₦airaland Forum

From Madu Onuorah, Abuja - Guardian - Feb 1 2010

IN one voice, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Sultan of Sokoto Sa'ad Abubakar III, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, pioneer People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Chief Solomon Lar, Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang and others yesterday agreed that the recent Jos sectarian crisis had damaged inter-religious harmony and Nigeria's reputation in the world.

Speaking at a special meeting on the persistent crisis in the Plateau State capital at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Jonathan noted that the Jos issue has become "a major embarrassment not only to the people of Plateau State but also to the whole nation. And of course, it is part of the woes of the black man that we have to wake up and begin to massacre ourselves indiscriminately."

At the meeting with leaders of thought of Plateau State and top religious leaders, Jonathan said that it was time to bring peace to the state "so that the good old days would continue."

At the end of the consultative meeting, the Federal Government set up a special 15-member committee to work out a way forward towards finding a lasting solution to the recurrent crisis.

Lar, who is a former Plateau State governor, was appointed the committee's chairman while Ambassador Yahya Kwande will serve as co-chairman.

Its other members are Mrs. Hannatu Chollom, Mr. John Samci, Prof. N. Gomwalk, Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun, Senator John N. Shagaya, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Honourable Leo Dilkon, Most Rev. I. A. Kaigama, Sheikh Dawud Balarabe, Mrs. Fati Kyari, AVM U. Abbas and Alhaji Saleh Hassan.

The committee will "critically examine the issues surrounding the recurrent violence in Plateau State and work out how various institutions and levels of government can interact to ensure that the crisis is resolved once and for all."

The Vice President said: "Although there were minor social conflicts even in the time past, but really what we are witnessing recently is quite embarrassing and we all will collectively see how we can bring this to an end. My brothers and sisters, with equal stake with what is happening, we must realise and come to the fact that after all the maiming, we will still come back to re-establish our bonds of social solidarity defined by symbiotic relationship, by the spirit of live and let live. It is necessary that we must work together again as we have always done to restore the golden era of our Plateau, one in which we all would be proud of. For that to happen, we need to talk to ourselves as members of one family. We must tell ourselves the home truth that enough is enough. And we must without sentiment and as leaders speak to ourselves sincerely with a view to rebuilding the old Plateau.

"What we have witnessed in 2008 and what has just happened last month, we will all collectively today resolve to make sure that they don't happen again, because the world is not just waiting for any sector or any part of the country. If Plateau continues to boil the way it is boiling, the local economy would be completely destroyed. If you move to some parts of the Niger Delta, areas that used to bubble before, they are now shadows of themselves. And we pray and believe that the situation in Plateau does not get to that level. So, we call this meeting because whenever a crisis happens, government sets up panels, commission of enquiry and so on. And we believe that while the panel and commission of enquiry will go on, we should come in this informal way to really talk to ourselves and agree on what we must all do, the role that would be played by the Federal Government, the state government, and the ordinary residents and indigenes of Plateau, to make sure that we don't get to this level again that is becoming a major embarrassment not to only the people of Plateau State but to the whole nation.

[size=14pt]"And of course, it is part of the woes of the black man that we have to wake up and begin to massacre ourselves indiscriminately. We believe that Plateau State is too developed for that. It is too civilised for that, and too important for that. And we cannot allow Plateau to get to the level where some people want to push us to that; is the essence of this meeting. The talk is to discuss on the way forward, to have a solid position so that such things don't happen again."[/size]

Lar remarked: "Plateau State was once adjudged as the most peaceful and accommodating state in the federation in the Second Republic. There are 52 tribes in the Plateau and the different ethnic groups have been living together and have been living together until recently. Plateau is still a good state and it has been accommodating all from all over the federation."

Jang said: "I want to lend my voice in joining previous speakers in thanking the Vice President for calling this meeting. It is timely and it is good to bring not only Plateau people but also other Nigerians who we are all stakeholders in the Nigerian project. This is our nation. Plateau State is just one of the federating units of Federal Republic of Nigeria. I believe as a governor of Plateau State that one of the major problems we have as a nation is the fact that our leaders are not patient to wait and hear two sides of a story before they make statements that will either help solve the problem or help to inflame the problem itself. So, I want to plead with our prominent citizens holding high positions that when a problem erupts in a place, that there are people who want to justify the cause of their actions. And they run to certain areas to go and give their own story and leaders start issuing statement without knowing the background or what actually happened. I want to plead that we should seriously take note of that.

"And again, I also want to say that I have had the privilege as a Nigerian to travel to so many countries; the press is as free as the press in the developed nations. The foreign press has the interest of their nation in their heart. And there are certain things they don't just publish because they want to protect the interest and the integrity of their nation. But our press thinks the way to do journalism is to bastardise the whole country in the face of the whole worlds, calling leaders by all sorts of names, with facts that they have not gone to investigate. And they just write anything that will just help them sell their papers or promote their various media houses. So, I want to take this opportunity to plead with the Nigerian press: This nation is our nation. And we have no other nation, whether we are pressmen, whether we are governors, president, traditional rulers, or we are whatsoever. We have no other nation. If this nation burns, it will burn all of us. And I think the press should play an important role in bringing unity to this nation and know that certain things should be discussed within us as a nation and not just selling it to the whole world because we want to say we are the freest press in the whole world. Free, as long as what we write doesn't set our own country on fire, because we would be doing more harm to our own country."

Onaiyekan noted that while the problem of Jos crisis was on, "the leadership of both Christianity and Islam in Nigeria has been working closely together to see what we can do. You may recall that during the week when the heat was high, the Sultan and I even though I was away, we managed to consult and come out with a joint statement outlining some simple, commonly held principles that both our fate holds, to make it clear to everybody that killing innocent individuals, leading to breakdown of law and order is not part of either Christianity or Islam."

He added: "Much of the talk about religion is purely misused and abuse of religion and we are anxious to liberate ourselves from this manipulation. We do admit that there are some elements of religion in it. Whatever element is in it, we take responsibility to address it. But we also know that there may be other issues that must be addressed and we should stop hiding under religion. I think the good thing about this gathering is that the truth would be told and not only for Jos, even though Jos has brought us here. But the issues on the Plateau are also on the planes and on the valleys all over Nigeria and I think we also have to put that very clearly that if we really want to go down to the root of this matter, we should not just be thinking of the plateau. What happened in Plateau have affected people all over Nigeria. So, I think we should broaden our mind and we should not be afraid to do that. Which means also that we should go beyond the recent crisis to the previous ones too, which are still festering and waiting to be addressed if we have the political will to do that. And may God grant us also the sincerity to talk frankly for the good of our people. out there, who eventually are at the receiving end of the blows. Then we might really be able to make this gathering worth while."

The Sultan said: "The acceptance of the invitation by the (Plateau) State government is an indication that the problem is half-solved, because to know what the problem is you have half of the solutions and the other half you have to sit down and talk about it and agree on the way forward. And I want to call on everybody here to be very frank on whatever you feel you should say in this meeting. Whatever problem you think you have, either with the government of Plateau, or with the federal government or with the leaders of the Ummahs in this country, or the leadership of the Christians in this country, please say so. This is because as it is said, the truth shall set you free. So, you should be very blunt and say it without mixing words. But the other thing I want to bring up here, as a religious leader, I keep on wondering when I hear people making comments about such crisis being religious. I refuse to accept that."

The Action Congress (AC) chieftain, Yahaya Kwande, added that "of the 52 tribes in the plateau, I thank God that no one could lord it over one another. We need each other, we have to be friends, and we have to be brothers to be able to live there. We haven't got the problem of one tribe standing alone and dominating each other and for us the only language that links us is the Hausa language. All these 52 tribes, if we were to be locked up in a room, we would all be dammed. We would talk to each other using signs, which means that we have been living with our brother Hausa-Fulani peacefully all these years. Religion has not been our problems. And if you go into the mosque and churches, the Hausa language is what we use in even communicating and begging God to forgive us and to guide us to salvation.

"Now, religion that has appeared in our problems is just a platform people use to access their selfish interest. You use religion if you are weak and you want to lord it over your opponent. As soon as something happens, the only way you can get support easily is to make use of your religion and shout in the street. There are people of cause, which is a question of economy, people in the street looking for food; therefore, it is easy for you to recruit them to fight your cause. You know yourself that it is not religion but only using religion to promote your interest. Now, I speak with experience. I know for certain that there has never been any quarrel between the Muslims and the Christians in the 60s and 70s or tribes until of recent.

Now, I think if we tackle the problem of Jos administrative set up, we would have got 90 per cent of our problems solved.

"My reason is, it is in Plateau that you have a local government that is 80,000 people while in a place like Jos, where this problem is being hatched, is because it is only in Jos North that you don't have a village head. You don't have a district head. And the question of who would be chairman is a problem because the two most important components at that level are fighting each other. For example, I think it's a long time now that a chairman for Jos North local government has not been elected. It is not just a question of the present administration, it has been so for sometime that you have to appoint a chairman for the local government because you are afraid."

@igwe
You guys are seriously missing the point. If he didn't emphatically promise "that this will never happen again" then you could make the argument that he was putting together a plan. But he went ahead without saying anything about time and told the people of Jos "this will never happen again". This is not about liking someone's face. I am actually a supporter of Jonathan up to the point I find out he is playing the same old game with Nigerian affairs.

If Jonathan promises a wife that he will make sure that his husband never beats him again, and then it happened don't you think the wife, while realizing she has a really bad husband, has the right to think hmmm Jonathan just failed me- he must have being lying or just talking for the sake of it.


[quote author=Igwe. link=topic=409427.msg5643920#msg5643920 date=1267978637]I was beginning to wonder ,
now wife beats husband; jonathan's fault.
trailer fails break and kill people, jonathan's fault.
foolish people invaded christians secretary, jonathan's fault.

everybody is watching y'all. i didn't say you shouldn't hate,pls don't just paint someone black 'cos you don't like the face.[/quote]

@Beaf

No, it is not Jonathan's fault, but he promised it will never happen again. If someone makes that promise then they are taking responsibility if it does happen again. And it just did. The fact is that what Jonathan did (panel) was exactly what was done by Yar'adua after the 2008 riots. These imply two things:

He, at least in this area, is just as incompetent as Yar'adua was, which is not surprising since he was the latter's VP.

His emphatic promise, which gave false hope to many and probably left them vulnerable to the latest incident, just failed.

He, of course is not the instigator of anything, but took responsibility without really knowing or willing to do what is needed to deal with it.

That Jonathan is part of the establishment is becoming clearer everyday. All we are witnessing right now is the struggle that happens only because of lack of honor among thiefs.

After the last Jos riots he sent up a panel, and promised that "this" will never happen again. At the time I wondered out loud to a friend that this was the same thing that was done right after the 2008 riots. That 2008 panel had not completed "its work" when the riots broke out again. As it was yesterday, so it is today.

Jonathan's first substantive promise just failed.

Now that we have a third riot and two incomplete panel investigations what is the next step. A third panel?

As Yoruba's would say: "If you say to one with a lame leg the load on your head is unbalanced, he/she would tell you to look down before you look up". In essence the foundation of Nigeria is badly mangled, and nothing, I say nothing, will ever work until it is repaired.

Any attempts to sweep the fundamental constitutional problem with Nigeria will produce zero solutions.

Believe me I feel your pain, but you have to read how things used to be done way back when. The US empire at least looks for a reason, or sometimes pretends a reason, to do what it wants. Try the their closest, in time, empire (British) for size, not to talk of the completely babaric empires of the past. It is all relative though - since today's state of knowledge & technology far outweighs those of previous eras.

coldhearts:
"In my opinion the USA, though way far from perfect, is the best of the "empires" of mankind in civility so far - call me ignorant, but that is what I think."by naijamini.

The u.s is certainly far from perfect but if history and the recent war is of any prove or rather a good predictor of pattern; then it is safe to say that it is indeed the "[b]worst [/b]of the empires" of mankind in civility when it comes to foreign countries.  The only reason it might get involved in Nigeria is because of "oil" i think .

It used to be contest in the era he attended high school to see who can speak the biggest grammar. People would practice debates this way. Unfortunately, he took it way too far, but he does know what he is talking about even if his audience is left bewildered.

One such statement of those days tells about a man who ran to the fire station shouting: "A magnanimous conflagration is consuming the magnificient edifice of my domicile", which is to say, "My big house is burning down".

Good entertainment!

I think you are unnecessarily ranting at the USA.

If Nigeria is ever going to go anywhere we need to PARTNER with the United States, although in more intelligent ways.

These are rumours nothing more, and while such rumours are not without some grain of truth I think you are overselling the USA connection to IBB. Knowing the evil general (sorry genius) he may actually be putting out this facade knowing fully well that the visits he received were because of his loss of the ever "radiant" Maryam of blessed memories. I would not put it past him - afterall he executed his friend and the best man of their wedding.

In my opinion the USA, though way far from perfect, is the best of the "empires" of mankind in civility so far - call me ignorant, but that is what I think.

Shoot2Kill:
I am personally delivering this warning to the USA to stay out of Nigeria’s Affairs. A letter has also been sent to the United States Senate. We have confirmed reports that the USA has already planned to rig the 2011 elections to usher in Babangida as their new puppet and to finally destroy the militants of the Niger Delta.

USA please note that we Nigerians have no quarrel with you but if you go ahead and do this, you have declared war on us. It is imperative for you to know that there is a legion of wealthy Nigerians based in Diaspora who have formed several vigilante factions that will carry out jungle justice in the streets of Nigeria in the next coming months.

We are sick and tired of your meddling and we have decided to warn you to stay clear of Nigerian politics. If you do not heed this warning and withdraw your support of IBB.I promise you that the attacks by MEND in the Niger Delta will look like child’s play when the new faction starts operating.

As am I sure you already know the CIA is extremely incompetent and they will not be able to discover who we are or where we are. We are a large group of Nigerians with exceptional skills in the art of espionage which will give you a lot of headaches if you decide not to heed our warning. We will not accept an IBB presidency and we will declare covert war on the United States and the Israeli Federation should this become a reality.

You have been warned.

[flash=400,300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTr6JnKN3qo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash[/flash][flash=400,300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r5p8yoe_sk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash][/flash][flash=400,300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FciCAXYWx3s&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"[/flash]

My ponderings of the African condition is leading me to the hypothesis that at some point in the distant past the peoples that now inhabit sub-Saharan African lost a dominant position in the great global power struggle. With that loss would come the mistreatment of the entire group of people associated with that power by the new powers. That association seems to have unfortunately been based on race. Over time the distinction by skin color became more refined as the remnants of the former powers were cleaned out, and those of the new powers became dominant. Moreover, my readings so far - while meagre, suggest that the planet was one global village of barbarians in the ancient world, which has serious implications for how Africans and others should view our history - a topic I hope to explore in more depth over time on this blog.

This post is to put out this hypothesis, while I continue my readings to test it. However, there is no need for Africans to wait for any validation. We were once in the mainstream of global civilization whether dominant or not is immaterial.

In modern times, this cannot be said to be true. What we must do is to wake up from the "depression" that we fell into as a people and rapidly join the mainstream of global civilization, rather than continue to lag several centuries behind. It is up to you, it is up to me.

The true meaning of the prayer "may the spirit of our ancestors assist you" is "know your history". We have to do the HARD work of waking up our people from this slumber.

See full blog post at: http://nigeria-anew..com/2010/03/video-of-week-sphinx-ancient-egyptian.html

They don't even know what they are saying. Yar'adua is a chicken on a wire - neither the wire nor the chicken will stay still. His two options lead effectively to the same outcome.

Impeachable Offense: If he was not incapacitated why has he being hiding for more than 100 days (that is almost one third of a year), even with a terrorist incident involving a Nigerian, failure of many of his promises, militants threatening to return to the creeks, jos riot, etc.

Incapacitated and thus unable to rule:  There is no way anybody that sick with potentially terminal illness wakes up after 100 days and is okay to lead a nation.

Either way, Yar'adua is done ruling Nigeria, if the National Assembly has any guts at all.

Nobody is disputing the fact that there are people who would become slaves to IBB for some reason that I cannot fathom, and put him in Aso Rock - just like they made it possible for a seriously sick man to become Nigeria's President.

In the same way that Nigeria's affairs is almost entirely devoted to the troubles arising from Yar'adua's incapacitation, that is how whatever time Babangida spends in Aso rock would take up all of Nigeria's resources. He has too many baggages. IBB's bid for power is the equivalent of Abacha waking up from the dead and attempting to become president or Yar'adua bidding for a second term - it is that serious.

cantell:
Whats your poor arse gonna do? Shoot him? I didn't think so.
So deal with it.

[quote author=mama-gee link=topic=408871.msg5639731#msg5639731 date=1267896120]The Day IBB rules Nigeria again, I'll personally walk into Aso rock myself
and destroy the whole building, we've had enough thieves destroying Nigeria. . .
The Economy is way down beyond reconstruction. . .
The roads are not something to write home about. . .
And that thief is going to rule Nigeria again?
Hell Noooo.[/quote]

You need to mark it down. It will not be Nigeria he will rule - either his election would be annuled (not cancelled - Abiola's election was annuled), he would be eventually annuled (as Abiola was eventually annuled), or Nigeria would be annuled. Take your pick!

Babangida's syncophants need to find someone else's boot to lick. This time your tongue will get stuck.

Big B1:
It is simple and pretty much clear that IBB will rule this country again. This time around Nigerians will appreciate his talent, wisdom and unique leadership style.
There is no need to waste anymore time. The right man must be ELECTED at the right time.

If the probe is not going to examine the "colonial legacy" policing structure that we are still running 50 years later it would only be another meaningless exercise. We are still waiting for the outcome of the constitutional review.

frosbel:
Nigeria's Senate has ordered an investigation into reports that the police failed to attend the scene of a brutal robbery, which left many dead.
Photographs of corpses littering the Lagos-Benin highway last week have been circulating on the internet and have been published by a local newspaper.
The victims were reportedly made to lie down in the road and then the bus driver ordered to run them over.
A police spokesman questioned why there was no outcry until the photos emerged.
Yemi Ajayi told Next newspaper that he was "puzzled" by the reports.
"We are already investigating the report. We have sent distress signal to the police command in Edo and Ondo States for adequate investigation to the story," he said.
The reports suggest that female passengers were despoiled by the gang.
"I could not even look at the pictures and when I looked at the pictures eventually, I lost my appetite," said Senator Ibrahim Ida.
"Where were the police? Where were the checkpoints?" he asked, reports Thisday newspaper.
The Senate held a minute's silence for those reportedly killed.
Armed robbery is common in Nigeria and the police have a poor reputation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8550536.stm

I hope Danjuma has real advice for Jonathan. We all know soldiers are always thinking from the viewpoint of aggression, so no surprise there.

Jonathan needs clear recommendations on what needs to be DONE aggresively.

rasputinn:
Be aggressive, Danjuma tells Jonathan


The chairman of the presidential Advisory Committee,Gen Theophilus Danjuma (RTD), GCON, has advised the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to act fast and aggressively effect the needed transformation in the country.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 25-man committee which was held at the council chambers of the presidential villa, today, he urged Mr. Jonathan to make the fight against corruption pro-active rather than reactive.

“This is a decisive moment in our history,” he said. “At such moments God always ensures that a nation possesses significant personalities who are to act as his agents for change. You, Mr. Acting President, are the significant personality that God has chosen at this time to take your place at the front in the struggle to save our country. Because the times are extra-ordinary, the measures that need to be taken are not only urgent but also extra-ordinary.”

He added that “unless you take those measures quickly the goodwill which you now enjoy may be lost.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5535872-146/be_aggressive_danjuma_tells_jonathan_.csp

There are 3 options for change in Nigeria. It is all a matter of speed & cost. All 3 options require both a visionary leader and popular followership. Don't expect any of it from Jonathan, he is part of the establishment.  Although his name could be written in gold in the history books if he lays the foundation for the best of all options (option 1) through electoral reform and other things:

1. We wake up and elect a visionary leader who is not shy about changing the system, with speed, as long as it leads to national progress.
Ranking - Potential Gain: Excellent, Speed of Results: Medium; Chance: 10%; Potential Cost in life & treasure: Medium

2. A popular revolution. This requires a visionary leader as well, not just someone with a goal to get to Aso Rock. This revolution would have to confront anti-progressive elements within both the civil populace and  the military - the latter is perhaps the most important.
Ranking - Potential Gain: Good; Speed of Results: High; Chance: 10%; Potential Cost in life & treasure: Very, very high


3. A slow, backdoor, but concerted effort by the enlightened citizenry to work within the system and gradually replace the establishment.
Ranking - Potential Gain: Fair; Speed of Results: Low; Chance: 50%; Potential Cost in life & treasure: Low

There you have it. There are no good options.

Beaf:
1. Jonathan has sacked zero people for treachery, taken baby steps and recycled some old rancid fellows as advisers.
2. The average Nigerian is praying to God and waiting for someone else to fight for them, their wives and their children (is this you?).

Aside from the Save Nigeria Group, most Nigerians are washed out failures that do not have the courage and strength of personality to admit it, take stock , sieze the moment and turn things around.
Look around, all the signs you see are signs of failure and the ruins of common sense; PHCN, NNPC, Yar'Adua, lack of law and due process, mediocrity. . .
How can you sleep through this? Are those in countries where the people have risen and won the fight for their rights more human than us?

In what constructive ways can the few quality Nigerians left be mobilised to move the nation and themselves forward? How do we plant a new seed?

Perhaps we are all looking in the wrong place for the reason why Yar'adua was smuggled into the country.

It occured to me today, while browsing the news over the past few days, that the above two events occured within one day of each other. Also, the arrest of Sheik Gumi was announced the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Concidence?

If you missed the news of Gumi's arrest go here: [url]http://www.nigeriaanew.org/forum/index.php/topic,678.msg732.html#msg732[/url]

Sorry guys, my comment was not real.

I was being sarcastic to show how this cousin's information doesn't add up, and how easy it is to make up stuff.

How do you explain a president who knows to return to the presidential palace, is eating, drinking, walking and having visitors, and yet does not ask how the ship of state is faring. He would not, at least, call his then VP and talk to him.

It is simply incredulous. These people keep embarasing Yar'adua and Nigerians each and everyday.

bandely:
He doens't know what President mean? And he knows there is family!
He also knows what a Country means?!
Did you see him? I mean is face!

@safeact

You left out a small detail, because I also saw the interview!

It was very interesting - when Yar'adua was asked what he is going to do about the Presidency and Jonathan, he went blank, but quickly added -

"What Presidency, What Nigeria? You mean I was the President of a country called Nigeria".

"All the while I was wondering who I was". After a brief pause he said:

"Thank you, now tell me what is the job of a president, and is Jonathan a member of my family?"

The cousin went blank after that.

safeact:
Early dis morning at about 5am Aljezeera tv reported that contraly to speculations that Yaradua is in Coma, during a live interview with one of d president's cousins, he said he went to see d president and he saw him drinking tea, walking and he even asked him about d relation! When asked why d reason why he was flown in at night, he said that he doesnt know but from his assesment going by d way he looks, he thinks d president is recovering! The interview took place in katsina state,d home of d president.

If there is no security perimeter (including a no-fly zone) around the governor's residence/office then there should be. No wonder it is so easy to breach national security in Nigeria. Why does he need to be flying over the governor's office. You have to ask yourself why Fayose is doing that - methinks to provoke Oni, and is that not a security breach if, like I said before, within the security perimeter or without permission.

I completely agree with you on Oni's overreaction, but you also have to see Fayose's behavior for what it is.

The fact that Chief Awolowo did something decades ago should not be the yardstick for doing it today. The important question is what Chief Awolowo would have done if he were in the same position TODAY? In the age of the Abdul Mutallab's of this world.

There are people all over the South West living on the symbolism of the great man, but completely bereft of his vision or the love he had for his people.

babapupa:
Is any part of Ekiti a no fly zone? Is it against any law to fly helicopters in Ekiti/Nigeria?

Obviously, this is nothing but grandstanding and abuse of power. Saying he would have ordered the plane to be brought down by security but that he held his peace when he learnt the ex-governor was not on board obviously = close knowledge per who's on the plane/not on the plane.

Ekiti's airspace is not a no fly zone and politicians have been flying campaign helicopters in Nigeria since the first republic. Awolowo used helicopters extensively. Oni sounds irrational and paranoid. You still can not show me what law/s Fayose violated. It's not a crime to fly helicopters in Nigeria and I don't think the governor's office is also FAA's office.

babapupa:
Flying a plane without clearance and Oni saying he would have ordered the plane to be brought down by security but that he held his peace when he learnt the ex-governor was not on board are not the same
What if Fayose was on on the plane? He'll still knowingly bring down the plane, killing Fayose other occupants?
There is no similarities of absurdities here. Oni is a loony. What happened to due process. It's a shame the Guy is the Governor of a state.

@babapupa
The behavior of the two were indeed very similar, if Fayose indeed flew without permission or within unallowed perimeter. How is Oni supposed to know who was in the helicopter (because they had Fayose's flyer ?). Suppose the helicopter carried gun men who proceeded to land in the governor's compound and take him out. I am not defending Oni, but he was probably angry and saying more than he would ever actually do. Both of them acted like goons - I don't think Oni has the right to shoot anybody down or should even consider it unless in the face of danger. You have to see the similarity here or is your politics getting in the way. Gov. Fashola needs to stay far away from Fayose of chicken farm fame!

I think people are missing the point here because of Oni's own arrogance, but he has a valid point. No one should be flying within a defined perimeter of certain government installations. That would certainly include the Presidentl and Governor residences, among others, at least not without permission.

That the governor was unaware of the fly over tells you something. In addition, are people flying over the airport willy nilly now or did Fayose have permission to do that. This portent immense danger if it is the former.

Just for the record Oni's reaction is no different from Fayose's behavior. In fact, you could switch their positions and expect to see similar scenarios.

naijaway:
Oni is above silly. Who does he think he is? Oni i guess only in Nigeria; same city where the local govt chairman did not shoot down the plane. This kinds of stupidity needs to stop. We need financial reform and ethics/social reform. Both parties were silly but that oni is the higher of the silly. Why can't he(oni) call/alert the police like everyother frightened citizens. Is until we respect life and just respect for respecting sake, only then will Nigeria truly be great. Equality and clear principles matter for candidacy to be a great nation. It brings out the best from grassroot to any priviledge.
Oni needs to be investigated for harboring gunmen.

@vigasimple

vigasimple:
However, liars don't have it in their genetic makeup to come clean and tell the truth unless they are conerned and caught red handed.

This statement had me thinking all day about these people. If this was a mistake that could be redeemed then one could consider the way Yar'adua was rushed to Nigeria as a face-saving, don't let him die in our hands, move. The fact that they attempted to take over the government by guarding the "presidential seat" at the FEC meeting suggests these are CRAZY people.

That goes to your point above. These people are hiding something really bad from all of us. They are afraid of what would be found once they let go of the levers of "power". The follow-up to that is that like mad dogs they would do anything when cornered.

THAT MEANS the Actg President must move quickly to extricate this cancer from our national consciousness. Please don't sleep with fire burning on the roof.

Also, we need to start anticipating these people. So I ask: What do you think the cabal would do next.

babapupa:
I don't believe any of these clowns, not even Jonathan himself. They are all crooks and liars.

Didn't Jonathan lied to Nigerians that he conversed with Yaradua over the phone?

That, I think, is one of those crooks faking phone calls to government officials, and giving a BBC interview.

http://saharareporters.com/letters/press-releases/5318-re-alleged-diversion-of-n19-billion-from-river-niger-dredging-.html

Written by Ima Niboro
Sunday, 28 February 2010 14:15

This is to correct the false impression being created in some quarters that the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, allegedly diverted the sum of N19billion from the River Niger Dredging project, into shore protection and land reclamation projects in the Niger Delta. The other variant of the story is that Dr. Jonathan has out rightly cancelled the dredging of the River Niger, which was flagged off September last year by President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

  Both stories are entirely false, and are being sponsored by desperate persons who are determined to tamper with the peace and unity of our dear country.

THE FACTS
There is no relationship whatsoever between the River Niger dredging project and the proposed shore protection and land reclamation projects proposed for the Niger Delta states. These projects are part of the post Amnesty projects planned for the region, and are to be funded from a “ring fenced” fund dedicated to the Niger Delta amnesty programme.

In the instant case, the sum of N5.5 billion, part of the dedicated amnesty fund under the 2009 supplementary appropriation, was set aside by the Ministry of Transportation for improvement of waterways and related issues in the Niger Delta. The ministry therefore proposed to dredge a channel through the River Nun, taking off from Onya in Delta through Odoni, Kalama, Tombia, Yenagoa, Okodogu, Okokiri, Nembe ( with a spur to Brass), Apiama, Ndukiri, Sand Village, Ekulama, Idama, Tombiabok(with a spur to Degema), Bobake, Ndorokiri, Obekiri, Yekiri, Okungba up to Port Harcourt.
 
The total cost of this project was estimated at N19 billion, and was set out as follows:

1.     Onya (Delta) to Nembe (Bayelsa), with a spur to Brass.
2.    Nembe to Port Harcourt(120 kilometres), with a spur to Degema (Rivers)

By this arrangement the entire funds would have been spent on Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, with the bulk going to Bayelsa, the home state of the Acting President. But in reviewing the decision, even more states of the Niger Delta, notably Ondo and Akwa Ibom, now stand to benefit.

Another factor that guided the decision to take a second look at the plan was the fact that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was yet to be carried out, and for a project of this magnitude that affects navigation and the ecology of aquatic organisms, an EIA is mandatory.

However, from conception through completion and approval, an EIA would take between one and a half to two years to complete. So, should funds earmarked for urgent post amnesty intervention projects be left unutilised for two years even as the Niger Delta Amnesty was threatening to unravel before our eyes?

There was a further consideration. Even with an EIA, the deepening of the channel would result in a faster flow, and worsen river bank erosion for communities on the route. This has always been a significant challenge for riverine development planning in the Niger Delta.
 
Therefore, in his usual consultative manner, Dr. Jonathan invited the governors of the Niger Delta states and asked them to consult with the people and find a way forward.

When the governors returned for the next meeting, their position was clear: some of the greatest challenges confronting the Niger Delta riverine communities were shore protection and land reclamation, since many of them are steadily being washed away by erosion. There was also complete agreement that the Federal Government moves quickly to consolidate the gains of the amnesty, and be seen to be delivering on its commitments to the people of the area.

Following the presentation of the governors, a unanimous decision was taken to embark on a vigorous effort to protect the shores of vulnerable communities, and reclaim lands that have been washed away.

The Acting President subsequently directed the Finance Minister to begin a virement process to move the N5.5 billion provided in the supplementary appropriation for this project, under the Amnesty initiative, to the Niger Delta ministry. This is a detailed administrative process that would naturally have to pass through the National Assembly before it is concluded.

We wish to restate that there was no time we announced that the dredging of the River Niger has been stopped. Indeed, that project remains on course, and site reports indicate that things are going on just fine.

This gigantic N36 billion project takes off from Forcados, through Warri and Onitsha, and terminates in Baro, Niger State. We are totally committed to completing and delivering it as one of the priority projects of this government.
 
Ima Niboro
SSA Media and Publicity to the Acting President
28th February, 2010.

Time to get to work. East, West, North,South, Middle and whoever thinks they need a nation of their own.

I agree your people have suffered more than any under the rulership of Northern elites spanning more than 35 years of Nigeria's history. It is time youths and youths-at-heart in each region take their region back.

Forget a National Conference. It is never going to come out with a resolution to break Nigeria. Go ahead and organize a verifiable regional referendum, then take it from there.

auwal87:
How to Achieve Arewa Peoples’ Republic

For this very important revolution to be effective, we advocate for a National Conference to work out modalities for Arewa peoples’ final Break-up from the so-called Nigerian federation.

We therefore envisage that all respected sons and daughters of Arewa will be key participants in the National Conference.

We are sure that the Conference will offer the opportunity for Southern politicians to learn a big lesson from history. This Conference will set the agenda for Arewa people’s right to self-determination after 49 years of humiliation and vilification under a ridiculous philosophy of ‘One Nigeria’. By the year 2010, the people of Arewa would have suffered for 50 years in the hands of Southern Nigeria. We dare say that the year 2010 is our deadline for the final break-up from a federation in which we gain nothing.

http://arewa-people-movement.com/republic.htm

Beaf:
He shouldn't be moved to Katsina, rather all of the equipment purchased to keep him well should be moved to a selected Abuja hospital. We could do with a World class medical centre.

You have a point here. My angle was on the need to make his remaining days peaceful and memorable if, and this is a big if, they are sure the condition is terminal. Otherwise the best care in the world may as well be in Abuja as you suggested. In any case, as long as he remains anywhere near Abuja there will be controversy, and the greediness of his aides would not help.

In an earlier post I had adviced President Yar'adua on his best course of action, which is to effectively abdicate the presidency (http://nigeria-anew..com/2010/01/best-course-of-action-for-yaradua.html ). This advice was based on the level of ineptitude in the handling of this sickness (not the sickness itself). The other reason was the overwhelming (circumstantial may be) evidence that the man has been in a deep comma for a long time - even if he is going to recover he needs years not weeks or months to recuperate. He certainly cannot handle the affairs of the nation under these circumstances.

His handlers, and unfortunately Mrs. Yar'adua, did not see the wisdom of this advice, and moved him to Nigeria under shady circumstances. Not only that, they sought to precipitate another crisis by pretending that Yar'adua was sound and fit (the same lie they have being telling for 3 months) and ready to take the reign of government.

In essence, they sought to overthrow the Acting President. God knows what they had in mind if the Acting President had not wisely cancelled the planned FEC meeting. Thankfully, their plans failed woefully. They have stepped on to quicksand, and are frantically struggling to get out - but we know what becomes of people like that.

Before they bury themselves (and innocent bystanders) in this quicksand I offer the following advice on the most sensible thing to do now:

1. First be adviced that Aso Rock is not the place for President Yar'adua to recover from this life-threatening condition. If it was, he would not be rushed to Saudia Arabia in the middle of the night in the first place. I once wrote about how Yar'adua is being more catholic than the pope by heading to Saudia Arabia for his treatment. This is because when the Saudia crown prince got seriously sick, he headed to the USA and spent one full year there to get better. The president of my nation got sick and headed to Saudi Arabia. Pathetic for him, all those around him, and Nigeria in general. Simply pathetic!

2. These are the things Mrs. Yar'adua, primarily, and his aides secondarily, need to do.

a. Come clean to the Nigerian people on the state of his health. If you are averse to doing this publicly, please talk to the Acting President, Senate President, Speaker of the House and other eminent Nigerians (Prof. Wole Soyinka comes to mind).

b. Arrange for President Yar'adua to seek the best treatment anywhere in the world.

c. If his condition is such that this is terminal then you must not let President Yar'adua's case end like that of Abacha of ignominous fame. In this case, arrange for him to be moved home to Katsina where he can spend his last days in peace away from the insanity of Abuja. Let Nigerians begin to remember him with some good memories. Despite his many missteps there are certainly good things to remember the man for, but all that will not matter if his sickness continues to be handled without dignity.

Mrs. Yar'adua and the President's aides need to come clean, there is still time for everything to be forgiven, and good memories of the man restored.

Vist Nigeria-Anew Blog at: http://nigeria-anew..com/
Vist Nigeria-Anew Forum at: http://www.nigeriaanew.org/forum/index.php#1

oyb:
naija - seems the only tough people are women - turai and dora

You are right, the men are way too compromised. Their mouths are sewn shut. I think it is time we draft women of integrity to take over Nigeria's Presidency. Aunty Dora certainly deserves a shot at it.

I read the entire article earlier today and it became clear that this power play started way more than 90 days back.

I do not doubt the report that he was doing the President's work for him, something that should automatically be the job of the VP. Afterall Turai publicly signed an international agreement related to nuclear research for Nigeria - imagine that.

That surely made Jonathan unhappy? It seems that they miscalculated his silence for weakness. He has probably thought this out farther ahead than they ever realized.

I used to pity Yar'adua and his family, but now realize that he was actually responsible for the entire mess. When the head of a family becomes seriously sick he thinks of his family first, and let others worry about his health. Instead, Yar'adua delivered his countrymen into the hands of power drunk fools.

Do you want to even begin to imagine the kind of things all this unelected people were doing with all that power, while Yar'adua degenerated daily? I 'll rather not, for I have a fertile imagination!



[quote author=paddy_lo link=topic=405477.msg5599089#msg5599089 date=1267318046]No thats Mohammed Tilde, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the President.

Its all beginning to make sense now
basically this dude was so close to yar adua that he began to sign documents and treat files on his behalf

because yar adua was so sick most of the time

so basically he became used to the power and didnt want to let go

read more in the link below
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/National/5532306-146/the_man_behind_the_president_.csp[/quote]

MrCrackles:
Dora needs to shut the fu/ck up. . . .
She is starting to sound like an attention seeking slowpoke!

No, she should continue to tell it as it is. The obtuse treatment of people of honorable character by Yar'adua's cabal deserves to be exposed.

I don't know what is wrong with Nigerians sef - If Jonathan doesn't speak he is a coward, if Aunty Dora states it plainly she is too hot.

All I know is that we need complete information on how our nation is being run, otherwise the states, regions or any other almagamation you want should go their separate ways. This house has truly fallen.

mdfash:
I agree with you, Blustreak. The situation must not be allowed to continue. However, the best way is via Section 144 for the FEd Exc Co to declare him incapacitated. The only recourse for the National Assembly is to commence impeachment proceedings, which I personally think is inappropriate in this situation.
It is not an impeachable offense to be comatose from illness, but it is a cause for change of leadership by invoking sec 144

That will take them another 90 days. In total Nigeria would have spent half-a-year to resolve what should have taken a couple of hours to resolve!

aisha2:
My dear if you dont write to your rep then you re guilty of the same thing you accuse them of inaction. They cannot solve all the problems at a glance but you can inform them of the direct issues you want them to intervene in. Thants how democracy works

I admire your optimism. May be I am becoming too cynical, but with the kind of unbelievable events that happen daily in Nigeria it is difficult not to be.

@Aisha2
I know you mean well, but everyone has biases, and I suspect one here. Otherwise, I don't know how anyone could think of this senate and the past one, and be asking about who is anybody's best senate president.

Nigeria is loaded down with problems, but all they sit and do in Abuja is behave like it is some advanced economy that is traveling the world in steady state. I don't need to write any letter to anybody, we all know what Nigeria's problems are. They are the ones taking the publics money, and implicitly promising better times for Nigerians. Please show me the bills dealing with Education, Electricity, Transportation, Health, etc that this senate and the past have written. They spend time allocating money without any plans.

Ken Nnamani is your best senate president, and his best achievement is that he helped put down the third term bid. In four or so years that is his achievement. kudos to him. It is a country of low expectations that is why the only thing they need is money, and nothing else, to become leaders in Nigeria.

I will thank them when they deserve to be thanked.


By the way that was my answer: What Senate?

aisha2:
Senator Ken Nnamani, Fair, Mature, Intelligent, and he crowned it all with the way he handled third termStop being ignorant, just answer or leave the thread, why do we always complain without comending people who do things right, if you do not follow the senate sessions or write to your senator its no ones fault but yours, have you ever written how u feel to your senator and he did not reply you? Do you even know where his counstuency office is?
Your role in democracy is not just to complain but to act through the right channels. If you feel strongly on an issue write to your rep, he will reply you. Even when you have pressing issues you need his intervention with, write, Not to ask for money but for example if you were wrongly disengaged from work or unjustly treated, that is what they are there for but when people like you only complain and do nothing this is what you get