₦airaland Forum

bawomolo:
the cost of holding elections aren't cheap. I doubt that idea would be practical. It would make more sense to add more policemen

I also advocate adding more policemen or holding elections regionally for concentrated resources. But the problem is on this occassion with the resources of the whole Nation to our disposal we have still failed to hold credible election in just one state.

so it all boils down to attitude. getting it right requires patience.

Meanwhile when we talk of cost we should also understand that nothing is more expensive than holding poor elections as the total cost of holding the election at all becomes waste plus the unquantifiable cost of bad governance that follows.

Kobojunkie:
Not at all saying I have a better solution in mind! I just have a hard time picturing the INEC Situation improving if it were to decide to host the elections 100 times or more. The lack of transparency is the biggest issue with elections in that country IMHO. “Secret” ballot counting procedures still remain the biggest of all issues, in my opinion.

Well I was just wondering whether the idea that people stuff ballot boxes and the results still stands helps fuel rigging.

You know, I doubt if there was a 3rd or 4th election run in Ekiti some of this politicians will continue hiring thugs without there activities getting clearer to every one.

You know think about it with your private life . . . . . if it registers in your head that taking short cuts to anything will only guarantee re-do of the that thing and in effect take longer than doing it right first time. Then maybe attitudes will change.

Helloooooooo

Please read my post once again

Kobojunkie:
Considering the political climate in said country, is the above a viable solution?

Kobo right now, the Nigeria problem is one which anyone hardly knows a right and effective solution. If you have one please do feel free to let us know.

The only thing I know right now is that the fundamental reason why we are practising multi-party democracy is being undermined. If we can't even choose our leaders whats the point of having democracy

I don't want to advocate a Military Coup but coups only thrive in climates like this and I dont know how many Nigerians who will miss this PDP Government if a coup were to happen.

I believe one solution to all this problem is that INEC should send out a clear message that they are ready to host the election 100 times untill it is free and fair.

The reason all this non-sense endures is that inspite of all the complains the results still stands.

If there is evidence of disorder INEC should be ready to cancel it as many times as it is necesary.

when will Amodu field the best Central Defender in the country

Dele Adeleye

This is why I can not wait for Amodu to be replaced by Siasia, the olympic combination is better than the current Super Eagles.

anything but PDP at this time

I hope they loose more states.

if we of the 36 States

12 PDP
8 ANPP
7 AC
Others 4.

The quality of our political debate will be different.

well if one dominant party continues to rule, their is no point to reform. after all they are winning

but if there is competition, in time the only wining argument becomes that which people can identify with.

a vibrant opposition alternative can only do naija good.

I hope APGA, PPA and Labour Party will all join the broom revolution and give the PDP a run for their money.

Competitiveness breeds innovation, at some point this people will realise that the only way to sustain your party in Governance in this day and age is good governance.

But all these wont be possible without a vibrant opposition.

I hope Sen. Arise goes to jail if found guilty.

This update is a good idea,

I hope the next time we have an election we will have something like the 606 debate on BBC so that if any member of the public spots any trouble they can quickly text in location of trouble and if possible take pictures with their mobile phone to upload on youtube.

So that No compromised judge will say there is no evidence of trouble.

[size=28pt]Aondoakaa's clock

53 Days left[/size]

I am ashamed of the Supreme Court.

They rightly ruled that the election that brought Andy Uba to power should not have been held in the first Instance as Gov. Obi was yet to complete his 4-year tenure as stipulated in the constitution.

So in the eyes of the law the so called election which Andy Uba won never took place.

So why the supreme court is even contemplating reversing itself only God Knows. In time we will know how much Andy Uba paid Kastina-Alu.

Tanimu Kurfi's first economic action as economic adviser to President Yar'adua was to bring in Vaswani brothers.

Some of us raised concerns and they said oyea they want to neutralize dangote.

Why is Tanimu Kurfi not made to answer questions for bringing in people who have a history of fraud into Nigeria, that was kicked out by the last administration. Reversing OBJ is not the solution to everything you know?

When will Yar'adua stop taking us for a ride

I am not a fan of Jomo Gbomo (if anybody with that name exists)

But on this occassion I believe what he said in its entirity

I was particularly shocked on the timming of the President's offer of amnesty that it made me think there was a clandestine motive to it.

and with this revelation it has become clearer.

I hope MEND stick to there word because this cycle of (use MEND to rig election - then get into power with no plan for progress - then deploy the military to fight against MEND - and the when another election comes they want to work with MEND to rig another election) just has to stop.

it is in nobody's interest, not Mend nor the people of naija delta at least.

When a Government that is so dictatorial as to ban all sorts of import goods just because they want to give monopolistic advantage to PDP funders begin to talk about people sabotaging a Government project, you know that cant get any more mischievous.

If there exist any so called Generator importers sabotaging power project this govt can simply by a stroke of the pen arrest whoever and imprison them. The govt should stop being juvenile when it has no political will to serve the people.

Its amazing how politics works in naija sha

On the same month when the Presidency is trying to justify the President's immoral act of keeping the right to appoint the INEC chairman.

He justifies our fears by going on a partisan mission to campaign in Ekiti politics.

How does it convert the cost of garri in the market?

Any implications to the stock market?

The Igbos have not tasted power since then, how about telling us all the wonders that have happened in Nigeria since then in terms of infrastructures and otherwise. What has been the benefits of blaming the Igbos for all that happened in the civil war?

This man should spend more time showing his children where they will bury him when he dies and allow the young generation to move on.

the man does not even know that the world is more serious than his type.

Thats another valid question, why did they go to the press rather than the senate.

Political expediency over doing what is right.

Kobojunkie:
First off. Please tell me this is a joke -- I mean you trying to draw some comparison between the habits of the american president and what we have for a president in Nigeria. PLEASE, for goodness sake, tell me this is a joke!!

I am not joking, see answer above.

The issue is more of a constitutional crisis than a Presidential habit.

To better understand where the very ambigous section 145 of our constitution might be heading to requires refering to American constitution which is mainly the backbone of our constitution.

I think we should ignore the trivialities of whether Yar'adua writes a letter to David Mark or not and hold him to task on running the Govt. which has been so sluggish on everything.


Well just my opinion for now, your interpretation of section 145 is welcome and I am willing to agree if you convince me to accept otherwise

I have drawn our attention to the American situation because the current constitution is modelled arround the American constitution.

I think emotions are flying and people are getting excersized because we 'think' we know the President is sick. Well his looks lately suggests as much.
But if the President claims to be well and the Senate President does not think he has any reason to subject the President to health check then no one has got any proof.

As for the quigmire in the Senate, I think the content of the press release by Yayale Ahmed (SGF) may have given more rise to the controversy than the position of the constitution itself. Maybe all the SGF needed to say was the President was proceeding on holiday, he did not need to suggest someone else is in charge.

Even section 145 of the constitution which says

145. Whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Vice-President as Acting President.

The bit in bold suggests its the prerogative of the President to inform the NASS that the VP should be in charge.

'whenever' does not mean 'must'.

If anything the President's handlers bungled the situation again and if their is anything we should be worried about it is why he is going on holiday since he is not sick in the midst of our crashing economy.

I had this sentiment too

thank God someone in government is pointing this out

during the oil boom Dubai, Lybia, Russia, Iran used there new found wealth effectively

what did we achieve? nada

Well Atiku holds no political post at the moment where he can directly affect policy, neither does Obasanjo

So if they claim the meeting was for National Interest, why is it wrong to think it has got something to do with our political future.

However that is not the crux of this thread.

I am only querrying whether it makes sense that Atiku will have a corruption case to answer to if he has Presidential ambition and none if he does not.

If this news is true then what the bit in bold means is.

If Atiku has Presidential ambition then he is corrupt as a result of Jefferson case, if he does not have Presidential ambition then Atiku is not corrupt.

Are we a Nation of laws or is this all about Yar'adua must remain in power by force.

Political expediency and private ambitions of the President now trumps everything.

Guys what do you think?

AC to quiz Atiku today - For romancing OBJ - Presidency weighs options on OBJ, Atiku
Bola Badmus and Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 22.01.2009

LAST Monday’s courtesy call by the presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) and former vice president, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, to his former boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is said to be causing ripples within its fold as the party holds its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today in Abuja.


National chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, is expected to preside over the NEC meeting.


Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that the issue of the visit by Alhaji Abubakar to the Abeokuta home of Obasanjo, had been slated for discussion at the meeting.


Nigerian Tribune learnt that the former vice- president had earlier been invited for the NEC meeting long before the visit he made to Abeokuta and his presence at the NEC meeting was said to have been more desirable following that surprise visit.


Specifically, the party is said to have expressed surprise over the visit as the former vice president was said to have visited Obasanjo without the knowledge of the AC leadership.


“The party is highly surprised that the former vice president visited former President Obasanjo without having the courtesy of letting the party know about it. The party is highly worried and that is why the party has refrained from making any comment on the matter,” a source told the Nigerian Tribune.


Nigeran Tribune gathered that the party had, however, resolved to interrogate Abubakar at the meeting today with a view to taking necessary step.


Another source, who also spoke with Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, said the party was not concluding that Abubakar planned to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as being speculated in some quarters, saying he might have his reasons for choosing to visit Obasanjo.


“That is why the party expects that his attendance at Thursday’s meeting in Abuja will afford the party the opportunity to know his stand with the AC,” the source stated.


It will be recalled that Abubakar visited Chief Obasanjo in Abeokuta where the duo declared they had no personal animosity against each other.


The meeting, according to Obasanjo, was facilitated by the Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, with analysts saying that the former vice president was charting his way back into PDP, which he dumped following his disagreement with former boss, Chief Obasanjo.


It is also being speculated that Atiku is interested in contesting the 2011 presidential poll on the platform of the PDP.


Already, the national chairman of AC, Chief Akande, was said to have been in Abuja since Tuesday for the meeting with other chieftains of the party from across the federation.


However, the presidency is said to be weighing options on the way forward for its politics, following the rapprochement between the two leaders.


Although sources said that the presidency was not unaware of the rapprochement between the two, it was gathered that the unfolding events between the duo were being watched closely.


Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that President Yar’Adua was aware of the moves to reconcile Abubakar and Obasanjo, it was also gathered that the President had maintained a not-too-distant touch with the former vice president since he assumed office as president.


Although President Yar’Adua was said to be well-disposed to Atiku returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his camp was still trying to figure out what role the former vice president would want to play after joining the party.


Sources said that the thinking in the presidency was that Abubakar would join the party and collaborate with the president to “move the country forward,” rather than renew his presidential ambition.


A source said that the president’s close advisers were analysing the development.


A source said: “If the agenda is to bring him to the party for him to strengthen the PDP, we have no problems with that. The president sees Abubakar as his brother and he has maintained relations with him since he assumed office in 2007.


“But some have been saying that the former vice president will not just pocket his ambition if he comes back, we will watch as things unfold.”


[b]Another source told the Nigerian Tribune that President Yar’Adua would not sit by and watch anyone take the seat from him.


According to the source, “We are talking of a president who has two years to map the way forward, we are talking of a president who will preside over the execution of projects worth trillions and affect lives in many ways, he cannot just be swept aside.”


When reminded that former President Obasanjo appeared unhappy with Yar’Adua and could support Abubakar ambition to run for presidency in 2011, the source said that the president was watching closely.


“Don’t forget that the Jefferson case came up in the US recently, this government has two years to prosecute anyone who is indicted in that matter,” a source said.


Sources said that Abubakar could face prosecution if it became apparent that the alliance between him and the former president would work against Yar’Adua.


Another source said that the presidency was also closely watching the former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, in all this.[/b]
According to the source, President Yar’Adua had so far not been able to win the confidence of the former leaders, notwithstanding attempts at reaching out to them.


It was gathered that members of the Action Congress had kept a close eye on Abubakar in the last one month and that a group of AC leaders had written to him to plead with him not to leave the party.


Sources said that the alliance between the AC and the PDP would have been consummated a year ago but for the disagreement over the modus operandi between the former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, and Abubakar.


It was gathered that Abubakar was unhappy that Tinubu met with Yar’Adua directly rather than allowing the discussion to be done by the former vice president.


“Atiku was the party’s presidential candidate and leader of the party, so he believed that he should be the one to lead the charge if there is going to be a return to the PDP, but it didn’t go down well when it came to the open that some negotiations took place behind the former VP,” a source said.


In a related development, the media office of Abubakar has said that the need to join hands together and address crucial national matters informed the rapprochement between former President Obasanjo and the former and vice president.


In a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, his office said that the decision to join the former president in charting a new course was in the national interest.


“Worried that unresolved political feuds and petty elite bickering will continue to undermine Nigeria’s political and economic progress, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, resolved this week to work with other patriots and statesmen to address critical national challenges.”


The statement by the media office continued: “The meeting was not about the 2011 presidential election as some people have misinterpreted it. The two leaders decided to bury the hatchet and focus their attention, redirect their energies and harness their collective experiences for the benefit of the country,” the statement said.


“It was not about the two of them. It is about the future of our beloved country. At a critical moment, such as this, in the life of a nation, great men and women must put aside political differences and work for the progress of the country. This is the context in which the Abeokuta meeting should be seen by all well-meaning Nigerians,” the statement added.

- Culled from Nigerian Tribune

Its unfortunate the women do not know their rights

Sharia law is an optional law, Hisbah has no power to dictate to anybody as far as Nigerian constitution is concerned. Hisbah only means something to those who opt into Sharia law.

The only clearance these women need to gather is police clearance.

I don't like to spend much time reading what IBB says cos I know he belongs to the past, he will not rule Nigeria no matter how he tries. I am not God but I do know the difference between Military coup and rigging elections. The only way IBB can come back to power is through a coup which I dont see happening. Apart from that I dont see how IBB becomes President through the ballot. Rigging or no rigging.


On the issue of constitutional amendment, I dont see the need for wholistic constitutional ammendment when there are loads of areas in the constitution that is yet to be implemented.

Besides that our NASS as it is constituted is not ready to do anything, think of it, what is more secular than FOI Bill. This NASS assembly is yet to pass it into law. I also think this whole support by the Presidency for constitutional ammendment is a bit dodgy, it makes me wonder whether someone is trying to purchase popularity on the cheap while behind the scenes pulling some structural strings that ensures the process fails.

Think of it, once upon a time the President is for FOI bill, the next time he is for removal of immunity clause, now it is constitutional ammendment. None has been achieved and non will be achieved.

Yar'adua should cut down his 7point agenda to 1. Which is our next election should be close to being fair, right now most Nigerians are just sitting and waiting him out.

why not write a book about the life and time of mallam nuhu ribadu since you know him so well, so that those who care to learn from you will buy.

For me I think I am aware enough to form my own opinion love

cre8tivity:
mKren: please forget yaradua and the ag at least for now, let us take a close look at ribadu.
what do you thnk about ribadu? is he guilty of anything? what would you have done differently if you were wearing his shoes as the chairman of efcc and as a student in jos?

The debate about Ribadu's actions or inactions is something I think I am not ready to get into. It is a clear example of one of those times we as Nigerians choose to be dishonest and throw common sense to the wind inspite of all evidence to the contrary. Please spare me the debate.

If you wanna know what I think of him? I think Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a hero and I love the man. You are entitled to your views, that is your wish.

Well what Mike Aondoakaa will rather ignore is the fact that Okiro does not have the power to set up a tribunal to try Ribadu, the PSC does. And the constitution no where suggests the PSC has the right to sublate its powers to the IGP.

I am only wondering if the AGF is a lot happier to talk about the Ribadu right now so as to control what the news media reports this week. You know this Presidency might rather have the Nation arguing about Ribadu in the next few weeks so that nobody covers the fact that our President is going on sick leave.

I wish and hope our President recovers, I dont ever believe he will ever think responsibly enough to come to the conclusion himself that he is not fit to govern. I can only hope for the sake of our country he is well enough to see through the next 2years when we will have an opportunity to legally change the Aso Rock occupant.

The argument here sounds impressive but I have a few questions

1. Is corruption inherent in Nigerians?

2. If a kid born in Nigeria is taken to lets say lancanshire in Britain before he is one and is made to grow up under a white guardian. Will his idea of honesty be like that of his biological parents?

3. Do people's definition of honesty have anything to do with their values?

4. Do people form their values based on what they see arround them? Like if Igbinedion pays 3.5million for looting 4.4billion, what the consequence of stealing and benefit of not stealing.

5. Does the consequence of our action have any relation with state laws and its implementation?

6. Does efficient implementation of state laws have anything to do with who our leaders are?

7. If we are the solution to all our problems and responsible for law and order in the society why then do we need a Government?

Folks!!! ask not what your country can do for you but what you will do for your country only works when the leaders are at least pretending to respect the laws of the land.
The easier choice is to be corrupt and spend the people's money for your private needs. The only reason why the law works in developed countries is because they implement those laws effectively by serious people.
So whether we like it or not, if we dont have a reasonable President and a strong character running the EFCC or as AGF or in most Governmemnt positions. Development will continue to elude us.