₦airaland Forum

Good.

Kobojunkie:
I feel like throwing up!!! How can anyone who lived through the IBB days support this man running againt for president? Nigerians don't have just short-term memory issues, we seem to have a way of PRETENDING all that was bad is now good. I can't explain it.

Am more baffled than you. Cant believe anyone will support IBB.  

I hope he doesn't succeed, if he does! if he becomes the president of Nigeria again!!, I will . . . (keep it to myself).

This got me cracking big time.

Yar'Adua: A tourist attraction?
By Reuben Abati
. . .

"if you ask me, I will insist that the Constitution should be invoked by the Yar'Adua cabinet to put an end to this blackmail, this charade."

"No. Not yet.

"Meaning?"

"Can't you see a great a potential here, a revenue generating opportunity? Big business? A business idea. Entrepreneurship."

"I don't get your drift."

"I have been thinking about it. We can turn President Yar'Adua into a tourist attraction. Yes. This sudden interest in Yar'Adua sighting can be used to jump-start the national tourism industry. That way he can pay back some of the money that the country has spent on his illness."

"Sounds hare-brained to me."

"It is like this. In this country today, the biggest deal is seeing Yar'Adua. Yar'Adua sighting can therefore become a big revenue generating programme for Nigeria. Instead of all these clerics who are contradicting themselves going to the Presidential Villa and telling strange stories, we can throw the doors open. Imagine the great scramble! The queue will stretch all the way out of Abuja. Why haven't they thought of fit? The problem is that these people are not patriots."

"You want to turn the President of Nigeria into a comic spectacle?"

"Look at the revenue generating potential. It will be a brilliant way of diversifying the Nigerian economy. Just imagine the number of people who will take part in the programme and feel compelled to write a bestseller. It is a win-win proposal."

"You can't be serious."

"I am."

"I know you are joking."

"You think so? Have I told you that kind of joke before now?"

"You know what I want?"

"What do you want?"

"I want the traditional people, Soyinka's orisa people to also go on this Yar'Adua sighting expedition. I believe they will tell us nothing but the truth."

"What is the difference? We are saying the same thing. I am just saying let people pay for it. And who told you traditional religionists will tell the truth. Even Orunmila may be tempted to bend the truth like a Beckham shot if the pay is right."

"Not if they send Sango people, Ayelala, Egbesu and mammy water. Get Professor Soyinka, Professor Wande Abimbola, Sat Guru Maharaji, and all the leaders of the spiritual groups: Eckankar, House of Truth, Freemason, ROF, AMORC, Society of Friends, Ancient Order of Foresters and so on and so forth to make the selection. And when they get there, they should get Turai to swear to an oath of truth."

"Ha- lla- lu -yeah"

"Are you alright?"

"Ha lla-lu- ya ah dua. Oh Jehovah. Sha baba ra baba ba ba"

"Hello o"

"I see a vision"

"You don shack?"

"No. It just occurred to me that the Yar'Adua people are leaving out something important. They are inviting clerics and all kinds of people, but they have not yet invited the right kind of people."

"How?"

"Why haven't they invited Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Pastor Temitope Joshua?"

"Oh. Is this about your favourite Pastors? For your information, these people were actually not interested in Pastors. The Christian clerics were invited as an afterthought after the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) threatened to make an issue out of the politicization of President Yar'Adua's ill-health and faith".

"That wouldn't have been necessary if they had invited Oyakhilome or Joshua. By now, the President would have been up and about. These are Pastors who have the anointing to make the lame walk, to make the blind see, to give strength to the infirm. Was it not a Pastor who said he saw the president lying down? Why didn't he lay his hands upon him and proclaim: Be well in Jesus name, I command you to rise in Jesus name as our Lord rose on Resurrection Day."

"You really think this thing is a joke."

"On the contrary, I consider it a serious matter. Take a man like Pastor Temitope Joshua, people travel all the way from Zambia, Gabon and Ghana to ask for his healing powers. We are not talking about ordinary people, but Presidents and former Presidents. One of them even camped out at the Synagogue and proclaimed that Pastor Joshua is his saviour. Charity should begin at home. We should value what we have. Pastor Joshua and all the pastors who claim to have special anointing must feel challenged to give Nigeria a practical demonstration of their healing powers. But if they are not invited, will they send the healing grace by SMS?"

"The ways of God are not the ways of men."

"Don't tell me that. You are making me lose faith."

"If you lose faith, many more will believe."

"So, that is what President Yar'Adua's illness has become? A matter of faith and belief?"

"You use what you have to get what your want. Macchiavelli."

"Where is Nigeria in all of this? Isn't this supposed to be a secular country? When it suits the ruling elite they throw up religion to serve their own selfish purposes. They really don't care about Nigeria, do they?"

"Nigeria is there? Are we not all Nigerians? Hasn't Jonathan made Mrs Allison-Madueke Minister of Petroleum? Anything is possible."

"If I were in Jonathan's shoes, I will invoke Section 144 of the Constitution and have Yar'Adua impeached."

"He doesn't need to do that. Did you not listen to his speech when he was inaugurating the new Cabinet? Very nice speech. Strong and well put."

"I am tired of nice speeches. Go and read Yar'Adua's inauguration speech too. It was also nice and well put."

"There is a difference. Take that speech apart. You'd see that was Jonathan telling the Yar'Adua group that Nigeria has moved on. Moved on, and he is in charge."

"We can't move on until we resolve the Yar'Adua matter."

"I don't think Jonathan wants to resolve anything. Did you not notice that he referred to the President only once and not by name? He looks like he really doesn't mind if the Yar'Adua people invite all the clerics and busy bodies in Nigeria to the Yar'Adua sighting carnival. It really doesn't change anything. Don't forget that the Americans are all over him. He is going to the United States and there are talks that he may have a one on one with President Obama. Johnny Carson, the US Assistant Secretary of State has been referring to Nigeria now and again as if Mungo Park has just discovered River Niger. Yayale Ahmed the Secretary to the Government of the federation just met with Mrs Hillary Clinton. Well, Nigeria is moving on"

"You mean your Ijaw brother wan go White House? Now, now? "

"What kind of talk is that? Is there any American law saying an Ijaw man cannot come to the White House?"

"Niger Delta meets Obama."

"Stop that nonsense."

"But I hope your man won't go there and tell Obama, this is the best thing that ever happened to me."

"We are smarter than that. Have you not heard about our code of conduct for Ministers and is anyone still in doubt that we are in charge?"

"We?"

"Yes, we-we".

"And who are we?"

"Stay there. This is our turn to let all you hijackers of the Nigerian state know that a minority man can also control Nigeria's security vote and inspect the Presidential Guard of Honour and drink tea in America"

"Are we still having a conversation here?"

"Yes. What do you mean Ijaw man wan go White House? What kind of talk is that? The problem with you people is that you think you have a divine right to rule, and that is why President Yar'Adua and his aides will line up all the religious clerics to remind Nigerians of his divine right."

"Okay. I am sorry. You know I am not one for divine rights. I was joking. You know I am a constitutionalist and a federalist. We are in this mess, because people won't just do the right thing."

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02/090410?pdate=090410&ptitle=Yar'Adua:%20A%20tourist%20attraction?

Another rubbish story from Sun news.

The political editor of that company should be sacked with immediate effect.

From the time of Abdusalam to Obasanjo and then Yarasick, power committees have always been set up only to fail

Promises have always been made concerning power and promises have always been broken.

People are not interested in promises, or setting up of any committee or public discussion on how to solve power problem.

All Nigerians want is stable power, however Jonathan achieves it. And if he achieves it, he would win the hearts of millions of Nigeria.

Am in full support.

I thought Arc. Nuhu Somo Wya is in charge of power ministry.

or is he the minister of state for power?

Let's leave the religion debate till another day, am not in total agreement with your position on mercy, grace and forgiveness.

As per welcoming back Obj & co, read my post on an earlier similar question.

On Dora, the fact remains that she has been given another chance & there is nothing you and I can do about that, whether she deserves it on not is a matter of individual opinion.

Let's just wait and see how she conducts the affairs of the ministry this time around.

Excellent Speech.

I await actions that speak louder.

snakeeyes:
Religion aside. i am of the opinion that its better to work the marriage, because there is no guaranty that the latter partner would be better than the former.

Outstrip:
I don't believe in dying for a marriage but 2 months is just too soon. What could you have learned in two months.

My thoughts exactly.

Kobojunkie:
Grace And Mercy spares you from the penalty but DOES NOT spare you from the consequences! He who had no understanding, let him ask!!

What is penalty? what is consequences? You are only playing with words.

I know past actions cannot be removed, and one might for ever live with consequences of some past actions. But when you are forgiven you are forgiven.

In the case of Dora. She deserves a second chance think she has learned her lessons.

Kobojunkie:
Please, please, let us not taint God in this? This is not about God. Even the Bible is clear on the punishment of transgressions. NO ONE IS SPARED the CONSEQUENCE of his/her action. God forgives us all but HE IS CLEAR THAT WE STILL NEED TO BARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS. Ask David and He will sing you songs of the truth of that.  A man who, through his own bad behaviour contracts AIDS is not suddenly cured of the disease when he asks God for forgiveness. He still needs to take his pills and do all he can not to let the disease kill him.

I dont want to get so much religious here. This is not the section. But I doubt you truly understand the word [b]grace & merc[/b]y.

Can you bare all the consequences of your actions?

King David you sent me to asked 'if God marks iniquity, who shall stand?'

chosen04:
God then must be silly for not given Satan second chance.

When its Dora 2nd chance is needed, But when its IWU and co no more 2nd chance.
I laugh in double standard!!!

Are you sure you have never benefited from God's second chance?

If God had written you off all the times you made mistake, not sure you will still be here.

Fhemmmy:
So why would you wanna send someone like that back to same position . . .How long are gonna be doing trial and error?

dayokanu:
Another trial and possible error session?

Guess we can afford it with information ministry and with a naturally good person like Dora.

dayokanu:
What of Iwu, IBB, Tafa Balogun, James Ibori dont they all deserve a second chance?

They all deserves a second chance too, only if we are sure they have truly learned their lessons and realised they made mistakes.

and if we can afford the risk of trying them again. Just that am not sure any of your list above has truly learned anything.

I dont believe in change just for change sake.

Change can be for better or for worse, hope this is for better.

I believe in second chance. Everyone deserves it, so also is Dora.

I think Dora is a good person, judging from her records in NAFDAC

I agree she made many mistakes as information minister, but I also think she would have learnt some lessons.

Lets see how she performs this time around.

Beaf:
Nigeria: Acting president sacks head of state-run oil company, swears in Cabinet
By Bashir Adigun

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria's acting president sacked the head of the nation's oil company Tuesday, the same day he swore in a Cabinet that put a former oil company employee in charge of the country's petroleum ministry and an investment banker at the helm of its finances.

The moves by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan seemed to cement his power in Africa's most populous nation, despite ill President Umaru Yar'Adua's recent return to the country. Jonathan also said he directly would manage the nation's failing power ministry, a move that could turn around years of struggles to produce power for Nigeria's 150 million people.

Jonathan told the 38 new Cabinet members that they would sign public agreements on what he expected from their ministries. The ministers will be responsible for informing the nation on how they reach those goals, a rare show of accountability in a nation long considered one of the most corrupt in the world.

"I will hate to disappoint you but I will hate even more to disappoint the nation," Jonathan said. . .

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9ETN4G01

Nice speech.

Now let them get down to business. As they would be judged by their performances & results.

Am not impressed but am also not too disappointed.

Aganga is excellent in finance  

Have no problem with Allison Madueke as Petroleum Minister. Given the right support, I think she will perform (Congrats to her, if my memory serves me right, think she is the 1st female minister in that ministry)

Odein Ajumogobia, thought will be better as Min of Petroleum, but as still ok by me in foreign affairs, to clear all the mess Madueke left behind

Dora, thought Jo will give her a change. Just hope she has learnt her lessons and will do better this time.

What is the rationale behind Adetokunbo and Yaradua in defense?  

Education: dont know her, but hopes she performs well. Education ministry needs a change of direction after Sam Egu mess.

Sanusi Dagash must deliver. Especially on roads.

Power: Who is this Nuhu Somo Wya? I hope Jonathan knows that Power will be one area he will be highly judged.

panafrican:
I do not know where to put Big  Daddy
https://www.idiamindada.com/images/idi_amin_lkko.jpg

lol

omg, what a picture. so he had to make white men carried him on their shoulders?

to prove what

husny:
nothn is certain brothers

with all that have happened, I am as certain as anything that Yaradua is a forgone conclusion. forget those noisemakers.

Beaf:
What concerns me is not the PDP, it is the almajiri's, quark Imams and other lowlifes.
The whole Yar Adua issue is being moulded into a psuedo-religious personality cult that is meant to target and fire up the very same Northern elements that have been known to engage in mindless religious violence.

They cant do nada. all they can do is make noise and empty threats.

You know I saw that Yardua Kaduna campaign headline and I never bother to read it, it will be a waste of my precious time. cos I know it's all noise.

Kobojunkie:
Was Yar adua ever really a threat? The man has been sickly from day one, not sure how a weakling like that could have been considered a threat at any point in all this.

You are right! 144 could have been used all the way back in December but the same refused to use it. Suddenly, everyone is mouthing 144 as if something changed. We still do not have a name of this MYSTERY CABAL. Sounds more like the usual noisemaking that is Nigeria, only some of us do it on forums while others like to make sure the whole nation hears their noise when they do make noise.  

right  

rebranded:
Nuhu Ribadu, the former chief of Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has accepted an offer from Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, to be his special adviser on anti-corruption, good governance and sundry matters.

Presidency sources said at the weekend that Mr. Ribadu is expected to resume "in a matter of weeks" in Abuja. As part of his remit, Mr. Ribadu will be the presidential anchorman supervising the broad anti-corruption platform of the country which includes his former agency, the EFCC; the ICPC; the Code of Conduct Bureau and other related agencies.

He's back

Mr. Ribadu confirmed this in a telephone interview with NEXT at the weekend.

"Frankly I don't want to be drawn into any political discussion," he said. "But let me say it is true that I have been contacted. I also think it is only honest to say that Acting President Jonathan appears to have a keen understanding of the cogent priorities facing our nation which is currently teetering on the brink of disaster. It is probably right to also say he is taking the right steps on those critical priorities. For this reason, I believe it is the moral duty of Nigerians to support all efforts to save our country."

Read More: http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5549547-146/the_return_of_ribadu__.csp

If the bolds are true, then he is welcome to join the struggle. Perhaps, just may be, Nigeria may redeemed some of his lost image since the inception of this administration.

In times like this, I wish Jonathan knows the enormous power he has.

The Governors should be lobbying him for their survival and not the other way round.

How many Governors can try 'checkimating' Obj in his days.

All Jonathan needs to do is to tell them there is no automatic ticket for a sitting Governor

You will be amaze, how they start kissing Jonathan a$$ & battle for their survival.

Beaf:
Are you joking? Seriously his 2011 campaign has already kicked off in Kaduna!  http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/3564-yaradua-posters-flood-kaduna.html
Almajiri's don't think like normal people; thats where the concern lies and why Yar Adua's health is beginning to assume security risk dimensions for 2011. Some people might be preparing for another Jos.

Only the Almajiris will believe Yaradua is running in 2011.

As bad and foolish PDP as a party is I dont believe they will field Yaradua for 2011

That is even IF he is still alive or he recovers well enough to stand for 10mins.

For me, Yaradua is no longer a threat or an issue. Those who should know, know already that he is long gone.

if there is any possibility of his comeback, Jonathan will not do all he did.

sammyzacks:
Nuhu Ribadu, the former chief of Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has accepted an offer from Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, to be his special adviser on anti-corruption, good governance and sundry matters.

Presidency sources said at the weekend that Mr. Ribadu is expected to resume "in a matter of weeks" in Abuja. As part of his remit, Mr. Ribadu will be the presidential anchorman supervising the broad anti-corruption platform of the country which includes his former agency, the EFCC; the ICPC; the Code of Conduct Bureau and other related agencies.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5549547-146/the_return_of_ribadu__.csp

who are these 'presidency sources'?

I'll wait for an official announcement first.

I wonder why people just argue blindly in this age and time.

Facts and figures are not far fetched, they are available at the clicks of your mouse. Why make silly assumptions.

If you want to know the richest country in West Africa by whatever parameter, check d internet

Goggle is still user friendly.

Ok, the piece is too long, cant finish reading it.

But why the agitation?

Let us forget this Yar Adua and move on.

Jonathan has all he needs to perform. He no longer has any excuse.

The cabal is no longer in government & Yaradua is no longer a problem,

it doesn't matter what people say about him, he is not likely to come back to power.

jamace:
I
And do you trust DAILY TRUST newspaper? 

In my journals of newspapers, DAILY TRUST does not even exist. 

KnowAll:
My inclination is Jonathan is going to run but the strategy is for the PDP spokesman to scream at the roof tops for all asunder to hear and get the message loud and clear that the Presidency has been zoned to the North,  this would allay any fear or discontent from that zone. What will now happen would be the positioning of IBB as the front runner only for IBB to pull out in the last minute having already chosen Jonathan as his running mate.

I sense IBB would now pull out of the race 2 to 3 weeks to the election proper or better still when the election has being completed in which case it would be too late to start organising another primary. The reason why I believe this is the strategy is because for the Americans and Brits to go and visit someone who is not in power or even in goverment in his private residence in Minna is very unusual.  Going to visit IBB in his Minna mansion, when there was a sitting President in the nation to use a more subtle word appear not only subversive but damn right rude and undiplomatic to say the least.

Basically what it would simple mean is Jonathan would be the deputy running mate up to such a time the Presidential Candidate pulls out of the race either b4 or after the elections for health reason therby giving Jonathan a clear run for the Presidency. IBB's lack of lustre or enthusiamsm is a bit of a worry, I also sense the American's love the Jonathan script as a man who have never stood for an election and yet tends to end up being the beneficiary of such office.

What a theory Sounds more like a joke to me.

Jonathan accepting to be VP, IBB pulling out at the last minute for Jonathan. . . unbelievable!

May his soul rest in peace.

What a way to die.

Lesson to all in power.

Interesting!