₦airaland Forum

LOL I hope their is no clash of interests going on here (see the rhyme "man" in their names), tonshman undoing donzman.

On a more serious note, Donzman was just blabbing yesterday

@BigB1

What you simply got to understand is that western model democracy will simply not get us out of the dolldrums, how do you hope to educate the electorate in a country where the same set of people you want to educate the electorate against control at least 60% of the media and what they say. In a country where the same set of people have successfully through media propaganda make it look illegal to implement what the constitution say especially when it is not in their favour?
What electorate do you even want to educate, an electorate that have been so impoverished that they no longer know what they want, give them N1000 they throw all you have taught them to wind because they need to eat for that day. Some of those who will make up this so called electorate you talk about include those who placed priority over inscription of religious signs on naira over its purchasing power.

In a situation like this what do you do leave this people to be exploited forever?? or look for perculiar solution to our perculiar problems.
BigB1 you see, supporting what OBJ does have these days become politically incorrect and I dont wish to engage in that argument but I have no doubts in my mind that 10years down the line we will look back in history and glorify this political dramma and confusion playing out in our country because it is one of those rare situations where the grass tends to benefit from a fight between elephants.

@Blow

137. (1) A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of
President if -
(a) subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, he
has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than
Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National
Assembly, he has made a declaration of allegiance to such other
country; or
(b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections;
or
(c) under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a
lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind;
or
(d) he is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of
law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for
any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or
for any other offence, imposed on him by any court or tribunal or
substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on
him by such a court or tribunal; or
(e) within a period of less than ten years before the date of the
election to the office of President he has been convicted and
sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found
guilty of the contravention of the Code of Conduct; or
(f) he is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise
declared bankrupt under any law in force in Nigeria or any other
country; or
(g) being a person employed in the civil or public service of the
Federation or of any State, he has not resigned, withdrawn or retired
from the employment at least thirty days before the date of the
election; or
(h) he is a member of any secret society; or
(i) he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a Judicial
Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a
Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, a Tribunals of
Inquiry Law or any other law by the Federal or State Government which
indictment has been accepted by the Federal or State Government,
respectively; or
(j) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National
Electoral Commission.

Take note of the bit in bold

Blow:
which section of the constitution are you talking about.

This bolekaja fight is not about constitution as
much as it is about egoism.

I suggest you go read section 137 of the constitution yourself and not a newspaper summary of the constitution and its provisions given by either Lai Mohamed or Prof. Ben Nwabueze.

Its a shame that Utomi is not campaigning as much as he should do. Maybe financial or logistic reasons you know.
However that being said, the North/South power shift agreement though very necessary for stability is not backed by any law. Practically it is natural that power will shift to the North but you cant say Pat Utomi is not in the race because if not for anything he is recognised by INEC.
We also have to have a contest and most of the northern opposition to Yaradua represesent everything we dont want as a nation in 2007.

While the election is almost a formality, for the records we have to pretend their is a contest between Yaradua and Utomi who happens to be the only Presidential candidate we can look up to from the south. The likes of Orji Kalu are simply a waste of space.

@BigB1

We are practising democracy guided by our constitution. We can not choose what bits of constitutional democracy we will uphold. If the constitution says certain characters should not be allowed to take part in election, we must adhere to it so corrupt politicians learn their lesson.
We can not have a situation where the man who occupies the highest authority in the land has a worldwide known moral burden, he will simply not command authority. No one wants that.

Buhari is by no means out, they are challenging his candidature in court and until proven otherwise he remains a candidate. Its a different thing from an Atiku who is not a candidate in the first place and needs a court pronouncement before he can contest.

Buhari's case will not be concluded before April 14, besides that it is the problem of ANPP to worry about and not Nigeria. No one should loose sleep over his candidature cos the race in my view is between yaradua and utomi.

I dont think any Nigerian who wish this country well will want 16years of Aso Rock for Atiku Abubakar. He should go with his boss come May 29th 2007.

Donzman, our economics teacher, don run away

Donzman, I think its about time you start getting ashamed of this argument. George Bush was in Brazil last week to bring to global prominence the need to use alternative Bio-Fuels made from sugarcane so as to protect the environment for their generation yet unborn you are busy escusing your government for not providing ordinary basic amenities to this living generation.

[size=16pt]what a shame[/size]

Wanna argue about economics and government policies?? come on then lets have a go.

Go research the history of every country where private sector driven economy thrives, it usually starts as Government projects before they are privatised. Government takes the lead then as a result other sectors develope as a result of diversification. Which bussiness man of the world wants to commit so much money providing water, energy before they are able to set up their bussiness in a society where their is no guarantee of stability.
Oil and gas bussiness is thriving in Nigeria because its a scarce resource and the profit generated is so huge to buffer any cost commited to the bussiness.

As much as the condition is not yet favourable for bussiness men to invest their money then government has to provide them, that is how a society works. Suggesting that the government will not provide quality basic amanities like healthcare, education, water, electricity until the condition is now favourable enough for private bussinesses to provide the same services at an affordable price is irresponsible.

This is likely the same mentality that informed Orji Kalu's argument on Hardtalk that it is not his reponsibility to clean up Aba.

Take it or leave, the concept of Private sector driven economy was not introduced so that Government can shy away from its responsibilities. It was only introduced to reduce beaureucracy, ensure sustainability and fiscal responsibility. Government has to take the lead and drive virtually everything under mother earth.

Otherwise, Politicians will not be promising good healthcare, education or employment during election. Governments in developed economies will not be sponsoring Research and development. In fact in Europe right now there is a government sponsored programme like European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aimed at supporting SMEs and checkmating the relocation of bussinesses to Asia as a result of fierce competition from China.
Are SMEs not in domain of private bussinesses as well

Mr. Donzman, I advice you to read less of your economics textbooks and face reality, this is how the west keeps promoting IMF and Free market economy only to go behind the scene to subsidize their local farmers. If the chinese adhered to western postulations, they will be no where today.

Donzman:
I followed this argument for pages without commenting but apparently Nigerians need some mental check. Other countries are working towards a smaller Government while we lay around depending on the Government for everything. If there is no water, set up a borehole and pup water to houses in your neighbourhood for a monthly fee. Damn, I got an idea already!

If that is the case, why have a government in the 1st place. Maybe you think people have a government and soverinty for the sake of having one.
Well I wont like to think this is how every product of Usman Dan Fodio University will argue, I would have loved to ask if thats your alma mater.

Why shouldn't you use your wealth to better Nigeria?. . .Keep depending on the Government, how many of us pay taxes to begin with?. . .I thought so!

Chai!!!!!!!!! if this is the quality of debate on this forum, I would not have bothered to have a profile.

At this juncture, I might want to remind you that these leaders you talk about are leaders like you and I. This Government you speak of are not supernatural, they're humans. They do not have never ending wealth, they have limited wealth like you and I. They can only do so much for hospitals, the rest you and I SHOULD take up as private individuals.

We have failed, accept it and start thinking of ways to improve the healthcare system instead of sucking on the Government nipples.

Repo

Who is asking anybody to use his wealth to better Nigeria. People are suffering in the midst of plenty, that is the issue. In fact this argument is not what engaging in.

BigB1 nobody is doing any benchmark here. this is just too funny

I intentionally did that caption to attract people to it.

SEE WHAT BEING AN OPPOSITION LEADER IS ALL ABOUT IN ZIMBABWE 

Tsvangirai in Zimbabwe hospital 

Cut and bruised, Morgan Tsvangirai could barely walk


Enlarge Image

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been taken to hospital after appearing in court with injuries following two days in police detention.
He was taken from Harare magistrates court with several other activists, many of them bandaged.

They were badly beaten in custody after being detained at an opposition rally on Sunday, supporters said.

One person was shot dead as riot police broke up the meeting, called to pray for the political and economic crisis.

  One of us was killed. They shot my friend Gift Tandare dead

MDC activist


Eyewitness: Brutal clash
Send us your comments 
BBC reporter Brian Hungwe, who was at the courthouse, said the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader appeared with 10 of about 50 detainees who were brought to the court.

He says Mr Tsvangirai was badly swollen, his right eye was shut, he had deep cuts and several stitches and could barely walk.

The other detainees had similar injuries, our reporter says.

Mr Tsvangirai stood next to Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a rival MDC faction, while many of the activists sang and chanted, AFP news agency reported.

A lawyer for the group, Beatrice Mtetwa, said they will be charged with incitement to violence, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The detainees were taken to hospital after prosecutor Florence Ziyambi said they would be allowed to receive medical attention.

'Brutal' crackdown

The police action against Sunday's meeting in Harare, which they say was banned, has been strongly condemned by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and by the United States and European Union.

TSVANGIRAI'S LEGAL TROUBLES
2003: Charged with treason - later dropped
2002: Lost election to Mugabe, charged with treason - later dropped
2000: Charged with treason - later dropped
2000: MDC won 57 parliamentary seats
1999: Helped form MDC


Media anger over crackdown
Q&A: Zimbabwe meltdown 

Mr Ban's spokeswoman said the arrests "violate the basic democratic right of citizens to engage in peaceful assembly".

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, urged Zimbabwe to conduct an "immediate, impartial and comprehensive investigation" into what happened.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for Mr Tsvangirai's immediate release.

"The world community again has been shown that the regime of Robert Mugabe is ruthless and repressive and creates only suffering for the people of Zimbabwe," she said.

However, few of Zimbabwe's neighbours have condemned its policies.

A South African foreign ministry spokesman said: "We have constantly maintained that the solutions to the problems of Zimbabwe will be resolved by the people of Zimbabwe."

MDC politician Roy Bennett, who is now living in exile in South Africa, regretted that stance.

"It is very sad that our neighbours continue to keep quiet about the brutal situation," he said.

'Beating police'

Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said the police's action was justified as they were attacked by opposition activists.

"The opposition has been involved in violence, caught by police with weapons of destruction and destroying cars and stores and beating up people," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

"They've been beating up police you know. That is what government cannot tolerate."

The government said the rally breached a ban on political gatherings imposed after violence at a demonstration last month.

Civil discontent in Zimbabwe is rising over the country's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.

N/B This is not intended to defend OBJ's democratic records.

@Alabiyemi

Any leader too rich to use the same services he provides his people is simply too rich to be President of Nigeria. Simple

MR DONZMAN SORRY TO SAY THAT YOUR ARGUMENT IS CLUELESS.

THIS SAME MENTALITY YOU HAVE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DIED IN TEXAS DURING HURICANE KATRINA. PEOPLE HAD NO MONEY TO RUN FOR THEIR LIVES, IF THE SAME HAPPENS IN BRITAIN PEOPLE WILL SIMPLY JUMP ON THE TRAIN TO WHEREVER MONEY OR NO MONEY.

WILL YOU NOW SUGGEST THAT THE FACT THAT IT IS AMERICA, NOT HAVING PROPER MASS TRANSIT OR RAIL SYSTEM IN PLACE IS ACCEPTABLE?

[size=24pt]OUR MEDIA HOUSES ARE CLEARLY PROMOTING CORRUPTION[/size]

A BBC REPORT ON ATIKU'S TRIP

Nigerian VP falls off treadmill

Atiku Abubakar has stopped running - temporarily
Nigeria's vice-president, a leading contender in April's presidential polls, has interrupted his campaign to go to London after damaging his knee.
Atiku Abubakar fell off his running machine and was then flown to the UK on Sunday, says his spokesman Garba Shehu.

"It was not a very serious injury, so he is expected back within days," Mr Shehu told the BBC News website.

On Sunday, ruling party candidate Umaru Yar'Adua returned to Nigeria from an emergency overseas health visit.

Mr Shehu says Mr Abubakar is being treated at the London Bridge Hospital for a torn tendon.

Mr Abubakar, a former ally of President Olusegun Obasanjo fell out with the president after he publicly opposed moves to change the country's constitution to give the president a third term.

Mr Obasanjo's political loyalists then forced Mr Abubakar out of the People's Democratic Party and he joined the opposition Action Congress on whose platform he is running for president.

Mr Abubakar's ill-health prompted President Olusegun Obasanjo to forget his public spat with his deputy - as he allowed him use of a presidential jet for the London trip.

Dissatisfaction

The PDP presidential campaign was thrown into confusion last week when Mr Yar'Adua collapsed and was flown to a German hospital for medical tests.


Despite a fallout, President Obasanjo lent him his presidential jet

The 55-year-old former chemistry teacher is the frontrunner to win the election and has previously suffered from a kidney illness.

His collapse prompted speculation that he could be replaced as the PDP's candidate. The polls should become the first transfer of power in Africa's most populous country from one elected leader to another since independence in 1960.

Despite being Africa's largest exporter of oil, Nigeria remains poor with over 70% of its population living on less than $1 a day.

Corruption and mismanagement have hobbled Africa's most populous nation where most basic services, including decent health care are absent.

Although rich Nigerians routinely travel overseas for even the most basic heath issues, some Nigerians are saying the ruling party in government has failed to develop health care in the country and should be voted out of power next April.

"Look, I am an ordinary man, but I have a vote," says Tunde Akunbi, an Abuja taxi driver.

"If Yar'Adua and Atiku are going abroad for mere medical check-ups and minor knee injuries, what does that say to President Obasanjo? It says, his government has failed in health care. I can't vote PDP."

A VANGUARD REPORT ON THE SAME ISSUE

ABUJA — VICE PRESIDENT Atiku Abubakar was scheduled, last night, to undergo a one-and-half-hour surgery to re-attach a torn ligament on his knee at the London Bridge Hospital in the United Kingdom. He was to be wheeled into the theatre at 9 p.m.

His Media Consultant, Mallam Garba Shehu, said he would rest for another 24 hours after the surgery before returning to the country on Thursday to resume his campaigns

At his bedside in the hospital yesterday, was his wife, Jemilia.
“The Vice President is in good condition and he is optimistically looking forward to the surgery and his early return to Nigeria,” Mallam Shehu said yesterday.
The Vice President suffered a torn ligament on his knee during a routine exercise in his official residence on Sunday and was flown to the United Kingdom same night aboard a presidential jet following the intervention of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

President Obasanjo following a briefing from the Chief of Staff, Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed (rtd.), on the Vice President’s situation initiated contact with the Vice President on phone for the first time this year and offered him his good wishes and the use of a presidential jet to convey him to the London hospital.

Offer of presidential jet no big deal — AC
Meanwhile, the Action Congress (AC) said, yesterday, the presidency’s offer of a presidential jet to fly Vice President Atiku Abubakar to London for the treatment of his torn knee ligament and government’s offer to foot the bill for the treatment was not a big deal but part of his rights as a sitting Vice President.In a statement in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the AC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said theVP — whose entitlements have yet to be fully restored in line with the ruling of the Court of Appeal — accepted the offer in the spirit of politics without bitterness, in which he strongly believes.

AC said the VP would not have travelled out for such a minor surgery in the first instance, if the Aso Rock Clinic had the equipment to repair the torn ligament on his knee. The party expressed the hope that the presidency would now restore all the entitlements of the VicePresident, including the full compliment of his official cars and security personnel. "We will like to reiterate that we expect our presidential candidate back in the country by Thursday, after the minor surgery, to resume his campaign,” AC said.

Atiku’s running mate, associates on Obasanjo's gesture
Also yesterday, Alhaji Abubakar’s running mate, Senator Ben Obi, said the offer from President Obasanjo of a presidential jet to fly the VP for treatment abroad was not something out of the ordinary.

However, other associates of the AC presidential candidate including former presidential adviser, Mrs. Titi Ajanaku, and the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Delta State, Chief Charles Obule, welcomed the fresh breadth in the otherwise acrimonious relationship between the President and his deputy.

Mrs. Ajanaku, a former adviser to President Obasanjo but now a member of the Atiku Abubakar campaign told Vanguard on telephone yesterday that her next desire was for God to break the ice so that the two men could work in harmony for the good of the nation as they swore on assumption of office.

Speaking, Senator Obi said: “That he has not been allowed to use the tools of work that he is entitled to does not remove the fact that he is the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as recognised by the Constitution.

“In all aspects known to the law, he remains the Vice President. So it is not a gesture. I don’t see it as a gesture. It is in recognition of his office and what is on ground is purely political. It is a question of one not agreeing with the position of the other.

“You would notice that ever since he has been going on campaigns, the Vice President has not complained about the non-availability of his plane, but the PDP has been using the presidential jet.

“That they now belong to different camps does not mean that there should not be a respect of the Constitution and the respect of the Constitution is that there is a President and that there is a Vice President, it is not a question of appointment,” he said.

comment withdrawn

Tobiegal:
Please where did u get that figure from or where you just free-styling?!

Ribadu put it at a figure of at least 60% on friday. Could he be free styling as well??

People please copy the message in quote and forward to all your friends, somehow I believe those at the helm of affairs will hear this. Someone might just take it up and the revolution will begin. this simply can't continue.

SINCERITY IN GOVERNANCE, THE ONLY GUARANTEE TO NIGERIA’S FUTURE

My heart bleeds for my country while I type this e-mail. Every passing day politicians bore us with different versions definition of democracy and respect for rule of law, they also bore us with talks of Nigeria being at cross-roads but what is more worrying is no matter which sides of the political divide they may have chosen, there is hardly any politician who has the interest of the people at heart. None is even pretending to.

Democracy however we choose to define it is useless if they do not guarantee the welfare of the people. The importance of welfare of the people and as such earning their trust and confidence has been so undermined. It is Ronal Regan who said, “No arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women”. It is also an obvious fact that no government or country of the world will succeed without the will, moral courage and support of its people.

Tell me how a government or leader hopes to succeed or earn the confidence of the people when they provide services to the Nigerian people they are not happy to use? How will the Nigerian people believe in a leader who provides unfit health and education facilities only to run abroad to access world-class services when they need them? Our hospitals and schools are not good enough for them and their children but good enough for the Nigerian people. How many people on the streets of Nigeria are able to go abroad to access these services and what hope for middle-low class Nigerians when they fall ill?
How will the Niger-Delta youths lay down their arms in the face of such oppression and deception?

In the last few days, 2 front-runners in the April election and presently government officials who have been part of the present democratic government have gone abroad for treatments to show how unfit our health facilities are and yet they have chosen to do nothing about it. What have they been doing in the last 8years? What is even more heart breaking is that abroad Nigerian doctors are excelling thus its obvious that government have simply not done their bit.

I know that my outcry may not see the light of day especially when at least 80% of the politicians are guilty of the same offence but we need to have a rethink because we could be over stretching the patience of the Nigerian people. The Niger-Deltans who colluded with governments of yesteryears to loot the area may not have envisaged that where they called home may turn out to be a war zone someday. If the present insincerity in governance continues, Nigeria may turn another Congo and no one wants that.

Mr. Senate President and all stakeholders, we need a legislation compelling all political leaders and aspirants to improve to world class standard our facilities and be ready to use them with his immediate family or forget about holding a political office in Nigeria. The CEO of Nissan cannot be driving a Toyota car, it just does not happen because it sends out the wrong message.

omofineboy:
Fying abroad to treat malaria or ordinary cold to me is no body's business what bothers me on this is if Nigeria's money is used to sponsor such frivolous trips if not am less bothered.

YOU SIMPLY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. IF ALIKO DANGOTE OR FEMI OTEDOLA GOES ABROAD FOR TREATMENT WHO CARES? WE ARE TALKING OF A PUBLIC SERVANT WHO HAS REFUSED TO DO WHAT HE OUGHT TO DO OR PROVIDING ADEQUATE SERVICE SEEKING THE SAME SERVICES ABROAD.
IF THOSE SERVICES HE PROVIDES ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM WHY ARE THEY GOOD ENOUGH FOR NIGERIANS?? WHY MUST NIGERIANS SUFFER IN THE MIDST OF PLENTY AND YOU THINK THESE LEADERS SHOULD NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

Topsido:
Ugodaniel, you should know that it is totally unacceptable to insult a fellow Nairaland user. Only those old big bellied men out there is permitted to be lampooned here. I will insult you because i am jumping to the conclusion that you are nothing but a thug, a animal. You are not desirable in a georgeous forum like this.

Please ignore people who are simply trying to deviate our attention from the issues at stake. Nigerian elite politicains are telling us Nigerians how foolish we are. We need a revolution against every politician since that is the only language they understand. The Niger delta youths have proved this.

[size=24pt]Please no matter your political affiliations, lets not deviate from the issue. This is injustice by elite politicians as a whole on the Nigerian people it includes both OBJ and Atiku.[/size]

Only yesterday I raised concerns on this same issue in the topic "No reason to celebrate Yaradua's return", this people refuse to sort out our hospitals in the hope of flying abroad when they are ill. Nigerians who can't be flown abroad will die for the same illness. This goes a long way to summarise how much they love us. The services they provide to Nigerians are not good enough for them abi??

Who wants to eat a meal that even the cook can not eat

I have always been a critic of Niger-Delta militants but if this is what leadership is about tell me how those boys should trust any leader by laying down their arms in the hope of getting development in return. No atom of sincerity on the part of our leaders, this is shear betrayal of trust. Asari Dokubo should be released immediately because there is no point keeping him in prison for treason charges when our leaders are providing us with services not good enough for them. This is the height of betrayal.

People should leave Prof. Maurice Iwu alone, he has simply not acted outside the confines of the law. He has a commitee which presides over issues before they arrive at decisions. Some members of that commitee are sympathetic to Atiku presidency.

Iwu can only work on facts, the EFCC list given to him did not include Alao Akala or Andy Uba. Blame the presidency for not including such people on corruption list and not maurice Iwu.

I personally have not seen what he has done wrong to deserve all the hostility he is getting from Nigerians. If he is doing something wrong I dont think he has done 1/10 of what Abel Goubadia did yet I dont remember this sort of attack on Abel.