₦airaland Forum

Controlled:
see classy issue based campaigning.... if it was PDP now....dey will be talking about....pampers.... Stoning innocent people... smelly mouth... ...dying in newspapers.... ....character assassination....... . God bless the people's general....

You just hit the nail on the head. PDP campaigns as if Nigerians are in kindergarten. They avoid issue based campaigns for fear of expoaition. Nigerians deserve better than the status quo abeg.

CHANGE......

cc; Lalasticlala, Ishilove, Maclatunji, Obinoscopy,

[img]http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2015/03/800x501xAQ4V0403.jpg.pagespeed.ic.ODpelx28tS.webp[/img]

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, has stated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has not recorded any high profile conviction since President Goodluck Jonathan came to power four years ago.

Speaking through his spokesperson Garba Shehu at a press conference Thursday in Abuja, Mr. Buhari said EFCC’s inability to record a conviction is in stark contrast to its past record, where former governors and other senior public officials accused of defrauding the Nigerian people were tried and prosecuted.

“Thus, we can safely say that President Jonathan has muzzled the EFCC. “He has turned one of our country’s most respected and revered institutions into a toothless bulldog without even as much as a bark,” he said.

Mr. Shehu said it is startling to see the dexterity with which the President sacked the former chairman of the SURE-P scheme owing to his pronouncement on the desirability of change.

Mr. Jonathan had sacked Martin Agwai as SURE-P chairman after he reportedly attended the birthday celebration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The retired Army General was also reported to have talked about the “desirability for change” in the country.
Mr. Shehu said the president hastily sacked the SURE-P boss, adding “meanwhile, ministers and other senior members of his government who have heavy allegations of corruption hanging on their necks still comfortably retain their positions”.

He said not only did Mr. Jonathan stop the EFCC from doing its job, but that he has also reversed some previous achievements of the commission by granting state pardon to erstwhile government officials whom it had uncovered as guilty of corruption.

“To make matters worse, at present the EFCC itself is in turmoil.

“Its chairman is accused by staff of corruption. The commission’s staff is also being owed salaries and entitlements, having not been paid for three months.
“It is no wonder, therefore, that Nigeria remains in an abysmal low on the Transparency International ranking of corrupt countries in the world,” he said.

He added that yet another clear example of the wanton corruption that has become commonplace in President Jonathan’s government is the recent announcement by the Nigerian Senate that the Ministry of Works’ budget has been reduced by 89 percent.

“Who was the intended recipient of the unnecessary, extra 89 percent? Into whose pockets were the superfluous millions intended? And if indeed the 89 percent was essential to the effective functioning of the ministry, is the reduction just an attempt by the PDP government to punish Nigerians for asking for CHANGE?” he said.

Boko Haram allowed to fester.
On the issue of security, Mr. Shehu said the Nigerian armed forces – in collaboration with a multinational force made up of armies of neighbouring African countries – have recently recorded a number of significant victories in the fight against Boko Haram, with about 36 territories taken back from the insurgents over the past few weeks.

“This is commendable. We congratulate our armed forces,” he said.

“However, we cannot ignore the fact that President Jonathan left the issue to fester for too long.
“All this effort could have been applied much earlier, thus saving hundreds of lives and preventing thousands of displaced persons who are currently languishing in camps and homes in northeast Nigeria and parts of Abuja – with little help and attention from their government.

“We cannot but conclude that the Jonathan government allowed Boko Haram fester because of the political mileage gained from the crises. He did not show any concern for the people of northeast Nigeria while they suffered under the continuous, brutal attacks of the terrorists.

“He still does not care about them. For him, a victory over Boko Haram is simply an attempted victory over the hearts of Nigerian voters in the 2015 elections,” he said.

Making Nigeria A Laughing Stock
The APC Presidential candidate also said President Jonathan is making Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

He said the President has once again dragged Nigeria into the theatre of the absurd, making a mockery of his office through the current embarrassing debacle with the King of Morocco over a purported telephone conversation.

“This is just the latest in a series of diplomatic faux pas.
“President Jonathan is destroying international relationships that existed before his tenure. He has already earned the scorn of other world leaders, such as Obama, through his poor human rights record,” he said.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/178400-under-jonathan-even-efcc-boss-is-accused-of-corruption-buhari.html

This is great. You all and the General have our prayers and support.

cc: Lalasticlala, Ishilove, Maclatunji, Obinoscopy, OAM4J

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has ordered the Nigerian Army to stop any plan to execute two among the 12 soldiers convicted by the General Court Martial in Abuja on September 15, 2014.

Justice Abubakar Abdulkadir-led appeal panel had made the order on Monday but a copy of the enrolled order was only released to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

The court ordered the Nigerian Army to stay execution of the sentence with regard Lance Corporal Igonmu Emmanuel and Private Andrew Ngbede pending the hearing and determination of their appeal against the death penalty passed on them by the GCM.

The appellate court also ordered the Nigerian Army to avail them and their lawyers copies of the record of proceedings of the General Court Martial.

One of the convicted soldiers, Lance Corporal Stephen Clement, had also filed a separate application for stay of execution of the GCM’s sentence but had yet to be heard by the Court of Appeal.

Other convicts had also filed their appeals and applications for stay of execution of the sentence.

The rest of the convicts include Corporals David Musa, David Robert, Jasper Baidolor, Mohammed Sani.

They also include Lance Corporals Friday Onuh and Yusuf Shuaibu.

Others are Privates Nurudeen Ahmed, Ifeanyi Anukabe, Alao Samuel, Allan Linus, Namaan Samuel, Ichocho Jeremiah, Sebastine Amah and Amadi Chukwudi.

The GCM, presided over by Maj. Gen. C.C. Okonkwo, had on September 15, 2014 sentenced 12 out the soldiers who were together standing trial for mutiny to death.

The soldiers were said to have on May 14, 2014 fired shots at the General Officer Commanding the newly created 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mohammmed, in Maiduguri.

The soldiers were tried on sundry charges ranging from disobedience to particular order, insubordination, false accusation, criminal behavior, conspiracy to commit mutiny and mutiny under the Armed Forces Act 2004.

http://www.punchng.com/news/appeal-court-halts-execution-of-two-convicted-soldiers/

This is how Boko Haram, Egebsu Boys etc etc started o

All these meetings will lead to arming of youths and before you know it...they get out of hand. GEJ will create another foul legacy with this connivance.

I have been wondering if this meeting has anything to do with the incidence at Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos today...... Just thinking o....

cc: Lalasticlala, Ishilove, Maclatunji, Obinoscopy, OAM4J

[img]http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Ui8nryHsQvNDH27W1qyXPKjT9cDN_wDLI7M8g21MuzDMA3J68RT0BS_SvK-q6MdzdsFRNWEDZz0hnOudm5mJlwpkvUmp02KqOJhHhX_nMAbfRsxvDtTbT-EKbWUi0g=w311-h400-nc[/img]

[img]http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/WH5Y7-fzz4dxcO-_YidhgsrbbUioyWYX5UmesMjOy4NaWOlovVi4gG29losGdr4miFBrQ0A9E7qhmpiGy5QWXqWjBstgtAb8djtJXDksXPZV6FRu=w230-h313-nc[/img]


Former Commander of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, Victor Ebikabowei Ben, alias General Boyloaf and head of the Odua People’s Congress, OPC, Gani Adams, held a secret meeting, Wednesday, in Lagos.

Details of the meeting, which lasted several hours, were not disclosed, but a dependable source said, “OPC and ex-MEND officials have agreed on a working alliance for the March 28 presidential elections.”

“Part of their resolution is that both groups will work together in the event of any premeditated violence against the South-South and South-West at the general elections,” the source added.

Attempts to reach both leaders for comment after the meeting proved abortive,


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/polls-boyloaf-adams-hold-secret-meeting-in-lagos/

Chief Chekwas Okorie is the Presidential candidate as well as National Chairman of the United Progressive Party, UPP. In this interview, he previews the forthcoming contest, his chances and the lot of Ndigbo among other issues. Excerpts:

How did you emerge as UPP presidential candidate?
There was a consensus among members of the National Working Committee of the party that I should be the candidate of the party for the 2015 presidential election.

This was on the eve of our national convention which took place at Aba, Abia State, on December 11, 2014. So, at the National Executive Council meeting, that motion was moved and adopted by NEC, especially in the light of the fact that the party had zoned the presidential slot to the South-East zone where I come from and for the fact that nobody else came forward to contest.

On the day of the convention, there was a proper election as required by the Electoral Act, which was supervised by INEC officials and being the sole candidate, I garnered all the votes.

I requested NEC to approve my nomination of Barrister Bello Umar as my running mate, because according to our constitution, the candidate makes a choice, but the party will approve or vice-versa, and he was approved.

Some Nigerians have expressed fears that the re-scheduled elections may not hold. What is your view?
I expressed my great reservation and suspicion when the postponement was done. I made it very clear at a press conference I addressed that by that postponement, the credibility of INEC has been put to serious question and the independence of the commission has been eroded based on the fact that the decision to postpone was orchestrated by people in the executive arm of government.

[img]http://cdn2.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/348x250xokorie.jpg.pagespeed.ic.JEVPjuHj5p.webp[/img]

My fear is that having considered the reason given for the postponement as not convincing, I fear that what happened might be a prelude to other sinister motives.
It appears my fears are not misplaced in the sense that shortly after Nigerians accepted the postponement for the sake of it, other things started coming out, especially from the PDP. Some of their campaign officers started querying the proposed use of PVCs by INEC. They also began to suggest the use of TVCs and queried the use of card readers and all the measures to be put in place that will help to bring about credible and transparent elections that will be acceptable to the Nigerian people.

We saw the PDP attacking these things one after the other. In other words, trying to throw us back to the dark days where anything went as elections and results were announced, and people were asked to go to court and resolve their differences.

Do you have the backing of Ndigbo having ceded the presidential ticket to South East?
Of course, the Igbo people are known to be very sentimental and emotional and now that they have their person running for the Presidency, you do not rule out that sentimental attachment to the opportunity they have not had for a long time and that is beginning to rub off positively on the party.

Thus, we expect that we will make a major impact in the election though we do not have the capacity in terms of financial muscle to showcase some cultural jamborees by way of campaign rallies. That is luxury for those who can afford it but for those who cannot afford it; they have to be a little more cost effective in their approaches.

So, we have adopted traditional methods of reaching out to the people – going to the market places, door to door, social media and the result is beginning to show some promise.

But Ohaneze has recently said it endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for presidency.
When it comes to politics, this kind of thing has always happened. Even though what Ohaneze has done this time is a little scandalous, it has not been different from what has always happened in Nigerian politics especially the Igbo politics aspect of it.

Igbo politics
The second republic people will remember very well that almost every Igbo political leader was in NPN, and they were all fighting for number two position. It was so bad that what NPN did was to decide to give it to any Igbo man provided that he brings N2million at that time.

It was for the highest bidder and that was how Alex Ekwueme being an extremely successful contractor and consultant paid.

He did not become running mate because Igbo people sponsored him but because he out-paid the others and that was what prompted Nnamdi Azikiwe to come out because he had already stated that he was not going to run.

So, when he saw his people clamouring for number two position, he could not reconcile it with the fact that he led the struggle for Independence. That was how he came and he came late and chose the smallest of the parties at the time – NPP (Nigeria Peoples Party) which was founded by Waziri Ibrahim.

And when he was asked why he did not go to a big party where all his associates were waiting for him, he said his people were better off being majority in a minority party where their voice would be heard than being the minority in a majority party where they would be assimilated without trace.

And the masses identified with their own and they voted for him while others who went to majority parties lost in their domains and NPP dominated the area (South East). Not just that, Plateau State had a shoulder to lean and Solomon Lar became the emancipator and liberator of his people.

Now is not different, those who will always go to ‘food is ready’ will not be part of building anything. I founded APGA; it was worst in the case of APGA than I have it now. It was only after we had won Anambra State through the court that the party became attractive.

So, I am not surprised. As a matter of fact, I am not much disappointed by what Ohaneze is doing now but I feel sorry for my Igbo people. What has happened is that Ohaneze is simply hawking endorsement as if it is hawking pure or sachet water.

Satchet water
An endorsement should be a logical outcome of a negotiated understanding contained in a written memorandum of understanding.

There are so many problems confronting the Igbo people that any patriotic, caring Pan-Igbo organization will present on the table and have it negotiated and as a result of that, endorsement will come.

Look at Afenifere, they are now telling you the reason they are supporting the government which are justifiable endorsement. What did Ohaneze say? Instead, they are busy denying whether they were given a particular amount of money or not.

Is it not scandalous that the umbrella organization that is supposed to speak for the interest of Igbo people has made itself so cheap? This is not the first time Ohaneze is doing this. It did it in 2011 but that time, there was no opposition, and people could get away with it.

Now, the situation is different. I am running and you will see what will happen. As I said, UPP will be the revelation of 2015 election when the results start coming in. Why is it that in spite of the spate of endorsement, the beneficiaries are afraid of the popularity contest that would be tested on the basis of one man, one?

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/presidential-endorsement-ohanaeze-has-made-itself-cheap-chekwas-okorie/

[img]http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/qtJ0S-k3ive6pEYZGGkccbilFh7nrU363wNc526fXHWxCVGn6yFrWdYJgGCwQFOsKDLdwXUA1ZQs74sauGC5cdWKNQdT2gHjgmUGaGiiDgETlX0zeZ1mD8seacLBN3o=w300-h243-nc[/img]

Vice President Namadi Sambo had a raw deal in the hands of suspected thugs in Kano, Monday, when he was held hostage for 20 minutes before a negotiated settlement.

The incident occurred at the old campus of Bayero University Kano shortly after the number two citizen rounded up official engagement in the university.

It took the intervention of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 1, Tambari Yabo, before the vice president regained his freedom.
The drama began when dozens of heavily armed thugs who posed as loyal party men beat the security cover around the vice president.

Like a well rehearsed script, some of the thugs in unison chorused on top of their voices “Bamuayi, Bamuayi, Bamuayi” which means “we are no longer with you,” while others shouted “mungaji da aiki banza,” meaning “we are tired of the useless job.”

Before the visibly shocked Sambo could utter a word, an equally embarrassed AIG Tamara Yabo ordered his men to disarm the protesting thugs.

However, it was at this juncture that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwarts in the vice president’s entourage moved in and demanded to know from ‘the boys’ why they chose to embarrass the vice president.

The thugs, explaining their position, told the vice president how they had risked their lives for PDP in the state, but that no one has paid them anything despite promises.

The party officials were, therefore, directed by the vice president to attend to their needs and save the party public embarrassment.

The thugs later rejoined the vice president convoy and headed to other areas of engagement in the city.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/thugs-held-sambo-hostage-in-kano/

[img]http://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2015/02/498x313xDarkness-with-lantern.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Bva2LQQ3FX.webp[/img]


Some electricity consumers in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, have threatened to stop further payment of electricity bills to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC.

The customers accused the electricity company of charging them high tariffs without providing adequate electricity.

Some of the consumers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES lamented the increase in tariff in the past three months without corresponding increase in power supply.

They alleged that the AEDC refused to provide digital electricity meters that would allow consumers to only pay for electricity used and that the electricity company preferred the current situation of arbitrary monthly bills.

One of the residents, Ibrahim Mohammed, who resides in Tudun Gwandara said, “We hardly have three hours light but they bring bills every month with 20 per cent increase every month since January”.

Also, Grace Amirkpa of Makurdi road, Lafia, said she has written to the AEDC to stop further supply of electricity to her residence because she cannot afford the payment of the bills which increased from N2000 to N7000.

A civil servant, Helen Sule, said she was not comfortable with the increase in electricity tariff, as power supply had not been commensurate with the bills paid by consumers.

Ms. Sule explained that the power situation had deteriorated despite the privatisation of the sector.
Already, PREMIUM TIMES found that some residents have cut off their electricity supply from the AEDC and devised new means of power supply by contributing money to buy generators and fuel for the generators.

Efforts to reach Ahmed Shekarau, the spokesperson of the AEDC, were unsuccessful as calls made to his phone were not answered or returned.

The electricity company, which supplies power to Abuja and neighbouring states like Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi, had earlier said it was not to blame for the worsening electricity supply as it could only provide the electricity supplied to it by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/178138-as-electricity-supply-worsens-nasarawa-residents-threaten-to-stop-payment-of-bills.html

MzJackBaueress:
dem too fine beg!

Let us share such beauty with TANOIDS who are used to ugliness.

cc: Lalasticlala, Ishilove, Maclatunji, Obinoscopy, OAM4J

theV0ice:
Hear chief Olorunfemi

If you look at the period, 1976-1979, when he was Petroleum Commissioner; that was the period people started to acquire blocks. He must have looked at such things with disdain. He was the one to process it for them, yet he never got one for himself. He did not get a block or a petrol station, he was just a man that we could see, and I just could not understand him. He is a good manager.


We know about IBB, Danjuma etc oil blocks, yet none has been traced to GMB.

Spot on.

cc: Lalasticlala, Ishilove, Maclatunji, Obinoscopy, OAM4J,

[img]http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/UAK52D2eNqsRIwGXGBoFUJH5BdZX4eslC9hPqPYXav1nBl3mib3PAJ50QsdSVuib4kAzU0kgaudR5VX03qfs0eD7wZjJMfPQmxlWykUO8M46Rpy3o8pcMkWBhABN3Yo2LO8GwSkG0Fs=w525-h280-nc[/img]

The presidential flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, restated his commitment to empowering Nigerian women.

This is contained in a statement tagged “Special message to Nigerian women”, released in Abuja and signed by Malam Garba Shehu, in commemoration of the International Women’s Day.

Shehu is the Director Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation.

According to the statement, Buhari promised to ensure that the rights of Nigerian women are guaranteed as provided by the Nigerian Constitution.

The statement read in part: ”My plan for Nigerian women has been made clear in ‘My Manifesto and Vision for Nigeria.

”I like to use this special opportunity set aside to celebrate women, to reiterate my personal commitment to the advancement of Nigerian women in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.”

In his Manifesto and Vision for Nigeria document released to the media in Dec. 2014, Buhari had guaranteed that women would be adequately represented in government appointments.
He also promised to provide greater opportunities for females in education, job creation, and economic empowerment.

”Women all over the world are playing an ever increasing role in moving their nations forward both in and outside government.”

”In keeping with the times, my government will ensure that Nigerian women are given the opportunity to rise and play an even more prominent role in moving out great nation forward,” it said.

[img]http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/K9KV3rTi4SdSaP8oH8PeLnrh3C8is_tgemmTR2sLE91neGXhKQ6h7IhiyWgKC8s7t9xRFz16g0ESiOqKjMY3PB_Cu-qnHZQd2MB5tiuYNrXbr5ajyyMHIVY91wxoYK34BoY-sQcHE36m8YJqrJ7D16iYGrM86XEbVAr2eBMekfUuPmYL0DweDyy1rrPEtf7StYWPiZGRM-Igwsc=w485-h303-nc[/img]

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/womens-day-buhari-restates-commitment-to-empowering-women/

Collynzo9:
Stop comparing apples and oranges.
Plans for the Taiwan highs speed rails started in 1990 and the project finally materialised in 2007, a whooping 17 years, yet you want GEJ to perform magic in 5 years? You have to walk before you run.
You guys are extremely shameless.

www.railway-technology.com/projects/taiwan/

Wriggle out of this one....Mr. fruits. Big projects are not rocket science. Ethiopia planned and is eeuting this hydroelecric project which is even at larger scale than a railways project.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia (Cost: $4.8 Billion US)
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD or Taehige), formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam, is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia currently under construction. It is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, about 40 km (25 mi) east of the border with Sudan.
At 6,000 MW, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as well as the 8th largest in the world sharing the spot with Krasnoyarskaya.The reservoir at 63 billion cubic meters will be one of the continent's largest. According to the Ethiopian government, as of October 2014, the dam is 40% complete.
The Ethiopian government funds the entire cost of the dam ($4.8 billion US) by itself.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6c/GrandEthiopianRenaissanceDamSaliniRendition.jpg

Ralphlauren:
OMG!

I thought the trains that ply downtown new york were old and shitty but mehnnnnnn they've got nothing on this so called 'GEJ's transformation' train.

This is nothing but a MOLUE on a train track! Damn!

I couldn't have been more succinct. Molue on tracks.

Collynzo9:
Just check out the number of people whose lives have been positively affected by GEJ's transformation agenda.
I could count at least 2000 people using that train and that is just one trip!

Before you unwittingly run off celebrating mediocrity, take a look at what Taiwan did with just $3.4Billion. 30 state of the art trains.

The THSR 700T - Taiwan High Speed Rail (Cost $3.4 billion US)
This operates on the high-speed line between Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. The train entered into service with Taiwan High Speed Rail in January 2007.
It operates at a speed of 300kmph reducing the journey time between the two cities from four hours to just 90 minutes.
It was constructed by Kawasaki, Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo. Based on Kawasaki's 700 series Shinkansen trains, the 700T was the first Taiwanese rolling stock to import Japanese high speed rail technology.
The total investment for manufacturing the initial 30 trains in the series reached about NT$100bn ($3.4bn).courtesy of Oduastates
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/THSR_700T_Modern_High_Speed_Train.jpg

Meanwhile Nigeria has sunk to $70Billion debt under GEJ from $21Billion under Yar'adua.

DaBullIT:
Hehehe

Where's all the factory fitted AC and ash colored leather seat, Hahahahaha

Where are the PDP's loyal commenters

Dem don enter Bush

First they used to ask for video evidence.
Now that we have it, they will try to claim that this video is doctored by APC. PDP and lies are jolly bedfellows.

cc: Lalasticlala, Ishilove, Maclatunji, Obinoscopy, OAM4J

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faSf--upzqA

Doyin Okupe the Senior Special Assistant to the President has admitted in a separate video that GEJ's trains are not brand new.
https://www.nairaland.com/2184251/doyin-okupe-nigeria-cant-afford