₦airaland Forum

A40: Things are picking up nicely

Ariza to the Rockets

Gasol to the Bulls

Pierce to the Wizards

Deng potentially to the Heat

And the Rockets are not matching the Mavs offer sheet for Chandler Parsons

Deng to Heat; Lebron to Cavs. basically the 2 teams swapped small forwards with the Heat getting the very light version. New big "3" Bosh, Deng and Wade. Jeez Heat fans are in for a very long season.

DerideGull: It is very unfortunate you have concluded Stella Oduah made the alleged statements.

She approved and authorized the statement. And it's not an allegation; it was put out there to support her ministerial appointment

DerideGull: Would you not agree that only a dullard will conclude that the statement “she immediately stayed back to study for her Masters Degree which she achieved in 1983” meant she stayed back at St. Paul’s College Lawrenceville?

From the context of the paragraph, the statement “she immediately stayed back to study for her Masters Degree which she achieved in 1983” meant she stay back in USA to pursue her masters degree instead of returning to Nigeria.

This statement shows the woman is not credible. In a citation you have to be precise with the facts. (example: B.Sc, St Paul's College and MBA St. Paul College or whichever university)

Making vague statement like this indicates she's hiding material information

eGuerrrilla: To be clear, I have seen enough of these cases in the world of employment to spot deliberate obfuscation from a mile off.



Get the undiscerning reader to accept the veracity of the first claim, which may or may not be true (before proceeding to St. Paul’s College Lawrenceville from 1978-1982, where she bagged her first Degree in Accounting. On completion of her first degree). Then tunnel the second and more important assertion (payload) which you know to be false - so she immediately stayed back to study for her Masters Degree which she achieved in 1983) - while leaving just enough wiggle room to feign complete innocence if found out. Brilliant!

eGuerrilla has an eye for this kind of chicanery.

Spot on. This woman has a knack of been economical with the truth. Reminds me of her "do the needful" phrase. When yawa burst, she can find a way to explain things

With this she can claim the Master degree was not from St Paul's College. So which university in the U.S. did she get the Maters degree? Did she even study for the MBA?

Nets vs Knicks tonight! Originally billed as a marquee match up, now it's the battle of the Atlantic bottom dwellers. TNT picked this one to bring in the ad $, but now those companies will be asking for a refund

who wins this one? Nets just because...

[quote author=A-40]Da phuck? So you mean if the season ended today only 3 teams from the East would be .500 or above? No wonder the Heat have been steadily r@ping the East and coasting to titles! Its a joke how bad these guys are while you have teams in the West over .500 that would miss the playoffs[/quote]joke indeed! 38 wins gets to the playoff and in the miserable Atlantic division, 35 wins can get the top spot and automatic 4th seed. NBA needs to do something

Donlittle: The east just sucks, and nets lost again, told everyone of my friends, this team will do nothing, anyone here still thinks deron williams is a top five point guard?

true things look very bleak for the Nets but are only 2 games behind the Atlantic division leading Boston. And the top team in this pathetic division will be #4 seed in the playoffs. So Nets can still get to playoffs and make some noise. Plenty of games to play

Halloween is the dumbest white tradition. Dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for candy. Seriously? It's just not cool to see black people doing this shitty practice. Only white people enjoy this crap

It's all about store owners pushing more stuff and selling more goods before christmas

Babzilla: BAD MOVE BY THE LAKERS IF U ASK ME
THE BLACK MAMB'S VENOM IS NOT SO POTENT
THEY SHOULD EXPLORE WHAT HE IS WORTH
SHOULD THEY TRADE THEN BUILD FROM THERE
WHATS WITH THE HANGING ON SMH

Lakers are now worth over $1 billion, thanks to his 5 championships and the Kobe brand. So $48 million is chump change considering. Plus this is a great retirement package for a future HOF. They can't trade him cos his got a "no trade clause" in his contract.

Kobe is a true warrior compared to those ring chasing niggas in South Beach.

Polio: I think its high time the head honchos at the New Year Knicks get rid of Mike Woodson!

Terrible start to the season ... Losing is a norm now

FFS, we cant even get shi.t right anywhere

Poor defence, misfiring offence ... Woodson is out of depth and ideas to stop the rot

MSG is a whipping base, away fronts is even worse

My poor knicks, in 16years since i have been supporting them, i have never felt this way!

Well, you guys are back to the dark days of Isiah Thomas. Only good news, this rooster is not filled with drama queens like Marbury, Steven "Franchise" and bloated centers like Eddy Curry.

[quote author=A-40]Who are those that still think the Nets would still make the playoffs please indicate by raising your hands[/quote].

I do. In the horrid East, only the Pacers & Heat are sure to make it. So Nets can creep into 7th or 8th spot; still early days

mister josh: Real estate requires quite a lot of capital oo.

True but you can form a syndicate with 5 - 8 partners to invest in real estate. Only thing is not sure if this can work in Naija.

Boss13: I believe this thread is not about whether Ghana is better than Nigeria but about a President making the right decision irrespective of his personal interest. The concerned lady played a vital role in his election. However, he had to do what he felt right in order to have public confidence.

Peeps we should remember that the woman was only expressing her ambition and yet to actually commit the crime. Yet the govt felt if she could think it, she would achieve it and to the detriment of the public. Another interesting thing is that we don't know if she was actually thinking of saving her salary or gifts from contractors.

In our beloved country, the concerned person will say - enemies of progress are after them and it was actually a set-up. A member of the house of rep. was caught red-handed with bribe and what became the outcome of that case?

Oduah played a huge role in Jonathan's election and I believe that is the sentiment playing in her issue. She still attends Federal executive meetings, she is still performing her role as minister and yet she is under investigation. Won't such person confiscate evidences?

If this issue (Oduah's gate) turns out to be a cold case, it is enough reason for me not to vote for Jonathan in the next election irrespective of whether we have constant power supply or he kills shekau.

I am also ashamed this corruption which has serious repercussions is been admired and hailed by my eastern brothers. We do not know the extent this scandal goes because our journalists are lazy to investigate further.

If NCAA keeps paying interest for a loan that is not use to improve its activities, where will they get the money to make our air space safe. Of course, more planes will drop from the skies and our darling minister will tell us that each accident is an act of God in her brand new armored BMWs.

How can any smart leader appoint a pea brain like this as minister? Ghanaians need to question their President's decision making; though still a notch above our own Jonah


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgeewkLSm88

Ghana PM drop the ball big time on this one o!

Men! see front, see back. I'll ride this "heavyweight" all night and let her chop $2 million from govt

Well I guess its about doing the needful. Sack her in the morning and ride in the night. It's all good

ROSSIKE: MANY Nigerians are managers in top companies across Europe, Canada and the US.

Those nations are more enlightened than backward India, and will make use of talent regardless of skin colour. That a country allows workers from all over the world is a sign of political maturity and plurality, so Nigeria should be praised.

This is simply a political statement not grounded in reality. Yes, Nigerians managers in Europe & North America are very professional. Indian managers in Nigeria on the other hand are just slave drivers. This may be related to the "Caste system" in their country. Dark skin Indians are classified as untouchable and only allowed to do menial jobs or working long hours as slaves on farms. This is India; a very backward feudal society

I guess those Indian managers see Nigerians as untouchables that must be horse whipped to perform their task. I don't blame them since our govt refuse to educate and empower our own people

gny kelly: consider this: 70% of america C.E.O and managers are indians. Why= they flow with the market tide.
Those ones i worked with over here have enough skill to power any economy. But they are here illegaly. Complain of how they maltreat and careless of workers welfare. You can ask NLC and govt official how they are settled when they come for inspection.
Not their fault. They swim with the tide.

Crap! where did you get your own stats. Most CEOs in American companies are either born in there or naturalized citizens

Why are Indians even managing Nigerians in Nigerian companies in the first place? Don't we have competent People managers?

Britons are bosses in their country, Canadians are bosses in their country, Indians are bosses in their country... So why is our own case different?

atlwireles: The rush to judgement crowd, should always learn to allow due process, when dealing with issues like this. Stella did nothing wrong and the attempt to chase her from office has completely failed.

o boy do the needful and park well jor. This your rush to judgement thing na story.

Prof Corruption: "Do the needful" is the funniest phrase ever deployed to defend Madam Oduah!

1. Would NCAA have gone ahead with the deal with only "Do the needful" on the memo? What was needed to execute the deal was an approval by the Minister. Stella Oduah gave that approval. This is not a case of NCAA executing a deal without getting an approval from the Minister. Stella has exonerated the DG of NCAA from any wrong doing, at least up to this point. "Not approved" is clearly different from "approved, do the needful".

2. Does she have powers to give that approval considering the amount involved? Minister's approval limit is N100 million, anything more than that requires approval by the Federal Executive Council. But Stella gave an approval for a deal amounting to N255 million without FEC approval. Obviously, NCAA does not have means or powers to table anything before FEC without going through the Minister of Aviation. So, Stella is still responsible for the approval she gave to NCAA.

3.It beggars belief that a Minister would approve such an amount of money without prior discussions about the deal or without an elaborate briefings on methodology of execution. You can't just approve what has not been examined to your satisfaction. You read, schedule an appointment with subordinates, ask questions (if you are not clear about anything), then approve. If you have doubts about anything, you demand such is fixed before approving the deal. But once you approved, it means you are happy with everything.

So key questions answered.
1.Stella Oduah approved the deal
2.The approval was beyond her stipulated limit.
That's clearly an abuse of office.

This investigation has also exposed Maduka as a shady business man. He lied to both Ministry of Finance and NSA on a matter that ordinarily should be straight forward. Lagos did not order armored vehicles, Ministry of Finance did not and could not approve waiver for NCAA because it did not even submit any application to that effect. Ditto for NSA. But here we are NCAA have armored cars with fraudulent NSA clearance, all thanks to Crook-Mas Maduka. That's not all. The cars supplied have different chassis number to ones quoted on invoices, which speaks volume of the extent of desperation to cover up the obvious. Hear Okonjo Iweala here:

http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=3301&title=%E2%80%98Oduahgate%E2%80%99:-Okonjo-Iweala-clears-the-air,-says-no-duty-waiver-granted-for-armoured-cars&scid=15
So, the importation and subsequent clearance of these cars did not follow laid down procedure. Maduka has more explanation to do.

That's not all. Read this:



Now to the bank angle:
While first bank called it a loan, NCAA called a mere understanding, yet millions of naira have already been expended.
Read this:

And the minister approved all these without questioning. Approved just do the needful! Stella is a big thief.
http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/10/coscharis-sold-used-bulletproof-cars-to-ncaa-reps-allege/

So, if NASS did not approve the purchase, what do we call it? Extra-budgetary spending!

Put everything together:
****. Stella approved an extra budgetary spending to the tune of N255 million which is clearly above her legal approval limit. If that's not an abuse of office, I don't know what it is.

I expect a report from NASS that indicts Stella Oduah and Maduka.

Case closed. I also expect NASS to recommend immediate removal

Incompetent or willfully blind Either way she's no longer fit to be a Minister. Do the Needful A new phrase for corruption. She knew that deal stinks but kickback was there for the taking. So she "Approved" and put "Do the Needful" to cover her ar&se in case the deal is probed in future.

[quote author=prof.femi]Yes, did you see where I said "I can understand now why most ASUU members view students with contempt". Despite your best intentions, some people say just enough to change your view about them. As Burke said, "there is a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue". Yes, I am a lecturer both in and out of the class, and I try to educate anyone who desires an education. But when someone speaks so ill of something I hold dear, I will state things exactly the way I see them.

At the end of your post, you hinted an acceptance of the fact that students or FG, *someone* always pays dearly for education. In your estimation, is that happening in Nigeria? If it is not, can you suggest an easier way to make it happen than what ASUU is doing?[/quote]Agreed but how do we ensure the poor are not denied access to education? I'm sure an average student forks out over N200,000 for fees, feeding and accommodation per year (N800,000 in 4 yrs).

ASUU can propose a "school fee exemption grant" for low income earners; closely linked to student performance. So students that do not score good grades will start paying fees the following year. Given the income levels in Nigeria, up to 65% of students will qualify. I'm sure Nigeria can fund this.

[quote author=prof.femi]After spending close to 100 hours fielding questions on the ASUU strike last week on this same Nairaland, I had decided to just face my work and go through the various threads on the strike in stealth mode to pa ironu re. However, your post was so strongly-worded and ignorant that I had to decloak immediately to speak to it.

My dear young man, I lecture in that same OAU you are mouthing about. No be your fault. I wish you had attended some other universities in Nigeria; then perhaps you would have valued what you have here more. Elede o meye.

Your angry rant is fueled primarily by simple ignorance of the fact that by paying less than N100,000 for an education worth at least N1 million, students are a primary cause of the reason why the FG spends so much on tertiary education. Yes, the fight we are taking to FG to raise money may yet come back to haunt you guys. Have you ever paused your rant to ask yourself why ASUU doesn't just call off and let the government jerk up school fees? Believe me, if it were in my power, I would have made us do this long ago. Then you would stop accusing us of being selfish old men because you would be too busy working your guts out to raise the money for your education. The truth of the matter must be said: nobody in Nigeria wants to pay for anything. That is why a student like you is being given education that others mortgage their futures to get in the US, and you can still be ranting.

Did you see where someone obviously better than you suggested that a PG education somewhere abroad costs N5 million? Yet, you are mouthing off that OAU had the guts to collect N20,000 from you. You want ASUU to fight so you wont pay even that.

Since you say you are in OAU, I challenge you to say the university has NOT improved over the last 10 years. Do you even have any idea why that is so

I can understand now why most ASUU members view students with contempt; they lack the capacity for simply comprehension, preferring to raise hell.

This country is probably doomed, and I'm not thinking about GEJ or ASUU when I say that; I am looking at *you*.[/quote]Perhaps you should have kept quite. Coming from a lecturer, this response was so inappropriate. You should have simply enlightened him, presented the facts and move on. Addressing a student with such contempt is very unethical

The huge amount quoted (in bold) applies only to foreign students. In Canada for instance, citizens pay far less than foreign students. In addition low income students or those whose parents' income fall below a threshold receive student loans and grant (ranging from $9,000 - $23,000 per year). Only 30 % of loans are repayable after completion of studies.

So in effect, university education is subsidized for low income earners. Sadly, Nigerian student do not get this kind of help from government.

bookface: Between May and September this year, emerging markets stocks fell by close to 20%, do you know why? Because the US Federal reserve threatened to shut the printing press!! -

Brazil, Russia, and India all had a crash in their currencies - see charts below (for russia, india and brazil)! China didn't because it's pegged against the dollar, but the effect set back china's growth (see chart below for China). It's simple - if the US shuts the printing press, funds will flow out of Emerging Markets back into the dollars! In September when the fed promised to keep printing money, the emerging market currencies rallied again from their record lows.

Emerging Markets actually need the US to keep printing money, else the IMF forecasted that several emerging markets could fall straight off into recession - particularly for countries like Russia and India. - These countries depend on foreign fund flows to keep their economies strong.

Additionally, printing money does not really increase your debt. With a debt that huge, the US will never pay it back! It can only do two things - either default on it, or inflate it away. The US is never going to default (or so it's assumed) so it's eventually likely to inflate it all away.

Finally you should know that most of US debt is owed to the US government itself. The US Federal reserve holds roughly 16% - so effectively the Federal reserve lends money to the treasury and the treasury pays interest to the federal reserve.....

I concur with this great analysis. Even with the threat of downgrad by the Credit rating agencies, countries continue to invest in US Treasury bills

People really overestimate the Chinese economy. China is just a manufacturing hub for the ever growing US consumers. Finito.

cap28: The handwriting is on the wall for the US dollar, it is now in its final death throes, no amount of printing of money by the Federal Reserve will save the US dollar from its imminent crash.

Nigeria is not the only country that is trying to dump the dollar, there are many other countries doing that behind the scenes and I can only imagine the level of panic going on now with the US govt.

This is definitely a good move by Nigeria and it indicates that many other country may already be doing the same thing.

For those who keep sayign that the crash of the US dollar will pull down the Remnimbi with it please be aware that China is currently trading with other far east asian countries, the EU , Australia and many african countries using its own currency , therefore its loss of the US market will not be as detrimental as many think,.

Many keep talking about how the Remnimbi is manipulated by the Chinese - so ? isnt the US dollar manipulated by the Federal Reserve? Why does the Federal Reserve keep printing money in order to assist the US govt in paying its bills - is it normal for a country that spends more than it earns to print money in order to pay its debts - is that not a form of currency manipulation and anyway the Chinese do not manipulate their currency they simply peg its exchange rate to the dollar in order to keept its exports cheap and affordable for its export market.
Which is worse? - printing your currency because you dont earn enough money thereby artificially inflating the value of your currency or keeping the true value of your currency low in order to increase exports of your products?

This situation was predicted about 2 years ago by many leading US economists and it is happening just the way they said it would.

Why should China and the rest of the world continue to trade with a country that purchases most of its imports on credit ? The US has been cheating the world and growing fat off the sweat of other countries of the world simply because the dollar is the world reserve currency and that is now going to be brought to an abrupt end.

The US is just going to have to learn to cut its coat according to its cloth, you cant keep buying things on credit and expect the world to keep you afloat, the US is simply not earning enough to keep up with its ridiculous spending sprees and now many of its creditors are finally coming to their senses and they are saying hey, enough is enough, if you dont earn enough then we are going to cancel your credit card until you learn to conduct your affairs like a responsible adult.

It will be interesting to see how the US reacts to Nigeria's move - i forsee extreme hostility on the part of the US govt.

You conveniently ignored two key points in your analysis:

Firstly, Chinese exports over $450 billion worth of goods to the US every year. Which other market in Asia can absorb potential loss for China should the US currency collapse?

Secondly, China holds $1.1 trillion in US treasury bonds because they are confident the US will always meet its debt obligation. Besides, where else can they park their increasing export revenue?

So China will do anything (including praying) that the US dollar does not fall relative to Rhimbibi. Yet, our too-clever-by-half theory only CBN economist are betting that dollar will collapse.

A collapse in dollar will send world economy into a tailspin. FACT

According to Aregbeshola, if Osun State had benefitted from the scheme, his administration would not have spent about N1bn on fertiliser purchase for the farmers.

Why is he spending such a huge amount on fertilizer? To fertilize cassava and maize? really? That figure is ridiculously high. He needs to check with his Agric commissioner to ensure funds aren't been diverted (stolen, misappropriated) for other things

plasgidy: my dear, i did'nt say we ar'nt corrupt but corruption is corruption and i did say most things the observed about nijar if fact but in his country corruption is obvious as well. My friend i live and work with this ppl i know them very well, why are we called third world is all this things we will get there nigeria is fifity yers old while britain is over. 400 yers old its a very big gap ok..

You assume we'll catch up with the Brits or Americans. We may not if the level of corruption remains unabated. You think those countries are slowing down?

For instance capacity utilization rate in those economies is near 80% and Nigeria is less than 50%. Why? corruption is dragging us down.

First thing first; disinfect the corrupt Nigerian society, than maybe we can aspire to catch them

plasgidy: Most things this guy abserved about nigeria is truth, however corruption is corruption when ever where ever, in uk his country there is corruption serious one's as well their mps are claiming thousands of pounds in expensis and accomodations which never existed.

Years back when i was working with js sainsburys there was a manager his position was very high this guys was rocking some serious deals such as saleing company vehicle i mean brand new truck heads and trailers of plasma tvs and he will simply declear them as missing stocks, this deals went on for years b4 he was ask to resighn.

Their are so many things like this in uk but vnnnntime. Not let state all, what shop lifting

Seriously? you're comparing a British MP who inflated his expense account to corruption in Nigeria?

Dude, corruption has infested every facet of Nigeria, the country is almost grinding to a halt. From young to old every Nigerian is feeling the harrowing effects of this uniquely Nigerian corruption Fact: A British citizen is living a far superior quality of life than an average Nigerian.

vanitty: Crap, please take religion out of this. Useless government we have.

Any time there is a football match, concert or whatever happening lets say for example at Wembley park or race or whatever they dream up, the TFL takes responsibility and ensure there are plans put in place.
Will you tell Rihanna, Chelsea or whoever to arrange alternative transport for their fans!

That is why Nigeria is in that mess it is, the responsibilities should be put FIRMLY where it belongs. The Government. No two ways about it.

The government knows without fail, that there is always problem on that road every first Friday. WHAT HAVE THEY DONE ABOUT IT?
The road and ensuring the safety of it, is the TOTAL responsibility of the state, afterall the drivers on the said roads are her citizens, even if they don't pay road tax, the stupid amount of money collected by the same government (police) says something!

The organisations are already there, they paid for that rights, They are not "renting" so can't be chased away like KICC and the likes. They may be their forever and a day!

Any solution offered by any organisation on that expressway that paid for the right to be there is totally out of goodwill.

Great talk bro! The Ogere trailer park is also fast becoming a nightmare for motorist on that same expressway. I've spent up to 1 hour in traffic in that place. Lack of enforcement is so apparent there.

Again, result of lack of planning and vision by elected leaders. A dual carriageway called expressway. How many billions has been budgeted to expand that expressway? We're just hearing billions of naira but pothole keep expanding. Don't they know that with population increasing and more usage expanding the road is top priority.

AjanleKoko: How can you say churches are not to blame?

Why did govt give permission to build those massive churches close to the only expressway out of Lagos?

Churches are not to blame. Nigeria is in the throes of a massive population explosion, but we refuse to plan to accommodate this. Now this is just one of the results.

There's intense pressure on infrastructure: roads, hospitals, market etc. When the expressway opened 29 yrs ago, our population was 64 million. Today it's 160 million and projected to reach 200 million in 10 yrs

Only mass transit and coordinated environmental planning (local, state & federal govt) can solve the problem. Political leaders know this, but can't see beyond the next election cycle to come up with long term solutions. Our leaders just "kick the can down the hill" and let the next President or Governor deal with the headache. Churches can only do short term fixes and beside they don't have legal authority to enforce regulations.

Gbawe: You are insulting Nigerian leaders based on your own misunderstanding of what is reported here. These brilliant students gained admission abroad themselves and appealed to Fayemi for help. He has chosen to help some of them. This is commendable as a stand-alone act of philanthropy.

I don't see why Fayemi, for a private act of charity, should now be insulted and held responsible for all that is wrong with Nigeria. The point is that those who have the means should be encouraged to do more through charitable actions. No one is excusing the rot in the education sector or denying that we need to work towards hosting world-class institution of learning but those issues are not intrinsically related to this act of philanthropy from Fayemi.

Charity huh? Fayemi is the chief executive of Ekiti not a private citizen. Any charitable act by him should be focused on uplifting all students of Ekiti state, not just a few regardless of the selection criteria. He must be seen to have the best interest of all at heart. As a governor, it's a thin line between private charity and public act.

It smacks too much of "show and tell", regardless of his intention

Besides why give scholarship to study law or engineering abroad? These courses are offered in most Nigerian universities. Nigeria already has too many lawyers. Why not select students that want to pursue rare and life changing scientific cousres such as Neuro physics, molecular biology etc. We need more scientist not barristers

Krasid: You see,Nigeria is not the only age cheating country in the world.Almost all countries cheat in football.

Agree but we do it so regularly. They resort to juju and intense prayer so they don't get caught. A Nigerian U-17 or U-20 is never complete without couple of over age players.

olumidazz: When did citizenship in nigeria become such a problem that senate are thinking of amending, how many people from other places have taking up nigerian citizenship, our citizenship instead is being renounced day in day out, it is assumed every black person on earth is a nigerian so our senate should stop fooling themselves.

I guess only people outside the country. But if you renounce citizenship and live in Nigeria, then you become illegal and immigration can deport you. But to where? Trust Nigerian immigration, they'll just throw you to Seme border