₦airaland Forum

NTA is a disgraced! Sad too that AIT is following in her foot steps. Silver bird is even worse- they are boot lickers! Thier overwhemling pro-PDP stance all in the name of getting government patronage stinks. Ben Bruce stinky romance PDP has rub the shine of Stv perviously unbaised news reportage. In Lagos they are pro-ACN, rest of Nigeria they are Pro- PDP. Has any one notice the delibrate and calculated attempt by Stv to project a failed governor like Gov Orji of Abia state when even the baby in the womb knows that wit is dummy who in a real democracy can not be a clerk talkless of being a governor!

fstranger3:
That said, their bests are prolly better than ours

I would assume you have not worked with most Indians, hence the reason you made that comment! The only area I would agree with you on that statement is the area of IT.

The good thing for them is their government has a full grasp of massive problem hence the reason they entered into agreement with EU on easy recruitment of Indians by EU companies and in return India will provide substantial access of EU goods into remote India will also reducing tariff on such goods. This agreement will come into force later this year and I feel so sorry for the whinging brits 'cos these"half baked" India graduates will just over run them in the UK labour market!

I guess what all this point to is the fact that we really need to vote for a strong, purposeful and visionary leadership in this election! Otherwise, will the US be thinking of giving the Russians NAVAL training talkless of carrying out such during a crucial period like unbecoming election.

If anything, use your vote wisely and vote for true leadership - President, Senators, Reps. House of Assembly and Governors! We need people who will take Nigeria to the Next level not empty talkers!

My take on this is: WHY DID EITHER THE US OR NIGERIAN NAVY NOT SEE IT FIT THAT HAVING THIS SHIP ON OUR SHORES AT THIS TIME IS A VERY WRONG TIMING?

To those who talk about conspiracy theory- We (Nigerians) have every right to worry and show concern when an oil hungry power house like the US is lurking at our doors at a time when there is uncertainty about our elections! Beside, I do not trust the US NAVY when it comes to training! If it were the US Air-Force, then no qualms.

homerac7:
Too many ignorant posts in reply to adrenaline sparked senseless conspiracy theorist post.

It doesnt take much education to know dt its an usual naval tradition all over d world to visit friendly countries. A little "googling" will show u how many nations had their navies visit just last year alone. D fact dt d US dispatched a mere frigate shows a relegated naval priority on us as a nation. A "bigger" nation would hav had a cruiser or destroyer visit. Normally, d pride of d visiting navy is on display. Such visits are usually marked wt a lot of activities as joint execise, partying and side shows.

It is a dull reasoning to think dt d US navy wld need to send a mere frigate for intelligience gathering in Nigeria. They hav numerous sattelites to do dt and if it must be by a vessel, dey hav d most sophisticated mapping and under-water intelligiece submarines.

Its a duller opinion to question d quoted number of personel aboard a frigate ship. How many personels/men do u think man a frigate optimally? Do u think a frigate is a canoe or keke-marwa? Then what would u do if an Enterprise class air-craft carrier is on visit? The sheer number of abt 5000 sailors on it wld make get a heart attack. Not mentioning is when a battle group sits or passes around your territorial water wt abt 10,000 sailing personel.

Lastly, d poster's gross display of ignorance is shown when he declared Britain as d naval prime superpower. Does he think we r ind days of Admiral Nelson in d battle of Traffalgar? Guy, wake up to d US extra-ordinary naval superiority. D UK cant even match d aged Russian Navy, while u r there wanking away at some figments of sick imagination.

Dude you are obviously not in tune with reality! US is never and has never been a NAVAL power house! Instead the US uses her NAVAL platform for her aerial assalt! In sharp constrast, the UK is a NAVAL Power house, hence the reason the UK as of today has the most sophisticated NAVAL platform in the world costing we the tax payer a whooping £3.6bn eacg! Go and research about the Bae systems project for the UK Navy!

I was shocked at the level of support for Buhari at the polls last saturday! I thought most people in the South-South were for GEJ but in the Polling unit I registered, quite a substantial number were for Buhari!


SERIOUSLY, WITH A GOVERNMENT THAT FAILED TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE, IS THAT NOT ENOUGH TO SEND THAT GOVERNMENT PACKING? 6-MONTHS, JONATHAN HAS BEEN PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK WITH THE COUNTRY ON THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE AND HE COULD NOT STAND IT UP TO THE GOVERNORS WHO ARE HELL BENT ON NOT PAYING THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE!

'M SRRY THIS GEJ IS UNFIT FOR THE PRESIDENCY!, GOD HELP NIGERIA.

[quote author=efe_osazee link=topic=638977.msg8064373#msg8064373 date=1302092326]Its so shocking that Edo was totally given to GEJ, no doubt is a good man but using a wrong platform from an Edolite point view, Edo people hate PDP, so he really stand no chance.[/quote]Thank you for pointing this out to those blind GEJ supporters! EDO is ACN and with the composition of EDO, EDO NORTH will most likely vote CPC, hence the reason Buhari went straight to Auchi after his town hall meting in Benin.

Oh , how I miss his maps. , could he be busy planning how to cut EDO, DELTA and the whole of Yoruba to join Benin Republic?

cdoffx:
Lets hope it not more than training and not some sort of covert intelligence services based on some present situation

Exactly my first thoughts! And I am sure my suspicion is correct. With that large a number on board, expect that 10% are there for covert operations and shame Nigeria's counter-covert operations (CCO) is either zero or nonexistence. If I may ask, must we learn everything from the outside world? why can't we look inwards and be creative and innovative? Who taught the Americans what we are now seeking to learn from them? Who is teaching the Russians, Chinese and Brazillians how to go about their techy and counter intelligence stuff?

NIGERIA! You must wake up to the realities of this century- YOU HAVE NO TRUE FRIEND IN THE WORLD. Ask Ghadafhi of Libya!

I find it difficult to believe or accept that a US warship with this number of personnel would be visiting Nigeria at this sensitive time! If I may ask, what is with the recent US Navy presence in Nigeria controlled waters? If at all we need to enhance our Naval capability, I thought the British were top notch when it comes to Naval assault and policing and the US only use the waters as a platform for thier aerial assault which the US is well known for?

I smell an information gathering exercise and remote sensing activity by the US. There is more than meet the eyes in this so called exercise! NIGERIA SHINE YOUR EYES!!

US war ship arrives Nigeria
By PHILIP NWOSU
Wednesday, April 06, 2011


More Stories on This Section
The Nigerian Navy said it has deployed three of its Cat class vessels to further protect Nigeria’s strategic interest at the Gulf of Guinea.
The deployment came just as a United States combat ship, the USS Robert G. Bradley, arrived Nigeria with 205 officers and men of the United States Navy.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, said the vessel with its crew of 15 officers and 190 men, would be spending 10 days in Lagos.
The FOC said that the NNS Nwamba, Obula and Kyanwa were deployed to the Gulf of Guinea before the botched elections to protect Nigeria’s strategic interest in the area.

He said the US war ship, while in Nigeria, will embark on a military exercise with the Nigerian Navy to see the areas of weakness and strength of both naval forces.
USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49), is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate and attached to the United States Navy.

It is named after Lieutenant Robert G. Bradley who was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroism on USS Princeton (CVL-23) during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Robert G. Bradley’s keel was laid down by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, on 28 December 1982. She was launched 13 August 1983; commissioned 30 June 1984. Ship is homeported in Mayport, Florida.
Daily Sun learnt that the vessel was attached to the African Partnership Station (APS), which was an international initiative developed by United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa. It works in cooperation with the U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security in Africa as part of US Africa Command’s Security Cooperation programme.

A Statement from the vessel’s information unit said sailors aboard Bradley would conduct maritime training, participate in military-to-military sporting events, and host community relations projects during their port visit.
The state said the “programme helps strengthen our relationships with our African partners and allow us to interact with host nation’s civilians and military,” said Chief Logistics Specialist Ed Lafond, Programme coordinator aboard Robert G. Bradley. “For some of the Sailors this is the first time for them to interact with the host nation civilians and is an opportunity for them to have a good time helping others and see sights other than what they would see on a tour.”

APS training conducted with the Nigerian Navy It said will cover areas in visit, board, search and seizure team operations; search and rescue planning; damage control and signals familiarization. These areas of training were selected with the assistance of Nigerian officials to better enhance maritime safety and security along the coast of West and Central Africa.


SOURCE: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/apr/06/national-06-04-2011-08.htm

NTA turns down Shekarau TV commercial
Wednesday, April 06, 2011


More Stories on This Section
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has turned down a paid television commercial featuring Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and Kano State Governor.

The commercial, produced by the Shekarau for Nigeria Campaign Organisation (SfN), is adapted from the NN24 presidential debate, where Mallam Shekarau was deemed to have performed excellently. It contained the candidate’s closing remarks where he detailed his famous “Six Characteristics of Good Governance.”

Shekarau had said at that debate: “Every Nigerian aspires to have good governance. There are six globally-accepted standards of good governance, which are agreed upon even by the World Bank and the United Nations. Number one: Voice and accountability; Number two: Political stability; Number three: Effectiveness in governance; Number four: Regulatory control; Number five: Rule of law; and Number six: Control of corruption.”

“So, if you want good governance, my advice to you is, look at these characteristics, who among the candidates considering his past and antecedents can guarantee the satisfaction of these six standards of good governance, whoever it is between you and your Almighty God, vote for him.”
When the Shekarau Campaign Organisation first approached NTA to air the commercial two weeks ago, the television station cited copyright issues and asked the organisation to seek a no objection from NN24 as the original producers. The organisation approached NN24, issued a no objection for the SfN to use the debate or its component parts on other media.

However, when SfN again approached NTA with the commercial on Monday, the NTA again turned it down. This time, they suggested to the Shekarau campaign organisation to arrange opportunity for NTA cameramen to visit and record Mallam Shekarau themselves, which the SfN rejected.
“The SfN feels very strongly that NTA’s attitude negates all principles of fair play and is clearly aimed at denying an opposition candidate equal rights to its airwaves, despite paying for same,” it said.
This is against all the rules of the game set by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which the SfN is approaching for redress.

Meanwhile, Mallam’s “Six Characteristics of Good Governance” is running in the daily newspapers, and shall soon hit other, non-NTA, television stations across the country.
Dr. Muhammad Sani Bello
Director General

SOURCE:http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/apr/06/national-06-04-2011-07.htm

With very small budget, I think BB2011 ran a very well structured campaign so far. You do not need all those carnival like campaign to win an election. Get the people at the grassroot to hear your message, ram it home wth your foot soldiers and see what happens at the polling unit! This is what has made BB2011 campaign more effective so far- Thier foot soldiers!

With very small budget, I think BB2011

The fact is "true" Nigerians know in their hearts that GEJ can not fight corruption as He is part and parcel of the corrupt PDP. Hence the reason for Buhari to come in. Only ethnic bigots would insist on GEJ simply because He is from the South. If in 9 months a leader can not articulate His vision and mission statement for his country, then that leader is incompetent. Buhari came, made bold his mission statement: Rid Nigeria of Corruption and He has stuck to his guns.

Question: What is GEJ's mission statement? (Forget about the "I have no shoes to wear" tori tori).

I spent hours watching and listening to GEJ's campaign all over the country and I was shocked at His campaign. For example during his campaign in Edo state, He could not articulate which of the Federal projects (on going or abandoned) He would complete or revive. I was also shocked when He said there was no money to fully dualized the BENIN-LAGOS express way hence the reason they are doing patch work all over! All I heard was ramblings from cribs sheets of I will give you light, water and good roads with no empahsis on where they will be sited! Same goes for his campaign in Kebbi if I can recall where He said He would put FG university in every state of the country!! So strange a policy statement

PDP 12YEARS HAS MISMANAGED OVER 30TRILLION NAIRA (AND STILL COUNTING). HOWEVER, I THINK WE SOUTHERNERS KEEP ALLOWING OUR SELF TO BE DECEIVED BY THIS 38YEARS OF NOTHERN RULERSHIP WHEN INFACT WE HAD AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY IN GOVERMENT AS DID THE NOTHERNERS BUT OUR INDIVIDUAL SELFISH (AS OPPOSED TO THE NORTH'S COLLECTIVE SELFISH) MENT WE ENDED UP ON THE LOOSING SIDE.

GO BACK IN HISTORY AND YOU WILL FIND THAT IN EVERY MILITARY RULERSHIP, THERE WERE EFFECTIVE SOUTHERNERS IN THE CORE DECISION MAKING BODY OF THAT GOVERNMENT (E.G. WHO WAS THE VP TO IBB, ABACHA?)BUT THEY NEVER HAD THE COLLECTIVE INTEREST OF THE SOUTH AT HEART BUT ONLY ENDED UP ENRICHING THEIR OWN POCKETS! SAME IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THIS SO CALLED DEMOCRACY. GO AND CHECK FOR YOURSELF, THE NORTH HAS HAD MORE DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS SINCE 1999 WHEN COMPARED TO THE SOUTH EVEN WITHOUT THEM BEING IN THE PRESIDENCY! TELLS YOU MORE ABOUT WE SOUTHERNERS THAN WHAT SOME SOUTHERN ETHNIC BIGOTS MAKE BELIEVE.

melidee:
Why would someone ask such a question if you know Nigerians then you will know that no1 they do not like to be challenged no 2 They would like you to believe that they are good all good no3 that they are no1 in the world and no4 They do not like hearing the truth cause they never want to change for bettermen

You may be right in your own perspective but that doesn't mean you are right! While I agree with much of what you have said, perhaps much of what you typed (Nos 1-3) is typical of the "English" mind you I said "English" and not "British". Yes No.4 seems obvious: Nigerians 'seems' to despise the truth at their own peril.

Still your afore submission in my own opinion is not enough to sum up a population of 150million and still counting as being selfish as the original poster opined.

ALWAYS WAIT TO HAVE BOTH SIDES OF A STORY BEFORE YOU CONCLUDE! READ THE ARTICLE/NEWINFORMATIAL FOR WHAT IT IS AND HOPE TO GET THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY BEFORE YOU SUM UP.

"to be ashamed is not to be shamed"

A member of the National Youth Service Corps (name withheld), on Tuesday accused the Alowa of Ilowa, Oba Bukola Alli, of raping her in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Friday, March 25, 2011.



She alleged that the monarch raped her without using a condom.



The corps member, who was at a press conference with the state Director of NYSC, Mr. Etim Enyenihi, at the NYSC secretariat, Osogbo, refused to talk to journalists but narrated her experience in a statement written in long hand.



The lady said she got acquainted with the monarch, who is in his 50s, during the last voters’ registration exercise in Ilowa, a community near Ilesa.



She said, “I was coming back from my place of primary assignment, which is a school, when the monarch pulled up by my side. He was in company with a boy, who I mistook for his son. He told me to join them.



“We got to Ilowa, where he told me that he wanted me to be the computer facilitator of a computer programme he was planning for the community – that was after telling him I am computer literate.



“We drew a plan on the format of the form and registration of pupils. The programme was subsequently announced in Ilowa schools and throughout the community.



“On Friday, March 25, 2011, I came to the computer centre and found some pupils and some community members seated. I introduced the programme to them and gave them forms, which I later collected from them. After all was done, I dismissed the pupils and told the oba that I wanted to leave.”



The corps member said the Alowa “proffered to drop me off but on getting to the place of my primary assignment, he sped past, telling me that we have to go to Osogbo together so that I could enter names of the pupils into the computer in Osogbo, adding that we also had some other issues to discuss.”



According to the 23-year-old lady, “Before we got to Osogbo, he said there was something he wanted to show me at Osun Grove. We toured the place together and left for his Osogbo residence.”



She said the monarch’s housemaid served her orange juice and food, which she initially turned down because it was getting late but later accepted when the Alowa promised to drop her off at her place of primary assignment in Ilowa.



She added, “He had a visitor, who later left, and I told him I wanted to leave too. He said he would not allow me risk travelling late and that I should pass the night at his residence. He went inside and pulled off his shirt, came back to the room, and started caressing me. I got up and excused myself.



“He said he must have his way with me or I should kill him, stressing that I made a fool of him for a long time by turning down all his offers. Prior to this, he had offered to take me out for shopping and also to take me on a trip to Ghana, which I declined.”



She said the monarch followed her everywhere inside his residence, eventually leading her into a room and “immediately pulled his trousers and started forcing at my underpants and clothes. When I was nude, I pleaded with him but he threatened to soak my clothes in water.”



The lady said that at a point the monarch left her in the room having been frustrated by her resistance, giving her the opportunity to lock herself inside the room.



“He later came back banging at the door, trying to force it open. I saw my phone on his bed and I sent a text to my pastor and our Corps Liaison Officer, asking them to call the police,” she said.



The lady said the monarch asked her to pass the key to him through a little opening on top of the door, threatening that “if he should break open the door, the worst is going to happen to me. He said he was going to show me his mad side.



“When he got in, he said I was mad and that I should go to the room, where he had stripped me naked. I pleaded that I was naked but he said I should go there, promising that he will not touch me. When I went there, I was kneeling down, crying and pleading with him but he laid on me forcefully. When I screamed, he said nobody will hear me. When he was done, he went into his room, had his bath and dressed up. I told him to go and drop me.



“He dropped me off and on getting home, I called the Corps Liaison Officer and the local government Inspector, who took me to the police station in Obokun, where I narrated the incident.”



Enyenihi , who later fielded questions from the journalists, said the Director General of the NYSC, Brig.- Gen. Ismaila Tsiga, has urged the police to investigate and prosecute the monarch.



The monarch declined to comment when contacted by our correspondent.



The Head, Criminal Investigation Bureau, in the command, Mr. Gbola Adeyemi, said investigations into the case had commenced.



Adeyemi, who spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, said, “The case is already in court. We have arraigned him at the magistrate’s court already,” adding that the monarch was arrested and detained before he was arraigned in court.


Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201104064391870

Sorry no amount of whitemail or blackmail will make me change my mind! I gave Jonny the day builder 9months to provide me a road map for progress and all i got was " I had no shoes to wear, to pants, and I had to trekk to school on bare foot" as if that is what will move Nigeria forward!

Now my mnd is made up, I AM VOTING BB4CHANGE COME PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. GEJ IS CHANGE WE HOPE, BUT BUHARI IS CHANGE WE KNOW AND CAN WALK WITH!


SIGNED, BUHARI CONVERT JANUARY 2011.

kenny33:
pls can anyone explaìn more what an administrative review means, cos they say i dont have a full right of appeal and as to do an administrative reveiw and also that the administrative review will have to be send to the EC0S but there the EC0 did not leave his address in my letter

Your "Notice of Refusal" should contain the postal details of the Entry post that considered your application and you should forward your administrative review request to the same address.

The chances are that your Administrative Review will return same result as your initial refusal! Usually the case with BHC, Abuja. What was the mistake you made in your application that led to their refusal and subsequent claim of 10years ban? You may just be able to get it upturn in a Judicial Review application - Mind you I said 'MAY'!

If the ECO says you do not have a full right of appeal, then forward the Administrative review to them and if that fails, trigger a Judicial Review Protocol Letter. PLEASE ONLY DO THIS IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU DID NOT PRESENT FAKE AND MISLEADING DOCUMENTS.

@ OP
Thank you for raising this very important issue. In addition to what you have written, may I also let Nigerians know that the UK embassy in Nigeria now use this "FAKE" document saga and 10 years travel ban as one of their excuses for refusing applicants unfairly! More recently, there has been court judgements in the UK where it was found that the UK embassy in Abuja (most especially) do not verify documents and where they claim documents were "FAKE", there was neither a "Documents verification reports" upon which the Entry Clearance Officer based their decision.

My candid word to any who has fallen victim to this UK embassy "FAKE" documents scan is to them "FORMERLY" requesting that they furnish you with the documents verification reports upon which they based they claims on- MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU WOULD BE INCLUDING COPIES OF THE LETTER ALONG WITH YOUR JUDICIAL REVIEW APPLICATION SHOULD IT GET TO THAT STAGE.

UK Embassy in Nigeria are now scamming Nigerians simply because we do not have a responsive and responsible government in place. Yes some Nigerians do present fake documents but that does not mean they would stain every Nigerian applicant with same brush.

Recently, I know of someone who was refused working visas with claims of "FAKE" documents and He challenged it in court (Judicial Review application in the UK) and it was found that the ECO never carried out any documents verification and no document verification on the applicant existed.

Mr TOMMY McGUINESS who happens to be an Entry Clearance Manager at the BHC , Abuja has been found in recent court judgements as one of the officers there who falsely refuse applicants with pretence of fake documents.

FYI, UK IS BROKE AND NEEDS MONEY TO PAY SALARY OF HOME OFFICE AND UKBA STAFF, SO VISA FEES ARE GOING UP UP UP,

04 April 2011

Following Parliamentary approval, new immigration fees will be introduced from Wednesday 6 April 2011 for foreign nationals applying to visit, study, work or settle in the UK, and for employers and education providers applying for a sponsor licence.

The new fees were announced on 28 February by Immigration Minister Damian Green, as reported on this website.

If you are making an application on or after 6 April 2011, please ensure that you enclose the correct fee. We will return any applications where an incorrect fee is paid.

You can find a list of all the new fees in the Fees for our services page.









Source: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/april/04-fees-april

Always wait to hear from both sides of the story before you reach your conclusions!

switch47:
At the end of all this drama Goodluck Jonathan of PDP will win. Buhari will go to court & lose again & you guys will still continue to rant at every road side corner,argue at newspaper vendor's stand & online forums as the ranting masses. GOODLUCK 2011 for sure!!

I WAS FORMERLY A SUPPORTER OF  GEJ (THOUGH NOT A PDP - HATE 'EM WITH A PASSION) BUT NOW I THROW MY HAT OFF FOR fi see fi (CPC) though not a member but I would vote BB for Integrity. A vote for GEJ is a vote for corruption, ineptitude and looting as usual style of governance.

By the way, I am already on ground in Nigeria, voting life and direct,  was there yesterday got dissapointed it was postponed till monday. Polling unit was peaceful, no shouting, no PDP gra gra! But no single INEC sign was on the walls and generally everything was okay! Hope monday holds the same or even better. For National Assembly, it's ACN all the way but for presidency it BB all the way!

To many Nigerians and “true” friends of Nigeria, the last minute postponement of the National Assembly Elections of 2nd of April 2011 and the subsequent rescheduling of same for the 4th of April 2011 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (hereafter referred to simply as INEC) may not have come as a surprise. While one may see such actions as not only necessary but desirable giving the overwhelmingly burden on the INEC to protect the sanctity of the electoral process - safe guiding the voters and the votes of the electorate, hence the mandate of the elected representatives. Also, the plethora of complaints that was already beginning to surface barely 4 Hours into the election proper may justify such actions by the INEC.

However, what may not go down well with many Nigerians and “true” friends of Nigeria, is the lame excuses given by the INEC as reasons why a substantial number of polling units all over the country could not be supplied with the necessary sensitive polling materials such as the election result sheets to be used for the compilation of the electoral votes and the number of the electorates that cast their votes.
It is laughable that excuses such as the ‘tsunami’ in Japan, the war relief effort in Libya were cited as reasons the ‘vendor’ could not meet her obligation to deliver her part of the contract bargain. These excuses seem more like those to be heard from lips of a drunkard after long hours of (in the words of Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon) “peppersouping and bigstouting”. More worrisome is the seemingly attempt by the INEC to paint a picture that suggest nothing more could have been done to avert the shame this whole exercise has brought upon the nation. In countries where premium is placed on the whole electoral process, this self imposed challenge by INEC would have been surmounted with ease. One question that leaves a sour taste in my mouth is:
“Why did INEC not think of requesting the FG permission and more importantly the consent of ALL the political parties and major stake-holders for the Nigerian Air force to airlift these materials with the capability (albeit limited) of her large transport aircraft (such the Hercules C-130, the ATRs) to carry out the airlifting of these sensitive election materials? In countries like the UK, US, or even South Africa this would have been the case as effort would have been made (right from the moment the contract was drafted) to ensure that much of the contract sums budgeted are re-circulated among the different government agencies/function, hence reducing capital flight to a bearable minimum. The Nigerian Air Force would have through such ventures earned some much needed revenues and also prove her worth to Nigeria and Nigerians order than being only a WAR apparatus.”

Again, just like the voter registration exercise, this sudden postponement of the National Assembly elections due to logistical challenges show that INEC as currently is, is severely deficient and lack the capability to truly conduct a free, fair and credible election in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. As one of the foot soldiers who left the UK to participate and monitor the election in the Southern part of Nigeria, this was evident most of the polling units I visited had limited or no signage suggesting such was to be used as polling unit and that voting was to take place there with the duration clearly specified.

Another important issue this whole shameful exercise has thrown up is the undeniable fact that creating and maintaining credible INSTITUTIONS is the way to go in redeeming Nigeria instead of this unending clamour for individuals with impeccable pedigree. Yes, while these individuals (like the present INEC chairman- Prof. Jega) are surely required, such requirement must be seen as part of the holistic process of building and maintaining credible INSTITUTIONS. And to digress a little, this same argument goes for the recent clamour for the electorate to elect individuals as oppose to political parties in this election; with proponents of such calls often forgetting that the pillar and lintel of democracy lies in the ideology of participating political parties, hence the overriding need to expend our time and resources in building and maintaining political parties with ideology rather than expending same in propping up individuals. A serious question to be answered is: What happens when these individuals finally leave such offices or by a stroke of fate vacates such positions of power?

What I also find difficult to comprehend is why the INEC would find it comfortable to hold the governorship and the State Houses of election on the same day yet decided to hold the Presidential and National Assembly elections on two separate dates! One wonders what difficulty/challenge it would pose if these two elections are held on same day with the voters (at present) given two ballot papers to cast their votes for the president and representative of their choice. This in my opinion would save the country enormous resources and also help to enhance the credibility of the electoral process. I sincerely wonder if the INEC or indeed the Federal Government and the National Assembly truly know the cost implications (in revenues, relations and lives) of these staggered elections to Nigeria and Nigerians. If they truly do, one would have expected a valid and unbiased argument would have been put forward to the INEC to justify the need of such staggered elections. I am yet to be convinced by the argument put forward by the INEC for the need of such.

My final take on this whole ‘twos a too’ election drama Nigeria is currently engulfed in, is that the present leadership of the Federal Government and the National Assembly are to blame for this whole saga. Had the leadership of both arms of the government fully implemented the Electoral report of the Justice Uwais led election reform committee, this whole shameful debacle would have been avoided. Also, (let me say that this is not to score any political point but in essence an effort to put the blame squarely where it fits!) Had the leadership of the PDP – The national leadership, leadership of both houses and the leadership of the executive- not allowed her selfish desire and want to remain in power at all cost against the suppose overriding national interest, the much needed amended to the previous Electoral Act would have been carried out well over 6 months ago, thereby giving INEC ample time to carry out the much needed thorough ‘self cleansing’ (which I believe is largely response for her current failures) and also prepare adequately for the general elections, thereby avoiding putting Nigeria and Nigerians through the present embarrassment and shame.

No seriously, did you guy notice that England thought FIFA execs could be fooled by their presentational videos filled with foriegners whom theirpress slight at every opportunity but now sees their usefulness when it comes to what will favour england alone! Funny they even had Torresssss, Wenger, LOL on their promotional video!

It has been said before and I will repeat it here. The English/Brits are bad losers who whinge alot, blaming others for their own epic failure! Seriously,  if Enland was given the right to host FIFA WC 2018, do you really think the true football fans around the world would have benefit from it? People would have paid through their nose to attend the world cup and their wallet would be empty even before the second stage of the competition.
Worst, before then, much of England would have become truly a third world as the vatican cardinal said the other day!

ROSSIKE:
And they keep going on about how they have ''the best stadiums in the world''.

Have those delusional fools ever visited Japan, South Korea, USA, Germany, even South Africa, to see their stadia? All those countries have stadiums that are hundred times better and more modern than English stadia.

Their arrogance is their undoing. THANK GOODNESS THEY LOST.

Thank you for pointing out that part of your post in bold! Goes to show their arrogance. Their greatest nemesis is that they have a very wrong view of how they are perceived outside of the UK. Maybe with this back to back slap on their face by FIFA executives they would actually begin to sit tight look inwards and ask themselves some pertinet questions like one MP rightly said sometime ago that the UK should understand that she is no longer a world power and her influencing powers has being reduced considerably to the size of England!

By the way, do you know the BBC is still going about interviewing Africans living in Russia or Russia controlled teritory trying asking them if they have ecountered racism throughot their stay in Russia and if they think Russian are overly racist! I was so happy that the responses given to them so far is contrary to what they were hoping to hear! Obafemi Martins to them squarely that in His club, He has been very well looked after and that those around where He lives are quite interested in knowing more abot where He is from ad He also told the BBC that, yes there is racism in some part of russia but it is no more different from what He experienced during hsi stay in the UK. Another Zimbabwe school teacher also gave them her candid opinion and even went further to say that she thinks racism in russia is hyped and that most russians are quite welcoming and that infact they are very much eager to learn and know more about where and what goes on the that part of Africa where she is from. She also did mention that in some parts of russia, there is racism just likeany other part of the world ! I guess the Brits would be put to shame again like they were during the FIFA WC in South Africa with all their negative propaganda. Don't think I would forget in a hurry how that uselss now sacked HULL FC coach (Brown) questioned FIFA rational for asking South Africa to host the WC in 2010, demanding that it should be relocated to some other country in Europe!

Honestly when I first read this story on POLITICO I said to my self , I dey laugh oh! But in the last 2hrs since the new broke, it is beginning to look like this is not a joke after all. This is a calculated persecution by EFCC as both France and Switzerland are currently at the verge of concluding their investigations and possibly taking Haliburton and Cheney to court!

Maybe EFCC can reach a plea bargain in excess of £.5bn (x times the size of the bribe given) and if I was GEJ, I would use that money to flag of the East-West road in Niger Delta

Abeg oh! did england forget that there was ZOONING in FIFA? Or do they want me to call on AITKU to come lecture them on zonning I personally wanted Russia to win it for the obvious reasons. When the bids were submitted at first, most analyst thought Russia had the best bid. England's bid from day one was bedeviled and instead of them playing poliTICKS, they were busy doing shineyo Just like they went on doing shineyo and didnt know when the chinese bought the huge car plant manufacturing site in Birmingham!

Instead of whinning, England should just admit they did not play the cards well and that is the reason they lost out. As for those thinking the so called English press sting was to expose corruption, you better have a rethink! Did it really occur to you guys that the so called corruption expose' by Panoram was just old news/allegations which a competent court in Zurich had already sent to the thrash bin? In my own opinion, I think it was a dirty ploy by the press to coerce FIFA executives and unfortunately it back fired. Jack Warren never hid his disgust at the way England was wanting to use the press to her advantaged and He warned about this way back early 2009.

So now that they know, Hayatou was the only other FIFA exec that voted for England outside of Thompson and Blatter played them mugu with all His comments! Next time England should be smart, maybe they could take a cue from Russia, remember no body has monopoly of knowledge.


And to all those fake England sympathizers in this threadm please remove the log in ya own eyes before calling Russia names. In my own opinion, England is a rogue state just as russia is and Wikileaks is currently showing the world how true this is!

Alxmyr:
There's no basis whatsoever for anyone to go back to the creek and take up arms. Anyone that can take up military weapons such as pocket launchers should face the full wrath of the law. We cannot afford to continue to beg criminals in the name of amnesty. GEJ has responsibility to quell any insurgence in any part of Nigeria and that he is busy doing. If you are affected, too bad.

You spoke my mind on this issue. Though it hurts but it's the truth we all must accept and live by. ND should find themselves meaningful jobs and also engage their leaders who steal vast percentage of what is ment for the development of the area!

No really, who gave Australia the hope that they can win a bidding for a world cup? A country that barely relates well with other Asian nations both in sports and otherwise. If she can not win Asian votes in FIFA, which other votes can she curry outside of England and the US? It is just like Nigeria bidding to host the world cup but can't curry the favour of Africa reps in FIFA, I would call such a bidding a dead dream on arrival!

Can someone also tell the US that bidding for the World Cup is not a FUN activity. They should really sit down and put their heads together for serious bid. They were disgraced woefully in the bidding process for 2016 Olympics and now 2018 World cup they were outclassed. Who ever told them that flying the master in spin "aka Bill Cliton" couple of days before the vote will actually land you the hosting right?

MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD BEGIN COMPILING A COMPENDIUM ON: HOW TO BID AND WIN A WORLD CUP. I guess that would be a best seller especially if that South African guy (Jordan) and the Qatari dude co-author it!

Couldthis be what we will expect in Qatar 2022? : Nigerian Won 400m Gold For Qatar In Asian Games 2010   https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-555357.0.html