₦airaland Forum

ehh eeh ooo... Toto Dick.e looking beauriful, she don dey expire sha, na powder milk go dey inside that bobby by now

Seasoned political analyst, strategist and commentator, Bolu Michael-Biyi (aka BMB) says the concept today known as 'Stomach Infrastructure' in Nigerian politics was his idea and dates back to 2011 but he's not proud of it because of the infamy attached to it and its purpose misconstrued. He stated:

"In 2011, I was schooled by a political maestro of Local Victory, USA. I then presented a position paper to a party I was working for then, it was full of ideas on campaigning and outclassing the brand of opposition candidates. The aim was not to buy votes but to make my candidate more popular by being benevolent. The ideas were suspended as costly and coming too late in the campaign. It maybe fell into wrong hands subsequently, that I cannot say; but it was very effective for a candidate in the Ekiti State elections. Unfortunately, it is today infamously known as 'Stomach Infrastructure'."

At prime time, NewsPro correspondents tried to reach him to elaborate but was unavailable. BMB who recently distinguished between stealing and corruption, warned why Nigeria may crash and also gave his 8 real reasons why the election was postponed is fast-becoming a controversial figure among some quarters. However, the young man remains an intelligent figure.

A civil society group, All Nigeria Save Democracy Movement, has kicked against the ministerial nomination of former Peoples Democratic Party Lagos State governorship aspirant, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group, in a petition to the Senate President, David Mark, through Senators Gbenga Ashafa and Obafemi Ojudu, listed several reasons Obanikoro was not qualified to become a minister, a statement said on Sunday.

According to the group, Obanikoro is of dual citizenship–USA and Nigeria – and going by the provisions of the constitution, he should be disqualified for the post.

It said, “Section 147 (5) of the Constitution, as amended, provides that no person shall be appointed as a minister of the government of the federation unless he is qualified for election as a member of the House of Representatives.

“Section 66 (1) (a) of the Constitution also states that no person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House of Representatives if – subject to the provisions of Section 28 of the Constitution, he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship to a country other than Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, has made a declaration of allegiance to such a country.

“These provisions are so clear as to remove any ambiguity as to the spirit and letter of their constitutional/legal implications. By these provisions alone, Musiliu Obanikoro was not even qualified in the first instance to run for the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but managed to manipulate the system to get himself elected into the Senate in 1999, which in itself was fraudulent and criminal. As a matter of fact, his title of senator should be nullified having obtained same fraudulently.”

Obanikoro had on October 15, 2014 resigned his ministerial appointment from the present administration in a bid to contest the governorship primary of the PDP in Lagos, which he lost to his rival, Jimi Agbaje.

After the loss, he was nominated the second time by the President for another ministerial position.


SOURCE: Punch

Seasoned political analyst and commentator Bolu Michael-Biyi stated the difference between stealing and corruption. He wrote this.

"President Goodluck Jonathan has been heavily criticized for his tolerance for corruption and massive stealing in 'high places'. In a chat with the media a couple of months ago, he stated clearly "stealing is not corruption", this was an attempt to quote Justice Dahiru Musdapher who said most cases being prosecuted by anti-graft agencies are common cases of stealing and not corruption and should be handled by the police at the lower courts. Mr. President seemed to have misunderstood the statement; however, he may be saved by being technically correct, but next time Sir, if you cannot copy accurately then don't paste. Recently, President Jonathan also made it clear in his first campaign rally that he has perpetually tackled corruption by tightening organizational systems but is not interested in displaying culprits on national TV. I am not a fan of President Jonathan’s style of governance, he is a nice man as a person, it is his policies I have issues with. The issue of whether stealing is corruption or not is a mere play of semantics, it seems wrong prima facie but when considered objectively, they are two different contexts. First of all, what is stealing? To steal is a deliberate act of taking something without permission or legal right and without the mens rea (intention) to return it. People who work for agencies who take government funds are stealing but this act is being done because of corruption in the system; that is the difference. When there are leakages in an organization or where there is no close monitoring, auditing etc then such organization is corrupt. To make it more lucid, if a person picks your laptop without your permission for instance, then he has stolen it but when a virus gets into your computer and makes it less efficient (drains your battery, destroys your documents etc) then you say your computer has been corrupted. Public institutions in Nigeria are truly and equally less efficient today because of similar corruption. Therefore, corruption is a systematic problem and not a corporeal one and it is much wider in context than stealing just as Justice Musdapher insinuated. Anyone can steal but corruption is an institutional problem, stealing is a financial crime as a result of a corrupt system. President Jonathan has proven his assertion by making the revamp of the agricultural sector a prototype. Prior to this time, fertilizers meant for local farmers were being stolen by middlemen for personal use and being sold at higher prices but the federal government successfully curbed this by improving the system, the e-wallet was created first by creating a farmers database, establishing a distribution system by putting farmers first in groups and cutting-off middlemen thereby allowing farmers to get fertilizers directly and on time, this improvement of the system in turn saved the country 776 Billion Naira in one year. People could no longer steal because the agricultural system was no longer corrupt, the virus were the middlemen and they were removed. To make stealing impossible, tackle the corruption in the system. Anti-graft agencies are meant to be the antivirus of the Nigerian system but when the President corrupts the anti-graft agencies by making them witch-hunting tools then who will cure the curer? This is the challenge befalling Nigeria at the moment and the responsibility lies in the hands of the President, that is why I don’t support his government because he has institutionalized corruption and has not extended anti-corruption efforts to other important sectors. Infact, Nigerians owe the development of the agricultural sector mainly to the Minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina from Ogun State for his commitment, innovativeness and insight. Stealing in the Nigerian system can be tackled if the President is committed to it, unfortunately he is not, I don’t know why Alamieyesigha was pardoned and what the likes of Diezani Allison-Madueke and Chinedu Nebo are still doing in office. Curbing corruption is all about removing questionable people and convicting them, putting the right people in the right places, developing ideas, improving technology and changing the mode of work by proper restructuring; it is that simple. Mr. President, I hope this helps."


Source: Facebook

Events like this rarely happen these days. Premium online store the5Kshop in conjunction with West Africa's first gift card company SureGifts NG is organizing an offline sale/funfair. Just pop-in to have fun or network with people or shop till you drop if you like. Its widely-known that any item you pick from the5Kshop costs less than N5,000 and in this offline sale, you can get up to 70% discount (No joke!), you can get discounted gift cards from SureGifts and get movie tickets. There'll be cocktail and lots of food and ENTRY IS FREE!!!. The floor opens as from 12 noon on Sunday the 22nd of February, 2015.

Venue: Alma 2, Unit 2, Richmond Gate Estate, Behind Meadow Hall School, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

For more information visit: www.the5kshop.com OR www.suregifts.com.ng

Don't Miss This!!!

Events like this rarely happen these days. Premium online store the5Kshop in conjunction with West Africa's first gift card company SureGifts NG is organizing an offline sale/funfair. Just pop-in to have fun or network with people or shop till you drop if you like. Its widely-known that any item you pick from the5Kshop costs less than N5,000 and in this offline sale, you can get up to 70% discount (No joke!), you can get discounted gift cards from SureGifts and get movie tickets. There'll be cocktail and lots of food and ENTRY IS FREE!!!. The floor opens as from 12 noon on Sunday the 22nd of February, 2015.

Venue: Alma 2, Unit 2, Richmond Gate Estate, Behind Meadow Hall School, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

For more information visit: www.the5kshop.com OR www.suregifts.com.ng

Don't Miss This!!!

GOAL KEEPERS
Rene Higuita - Columbia
Jose Luis Chilavert - Paraguay
Jorge Campos - Mexico

DEFENDERS
Ferdinand Coly - Senegal
Raymond Kalla - Cameroun
Fernando Hierro - Spain
Roberto Ayala - Argentina
Dan Petrescu - Romania & Chelsea
Umit Davala - Turkey

MIDFIELDERS
Eric Djemba-Djemba - Cameroun
Cedric Barbosa - France
Figueroa - Angola
Marat Izmailov - Russia
Stiliyan Petrov - Bulgaria & Aston Villa
David Odonkor - Germany
Geremi Ndjitap - Cameroun & Real Madrid

FORWARD
Tore Andre Flo - Chelsea
Jon Dahl Tomasson - Denmark
Dado Prso - Croatia
Davor Suker - Croatia
Milan Baros - Czech Republic
Henrik Larsson - Sweden
Aleksandr Kokorin - Russia

GOAL KEEPERS
Rene Higuita - Columbia
Jose Luis Chilavert - Paraguay
Jorge Campos - Mexico

DEFENDERS
Ferdinand Coly - Senegal
Raymond Kalla - Cameroun
Fernando Hierro - Spain
Roberto Ayala - Argentina
Dan Petrescu - Romania & Chelsea
Umit Davala - Turkey

MIDFIELDERS
Eric Djemba-Djemba - Cameroun
Cedric Barbosa - France
Figueroa - Angola
Marat Izmailov - Russia
Stiliyan Petrov - Bulgaria & Aston Villa
David Odonkor - Germany
Geremi Ndjitap - Cameroun & Real Madrid

FORWARD
Tore Andre Flo - Chelsea
Jon Dahl Tomasson - Denmark
Dado Prso - Croatia
Davor Suker - Croatia
Milan Baros - Czech Republic
Henrik Larsson - Sweden

They didn't all have to be popular like Messi, with big laurels like CR7, from big countries like Spain or big clubs like Chelsea but they were the best in their little teams and they paid their dues.

twerk ke... thats a very big lie.. twerking just became know how many weeks ago...hian!

however, click like if you attempted to twerk when you read number 1 (thus making OPs post true )

okparaugo:
Well, on a serious note, i think the man is more silly than you are since he brought to your mind silly things you never thought of before...

Huhh?, what you just said doesn't make sense, pls review. That symptom has reoccurred, please quickly go and get your pill

XtraSmooth404:
The military now have 6 weeks to do what they couldn't have done in over 100 weeks? We are watching.

Heaven bless your brain XtraSmooth! You are thinking.
I also don't know if adding 6 more weeks will force people to collect PVC o.
They've been adding days, no difference. Even public holiday sef, no difference. Maybe they plan to start flogging people from their homes within this 6 weeks ni o cos it makes no sense or difference adding more days. Moreso, Nigerians are last minute people, they stay at home cos there's still more time afterall. It is when its 2 days to go, everybody'll be rushing.

A seasoned political strategist, Bolu Michael revealed the 8 real reasons why INEC postponed the 2015 elections. He stated:

"As a former political strategist, the postponement of the election by 6 weeks suggests Eight things the ruling party is up to:

i. Need of extra time to perfect their rigging tactics (because they are so jittery and the military has not been totally bought-over).

ii. To allow them time to elapse their remaining campaign tools of calumny.

iii. To discourage people from coming out to vote going by the principle of "failed expectation kills interest".

iv. To put President Jonathan's misdeeds further into oblivion in the minds of the electorate going by the popular 'Decay Theory' (GEJ will probably begin to do a few things right within the next 6 weeks).

v. To make election petition tribunals practically impossible as it requires 3 months to make and see through a case. It was this same government that changed the rules to this. Going by the new date, practically 1 month is left.

vi. Ample time to fast-track their court proceedings against the main opposition party candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

vii. To make sure APC's campaign lose momentum as they now have much less funds available especially to re-tour the nation.

viii. To dissociate enthusiasts and swing voters from the FeBuhari syndrome currently working successfully in the sub-conscious of the populace by making sure the election takes place in March, if not, it could have been in the next 2-3 weeks which is more than enough time to perfect any election preparation imperfections. What magic will they do in 6 weeks on the insecurity problem they could not fix in 6 years. Wasn't there insecurity all along while they were busy planning election last week or even last month, why now when its 1 week to election that they suddenly felt insecure? The PDP is the one behind all these and the problems pervading the country", the man stated. He also maintained that if security was the real issue, the AU Joint Military Force offered to help fight Boko Haram was enough to guarantee peace in the North-East.

Furthermore, INEC's hands were twisted, they were ready for the polls, it is the PDP that are unprepared for the elections, these security agents earlier said they were ready for the polls. If INEC didn't give in, Jega may be sacked and the military being funded by the PDP-led federal government may in turn sabotage the distribution and movement of electoral materials, cause chaos at the polling stations and refuse to protect INEC staffs. INEC had no choice but to give in. And if the Military refused to play to PDP's cards, the federal government would stop funding them and make them incapacitated.

Hmmm, Nairalanders what do you think about this cos this man makes a lot of sense. He brought to mind true things I didn't even think of before.

***Constructive comments pls. Mature people only!

Ralphlauren:
The most painful part for me in that advert is the picture of Murtala Mohammed.

It's so unfair.

I would like to hear about the reaction of his wife, Ajoke and kids to this advert.

abi o.. imagine putting Murtala, the great honest man!! cos of this alone, Jonathan has lost my vote cos i now have sympathy for Buhari and i know millions of people now do..

mukina2:
lol no o.

Barry is a little better . . the other guy choi

ehnnnn! Barry ke.. Barry na wash.. before now he was very terrible, he has even improved now.. back then, he used to cry when they score him

mukina2:
where is uzolexis?

CIV freekick

uzolexis ko, uzoenyi ni

bukatyne:
Your opinion

Thanks and goodnight

hehehe.. its true tho, you sounded very rude.. You are welcome. Sleep well.

Ojestas:
.8

what is number 8?

bobbyANSELEM:
Pls i nid help, am new here in nairaland! I wana open a thread under healths pls can u pls tel me hw to?

Heiyaaa! Keep on trying, we all started just like you. Nevertheless, you are welcome to nairaland, the land of OYO.

@lalasticlala & others: Pls help this Bobby....hehehe

Let me go straight to the point. There are people who have different opinions concerning the forthcoming elections; I want to address why you don't want to vote and why you should if it is indeed in your power to do so.

1) Some people say, "this election is going to be tough". It is true and that is why it is not for the faint-hearted, in my years of politicking, I have never witnessed such tough political contention in Nigeria. However, it is not an excuse to stay at home. A person who is of voting age and wants change and stays at home is doing a great disservice to the nation and is only daydreaming. It is important to face the hard fact that facebook status doesn't vote, twitter does not vote, blackberry and whatsapp DPs don't vote. It is when you get your voters card and step out on Feb. 14 that you can cause a change in Nigeria.
I must let you know that if you have been desiring to make a difference in the world somehow, it begins with your nation and voting in elections is your most basic form of causing social change. Nobody has an excuse not to make a difference, voting is every citizen's basic contribution to nation-building.

2) Some say, "I will rather stay at home than risk my life at the polling booth". The question is, how much do you love your country? Have you realised Nigeria is the only place you can call 'home' where you cannot be judged and can claim a right? Nigeria is also the only place you can achieve your highest political aspiration in life. If all goes well in Nigeria, all will be well with you too. Will you rather stay home on election day and let the wicked remain in power only for you to continue to keep on living in fear and insecurity each day afterwards. It is really God Almighty that protects and the way you can bring in a government that will secure you is by coming out to vote. People who caused social change like Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jnr and Mandela did not do so in the comfort of their bedroom, they came out. Food is cooked in the kitchen and change is made on the field. The question is, do you really want a change in Nigeria? Friend, you will have to come out. The truth is, it is not as risky as you think, it is fun at the booth, you talk with people, make connections, laugh at funny last minute politicking and meet old time friends. There is really nothing to fear.

3) Some people say, "I have been voting before and politicians have failed me, I am not voting this time". Well, to those in this category, I don't have much to say, the only true fact I'll make is that a person that votes for the first time in this election would be making more relevant impact and would be making more valuable national contribution than a person that have voted in the last 3 elections. Why, you may ask? The reason is that NOW is the time that matters most. This election is more crucial and more defining in the history of our nation than the previous ones. What is the point leading in a race and then refusing to belt the tape, it won't earn the medal.

4) Some say, "well, this is Nigeria, it will be rigged anyway". Friend, this is the more reason why you should vote; to change Nigeria. The fact is, it will not be rigged anyway, there's more confidence in the electoral process now than in the past. Remember, election was not rigged in Ekiti, Osun was a peaceful one, the electoral process restored the mandate of Oshiomole in Edo and Fayemi in Ekiti just to mention a few, it is more likely there won't be rigging this time than the previous elections and the resolve and doggedness of the public and technology being used in this election makes chances of rigging quite slim. Nigerians came out and did it for MKO Abiola, made a change by defeating Abacha's dictatorship, NOW is one of those crucial times in our history and we will do it again no matter what, 'ALL of us' is greater than 'the rest of them'. Aside these, see the bright side of life and come out to vote, there are happier days ahead if you do so. Imagine how Nigeria would be when the right kind of people eventually gets to power.

5) Some say, "I am not voting, one candidate is somehow better than the other but is not good enough". Candidates in elections are always not good enough but are only better than each other. One man's terrorist is another's freedom-fighter. There is little that can change in politics. It is better to have the most preferred than a bad leader. And usually, factors that disqualify candidates in the mind of most voters are superfluous e.g. Speech, Charisma etc. The most important factor is competence, that is what matters. Charisma does not boost agriculture or reform the educational sector. Look out for the most competent candidate and come out to vote, that is how you can make Nigeria better.

6) Some say "I can't be staying in the sun for hours". Well, for me, I'll rather stay in the sun for 10 hours once in 4 years than to live each day of this next 4 years in fear, hardship and insecurity. This voting process we are talking about is just a 1 day or 2 sacrifice that can change our destiny and nation forever. I'm not saying it is convenient 100% but it is a sacrifice for the love of God and country. Furthermore, it is better to be a participant than to feel the thorn of disenfranchisement on election day. Don't let others determine the fate of your country for you, if the selfish Nigerians enjoying the corruption can be ready to come out and vote at all cost, the righteous can only win by doing the same. Do you really love Nigeria? Do you see her as your own? You probably queued equal hours at the filling station several times last year, and if you want to change that, the best way is to come out to vote.

7) Some say, "I'm only one person out of millions of people, if I don't vote, it doesn't count". Friend, who do you think make up the rest of the millions? They are singular voters like you. If everyone refuses to vote, who will win? Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. And the difference between a winner and a loser may just be your vote; thus, you may be the difference between change and corruption, insecurity and peace, employment and unemployment and that shows how important you are and your vote, you are truly 'one in a million'. Please, take that bold step and vote, make your own contribution and leave the rest for God to bless. One man can turn the tide of history, one song can spark a moment, one flower can wake the dream, one fruitful tree can start a forest, one bird can herald spring, one smile can start a friendship, one star can guide a ship at sea, one word can frame the goal and one vote can change a nation and that vote is yours.

To those who will be voting for the first time, I advice, don't be carried away with the euphoria of a first time voter, take it as a sacred privilege to make a difference in the nation, vote your conscience and don't be blurred by the sentiments and propaganda being propagated by political parties. This might be your first step in securing your future. Remember, election day is the first day of the rest of your life. And to the not-so-young people who have voted all their life and have not lost hope in Nigeria in the midst of cynicism and fear, I say 'well-done papa and mama', you have been fighting a good fight, you might not live long enough to be able to enjoy this change you have so dearly fought for just like an elderly man whom I saw for the final time at the polling booth in the 2011 election, he was partially blind and on a wheelchair being supported by his grand-daughter, he won't be voting in the next election but surely he has paid his dues; one thing I can assure you pa and ma is that in this election, you will be laying a good foundation behind for your children and grandchildren. I am inspired when I see people like you giving so much to a country that have paid you back so little, I say to myself 'I really don't have an excuse to stay at home'. I therefore appeal to everyone to kindly make a change in Nigeria if you'll be honest and you know deep down inside of you it is within your power, to please come out to vote in this election, make effort to collect your Permanent Voters Card.

In conclusion, let me do a very brief analysis of the current government and the mindset of those in the change movement. The Jonathan government has recorded a few achievements over the course of the last 6 years no matter how corrupt it is said to be. Under him, there seem to be a wider middle class (suggestively as a result of people reinvesting their spoils of corruption from public quarters and private dealings as there’s no correlative growth on the economic indices), more educational institutions were built, there is a boom in agriculture, a few roads were constructed and renovated, the railway system have been resuscitated and the airports have been remodeled. Some are of the opinion that these achievements are too few for a period of 6 years bearing the fact that past leaders, including the opposition candidate achieved more within shorter time. Furthermore, the problem of insecurity and corruption has overshadowed these achievements and the critical sectors of the economy are obviously not working; honestly, if everyone dies, who will ride on the roads or attend the new schools? These are some of the reasons why those in the change movement are bent on voting for General Muhammadu Buhari, they are tired of hearing of 20 Billion dollars getting missing today and 2000 people dying tomorrow, 11 Billion dollars oil money getting missing, excess crude account being emptied, the Stella Oduahs in government buying bullet proof cars and the Allison-Maduekes buying aircrafts when there's no national air carrier. They are also tired of fuel subsidy scams, pension funds management scams, 1 Trillion Naira kerosene subsidy scams, Nigerian immigration employment scheme deceit, SURE-P scandals, the indiscriminate use of the military and other governmental apparatus and obviously, the deepened political, regional and religious division currently pervading the country. Furthermore, they want the missing Chibok girls back and they don't want so-called presidential pardon for people like Diepreye Alamieyesigha and James Ibori. They are not only waiting in the sun to collect their PVCs, they know their PVC also serves as a JMG card (Jonathan Must Go card - as they call it) so they are ready to wait even in Tsunami on election day without food and water till they vote and watch it counted and recorded. This is the little price they have to pay that lasts for 4 good years and in turn begin the change they want to see in their state and nation. APC or PDP, I believe one day Nigeria will rise again!

Culled from: Highflyers Arena website

(Excerpt of BMB's speech)

In the next few months, we shall have the opportunity to reset the course of our future as a nation. This opportunity goes beyond voting and being voted for, it is an opportunity that redefines our coexistence as a united nation, it is a moment that determines whether our kids would live in peace or war, our youths in gainful jobs or idleness or our families in wealth or poverty. It is a season that pitches impunity against accountability, leadership against rulership and the masses against their neo-colonial masters. I am of the opinion that despite the challenges we have faced as a nation over the cause of the past few years, we have recorded some gains but the challenge I have is that the problems have by far outweighed the gains to a point of oblivion. The next rational question to ask would be if the gains are so important such that it would be preferred above the challenges and thus the challenges be tolerated; the answer is ‘NO’. We do not want to live in a nation where government officials carryout their activities with impunity, where corruption thrives like flowers that blossom in the morning and where the security forces are used as a weapon of perpetual subjugation against the people they ought to protect. No citizen wants to live in a nation where ‘politricks’ is the name of the game, where the unqualified are exalted and where the rich lord over the poor. No citizen of any nation wants to be led by a caucus who believe that the wealth of the nation will someway somehow trickle down once the wealthy become wealthier. No citizen wants to be in a nation where hardwork is defined to be from top to bottom rather than from bottom up. So far, the leadership of our nation refuse to believe that if every citizen plays his own part and is given a fair share, the nation would be better for it. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has let the nation down and has introduced a new kind of politics that have never been seen in the history of our nation. Under his leadership, we now have new concepts like ‘stomach infrastructure’, his party (the PDP) have institutionalized the concept of “zoning” and has cemented our differences in the consciousness of every Nigerian, the nation is in so much bad debt with no cogent plan, the power sector is worse, education is a fiasco and we live in fear and insecurity, the international credibility of our nation has dropped to a point where we have become a laughing stock, scandals upon scandals, unguarded speeches upon unguarded speeches, everywhere you look is TAN and indeed our future has been tanned, our prospect is lot darker. Nigeria has been stripped naked in public and our glory has departed. Now is the time to put an end to our sufferings and walk into our salvation, now is the time to rewrite the history of our nation, we have a choice to make either to continue to walk in the path of destruction or the path of salvation. This opportunity comes just once in a season or maybe once in a lifetime, the choice we make in the next election would be the difference between a prosperous nation rising up again and a once prosperous nation going further down. There is hope for Nigeria and this hope is in our hands. For every problem, there is a solution and for every deadline there could always be a lifeline. In this election, the lifeline that would rescue Nigeria from this path of destruction was made mention in the words of a great woman of substance that gave so much to our nation, Mrs. Dora Akunyili of blessed memory. In a private conversation in London, she was asked how Nigeria could be changed, she said and I quote “its true Nigeria needs change and there’s no one in the country that can fight corruption except one man, and that is General Muhammadu Buhari, he is the only one. I am Igbo and Jona has failed, maybe we should atleast give the man (Buhari) a chance.”

One personal truth is that I see no profit in misleading people. As a political observer, I have witnessed both camps and I can say boldly that General Buhari is a man of integrity, discipline and truth. He is a man that has a genuine heart for the country such that I feel that nobody loves the nation more than this man. General Buhari is certainly not perfect but he has been tested and tried, he has no scandal against him and he is principled and strong-willed. General Buhari may be everything but one thing he is not is a ‘thief’. With him as President, I am not saying he is a magician and we won’t have challenges but unlike now, our gains would certainly outweigh our problems and atleast we would have a leader that can work to sort them out.

Nigeria under General Buhari would:

- Chase the corrupt out of the country automatically.

- He would expose the rot of the nation.

- Provide opportunity for youths to be more resourceful.

- Education would be free and of good quality because he would reform the entire sector.

- Nigeria would become food sufficient because that has always been a primary goal of his leadership.

- Health care would be top quality because he does not believe in foreign medical check-ups.

- Nigeria would regain her place of dignity internationally because Buhari is a highly respected leader home and abroad. For instance, during Obama’s inauguration, only him and late Nelson Mandela were personally invited from Africa.

- He would resuscitate the old and defunct national industries like Nigeria Airways and NITEL because they were the fulcrum of the economy when he last led the country and he understands the importance of having them functioning and the losses if we don’t.

- He would invest in youth development because he did it as PTDF Chairman. (He also refused to collect any salary for his efforts).

- Under him, Nigeria’s reserve would sky-rocket and he would do so much with a slim budget, he saved a lot as PTDF Chairman and did so much with the funds.

- Nigeria’s infrastructure would develop rapidly, little do people know that most of the inter-state highways we still enjoy today were built by Buhari.

- Nigeria would be a more beautiful and neat nation. Little do people know that national environmental sanitation that many states still observe till today was Buhari’s idea.

- Today, you find cars going one-way, people peeing on the express, a fight causing go-slow and people scrambling to enter the bus. Never will such happen under Buhari because he kicks against indiscipline. As Head of State, he launched the popular WAI (War Against Indiscipline).

- Buhari is tough enough to face Shekau to his face. Boko Haram would be a thing of the past, he would chase them forest to forest, door to door, street to street. He did it against Matasani and he knows how to do it again against Boko Haram.

- He would manage our resources better and he would pay off our debts because he believes that a nation in debt is a nation being colonised.

Today, we have a raped Nigeria and the choice is before us to restore her dignity, let us put our political, cultural and religious differences aside and let us together rewrite the story of our nation in this election. Let us refuse to be dribbled by the maradona of propaganda being used by the PDP and the Jonathanians to de-rep and defame the person of Muhammadu Buhari. If he truly is a religious bigot, he wouldn’t have chosen a Pastor (the person of Tunde Bakare, a man of equal integrity) to run with him in the last election even when forces tried to impose Okonjo-Iweala on him, he stood his ground. If that’s what he is, why didn’t we have religious clashes during his time as Head of State? If he sponsors Boko Haram, why did he fight Matasani? I asked myself, where did he get the money from? A person that could not even afford a Presidential nomination form to sponsor himself how much more Boko Haram.

Dear Nigerians, the truth is we have been fooled all the while, let us not buy into the foolery again. I encourage everyone to come out and vote, under the sun or in the rain, we must be there to protect the future of our kids, the votes must not be rigged this time, let everyone remain at the booth till all the votes are counted and recorded. This one day sacrifice is maybe all we have to do to secure the future of our only nation, the only place we can call ‘home’ where we placed our first footprint as a baby. This little sacrifice may be the end of a dying Nigeria. I present to you a Buhari you do not know, the choice is ours for the 4th time and this may be our last and final time to crown a great leader of a generation.

Thank you, God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

- BMB

We are excited to hear about 'SureGifts', a gift card company that launched in Nigeria. Nigerians can now buy gift cards for loved ones with ease. Also, for those in the diaspora and family in Nigeria, it’s a great and secure way to send gifts to loved ones for the holiday season. How innovative! So this is how it works. It’s a one-stop shop. You ‘gift’ gift cards to loved ones and they redeem it directly from the merchant, e-copy or hard copy.

Sometimes, words are not enough to express just how much you celebrate, appreciate, regard or love someone. At Suregifts, they make the art of gifting simpler but richer.

So “Let’s say you’re in VI and you need a replacement phone asap and out of cash? Check your email. I just sent you a Samsung gift card”

"I’m getting married? I don’t want a thousand kettles. Buy me a generic Suregifts gift card and I can shop wherever I want"

“I am in the diaspora, it’s my mother’s birthday in Lagos. I buy her a Suregifts card online, send her the confirmation, she picks up her birthday gift from the vendor”

You can buy a 50K Mothercare gift card for someone and send it to their email or have them send a printed version. They walk into Mothercare store and shop. Simple. It’s an online gifting hub, avoid the crowds, avoid the rush, give the right gifts.

Never expires!

Still not sure how SureGifts works? Watch the promo/explainer video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tabw96yC1QE

In a Nutshell:
For the sender, Suregifts offer the luxury of convenience. You don’t have to struggle to figure out the most ideal gift; neither do you have to go through the hassle of picking it up, wrapping and delivery. It’s all in a click of a button. For the recipient, get ready to free your storage room of un-preferred gifts. We know it’s the thought that counts, but it won’t hurt getting that thing you’ve always wanted instead!

Gift Cards from Suregifts are sent with love. They can be personalized with special messages and delivered just in time to ignite the widest smile. You can have it delivered to the recipients’ e-mail or physical addresses, and they can redeem at your selected vendor or anywhere Suregifts Cards are accepted. What’s more? Prices are usually cheaper on Suregifts than in-store, and Suregifts Gift Cards don’t expire!

For more information and to be updated, check out their website at:
www.suregifts.com.ng
Email at: hello@suregifts.com.ng
Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/suregiftsNG
Twitter at: https://twitter.com/suregifts_ng

It is very sad that the man that carved the FESTAC '77 mask is yet to be paid by the government. The Edo man who brought Nigeria to the world stage of art is currently living in abject poverty and with serious health challenges. In a recent visit to his house (which is in a terrible state), he narrates his plights and ideas kept under his pillow because of lack of funds. (See video below)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPC01gcBAD4#t=19

US-based musician 'Tosinger' releases new music video titled 'ILE' meaning 'Home' (in her local Yoruba dialect). This inspiring track encourages those in diaspora never to forget their roots. The music video features Ghanaian poet Justice Boateng.

(click here to watch video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EJ5BDIHXPQ&feature=share

US-based musician 'Tosinger' releases new music video titled 'ILE' meaning 'Home' (in her local Yoruba dialect). This inspiring track encourages those in diaspora never to forget their roots. The music video features Ghanaian poet Justice Boateng.

(click here to watch video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EJ5BDIHXPQ&feature=share

Uti Nwachukwu - Abuja 2010 - Batch C - Platoon 8

Tosinger comes from an earthly musical flow that's as native and Afro-ethnic. As most known artists, she started singing in the church as a worship leader in her college fellowship in University of Ibadan where the nickname 'Tosinger' was coined from. Tosinger recently released an album titled "FINALLY" in 2012. She draws influence from her Nigerian cultural background, her music reflects her influencers who include Angelique Kidjo, Mariam Makeba, Asa, Whitney Houston, India Arie, Cece Winans, Lauryn Hill etc...

Tosinger comes from an earthly musical flow that's as native and Afro-ethnic. As most known artists, she started singing in the church as a worship leader in her college fellowship in University of Ibadan where the nickname 'Tosinger' was coined from. Tosinger recently released an album titled "FINALLY" in 2012. She draws influence from her Nigerian cultural background, her music reflects her influencers who include Angelique Kidjo, Mariam Makeba, Asa, Whitney Houston, India Arie, Cece Winans, Lauryn Hill etc...

Tosinger comes from an earthly musical flow that's as native and Afro-ethnic. As most known artists, she started singing in the church as a worship leader in her college fellowship in University of Ibadan where the nickname 'Tosinger' was coined from. Tosinger recently released an album titled "FINALLY" in 2012. She draws influence from her Nigerian cultural background, her music reflects her influencers who include Angelique Kidjo, Mariam Makeba, Asa, Whitney Houston, India Arie, Cece Winans, Lauryn Hill etc...