What is wrong with my people, the law seeks to bar public office holders from sending their kids abroad while the schools down here rot, it is either as a public officer you insist that the educational standards increase or you resign so your kids can get the best for money you will go ahead to make in the private sector instead of pushing the school bills to the government to pay, also there are still avenues to be excused from the law, the Minister of Education can grant a waiver and that is hwere we should be interested, the waiver should not be abused and no single Minister of govt official should be allowed to have more than one kid outside at a time,

Alh Harem and co cut d man some slack, what would u have GEJ do, u all agree he is weak well I voted him for his weakness since I looked around and saw that my nation had not fared any better under strong leaders so a weak leader may have d right touch, I say I will giv him 2yrs 2 come 2 terms with the solutions and someone is sayin afta 50yrs hav been wasted 2yrs is such a long time, pls if u can't wait 2yrs take a dive in d lagos lagoon at least Abaniwonda has done it you can also!!!

We had a strong Ironsi and a stronger Gowon for 9yrs, after that a tougher Muritala for 1yr a strong Obasanjo for 3yrs let's assume Shagari was a stronger president than Jonathan, that we had for 4yrs, then a very strong Buhari who could not last more than 1yr and a tactically strong IBB for 8yrs and a decisively brutal Abacha for 5yrs and an arrogant brutish civilian autocrat in Obasanjo for another 8yrs, my people pls tell me where did all their strength lead us to, I'll rather wait with this weakest president for at least 2yrs before I start complaining!!!!

If only the youths and unemployed can employ this law in asking for recruitment processw details from govt ministries and parastatals, let us begin by asking that the shortlisted candidates qualification be published and criteria for selection made public, test scores released and when u kno of someone who did not perform the test use his case as a scape goat,

Privatisation is actually a delusion, Lets take a look at it critically, is it the privatisation of Nitel or the Liberalisation of the telecoms sector Nigerians are enjoying today

Would we be better off seeling off NNPC and PHCN and watch them die naturally or allow other companies come in build their refineries and generate their own power and compete with them.

If privatisation is the answer why dont we privatise all the govt owned Universities and hospitals, may be we can also privatise the CBn and the ministry of Finance, how about privatising the customs and the police, wont we even consider privatising the National assembly and the presidency, let the highest bidders control these govt establishments, Privatisationn remains a delusion what we need is better management of govt run enterprises or is the FIRS not a govt entity?

, by this time tomorrow this should be closed out,

Gov Aliyu has always been known to say it as it is no matter whose ox is gored, he was among the 1st govs to openly tell everyone that an empty treasury was left by his predecessor from the same party, in the heat of the zoning debate he again was the northerner who told the North that zoning is a political strategy not a political right, the servant leader is a savvy politician.

After all said and done, Ngige is only taking procold for another mans cold, abi wetin concern Agbero with overload?

Fashola should not think of being president, a VP slot for him will be a big political challenge, I believe what we should be looking at is how the opposition get their acts right.

Nothing stops Shekerau and Fashola forging together getting the support of Buhari and Ribadu, start up a mega party with all other parties coming into the new party with a hold on whatever region they control.

Even the South east will follow if a Senator like Ngige will be assured of the senate presidency if it suceeds.

Now this party must not think that they have to win the presidency at all costs but must ensure that this party has a higher representation in the governors forum and the national assembly to the point that despite a PDP president the Chairman of the govs forum and the senate president can come from the opposition, this would set our democracy on a solid footing, this would indeed be the beginning!!!

What would nairalanders have said if jonathan has refused to sign the bill saying it was not enforceable, I guess its a case of whatever u do people will talk, The FOI bill is now an act if u dont like it, u can climb NEPA pole and make a call to baba God!

Stromae:

Rivers state, Delta state, Imo state, that i know of

I voted in Rivers state and nobody intimidated or harassed any opposition party agent, I will tell u again that in my polling booth the agent for ACN voted for Jonathan, the wife of d agent for CPC voted Jonathan, the elections were peaceful here because everyone wanted to vote Jonathan, even in situations where voters came late for voting the agents all agreed to let them vote.

The presidential elections were no contest in the south Buhari himself knows this, in the SS it should be a 100% for jonathan because even those who didnot like his person saw no better alternative, in the north Jonathan campaigned and that was why the elections were keenly contested there, some politicians in the north rose above ethnic sentiments to support Jonathan most of those politicians were the target of the attacks in the north, some emirs supported Jonathans ambition that was why they had their palaces surrounded.


It is a pity that we Nigerians can never see anything good in us, incase you dont know the gods have willed Jonathan to be president the peoples votes was just a way to make it happen!

dustydee:

how do you know the number of votes cast when your agents and supporters werenot allowed near polling booths?

Please where were agents and supporters not allowed near polling booths?


Everything here is just a rant from El Rufai as usual, I used to respect the man but these days hes lost all that, was the govt of Obj better than this govt, he should honestly answer this, what was the response of the Obj govt to people and corp members who lost their lives in political crisis.

The emirs who had their houses burnt were supporters of GEJ in the elections and that was why they were targets, reports had it that Sambos wife was attacked and had to run into an emirs palace for refuge and the irate youths still attempted to burn it down, if he had in 2003 advised Obj to conduct an election as credible as the 2011 elections would we be talking about this todayy?

Nigerians will not appreciate progress even when it is obvious.

Jonathan has asked them cement manufacturers to crash the price of cement, do we have an idea why he has said so, what was the stake the past presidents including Jonathan himself benefit from the prices and now he has come out to tell them dont bring no share for me and crash your prices you have one month to make Nigerians happy so that my profile rises, or tell me if cement sells for N1,000.00 or less by mid June whose praises will Nigerians sing?

Some have once again argued for radicals who would just move to crash the prices, i say hey careful what u wish for, that radical could end up crashing the economy do you have any idea what the likes of Dangote can do to the national economy of this nation, do u even have an idea how the economy works do you have an idea how many people benefit from the prices as it is today?

Nigeria is not a lost cause but it can not and will not be rescued by one man's act of bravery or stupidity, collective resolve to take this country out of where we are to where we want it to be is the key.


When Dora asked the telecoms coys to crash their prices didnt some say it was impossible, they only introduced Etisalat and gave it some concessions and what did we see, competition has not been sweeter!

Jarus well said, but my position in this is that I was sure that GEJ would win Buhari, hypes from peeps lik u is wat made it a contest, but all those who insist that GEJ will fail I wait 4 2015 to celebrate GEJs success and pls Jarus u can keep ur quota, if u cldnt giv GEJ ur quota during the campaigns and never saw anything good in him and still have ur reservations that he won by a combination of fair and foul means, he sure does not need ur quota to make an impact, u just concentrate on analysing him, pls highlight his errors and be bold nd gallant enuf to accede to his achievements as the year roll by!

Texx u miss d point, a lot of Buhari supporters hav assured us that GEJ is a failure who can only fail, proving them wrong is a victory for those of us that put our faith in him and definitely those who called us blind, insane and stupid will be d losers, that is d victory that is paramount to me not whether u guys pay taxes or tithes,

All ye Buhari supporters you have only lost round 1 and I personally knew that would be a sure victory for camp GEJ but d ultimate loss I plan to celebrate is in 4yrs time wen GEJs performance will shine so even the blind can see it, that will be the true and final victory for all those who have concluded that our nation is doomed just because Buhari lost to GEJ!!!

The militants have no biz givin out threats, the attacks were not directed to southerners alone but also nationalist northerners who backed the GEJ presidency, let us not lose focus northerners in d south even voted GEJ, nd despite GEJ losing in those states northerners there still voted for him and that was y d margin btw Buhari and GEJ was bearable.

The threat by d militants can not solve any problem, they shld let GEJ rest afta d elections, GEJ knows what he wants to do and he knows how to go about it.

I am lookin forward 2 an interesting 4 years to come so let us not encourage violence or anarchy as none of us will benefit from either situations.

In my opinion, Goodluck Ebele Jnathan should be congratulated for breaking the jinx. Even a yoruba candidate would have lost against GEJ in the election.

I have always respected the Yorubas they are indeed very educated and smart in political matters.

The yorubas voted Jonathan and not PDP and this was possible because of the kind of campaign Jonathan had.

The SWest votes for PDP should be seen as a slap to the Godfathers, although Tinubu won the NASS elections today the same folks who voted agianst Obj in front of his house voted Jonathan massively, it shows that they are no more sheep following blindly after the godfathers.

That is to say if Tinubu supports a non performing gov it is possible to sack that Gov with Tinubu standing beside him.

I believe we still have some way to go with the north, Katsina would not have been won by Buhari if he was running against Yaradua.


I look forward to a greater nigeria where the electorates are the godfathers!!!!

Dasa u are on point, some people who won elections 2day on other platforms are d core pdp membas who brought all d mess we are talkin abt 2day and many of them will be decampin back once d elections are over its time we wisen up I chose an individual and dat individual is Goodluck!!!

@texxa, if Buhari becomes president Jos would immediately become secured or what do u want us 2 believe? if u point to jos as a failure what abt his achievement in d ND, as a VP GEJ went into a militants camp with only an aide camp who had a pistol without soldiers just to negotiate peace, incase u don't get d whole pic clearly Buhari contributed to this crisis wen he decided to build refinery in Kaduna while the oil is being produced in Bayelsa, I pray u tell me wat was Goodlucks contribution to d crisis in Jos?

One more reason to vote Goodluck next week

Demdem I agree with u, but u wld agree that corruption has to be dealt with systematically, because as it is now corruption is systematically entrenched in the system.

Buharis style and Ribadus style of fighting corruption may only plunge us into a deeper mess, I prefer the Jonathan way of fighting corruption allow the agencies fight corruption allow more information and allow the issues come 2 public domain.

Justice always grinds slowly but surely, so we must mitigate new corrupt acts by placing checks that will make it impossible to get away with a corrupt act and maybe legalise some acts that are corrupt 2day so we can all benefit from them.

A lot of peeps here have failed to understand that Power became an issue recently, but it was not caused by those ruling today, but the past leaders since 1980.

I have said it before that it is because we now have a larger percentage of the population exposed to power supply that is why it has become an issue, uptill 1999 my hometown in Edo state did not have electricity.

If truly what is said about the power generation been 1500MW when Obj took over, then the PDP has tried in bringing it up to 3800MW despite the amount of corruption in their system.

A commentator criticised Jonathan on paying only terrorists from his side of the country allowances and not other terrorist, but I am sure that person forgot that it was Yaradua a man from the same state as Buhari who acknowledged that the Niger Delta militants were justified in their agitation and that was why he granted them amnesty, forgiving them for all the nations soldiers they have killed in the past and openly asked for their forgiveness of their people that have been killed in the crisis, this is also what Obj from the same party and a southerner failed to do in his 8yrs while he was levelling communities in the Niger Delta, dont forget that the same Yaradua was the man who gave the command to shoot at sight at the Boko haram militia and even the extra njudicial killing of the leader had implicitly been given by Yaradua, this is a man of striong conviction.

If anyone still believes that corruption is our single biggest challenge, that person should realise that the day you attempt to solve corrption by force in a democracy like ours you may as well say good bye to the nation called nigeria becase I have looked at it critically and concluded that as at today corruption is the thread that holds our country together as one, remove corruption and give me one good reason why we should exploit oil in the Nigerdelta and build roads in the North west?

A good move is a good move. If Jonathan has decided that govt agencies shold give preference to local goods how does that adversely affect the economy?

What has this policy got to do with Power generation, If we dont have powers should buisnesses go to sleep?

What Jonathan is saying is yes we would buy the goods made in Nigeria even if it is more expensive due to power problems, with this govt now has a stake in solving power problems because the moment power is more available the prices of these goods and machineries will drastically reduce.

As long as the industry has a customer that can pay for its product the business remains, so in essence the indstry will keep paying its staff to produce and other car giants that have been making incredible profits from importing the cars for govt officials will now have to consider biding a plant here that is how the economy is developed, do we really think that Toyota can not open up a plant here to make only the Toyota corrollas that govt top officials use dont forget there is an incentive for private companies that also use made or assembled in Nigeria , this would encorage industries to remain in Nigeria becase yo lose advantage when you are otside Nigeria.

Justcash I am proud of you, the hate for Jonathan on the internet is nbelievable, he would even be criticised for ensuring free and fair elections even if he loses.

My fellow Nigerians are so sentimental that no one has bothered to ask if two wrongs can make a right.

Yes Jonathan was wrong by failing to attend the NN24 debate but the opposition pulling out of this would it correct or change the NN24 debate.

Why are we responding so quick to the allegation that Jonathan requested that the dates be shifted, that was not the only request he made and if all could not be met he informed earlier that he would not be attending but everyone was waiting if at the last minute he would change his mind, a week before the presidential debate the Vice Presidential debate held and Sambo wasnt there so where are we getting the idea that Jonathan pulled out at the last minute.

The first debate exposed to other contestants especially Buhari and Ribadu that those in govt may actually understand Nigeria problem than they give them credit for and if care is not taken Jonathan may be flooring them most especially when he would be having the questions before hand.

It is a debate, if jonathan did not come to the first debate he has lost ground there and maybe wants to catch up with this one so let the others not pull out, it would tell us a lot about them

Gbawe:

Do you guys have no shame with how you falsely talk down Ribadu while praising others who are undeserving ? Shekarau must now be praised as a star administrator , because of one single debate , while we ignore his mediocre record as an[b] 8 year [/b] Governor of Kano ? No wonder Nigeria is a mess when even those supposedly well educated are so easily impressed and lacking in critical judgement and robust analytical thinking . What must we do with Shekarau's mediocre record as an 8 year Governor of Kano State ? Simply throw it in the bin because he did well in a debate last week? I think the good people of Kano will likely curse us for heaping praise on a man who has not done much to improve their lot !!! Shekarau should not even be mentioned because he has been very mediocre in public office - exactly the same as the GEJ you support . No one can level the same accusation at Ribadu. Ribadu is no novice to governance as you falsely want to peddle here . Aside his EFCC duties , he worked well in the OBJ economic team that consisted Okonjo-Iweala et al. Those folks have nothing but the highest praise for the competence and contributions of Ribadu.

It is Ribadu and Fashola who are actually similar , with competence in office, not Fashola and Shekarau as you are hasty to conclude because of your need to dismiss Ribadu's leadership potentials.

Ribadu was headhunted by OBJ for his potentials . He succeeded in his duties . It is the same with Fashola who was brought to prominence by Tinubu. Shekarau became popular thanks to Buhari. Not only did he fall out with Buhari but Shekarua went on to be highly mediocre to the extent , in many aspects , he has left Kano worse than it was 8 years ago !!!! GEJ is best not mentioned because we know the crook Alamayeisegha was not looking for a competent deputy when he chose Jonathan.

I would say it is Ribadu and Fashola who made the jump from potenially promising leaders to efficient leaders. This is not a thread for any GEJ fans to even be showing their face if they understand the concept of headhunting and performance in office that cements reputation and legendary popularity. As per those considerations, Fashola and Ribadu are great examples while Shekarau and GEJ should be thrown in the dustbin.

Gbawe calm down!!! If you believe that Ribadu is the only mangood enough to be president of this country at a time as now then you must have concluded that this nation is doomed.

The Nigerian nation does not need the best man among all of us to be president before we get things right but rather need a complete team of people to set the nation on the path to greatness.

How did you arrive at a conclusion that Shekerau took Kanbo backwards after 8yrs, pls have u been to Kano before? Do you know that Shekeraus deputy decamped from the ANPP and yet they still work together, are you aware that the biggest dam in Africa was just commisioned in kano state? Please I did not speak down on Ribadu neither am I trying to praise Shekerau, but the point I was tryin to raise in the debate was that Shekerau was able to perform better because of the job he had been at in the last 8yrs, we all know that it is not by your articulate plans or suggestions for solving national issues that will translate whenthe job is given to you.

The Nigerian problem as it is today is not the PDP but the amount bof power held by PDP, If you replace the PDP wholly with the ACN today the problems of this country will double instantly and would only leave folks like you Gbawe frustrated.

Gbawe you have been on this forum for a while, dont beef me because I donot support your candidate or share the same sentiments with you, I am entitled to my own views as much as you are, I will suggest you look at my profile on this forum and analyse the way I argue to know what my point of views are.

There is no guarantee today that the greed of the opposition politicians is not equal or maybe greater than the greed of the ruling politicians today, or why has it been totally impossible for all opposition politicians to come under one banner to fight the PDP, why would the opposition not all bury their personal ambitions for the purpose of a common good to fight a common enemy, why should Buhari form a new party only to project himself as president, why would Ribadu believe that the only way he can affect this country is by being president of this country, why would Shekerau believe that because he has finished his maximum number of terms in Kano he must become president of this country.

Since 2007 when Yaradua promised that he would conduct better elections where votes would count what was the problem with our opposition politicians that even 3 weeks to elections they have been unable to provide an alternative platform that will match PDP naira for naira, state for state, spread for spread Why did the alliance of Buhari and Tinubu fall apart, why is the APGA having to pledge its support to GEj, do we ebven know that in an event of a runoff ANPP would align with the PDp instead of the ACn or CPC?

My one vote is equal to ur one vote gbawe and our one votes would not determine who becomes president, the eventual winner must have a gap of over 1million votes so dont attack me on a persoanl level but face theissues I raised here.

My friend french man what you are seeing now is what some of us had seen right from the moment Ribadu started his campaign and talks about becoming president, Fashola and Shekerau will be a better team to Ribadu and Adeola for the simple reason that both have seen it and know what is going on.

Some folks think when Govs attend NEC meetings and other security meetingsin abuja it is to go and laugh and drink champegne, it is serious work that is going on there even the tensions at those places is not something an uninitiated can just walk into.

Watch the debate again and ask why Shekerau seemed to beat all other candidates hands down it was simply because he knows what he is talking about, Ribadu is no different from me, just passionate about changing the country.

Buhari also has a problem of been out of govt for 26yrs now, when in PTF he was not subjected to any legislative oversight and overbearing influence, Nigeria is a place where people will frustrate you to "settle" them, do you think if he was PTF chairman in a democratic setting he wld be able to achieve what he achieved, if in the first year after they approved his budget he gave contracts out without their contractors the next year they will ensure they frustrate him by probing all the naira he spent the previous year, they would slash his budget and may even move to amend the law that set up his PTF and you would be surprised that our national assembly will abolish the PTF within 3 yrs, they will accuse him of building the roads only in one geo political zone and even senators from the benefiotting zone would not rise to his defence.

Jonathan is a man of the people, Jonathan has the support of individuals at all levels, he has seen it all as depouty governor he understands what it means to be looked down on and underated by politicians and the people, as Gov he understands the amount of power available at your disposal to cause changes and yet realises the limitations as VP he understands the intrigues in the corridors of power as a spectattor for almost three yrs as Ag President he has wielded the highest power of the land and knows what it is like to carry everybody along and as president he has come to understand the importance of carrying everyone along, commanding respect of his aides, associates and foes alike, he has come to understand that as president you can not be an ultimate man but must always keep your powers within and use only when totally necessary as the force of persuasion and negotiation achieves more.

What more can I say but Vote wisely, vote GEj for 2011

9ja man I appreciate your very matured response, Abraham Lincoln did his in America and was not a former military dictator benevolent or otherwise neither was lincoln a silver linin in a despotic regime he became president in America not promising to fight corruption but promising to ensure freedom of speech and racial equality, the systems in America and Nigeria are not the same.

I feel very strongly that Buhari can not repeat his 1983 feat for the following reasons;
1. He would not be running a dictatorial administration but a democratic one where even the criminals have their say.
2. Corruption has become a way of life in Nigeria and a head on collision with it wld only end up 4 him as using his head to brk coconut, he surely won't be there 2 c how that coconut will be shared.
3. In 1983 more than 60% of d nigerian population lived in d villages without access 2 electricity but 2day we are connected 2 d internet even while walking on d streets.
4. The people he seeks to fight actually control critical sectors of the country and he will not enjoy absolute powers, the judiciary is independent and can be bought even if he isn't.
5. I looked at Nigerias history and Obj came 2 mind, in 1979 he handed over power willingly and peacefully but when he was called back to do the same again afta ruling 8yrs he could not repeat the feat, he failed woefully @ it that it put d nation at the precipe so y shld I expect Buhari to repeat his history, he may end up more corrupt than Obj himself, he cld take it as pay back time, I'm not sure of this but I won't gamble on him.
6. Finally Buhari is a hero of our past I'll prefer he remains that instead of becoming a villain of the present.

People is Beaf the reuters that published the story?

A losing man does not agree easily that he is losing.

Something struck me in the report, in Lagos 92% of respondents in Lagos said they would vote Fashola but 80% would vote for Jonathan, I think this is a true reflection of what is on ground in lagos.

Like or hate Beaf, he is a product of the NL system, blind critics give birth to blind supporters, if you criticise Jonathan constructively and dont twist every of his words and actions to make him look bad always you would get a better reaction from beaf.

Beaf I will say you are finally reaping what you sow, remember how you would castigate yaradua when he was alive, there is need to listen to all sides because all stories have two sides no single individual is all angel or all demon, there is the good sides to all the candidates and surely a bad side to all the candidates.

I will support Jonathan because he represents Present tense in this country today, Buhari is a representation of the past tense, at best I think of Buhari as a relic from the past, If Buhari has contested 2003,2007 elections without success why cant he project some other candidate as President or is the nation doomed without his presidency? Ribadu, Shekerau represent the not to distant future for me, but after the debate Shekerau stands shoulder higher than Ribadu and this has vindicated my position that Ribadu start as a senator or Gov before going for the top job!

Wait I dont think this should be about CPC starting the rumor?

The issue of these messages is that I have got a lot of it sent to me as broadcasts, CPC supporters on fb have pasted this on my wall and only to come here and learn that the news was fake. I believe CPC supporters owe GEJ supporters some apology and an apology to the nobel laurette.

Someone posted the offensive messages on my wall and I got so irritated and had to discredit Soyinka, I must apologise for this, but guys this is an all low, it is politics for Gods sake, there can only be one winner and one vote does not make u a winner, its the majority vote that makes you a winner so if the majority are blind and settle for a fool the wise minority should be matured enough to allow the blind and maybe stupid majority have their way!!!

JomoGbomo2:

I really don't know the source of this and i dont need to hear it from one prof or another before agreeing with it because it is eternally true and i totally share the same view with whoever mentioned it.

Only 4 sets of people can vote for the PDP:

(1) those who are intellectually blind;
(2) those who are blinded by ethnicity;
(3) those who are blinded by corruption and therefore afraid of the unknown, should power change hands; and finally
(4) those who are suffering from a combination of the above terminal sicknesses.

Just ruminate over it before responding within yourself if its true or not and be sincere to yourself.

@Quote it is okay to believe whatever you want to believe but can we all agree that Soyinka did not say so

Malali y do u delude urself to think that a credible election is only an election the PDP loses. When the PDP is working where is the CPC. If its so easy to rig let Buhari go nd rig, what do u kno abt voting patterns, I have registered to vote and no matter what all of u on NL or anywhere else think or say of GEJ my voters card will be counting for him, why shld I vote a man who in 1985 was told that there was going to be a coup to topple his govt and all he cld say was if they know they can do better let them go ahead, now his time has passed he is dragging with a guy who was concluding University when he was president.

Malali go and read Sanusis piece on Buhari then come back with a clearer mind, d challenges of 83 is nothing compared 2 d challenges of 2011, what was d %age of educated people in d population, the politicians he jailed in 83 would qualify for angels now when u compare them to todays politicians, is buhari planning to rule alone, is it the buharis party that is presenting Abachas son as a governorship candidate, the crooks in d PDP are known but what can we say abt d people in d CPC, surely unknown crooks.

Whoever wants 2 b president should go and do his homework properly and not go and beg courts to annul election just because the election was conducted during the christian lent period!!!

Mscheew @ malali, April is barely 3 weeks away when we are thru with votin we will compare notes