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXE_nfQ8IBw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZVVbGEOoCM&p=F9E4E3F13B8369E0&playnext=1&index=37

Mr. Patriotic, so after 50 years of independence, tell me who the fool is between both of us, to still buy the idea that it takes time to accomplish those basic things I listed. If 50 years is not enough to have those things, please, tell me Mr. ‘Rebranding’, how many more years do we need to get there. If stating what is obvious about my county is what is making you go crazy like this, then you have a job to do; definitely, not with those who are feeling aggrieved with the system that has failed to give them not all but some of the basic things that would aid a better livelihood, but to those who have failed to make the future a promising one for you, me and our children.

Whatever your Liberian friend lectured you about your country or how you feel about Nigeria is immaterial to me and does not suppress my opinion. If what you enjoy as “a pampered middle class Nigerian who benefitted from some of the best services an African country could offer it citizens, from being taught at a Federal govt college (I don’t think you’re educated!), to well-paid parents living the Nigerian Dream - with two cars and a duplex + househelps, and the odd summer trip to London” falsely gives you the impression that you are big, special and can insult anybody for having a different view from yours, then I maintain my position that you are a fool. I am humble to tell you that God has blessed me more than that, because for what you claim you enjoy from your parent, I have already game more than that to my beautiful kids since age of 32 years and that was 4 years ago. It is not by my making, it is by the special grace of God. I am just deeply concerned about the future of my children and that of the average Nigerian and not about how your middle class Nigerian parents are living their Nigerian dream or how they provided you with the luxury of going to Fed. College and summer trips to London. What does these have to do with poor electricity, poor education, corruption, good governance etc in Nigeria. In fact, your manner of writing which depicts your way of thinking shows the fallen standard of education in public institutions like Federal government colleges in Nigeria which you mentioned, it explains why so many parents would send their kids to private schools.

I will advise you to learn how to talk, or present your position on issues with reasonable facts without insulting others.

Electricity - No
Health care system - No
Security - No
Road - No
Education - Zero
Economy Development - Zero
Good water system - Zero
Transportation system - Hun! Hun!
Governance - zero
Criminals in position of Authority - Yes
Corruption - Yes
Fake drug - Yes
Company closing down - Yes
Unemployment – yes
Poverty – yes
Child abuse – yes
Women abuse – yes
Sound Financial Institution - No

If all these are missing in the life of a country, I don’t know what else to proud about that country. Please, somebody should lecture me. Let us tell who is cared to know the truth. Denial the fact will not change anything.

Hun! What a way to display what you lack in home training.

aisha2:
Yes oh. He is just loveable, queit, intelliget and nice. I was bsuy but he kept calling and coming

Thanks to those people who have given help to the needy; may the blessing of God continue to be with you. Please, Aisha2 I don’t know if you are Aishat Falati, I just want to confirm if you are somebody I know.

Nadum lived alone at his 2 Owode Street, Abule Egba, Lagos residence, while his wife and children lived abroad. Comfort said apart from household chores, she also assisted with the sale of compressors and air conditioners at Nadum’s shop. She said that contrary to what her father had told her, she only attended school for a month after which Nadum ordered her to withdraw. ‘‘My boss pulled me out of school when he started molesting me,‘‘ she alleged. ‘‘I called my father and told him that he should come here and take me away, but he told me that he had no money to travel down to Lagos.‘‘

When our correspondent called Comfort‘s father on the phone and told him that his daughter was being incarcerated in Kirikiri Medium Prison and that she had been delivered of a baby boy, the man went hysterical. ‘‘I don‘t know why Nadum would do that to my child. I can never do such a thing to somebody else‘s child. I leave everything in the hands of God. He did all this to me and yet I didn‘t get a penny from him,‘‘ he said.

Asked if he intended to claim his grandchild, Comfort‘s father replied, ‘‘I don‘t have any money to come to Lagos.‘‘

Comfort claimed she had cried to her boss‘s wife for help when the lady came to Nigeria. ‘‘I told her what I had been passing through in the hands of her husband. To my surprise, she felt unconcerned. She just told me it wasn‘t her business.‘‘ She said that Mrs. Nadum concluded her business in Nigeria and travelled out again without addressing her husband‘s alleged offences. ‘‘When I discovered that I was pregnant a few months later, I was scared. I confided in a neighbour who everyone called Mama. She told me to abort the baby, that I was too young to bear the responsibility of bringing up a child.‘‘

Comfort said although she was terrified by the pregnancy she feared abortion. ‘‘I asked her what would happen if after aborting the baby I discovered later in life that I couldn‘t have children anymore,‘‘ she said.

She also said that when she told Nadum about the pregnancy, she denied it. ‘‘I told my boss I was pregnant and he told me it was none of his business,‘‘ she said, adding that she had to bear the shame of a growing tummy and curious stares of neighbours.

Recalling the circumstances in which she landed in prison, she said, “I think it was around January 10 when my boss called me on the phone to attend to a customer who had come to buy compressors. He had travelled out of Lagos. I went to the shop and met with the person. We negotiated a price but the customer didn‘t have the whole amount. I called my boss and told him, and he told me to collect what the man had and give it to the gateman. I counted the money, it was 95,000 naira, and I gave it to the gateman.‘‘

The next day, Nadum returned home but the gateman did not report for duty. ‘‘I went to a phone booth and tried the gateman‘s phone number several times but it was switched off. When I told my boss about it, he was very angry. The next day, policemen from Oko Oba Police station, Abule Egba came to the house and arrested me.‘‘

At the police station, another drama played out. ‘‘My boss told the policemen that he had lost N200,000 to me. He told them that it was because I had stolen the money from him that I started saying he was responsible for my pregnancy.‘‘ Comfort said she was three months pregnant at the time she was arrested.

The 17-year-old was arraigned at the Abule Egba Magistrate Court on January 26, 2010. Unfortunately, she had no one to pay for her bail in the sum of N50,000. Copies of the charge sheet made available to our correspondent revealed that the initial age filled for comfort was 17 years before it was cancelled and replaced with 18. But Comfort herself insists she is 17. The only person who can come forward with proof of the girl‘s age is her father in Rivers State who claims he is cash strapped and unable to make the trip to Lagos.

Efforts made by our correspondent to get Nadum’s reaction yielded no result as the voice that answered the calls our correspondent made to his phone repeatedly claimed it was wrong number. He also did not respond to text messages sent to his phone, forcing our correspondent to visit his residence at Plot 2 Owode Street, Abule Egba, Lagos. While the place looked deserted, two children who opened the gate after persistent knocks and and claimed to be Nadum’s niece and nephew, told our correspondent, after asking what her mission was, that Nadum was not at home.

Further effort made to get him on his MTN and Zain lines also yielded no result. “I am not Nadum,” a voice said on the phone and hung up.

http://www.saharareporters.com/report/fashola-please-help-release-17-year-old-girl-imprisoned-kirikiri-her-uncle-after-he-impregnat

I want to bring to the attention of Mr President, Governor Fashola and all well meaning and thoughtful Nigerians about the plight of a seventeen year old girl named Comfort from a dirt poor family from Rivers State who is now languishing in Kirikiri prison where she recently gave birth to a baby boy named Monday.

As a father, my heart bled profusely when I saw the story of this young, promising but poor girl in the News Service Of Nigeria and I decided to give it wider coverage thru SaharaReporters. Comfort hails from Rivers State, the fourth child from a family of seven. She sold sachet water to help her family get by. An Uncle Mr Nwitua Nadun met her in her humble situation and agreed to bring her to Lagos and help with her education.

Surmise it to say that she got pregnant for her Uncle, was accused of stealing his money and then got locked up in Kirikiri prisons where she gave birth to a baby boy named Monday. She is unable to post her bail and I do believe in my spirit that this young girl is innocent.

She does not deserve to be in jail and this is why I am calling on Mr President, Governor Fashola and all well meaning Nigerians to look into this case and take action.

If Comfort remains in jail, her boy could be taken away and put up for adoption in 18 months. Being a father myself my heart bleeds to see this young lady in this situation. May God touch the hearts of my fellow Nigerians to step into this matter. If SaharaReporters could set up an account to help her get out jail, people of faith in Chicago and Nigeria will respond. While this issue may be a bit off topic,I am thanking the Lord for that heart that will be touched to help COMFORT regain her freedom. For all those who have been touched, remain blessed and God will continue to multiply your good fortunes one thousand fold.

Punch Newspaper Report:Detained for stealing, 17-year-old girl gives birth to baby boy in Kirikiri Written By Comfort Oseghale

If Baby Monday is not Kirikiri Minimum Prison‘s youngest inmate, he will certainly be one of the youngest. Her mother is being detained in the prison and was delivered of him only 13 days ago.

For obvious reasons, Monday’s arrival could not be marked with any fanfare. There were no visits from friends and relations and there were no shouts of congratulations or offer of gifts.

Baby Monday was born at the Lagos Island Maternity, where officials of the prison had taken Comfort, his mother, as soon as she went into labour on August 1, 2010. Comfort is awaiting trial for allegedly stealing the sum of N200,000 belonging to her boss, but she insists she is innocent of her alleged crime.

Spokesman of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Mr. Ope Fatinikun said the prison was well equipped to take care of nursing inmates and their babies. ‘‘There are so many inmates who come in here pregnant, although they might not know it. As a matter of fact, we do conduct pregnancy tests for them immediately they are brought here and the results are shown to them. So, we are equipped to take care of them and their babies. There is a clinic attached to the prison and in case of any emergency, we do refer them to the General hospital,‘‘ Fatinikun said.

But he added that the baby could only be kept in the prison for 18 months. ‘‘The law states that it is not in the best interests of the child for him or her to discover that they were born in the prison. So when the child is 18 months old and no relative has come to take them away, the prison is empowered by law to take them to the SOS children‘s village where they might be put up for adoption,‘‘ he said

Comfort‘s journey to Kirikiri began when she met her former boss, Nwitua Nadum, at Elele Alimini, Rivers State sometime last year. ‘‘I knew him as my landlord‘s friend,‘‘ she said, adding that she was then selling sachet water otherwise called pure water, having had to halt her education at Primary Four because of financial constraints.

She said, ‘‘I am the fourth of seven children. We have always struggled to survive. But things became particularly bad after my paternal grandmother died. My elder siblings didn‘t have much of education either, so they are not better off. My eldest brother pushes a wheel barrow in the market for a living while my father is a farmer. I was fetching water one day when Nadum came around. He asked what I was doing at home and I said I had to stop school because there was no money. He then said it was a pity that a pretty girl like me was suffering when someone could have helped me to live a better life. Later, my father told me that I would go to Lagos with Nadum to be his house help, and in return, he (Nadum) would send me to school.‘‘

yes, how much do you intend to pay for 2004 auto, this one is going for 1.3m

jek1471:
nice ride, u have another?

mr.official:
Sold?

yes

Congratulation to the lucky buyer.

caption:
The Karimu Ikotun Junction with hidden signs
Ike Ozoh
Dear Editor: Have you ever been a victim of “One Way” due to the absence or inconspicuous nature of LASTMA’s “One Way” sign? This has become an increasingly recurrent phenomenon that it leaves one to believe that it is intentional for signs to be absent or inconspicuous.

Early this morning during the rains ( Saturday Aug 7, 2010), I was apprehended by LASTMA Officials (Officers Adepoju and Mabije – Staff number 162021) for making an “illegal left turn” and taking “One Way” at the Sanusi Fafunwa and Karimu Ikotun Junction. I pleaded my innocence because there was no road sign at the junction (picture attached).

On very close inspection with one of the LASTMA officials, I was shown a sign concealed by an Almond fruit tree. I asked the LASTMA official if that sign was visible to road users and he retorted “it is not my fault if the sign is not visible because it is not my duty to cut down trees…” Attached again is the picture of the intersection so that you can see how unjust these LASTMA officials are and how they disparage the good works of the Lagos State Governor.

As I expected, the LASTMA official requested a bribe to let me off – but I rejected the offer because I considered it extortion.

As a result of my refusal to pay the bribe, the official has impounded my car, issued me a ticket for a fine of N50,000 and mandates that I go through psychiatric evaluation before I retrieve my car.

My car is now parked at Adeola Odeku – Victoria Island at “Owners risk” with no evidence of security coverage by LASTMA, I have been unjustly issued a ticket of N50,000 and asked to receive psychiatric evaluation for driving through a “One Way” route which has a sign hidden behind a tree. Obviously, several other persons will be victims of this circumstance.

It is about time that we put an end to this form of extortion by LASTMA. I therefore plead for the Governor’s intervention as this level of injustice undermines the government’s stance on eliminating corruption and injustice in the state.

Additional Details:

Car Reg: JU 735 EKY ( Honda Accord 2003 Model)

Booking Location: Adeola Odeku

Apprehending officer: Adepoju/Mabije  including a Mr. Ganiyu.

Staff Number: 162021

I have reported this incident to B. Oreagba ( LASTMA Alpha Commander) for V/I and was contacted by one of the operations officer yesterday. However since then, no further contact have been made.  As you know, a delay in obtaining  justice would discourage people in similar circumstances from resisting extortion.

I will also like you to conduct an independent assessment of my assertion concerning the traffic signage at the Karimu Ikotun/Sanusi Fanfunwa intersection.



Warm regards,

Ike Ozoh

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

Folks: I was a victim of LASTMA  antics for extortion/revenue drive on Lagos roads.  The e-mail underneath and photograph  tells the story.

Progress Update: My lawyers and I were at LASTMA's Adeola Odeku office and the operations officials admitted that the ticket was undeserved. However they claimed they had no authroity to cancel the ticket and referred me to the office of the Special Assistant (SA) of the CEO LASTMA .

Our visit to the SA's office yeilded no results as the officers also claimed that they are unable to cancel the ricket for audit reasons without the permission of the CEO LASTMA  or Commissioner for Transport.

It will interest you to know that  3 days after the incident, nothing has been done to make the traffic sign visible - Therefore, it is basically an entrapment.

At this moment, I am torn between chasing this case, putting it in the public domain and paying the fine. My current instinct is to put this case in the public domain and possibly bring it to the attention of the governor.

I am not sure how it will finally play out, but it will fundamentally change my perception of governance, good or bad. Join me in pushing this case into the public domain - I guess it may be impractical to seek redress through the judicial system

I apologize for taking your time.

Rgds,

Ike Ozoh


http://saharareporters.com/report/fasholas-lastma-extortion-scheme-how-it-works