In April this year Jonathan Goodluck was elected President.

I remember chatting with friends on blackberry, most of whom had voted for Goodluck.
Someone said he voted for him because he is a good man. Another stated that we needed a breath of fresh air (forgetting that Goodluck had been Vice President, Ag.President and President for a total period of four years), another said it was a good thing a Southerner had been elected President. Not one person spoke of what he thought Goodluck represented in terms of his plans for the country. They were all concerned about superficialities. Now to think that these friends included- a Regional Bank Manger, a Plastic Surgeon and IT specialists worried me. When educated and exposed people reason like this, is it surprising that as a nation we are still where we are today?

Not one of my friends who supported the election of Goodluck did so because they felt Goodluck will provide electricity, stop corruption or improve the economy. Rather they voted for him because he had no shoes as child and he will bring us goodluck.T[/b]his is the sad story of the Nigerian people. [b]Even amongst it’s elites there is a dearth of sophisticated robust thinking. We look at everything from either a religious or tribal perspective.

I leave it to all my good friends who voted for Goodluck. This is a big lesson and hopefully next time we will ask the right questions before we vote.

A missed opportunity?

A few months ago I travelled to Latvia with some friends (all Nigerians).One of them kept talking about how the North had created all the problems in Nigeria. How there was no bridge linking Bonny and the mainland. He blamed this on Northerners. He spoke of the degradation of the South South. He spoke of how poor the people were and how there were no schools in Okrika.Again he blamed Northerners. This guy is a surgeon in Canada. He is very educated and well travelled. Let’s look at his grouse critically: The South has been in power for 10 years out of the last 12 years. Yet they have not deemed it fit to build a bridge linking Bonny Island to the mainland.Infact as we speak an Ijaw man is President. Rivers state receives a monthly allocation almost equal to 8 northern states. Yet there are no good schools in Okrika.Is this still the fault of Northerners? [/b]My view is, i[b]t does not matter where a leader comes from-a bad leader is a bad leader and as Nigerians we should rise above ethnic sentiments. I have read in many papers people saying the North is making Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan Goodluck.[b]For the avoidance of doubt the Boko Haram issue started during Yaradua’s regime. During Yaradua’s era we also had MEND bombing oil pipelines and killing people. At no point did anyone say the South was making Nigeria ungovernable for Yaradua.[/b]When people make such comments ,deep in their thoughts they accept that this is actually a missed opportunity for their “son” to perform wonders for our dear country. These are statements made to excuse the poor performance of the government.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic
For once the Minister of Aviation has gotten it right and she must be commended. It costs almost four thousand pounds in summer to buy a business class ticket from London to Abuja via BA.That is day light theft. This sort of rubbish cannot happen in any other civilised nation. As the minister stands on her feet and insists that BA and Virgin Atlantic price their tickets to reflect regional pricing she should also look at the Abuja Airport. The cobwebs near the single escalator that takes you to the arrival hall should be removed. Just as you are about getting on the escalator look to your left and you will see a massive cobweb with a black spider there. It was there in December last year and remained there in April of this year and still remains there as I write this. Also,can she just make sure the air conditioners at least work sometimes.

Hooray National Assembly

I understand the National Assessmbly jointly refused to support the removal of fuel subsidy. If President Goodluck knows that fuel subsidy benefits only a few corrupt people then he should name and shame them. They should be arrested, tried and convicted. You cannot pass on the failings of government to the masses.

I salute the National Assembly for their brave act but they should extend this further by reducing their salaries and making sure that MDAs are held accountable.

jacklucas:

A missed opportunity?

A few months ago I travelled to Latvia with some friends (all Nigerians).One of them kept talking about how the North had created all the problems in Nigeria. How there was no bridge linking Bonny and the mainland. He blamed this on Northerners. He spoke of the degradation of the South South. He spoke of how poor the people were and how there were no schools in Okrika.Again he blamed Northerners. This guy is a surgeon in Canada. He is very educated and well travelled. Let’s look at his grouse critically: The South has been in power for 10 years out of the last 12 years. Yet they have not deemed it fit to build a bridge linking Bonny Island to the mainland.Infact as we speak an Ijaw man is President. Rivers state receives a monthly allocation almost equal to 8 northern states. Yet there are no good schools in Okrika.Is this still the fault of Northerners? [/b]My view is, i[b]t does not matter where a leader comes from-a bad leader is a bad leader and as Nigerians we should rise above ethnic sentiments. I have read in many papers people saying the North is making Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan Goodluck.[b]For the avoidance of doubt the Boko Haram issue started during Yaradua’s regime. During Yaradua’s era we also had MEND bombing oil pipelines and killing people. At no point did anyone say the South was making Nigeria ungovernable for Yaradua.[/b]When people make such comments ,deep in their thoughts they accept that this is actually a missed opportunity for their “son” to perform wonders for our dear country. These are statements made to excuse the poor performance of the government.

+7

jacklucas:

A missed opportunity?

A few months ago I travelled to Latvia with some friends (all Nigerians).One of them kept talking about how the North had created all the problems in Nigeria. How there was no bridge linking Bonny and the mainland. He blamed this on Northerners. He spoke of the degradation of the South South. He spoke of how poor the people were and how there were no schools in Okrika.Again he blamed Northerners. This guy is a surgeon in Canada. He is very educated and well travelled. Let’s look at his grouse critically: The South has been in power for 10 years out of the last 12 years. Yet they have not deemed it fit to build a bridge linking Bonny Island to the mainland.Infact as we speak an Ijaw man is President. Rivers state receives a monthly allocation almost equal to 8 northern states. Yet there are no good schools in Okrika.Is this still the fault of Northerners? [/b]My view is, i[b]t does not matter where a leader comes from-a bad leader is a bad leader and as Nigerians we should rise above ethnic sentiments. I have read in many papers people saying the North is making Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan Goodluck.[b]For the avoidance of doubt the Boko Haram issue started during Yaradua’s regime. During Yaradua’s era we also had MEND bombing oil pipelines and killing people. At no point did anyone say the South was making Nigeria ungovernable for Yaradua.[/b]When people make such comments ,deep in their thoughts they accept that this is actually a missed opportunity for their “son” to perform wonders for our dear country. These are statements made to excuse the poor performance of the government.

+ 7

jacklucas:

Not one of my friends who supported the election of Goodluck did so because they felt Goodluck will provide electricity, stop corruption or improve the economy. Rather they voted for him because he had no shoes as child and he will bring us goodluck.T[/b]his is the sad story of the Nigerian people. [b]Even amongst it’s elites there is a dearth of sophisticated robust thinking. We look at everything from either a religious or tribal perspective.

I leave it to all my good friends who voted for Goodluck. This is a big lesson and hopefully next time we will ask the right questions before we vote.

WE GET THE LEADERSHIP WE DESERVE , BECAUSE MAJORITY OF NIGERIANS THINK WITH THE SAID MIND SET

I remember when I left the BBM group. People like BxxF drove me mental. It was because of the so called 'the south must rule' and ’it must be a Christian to rule' that I left the group. I[b] hope people have now learned the hard way that its not God who will come and sit on the presidents seat but a human being,[/b] so regardless of where you are from, if[b] you are not fit for the job you have no business being there in the first place. Being a Christian southerner doesn’t make you a good leader.[/b]

I am sure there are millions who wished they had voted for him but dont have access to NairaLand.

Goodluck shouldn’t have taken this job. He should have let the true election results show. The next thing that you will hear is that it is Buhari making things hard for him. That is a lie.

I just tire for this country. And it doesn’t matter how educated you are as a Nigerian oh,, there is so much tribalism. I blame our parents for all this to be honest. They failed the system and started this culture of corruption and tribalism.

A Professor, who with the overwhelming evidence suggesting that Jonathan was not even leadership material, voted for him anyways? I am not faulting Jonathan here. I am more interested in who this professor, and how he got his PHD.

POSTER

So because a prof said so, we should loose sleep?

At the end of the day, the people deserves the kind of leader they get. The sad thing is we have not learnt - we have not even shown that we are ready to learn. Many people still believe some people are making things difficult for uncle GEJ. That may be true, but if he is competent, he should be able to use the powers at his disposal to turn things around. Sad that we thought we had it bad before now in terms of infrastructural development, now we can't even ask for development at the moment we just want peace and security. People say GEJ needs time to develop nigerian economy, the question is do we have to wait for four years to get security? How many will survive till then?

Well Prof or whatever u call ursef, its good to note that you have finally seen the light. Many made the mistake and are still fighting hard to justify it even in the midst of clear cut failures we are presently experiencing. For this i praise u.

I have always known that GEJ will be a Disaster. Lets all continue to chill out and enjoy the ride at least for now.

its too late for that; lets think of strengthening our democratic institutions so that midway non performing politicians can get off the system just like Italy and Greece.

Kobojunkie is too funny.

If a prof can be so cover with myopic issue, i don;t know what he will teach his students

A norther once said that a vote for jeg is a vote for 3rd term. As long as obj is still around politically then no hope for nigeria. The man wil never forgive nigerians for stoppin his agenda. So he wil never allow nigeria to progress.1st it was yar'adua now jonathan, wait and see his next anointed president come 2015.

I dey laugh o!
Only fools have regrets for the decisions they made consciously.

When it was time to vote there were many objective and factual analysis of each of the candidates by those who had the presence of mind and conscience to do the work required! I find myself wondering where these 'learned' friends of yours were?? Did they even expend a modicum of objectivity or supple intellect in reaching their disastrous decisions? It is useless to cry after spilling milk, this is why the onus is always on voters (particularly the educated elites) to perform due diligence, remove sentiments and vote their conscience!!

Here is an excellent analysis that I posted on April 1, 2011 before the election: >

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-636746.0.html

If you read the analysis with the benefit of hindsight now, it becomes obvious how saliently accurate the analysis was. It is unfortunate that in my beloved country parochial sentiments and ethnocentric values always trumps common sense and sound judgement! Just my two cents,

****opens door gently, glance around and slam door hard, hissing****

^^^^^^ you dey mind dem? bunch of abject loosers

Midas02:

When it was time to vote there were many objective and factual analysis of each of the candidates by those who had the presence of mind and conscience to do the work required! I find myself wondering where these 'learned' friends of yours were?? Did they even expend a modicum of objectivity or supple intellect in reaching their disastrous decisions? It is useless to cry after spilling milk, this is why the onus is always on voters (particularly the educated elites) to perform due diligence, remove sentiments and vote their conscience!!

Here is an excellent analysis that I posted on April 1, 2011 before the election: >

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-636746.0.html

If you read the analysis with the benefit of hindsight now, it becomes obvious how saliently accurate the analysis was. It is unfortunate that in my beloved country parochial sentiments and ethnocentric values always trumps common sense and sound judgement! Just my two cents,

check i gave u an A for that write up then and will still maintain it!

shows you that nigerians are easily manipulated despite their level of education.

Lets not delude ourselves now and have a factual posterior. Nigeria as it stand is severely divided along ethnic and religious lines and for that reason, any elections, from now onward; for the remainder of its existence shall be governed along ethnic lines.

In as far as the ethnic groups that constitute Nigeria today did not come together in agreement to live together as one, we would never have an unbiased, non partisan government.

Perhaps when we start to see each other as one but that would be a tall order as the last election and the betrayal of the North has made cork sure that this country would never be truly one.