₦airaland Forum

MrAJQ:
The most important thing is that it is either going to North East, West, Central or South West.

SouthEastFacts:
Aisha that was just confirmed as Deputy Governor by the Senate in March 2018 has been penciled down as CBN Governor.

Dr. Joseph Nnanna was confirmed on February 2015.

Mr Fola Adebisi was confirmed on October, 2018.

Well done Buhari, when a Southerner leaves a Northern replaces but when a Northerner leaves, another Northerner replaces.

CBN governorship is rotated between the north and south, so one thing is clear, a northerner gets it this time. And even if anyone were to change that formula, it can NEVER happen under the reign of the King of the North.

freeze001:
First you said this:

Then this:


So, let me get this straight: blackmail no follow for illegality @the bold part abi?

Like I said, it happens in every democracy all over the world. A simple example - You to be a chronic adulterer for instance and you're gunning for a political leadership position of which I have my eyes on. If I have details/evidence of your philandering and I threaten to expose you if you dont back down, that would be a pure case of blackmail. Whilst it may be socially unfair/dishonourable to do that, can you kindly educate me on the exact law I would be breaking by doing that?

The last time I checked, that's exactly what happens in political struggles all over the world, including the most sound democracies. So let's stop acting as if Nigeria is hell.

9jaRealist:
Presumably you personally were “behind the scenes” at the White House...

Dude, Paul Ryan was already House Speaker before Trump’s election, and that was NOT going to change regardless of the PUBLIC spats and disagreements between Ryan and Trump. Lobbying and “taking charge” are distinct and disparate, and in the US folks understand the concept of INDEPENDENT AND CO-EQUAL arms of government. Shame that senile old men in Nigeria (and apparently their idolizers) do not. SMH

I would like to assume you already get my point. Respecting the independence of another arm of government does not mean you must fold your arms and do nothing.

I now get your point too, youre more concerned about the semantics of the phrase 'taking charge'. But just so you know, taking charge of a situation or your destiny does not automatically imply getting involved in illegality.

9jaRealist:
Dude, do not know you from a can of beans so will not presume to speak for your personal standards or expectations, but I would like to think that most Nigerians do not consider themselves children of a lesser God and thus are in pursuit of the ideal in all spheres of their lives. The notion of settling for less should be anathema for anyone/everyone with high expectations for themselves and their country. Even if the ideal ultimately proves unattainable, it’s pursuit should ALWAYS be our collective aspiration for as the saying goes (and I paraphrase), “when you aim for the sky, you would tend to excel even if you fall short”.



Here, you just sound confused because the ability to sell one’s program is not synonymous with UNANIMTY of opinions.

This may be even further confusing for you, but a DIVERSITY of opinions and viewpoints is actually a GOOD thing - not least because no one person has a monopoly of wisdom (not even the President, as you appear to think). In fact, the ideal process is to subject ideas and opinions to competition in a free marketplace of ideas until the ‘best’ ones win or otherwise emerge therefrom. Accordingly, quite often, the ‘best’ and most effective laws and policies are a result of compromise, resulting from the meshing of a variety of different interests.

Meanwhile, you keep harping on and idealizing about a president’s “excellent” agenda, but what if the president’s agenda is horrible (or as previously proffered, parochial, primordial, partisan or pecuniary-driven)? Should the parliament simply be compliant and roll over? The Nigerian President is NOT a Sultan, Emir, Oba, Igwe, Obong, Tor, or any other such feudal monarch. Rather, he is constitutionally RESTRAINED by a system of INDEPENDENT check and balances, which if/when eroded inflicts incalculable damage to our constitutional democracy.

I never said or implied in any way whatsoever that the president or anyone has any monopoly of wisdom; that actually is the exact opposite of what I tried to explain so I wonder how you arrived at that conclusion.

Once again my point is that no matter how noble ( the agenda of a president might be (now I mean the noble ideas, not the horrible ones), there will always be people who think otherwise, who see things differently, and who will work tirelessly to oppose the agenda. Now these people may not necessarily be bad people, rather they just see things differently and prefer a different approach to achieve a similar goal.

Of course it's a democracy and not an authoritarian monarchy or dictatorship, so for the president to push forward whatever agenda he has, he has to be able to convince parliament (I NEVER implied otherwise, and neither did I suggest that parliament should be a rubber stamp). But all I tried to point out is that since a president has to convince parliament before he does anything, that is why every president globally (not restricted to Nigeria) will prefer parliament leaders who are aligned with his ideologies, that is why presidents want their party members to be majority and lead parliament.

In summary, all I've tried to explain is that there is nothing wrong or ignoble about a president wishing and lobbying to have people in tune with his ideologies leading parliament; that is what democratic politics is all about.

9jaRealist:
Nope, not an “ideal” democracy - in ANY constitutional (checks-and-balances) democracy worthy of the name.

Even in the US (whose system our constitution was primarily modeled after), when the Republicans controlled both the White House and both chambers of Congress, President Trump never presumed to “take charge” (or to otherwise interfere with) the process of electing the Speaker of the House. In fact, if anything, Speaker Ryan quite often butted heads with the President on various issues. Of course, the President may well be ‘bothered’ about who heads the other arms of government (and not just the legislature but the judiciary as well), but that’s not what we are discussing here, so let’s discard of the semantic sophistry because the issue here is the President (and I quote Old Man Sagay) “taking charge” of the process of a constitutionally CO-EQUAL (and constitionally-mandated INDEPENDENT) arm of government electing its leadership.

It’s rather unfortunate that African countries often take on the veneer of democracy but seem reluctant to imbibe its spirit and ideals.

The bolded part of you comment above says it all; you have no idea how politics and leadership works. It's amusing that you think Trump just sat down and did nothing behind the scenes. FYI, 'doing something' does not necessarily mean stepping out like a soldier and giving orders, cos it is not military rule. Doing something simply implies behind the scenes lobbying, blackmailing, scheming etc. It happens in every democracy and its simply called politics. Once again, I find it very amusing that of all the 'near perfect' democracies in the world you could have given examples with, you chose the USA which is the world capital of the schemes I was referring to.

Some people wicked shaa... What a comment!

AreaFada2:
On $1 = 1 Naira we stand.

So Buhari didn't know the economic effect of promising the above? So anyway you twist Buhari doesn't know what he's doing. Forget the tortoise & hare story of CBN being in charge.

If our currency is truly worth anything or supported by the touted trade balance, why fix the rate? Let it trade freely to test it's mettle. That is what free market economy is about. Oh I forget, Buhari would rather run a Sharia economy.

We have a negative balance. Only that the huge amount of smuggled imported goods do not enter official records anymore.

First of all, may I point out that you're just another victim of fake news; Buhari never promised anywhere to make N1 = $1. That a fake report is peddled and it trends around like wild fire, that doesnt necessarily make it true.

Regarding the fixing of exchange rates, whilst so many (including myself) may argue that the total floating of the Naira will be the best policy for Nigeria's economy, I wouldn't be wise if I start thinking that those who think the opposite are crazy. China today resembles Nigeria in a lot of ways, especially with regards the large population and cheap labour supply. But do you know China currently fixes its exchange rate and even intentionally devaluates its currency to encourage local production?... Why exactly do you really think this would not work for Nigeria? Because Buhari is the one doing it?

freeze001:
How do you guarantee that there will be no bribery, threats or such other illegality? How can he put his foot down and insist on the leadership of the National Assembly without holding something over the heads of the leadership especially when the president of country like ours would prefer a dull, sleeping rubber-stamp NASS? What about the interests of the masses? Are citizens not entitled to an independent legislative arm that will properly check-mate possible excesses of the Executive?

Like I said in one of my earlier comments, I was addressing someone who implied that in an ideal democracy, the president (executive) shouldnt have any business or be bothered about who heads the NASS because the NASS should be independent. Oh yes the NASS is independent, but I also rightly said that only a sleeping or lifeless or just a dull president will sit back and watch people who dont align with his agenda rise to head the parliament.

Now that being said, there are different ways a president can influence who and who become the head of the NASS. It's left for a president to chart his own course by deciding on how he wants to effect things like this.

9jaRealist:
The ideal should ALWAYS be our goal.

... but we are in a real world where all things are never equal; we aren't in a school textbook or movie, so you cant expect the 'ideal' goal to be obtainable. The 'ideal' doesnt exist anywhere in the world.

And just btw, the members of the NASS are there to represent US - their constituents - and not the president (or even the party). Accordingly, assuming that the president’s agenda is in the NATIONAL interest (and not merely to serve parochial, partisan, pecuniary, primordial or such other petty/narrow interests), then it should not be a problem ‘selling’ same to the NASS and the wider Nigerian constituency, rather than installing a “sleeping or lifeless” NASS leadership that would simply rubber stamp anything from Aso Rock.

Once again you speak of an ideal Utopia which can only be encountered in fictional stories. There will always be opposition to policies or projects, no matter how noble the idea is. The NASS has 468 members and each one of those members have their own opinions, their own understanding, their own personal goals, their own personal interests etc. Not every one of those members have the interest of the country or their constituents at heart like you ideally claim. How many members of the Nigerian NASS do you truly think are there to represent the interests of their constituents?

Besides Nigeria, even in countries where things work well, differing opinions still exist. So no matter how excellent the president's agenda is, you can never still expect all parliament members to agree to it and the worst thing that can happen to any democratic president is to have a parliament headed by people who are hell bent on seeing things differently from him.

9jaRealist:
Not just “separate” but CO-EQUAL...

Meanwhile, any process or entity that suffers executive interference is by definition no longer “independent”!

What you describe above is idealism; in reality, there will always be some form of executive interference in other arms of govt. Just the same way the legislators influence who the president appoints into his cabinet, it's also in the the best interest of the president to influence wherever he can, who gets to the leadership of parliament.

Only a sleeping or lifeless president will sit back and watch those opposed to his agenda get elevated to head the NASS. That would just be a pure exqmple of mental laziness, not democracy.

Gandollar:
Is what you just propounded OBJs methods as we know it?

There's nothing undemocratic or illegal about a president scheming or lobbying to get favourable heads of the legislative arm elected or even removed; that's just what politics is all about. As long as the process doesn't involve illegality (e.g. bribery, threats of assassination etc).

ClassicMG:
If I'm right a trade surplus should have a positive impact on our currency, but still nothing changes why?

AreaFada2:
Voodoo economists will tell you that our weak currency has boosted export.

As if we really export things that are competitive like industrial goods.

China & others just need lots of our raw materials to satisfy their growing needs.

All the contra-ban goods coming through Benin Republic & Niger of course don't make the list of import.

The reason it has no apparent effect on the currency is because the exchange rate is fixed at N360/$ (not floating); main reason being to discourage cheap imports and to encourage export.

The CBN currently has enough forex in the reserves to force the Naira back to N200/$. All it needs to do is start a weekly (or increase the weekly) disbursement into the parallel market as has always been the case in the past to ensure Nigerians get cheap dollars for cheap imports. But the idea to fix it at N360 is intentional.

Gandollar:
So we should continue in that ignominy? Is that the change APC talked about or is that the next level?

All of a sudden, OBJ has now become a role model for buhari to emulate bah?

The NASS may be a separate independent arm of government, but it is always in the best interest of the executive to ensure (via lobbying etc) that the elected heads of the legislators are in sync with the ideals of the president if the president must have a good ride. This is the standard case all over the world, including the best democracies. There is nothing wrong/ illegal/ undemocratic about the executive being concerned and being involved in the selection process of the heads of the NASS.

This was the exact kind of tribal thoughtlessness that turned a Jimi vs Ambode election into an Igbo vs Yoruba matter, thereby costing Jimi the governorship for life.

Efewestern:
Contrary to what people think that the Urhobos have only senator in the next senate assembly, I'm pleased to inform you that the senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial district is an Urhobo man from Ofoni, Bayelsa State.

Below are the two Urhobo Senators in the next Senate Assembly.

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor: Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor was a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Bayelsa State, he hails from Ofoni (Ughelli-Urhie), Baylesa state. I once wrote an Article about the Urhobos in Bayelsa, (https://www.nairaland.com/2289624/meet-ofoni-people-bayelsa-only)

In 2018 he scores 247 votes against Senator Foster Ogola’s 2 votes to be the PDP candidate for Bayelsa West Senatorial District and on February 25 2019, he was declared winner by Inec defeating Mathew Karimo of APC.

Ovie Omo-agege: Ovie Omo agege needs no further introduction, he is the APC candidate representing Delta Central senatorial seat, He defeated the PDP's candidate Mrs Evelyn Oboro in the just concluded 2019 general elections.

Hmmm... Interesting! Had no idea there were Urhobos anywhere outside Delta state.

lahizak:
Call me wailer, in fact call me any name you want but God knows I was really anticipating and hoping for Atiku/Obi victory. Not because I care for them but i sincerely believed they would have brought change to this country. As a graduate from a prestigious university with good grade and still searching for job all to no avail for a while now, I believed my support is justified. Atiku and Obi actually provide me with a glimpse of hope but as I woke up this morning, I realised that that very little glimpse of hope has been shattered by Buhari win. And I'm sure a lot of unemployed graduate out there can relate and the most painful part is that our fate was sealed by uneducated northern people paid 500 naira and aided by massive rigging. Maybe I'm a wailer or maybe I'm a realist but at this moment only God can help us now
Modified - this does not mean to say I believe there are no jobs or we wont get job under this administration, we will. I just meant that I personally sincerely believe that Atiku regime would have brought more job opportunities

A fact is that there are very few job opportunities in Nigeria, and Atiku-Obi could not have changed that overnight, neither can PMB. As bad as the unemployment situation is in Nigeria, it got much much worse in the last 4 years and of course, a simplistic interpretation of that situation is that PMB was responsible for the job lossed and inability to create jobs. Yes that's true, PMB is poor upstairs and his ineptitude meant that a bad situation not only lasted long, but was also made worse. But you can and should not overlook the fact that due to Nigeria's bad economic structure vis a vis overdependence on oil, the primary factor which led to the economic downturn in the last 4 years was the severe oil price drop; Atiku or Obi or even an Obama couldnt have prevented that recession, let alone a buhari.

On the bright side, you need to look forward, having in mind that that oil price driven recession is now over and in the past. Things have now stabilised and just about every economic index has been picking up since late 2017; and even though slow, will continue to rise going forward.

Also, certain silent policies and infrastructural projects which can better the economy are currently in progress and their effects would only be felt in the coming years, an example is the dangote refinery, some of these railways, the upgrade in transmission systems and power infrastructure like the mambilla dam (which might take forever though). Now isnt really the time to dream about how Nigeria would have become Dubai overnight courtesy of an Atiku magic, that's a false dream. Now is the time to dust up your CV, wipe the dirt up your shoulders and be prepared to swiftly grab any great opportunities that lie ahead as they come. Like the person above me said, you need to seriously work on your current mindset, there are still lots of opportunities in this Nigeria and with the recession out of the way, even more and more opportunities keep pouring in. But you need a change of mindset.

Donmedra:
Next level of poverty loading

You think the last four years was bad? Just wait even Mali and Sudan will start deporting us.

The economic shock due to oil price drop was the primary reason behind the economic downturn in the last 4 years; that fact cannot be overemphasised. In the next four years, even if things may not be as great as they can be expected to be if we had a sound leader, a fact is that the downturn of the last 4 years (specifically from mid 2015 to mid 2017) cannot reoccur, except of course our boys in the jungle go all out to blast out all oil installations and pipelines. Since late 2017 to date, things have normalised and several economic indices are moving upwards (albeit very slowly but steady).

omonaijiria:
B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!!
Nigeria's Presidential Election 2019. Full Results. - Hope For Nigeria.
APC ----------------12,275,296
PDP ----------------14,442,550

As Collated by Local Observers, CSOs and Agents At Polling Units and Ward Levels Across the Country.
INEC have exactly these same figures and we are advising them to make their system available to Independent Experts to collaborate the above. Are you still wondering why the waited for days to release the results?

GOD BLESS NIGERIA. - Hope For Nigeria

https://www.facebook.com/hopefornigeria/posts/2257802957611147

Final election results in 2015 were also fully announced only on Wednesday 1st April in 2015, four days after the main election... Going by the above logic, INEC in 2015 under PDP also delayed results and cheated in favour of APC.

iClef:
We all know the majority of Nigerians are angry with Buhari and he'll lose. Infortunately, there is something called rigging. This is to say, even if Buhari loses, the system will be manipulated and he will be declared the winner.

Sadly, he is deadly and there is nothing you can do about it. If you cough, you'll be jailed or killed.

If you ask me, Nigeria truly deserve a wicked leader. What we did to Jonathan, we'll suffer it for 8 years.

So, if you want to survive Buhari's second tenure, START AN ONLINE BUSINESS.

Why? Buhari doesn't have a strong economic team and you can take advantage of this. The Naira will be weak against the dollar. Luckily, your online business will mostly pay you in dollars. When you convert the money to Naira, it will turn to millions.

So, for those that will venture into profitable online businesses, there is nothing to worry about — only those who are unwise will suffer, not you.

Wipe your tears and don't worry, but be happy.

I'M HAPPY!

The Naira cannot fall further, the main factor which hit the Naira in 2015-2017 was the sharp drop in oil prices, conplemented in 2016 by the sharp drop in oil export; all that is in the past now. Also, with the current state of things, the CBN if it wishes can afford to release dollars into the market to even drop the Naira back to N200/$, but it has intentionally been maintained at N360/$ for close to 2 years now just to encourage local production and exports. Only forseeable issue that can cause the Naira to drop is if some folks resume bombing of oil facilities like it happened in 2016.

StarUp:
The way Amaechi folded his hands shows that he is not happy with the turn of events because he knows that win or lose, he may still go down as a result of Reno Omokri's tapes of his words against Buhari...poor boy

Amaechi did not say anything against Buhari; all those tapes were proven to be lies and manipulations which were summarily buried. Funny there are still people who up till now, haven't realised the falsehood in those tapes.

TonyeBarcanista:
I humbly accept

Oko ashawo

helinues:
No state in SE/SS that will delivered 500k+ votes for Pdp.

Well, it happened in 2015. The gap might not hit millions this time, but it will exceed 500k.

helinues:
If 3 states would be involved to produced same margin for Pdp, then it is over

I only just mentioned the 3 states down south where Atiku has his formidable strongholds. 1 of those state can actually cancel that result. E.g. Rivers state almost balanced Kano in 2015 and Delta balanced katsina.

Skengman:
And u think you’ve said something reasonable

If you disagree with what I've said, the reasonable thing to do is to simply agree or disagree, and then drop your point.

Results from Rivers and Delta and Akwa Ibom results will balance this.

Abfinest007:
gej deserves some credit compare to buhari .in 2015 by time on Monday morning inec has already announced d winner but now no state result has been announced

Winner was announced on Wednesday 1st April, 2015; although the final result was only known by all on Tuesday evening just before GEJ called to concede. What kind of memory do some people even have?

Erection confusion

Adagworo:
Keep deceiving yourself. If Buhari is being trashed like this in an APC state what then do you think will be happening in other SE states

Uhmm.. I'm sorry but is this your response actually meant for me?... I said I didnt expect buhari to get this much votes in the heart of Igbo land, apc or no apc. How exactly does that mean I'm deceiving myself?

Actually surprising that Buhari is really getting votes in the south east... At this rate he could get more than 25%

Lere Olayinka = Kemi Olunloyo

989900:

I know you get my drift.
Imagine Mushin, Oshodi, etc.

When we were on the streets burning tires and whatnot in protest against IBB and Abacha, folks in VI, Ikoyi,etc. were either out of the country, or indoors like they live in another country.

I swear! money places one in another world.

Hehehehe... E reach to check abeg.