₦airaland Forum

You guys seems to have a myopic view of what Attah's talking about here. This is a clear case of taking a look at the total picture and coming up with an amicable solution that will definitely gladden the hearts of the majority of the Delta people and at thesame time make other non-oil producing states have a sense of belonging in the country. And we hope that they would in turn, in the future, be willing to share the proceeds from their own resources the way we have allowed them in on our own.

Reading through his lines of thought, he definitely wants the involvement of the stakeholders in the profits and costs that the oil business has to offer. A situation whereby a bunch of fat, rotund and ugly lot siting in a palatial building at Abuja decides how the resources of a place should be managed is not a healthy one. When the people who owns the resources of a place are allowed (the word ''allow'' is indeed a misnomer, no one dare dictates to anyone what he should do with his God-given wealth - except in a master-slave settings) to participate in how their resources is exploited breeds a sense of belonging. When you deny them this chance, you deny them their very sense of existence.

So, Attah's suggestion should be acceptable to all at this time.

Niger Delta Governor Seeks Equity Share in Oil Blocks
AFX News Limited
Monday, April 10, 2006


Governor Victor Attah of Nigeria's oil-rich southern state of Akwa Ibom has proposed equity participation by local communities in the country's lucrative oil blocks as a recipe for peace in the volatile Niger Delta region.

Armed militants have this year killed at least 24 members of the security forces, kidnapped and released 13 foreign oil workers, and blown up several pipelines, forcing firms to cut Nigeria's 2.6 million-barrel per day exports by more than one-fifth.

The state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) holds 60 percent equity participation in the oil sector while the oil majors like Shell, ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, Agip, and Total take 40 percent.

"It will make greater understanding of the whole oil thing if for instance today the NNPC agrees that it does not have to continue to maintain 60-40 percent relationship between it and the oil majors," Attah told a group of foreign journalists in the state capital.

"I ask what will be wrong in a 40-20-40 situation where the NNPC will hold 40, the states 20, and the oil majors 40. What will be wrong in that?" he said.

"There will be even more eyes overseeing this thing (oil). There will be greater local involvement. People will now begin to feel that this resources belong to us and we must protect it," he said.

"They must protect what belongs to them and so on. I think even the vandalization and hostage-takings will cease. Not just because more people will be employed and involved but they will know it is their own.

"Right now, they don't see this thing belonging to them and so they indulge in destruction, violence, and attacks," he added.

Attah said current agitation for an increase in the percentage of revenue for the oil states was not enough to douse the violence in the region.

"My conviction is clear that, the involvement aspect (of stakeholders) is very critical to peace," he said.

Source:http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=31157

This is Hon Arch. Victor Attah's solution to the Niger Delta Crisis. I agree with him whole heartedly.

@davidylan,

Goodman, keep up the good work. I never knew you were this versed in the scriptures too. I thot it's all politics - remember your dictionary? It got me and my friends laughing our heads off.

Good work man.

And all the ladies in the house should know that ''real men'' listens to their wives. And sometimes they will not take some important decisions without consulting their wives.

The Atiku Revolt:

By, Reuben Abati


The details of what was discussed by the 200 anti-third term campaigners who were barred from holding a meeting at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday, April 5, have now become public knowledge. When this is placed beside the motives of their traducers masquerading as state agents, it is safe to conclude that it is indeed a sad moment for Nigeria. The third-term gang included Major-General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alhaji Ghali Na'Abba, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Audu Ogbeh, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji M. D. Yusuf, Alhaji Gambo Jimeta, Governors Bola Tinubu, Boni Haruna, Orji Kalu, and Senator Uche Chukwumerije, It was in one word, a gathering of well-known opponents of the Obasanjo administration - many of whom have had cause to criticise the government openly on issues of policy, and in the cases of Ogbeh, and Ghali Na'Abba, and former Governors Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba and Niyi Adebayo, these are bold critics of the ruling PDP and its methods.

They and their associates had paid for the use of the Ladi Kwali Hall at the Sheraton Hotel. But the FCT Police Commissioner, Lawrence Alobi and the Director-General of the State Security Service, Kayode Are personally led a contingent of security agents to prevent the meeting from taking place. Their reasons: the politicians did not have "police permit"; they, the security agents, were also acting "on instructions from above". So, the SSS director walked up to Buhari and told him: "Sir, you can't enter." In case anyone had any doubts about the seriousness of this directive, such doubts were soon laid to rest when the security men descended on Francis Amadiegwu, a member of the House of Representatives who had stubbornly tried to enter the Ladi Kwali Hall. He was wrestled to the ground in the presence of his colleagues and reportedly beaten "black and blue". When Amadiegwu was eventually released, he could only mutter a few words: "This is the darkest day in the history of democracy in Nigeria." He obviously did not enjoy the beating!

There have been many dark days in Nigerian democracy, and if present signs are anything to go by, there may well be darker days ahead. What transpired at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja between security agents and the anti-third term politicians last Wednesday, is yet another illustration of the flowering of a culture of dictatorship that is being imposed on the present process by the Obasanjo government. It is reminiscent of the old days of Abacha and Babangida, of crude intolerance and abuse of public institutions. In recent times and as opposition to the third term agenda continues to grow, the Obasanjo government has displayed greater intolerance for ideas or any form of opposition. It is a disturbing antithesis: a government that was ostensibly elected democratically is now in the vanguard of an assault against some of the pillars of democracy itself namely the right to choose, the right to differ, the right to associate freely, and the right to express opinions as free citizens under the rule of law. Any government that breaks the law so brazenly threatens the very foundations of society itself, and the objectives of an open society and the common good. Nor is this the first time that the Obasanjo government will behave in this manner.

Other instances include the disruption, last year, of a rally in Osun, that was organised in honour of Chief Bisi Akande, the 2005 open attack on a group of women led by Mrs Jadesola Akande who were expressing solidarity with women who lost their loved ones in the famous Sosoliso air crash, the March 17, 2006 attack on a meeting of the Advanced Congres of Democrats (ACD) in Dutse, Jigawa State, and the March 20 arrest of Alhaji Lawal kaita, a chieftain of the ACD. Even more telling is the arraignment in court of Miss Funke Adedoyin, Mrs Kofo Olugbesan, Lawal Abba, Musa Garba and others for belonging to a so-called illegal group, the Turaki Vanguard. The accused persons, it is alleged, belong to "a society which is dangerous to the good government of Nigeria". And what did they do? These are friends of the Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, (closeness to the VP is a major crime in the corridors of power these days); in addition, these members of the Turaki Vanguard had the effrontery to describe the current Federal Government as "corrupt". The case is in court. It will be interesting to know what the court will come up with.

But so far, what is indicated in all these instances of repression, is sheer blackmail and abuse of fundamental human rights. The "police permit" that security agencies continue to insist upon has since been upheld by the Court of Appeal in the case of Lewis Chukwuma and 2 ors v. Commissioner of Police (March 2005). Nonetheless, the conduct of the police and other security agencies in these matters amounts to a violation of the right to the dignity of the human person. Of what use is the brutalisation of Francis Amadiegwu? The fellow should go to court to enforce his rights under the Constitution. The job of the police and the SSS is to ensure security, not to act as an attack dog against perceived enemies of the President. If the politicians who gathered at the Sheraton Hotel had been friends of the President, definitely they would have been offered state protection.

There is a creeping absence of civility in the conduct of public officials at the highest levels. "Instructions from above?" Who else could have given such instructions to brutalise members of the National Assembly, a former Head of State, former Governors, former Inspectors-General of Police, former Ministers just because they dared to differ? If Major-General Muhammadu Buhari had defied the SSS Director, and tried to enter the hall, would he also have been wrestled to the ground and beaten "black and blue"? If the Governors had organised a rebellion, would they also have been beaten "black and blue"? Whoever gave those "instructions from above" cares very little about civility. There is only one way to describe what is happening: it is bad.

Defiant, the anti-third term protesters moved their meeting to the Niger State Governor's Lodge, where with Governor Abdulkadir Kure as their host, they met till 12 midnight. Curiously, the security agents did not go to that other venue to disrupt the meeting. Was there a police permit for that second meeting? Or the police and the SSS did not consider the logic and consistency of their action? Anyhow, their point had been made based on 'anti-democratic instructions from above". But the main significance of the meeting hosted by the Niger State Governor was the presence of the Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The relationship between the President and his Deputy collapsed a long time ago. But the Vice President has been fighting quietly, while the President has done whatever he can to make him redundant and to ridicule him. Note: Atiku's supporters are in court for opposing the Federal Government; the "Turaki Vanguard", the VP's political machinery has been labelled a dangerous society, and yet this was the same machinery that facilitated the President's election in 1999.

But we have now reached a point when the Vice President is fighting his boss publicly. The President had once accused him of disloyalty: he is now affirming that disloyalty by declaring, once more, his opposition to the transformation of the PDP into a one-man estate, and the abuse of Presidential office. At the meeting at the Niger State Lodge, Atiku openly called on members of the National Assembly to oppose President Obasanjo; he also invited more persons to join the anti-third term campaign. Atiku is an insider, even if his boss has labelled him a leper. His open revolt confirms the existence of a third term agenda.

Atiku's words bristled with anger and disgust. He holds his boss in extremely low esteem. He even called on Nigerians to stand up and protect democracy. And he pledged his loyalty to the struggle; "I want to assure you I am always available and I will give you any support that you need, I will be with you, look when I begin to talk, you will know more". Without any doubt, the Nigerian Presidency has collapsed. The feud between the President and his Deputy has brought that exalted office to great ridicule. With Atiku coming out in the open to organise a rebellion against his boss, it is doubtful if any real governance can take place henceforth. What the Vice President has done is to stage a moral coup against his boss. President Obasanjo may not know it, but his Deputy has proven to be a master politician, he has dealt him a deep, retaliatory cut.

There are some moral questions. If Vice President Atiku is so disgusted with his boss, the PDP and the character of government, should he continue to remain in office? Shouldn't he just walk away and build up the opposition? Does he not see a contradiction in the dual role he now plays as an insider and outsider? If he openly identifies with "enemies of the government and enemies of the President", would he not feel uncomfortable sitting at the same table with the President? I once wrote that there would be injuries on all sides in the Atiku-Obasanjo feud. I also predicted that the "body bags would soon begin to arrive, and we shall start counting, " ("The long knives are out for Atiku", The Guardian, September 2. 2005, p. 51.) We have now entered that season of the swords! Femi Fani-Kayode acting on "instructions from above," has asked Vice President Atiku to resign. You see the kind of government they are running in Abuja: a Presidential Assistant abusing the Vice President? Surely, Atiku is not going to resign: his strength lies in the fact that he is an aggrieved and well-positioned insider. As Vice-President, he is covered by constitutional immunity. He will hold on to that until his fight with the President is resolved: the battle has gone so far now, The Vice President can only be removed in four ways: if he suddenly dies, if he is incapacitated, if he is impeached or if he chooses to resign. The emergent dilemma is that he will not resign and the National Assembly has already been put in a difficult situation where it cannot afford to take sides in the Presidential debacle.

Whichever way it all goes, Atiku's revolt is bound to become another major event in the history of Nigeria's Fourth Republic, in more or less the same class as the crisis in Anambra, Plateau, Oyo, and Bayelsa, except that for now, it is difficult to predict the end of this particular battle. What can be safely surmised is that President Obasanjo may soon discover that he is about to receive another lesson in the intricacies of power politics. Abacha taught him that lesson once. The second lesson may come from Atiku. Why, to start with, did the Niger State Governor agree to host the anti-third term campaigners? Why was the Niger state Governor so defiant? The long awaited "bloodshed" in the Presidency has begun, Poor Nigerians.

Source
http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/editorial_opinion/article02

@ Kola,

C'mon don't get passionate about this man. There are definately a lot of things OBJ has done for everyone in the country - but: the bad deeds far outweigh the good ones, and even when you take a closer look at the good ones, they are actually bad.

Ok, I'll try and be fair on people from henceforth. And to start that, I'll say OBJ has done his bit on trying to improve the situation of things in Nigeria. I hope that'll make you happy with me now. OK?

[quote author=hot-angel link=topic=1074.msg276173#msg276173 date=1144376625]Yep, this thread is about me. How it got to 15 pages is not a mystery, because i obviously didn't contribute to it alone. It was just those days when we "talk" alot on Nairaland. Don't get it twisted hun, im not larger than life, im just a normal girl, and my "Nairaland profile" isn't the only one with lotsa pages. U can make your "Nairaland profile if you want to".

I've also never had any occasion to join issues with you (and i'd like to leave it that way). My posts being staggering is well okay to me. And my over 15,000 entries (actually, a lil close to 17,000 entries) are well mine, don't be short of words. Our paths have never crossed because we never had anything to talk about (which, i also will like to keep that way). Why are u warning me to be easy, hope there's no problem sha? Well thanks, i'll take it easy. [/quote]No problem girl, I'll take it that Nairaland is addictive (must have taken it's toll on you too), and I'm hooked already and I'm just trying to find my bearing again. All well and good. And our paths have crossed now, or don't you think so?. Ono will never hurt no one.

2cantango:
the past is the past ono

You're right 2C.

Hey Fluff, how you doin?

2cantango:
@ono:
Lol surely you don't need that explained to you, such a good Christian boy like yourself

Well, where did you get such a good christian boy from? I've done terrible things in the past, you see.

@2C

How? and why?

Well, this is vexxy's house. I hope I can come on in.

And who do we have here? The witty Wes. But unlike your frind HA, our paths have crossed over that underage stuff - remember? I hope you've heeded my advice and stand clear of all those sex education stuff .

Nice day.

This thread's about HotAngel. And to think some 15 pages have gone into ''describing'' her makes me want to think she's larger than life or something.

I've never had any occasion to join issues with you, but looking at your profile, your entries to issues posted in here is staggering - more than 15000 entries!!!! I'm short of words. How is it that our paths have never crossed? Easy girl, just take it easy.

@Nia,
That psycho write up is good. I like this one in particular:

When a divorce occurs, it is because the infidel can not escape the affair in time or cannot face going back into a marriage in which he or she is now known and understood and can no longer pose as the chaste virgin or white knight spotless and beyond criticism. A New Yorker cartoon once showed a forlorn man at a bar complaining: "My wife understands me.''

There are several divorce cases that can be painted that way - One of the spouse feels guilty about his/her misdeeds, believes he/she cannot be forgiven and as such resort to divorce.

But the truth is that there's nothing like having a forgiving heart. It's difficult though. And like dracosh rightly stated, a good spouse should consider forgiving (genuinely) the other, at least up to a point where indeed you need to go and pray for the straying spouse.

I sometimes wonder how married women who act as actress in Hollywood movies cope with their husbands. Just imagine a man watching his wife being sexed up by several men in some kind of romance movies and the woman comes back to make meals for the man at home. Weird, really weird, this life of ours.

@dracosh:

The first 10 times?!!! OK. How about the man forgiving the woman too after the first 10 times? Then imagine that's your wife that's done the 10 times.

Geeeez, and this thread is in it's 9th page!! Christ!!

@Abeem,
Well done man, I like that word of yours police-tician. People like Odeku needs to be tutored about the dynamics of Nigerian politics sometimes.

And all those points on Alams, Tafa, Dariye, Mantu and George are very true, to the discerning minds only.

Well done and welcome to NL.

Very well, but it's easy to release the names of failed Banks, the list of Federal Govt. companies to be sold(shared actually), and others. These are good deeds on OBJs part.

But, notwithstanding the wide outrage the Okija saga drew, and all the noise, it was not easy to release the names of the people on Okija Priest Register list. I read and heard that it includes the names of top ranking Govt officials, the high and mighty, the movers and shakers of the country. Do I have to go very far to know that OBJs name and his stooges are in that list?

Sometimes all you need do is to use your common sense to arrive at answers because they will not be boldly written for you to see, all the time.


As per Charles Taylors spiritualist, we all know that this guy lives in the US. He can't cookup any story about Taylors escape without hearing from Taylor himself. Taylor has been docked, and probably will not be allowed to make statements to the general public about his escape and arrest. So, if he confided in his man to tell the whole world the truth, then why doubt the man and say it was not Taylor who's talking?

PDP people speak from both sides of their mouths.

This is mine. A 1997 Honda Accord. I like it because of it's low fuel consumption and sleek look.

We don't need Iwu to tell us all that. We know it already.

crazy_ape: Why on earth did you choose such a name for yourself? And are you sure that your boyfriend is Nigerian? Maybe he's Jamaican. I smell something fishy.

and one chap wants me to do a business deal with him that might fetch me a couple of dollars!! I often put my status on YIM on invisible mode. You won't know if I'm online or not. And I may not reply you if If I don't want to.

@Chinani,
Going through your explanations, using color coded words from Kasali's post, I've been able to glean out some facts.

1) At the root of all divorce cases is selfishness and intolerance. I've stated this before. You must understand that there's more to marriage than just wanting to satisfy yourself in that union.

One thing you must understand is that Kasali's explanations applies to Christians couples at most. Now there are Buddhist, Atheists and people with other form of beliefs on this forum. His posts may not apply to them. Just like chief2b.

If you're a Christian and you have divorced your spouse, know that you're going contrary to what you claim you believe in. And if you have a conscience, it will continue to trouble you till you do it right


Red: Successful Marriages, as implied in Kasali's write up is not about what makes you happy in life. There are several other things that makes one happy (depending on how you feel about yourself) out there. Happiness in life is a relative thing. Some folks smoke and feel happy, while other resent smoking. So, you see, you got the whole essence of the post wrong in that regard.

Kasali (to the best of my thinking here) is referring to homes that have not been broken by divorce. He's saying that homes where love reign and thrives, where every member of the family is appreciated, often enjoy health, wealth, satisfaction and success

Blue: You can get past affairs, betrayals, disappointment, boredom and burnout and come out better and stronger than before.

Your explanations on this one (Right & wrong) is pure stats on US cases only. Anyway, dig down a little about divorce cases(even in the US) where a cheating couple had to let go. What led to one partner cheating on the other? Maybe one is refusing the other what he/she wants and he/she sought for it elsewhere. Why go a-cheacting? Answer: To satisfy yourself (urge) first, not minding how your spouse will feel about it.

When you have an affair outside your home, selfishness rears its ugly head. When you beat your spouse so much for any little misdeeds, intolerance and selfishness rears their ugly head. When you can't sacrifice your time to please, communicate, show affection, spend time and play with your spouse, selfishness comes knocking at your wicked heart.

Personally, I have been through a lot of seminars on marriage and family life that I believe at this stage in my life, I cannot go to any marriage counsellor to advice me on how to resolve personal affairs with my wife. We will sit down in our closet and resolve it amicably.

That's why marriage is for matured minds. Not for kids and shortsighted people, who need counselling to move ahead all the time.

Now, you can get past affairs, betrayals, disappointment, boredom and burnout and come out better and stronger than before. This is true, if you're willing and humble enough to convince your grieving spouse that you went astray. This can be done prayerfully.

Green: Do you have any problem with Biblical vows? If you're not a christian then back off from Biblical vows. God's word is law in christianity. And when you take the sacred marriage vow, know for sure that you're in that marriage till death parts you from that your spouse. I believe you must be in high spirits when you took the vow. Keep that high spirits all through the marriage.

Purple: You need to grasp what that passage means. Wealth here means more than the physical stuff you see around to grasp from your spouse. But I will agree with you that parting with money to get good health in a marriage is good. But when you divorce your spouse and re-marry, you sin against your soul and spirit by sharing that body with another person. Your ''health and wealth'' will diminish by more than half. Your selfworth will be cut off. And you'll carry a heavy burden all through your life, especially when you have kids in your former marriage. Go and ask and see.

Now, I can say, a word is enough for the wise, the right way.

@nferyn, I think I'll rather you lecture us (your usual manner) on Divorce. Y'know, the definition, history, widespread and all that. Then tell us why it's good or bad.

Personally, everything that affects humankind and works against the injunctions in the Bible, is automatically rejected by me. That's why I post ''my claims and reasoning applies to Christians only'' in my replies.

Mariory:
Plus how do you know what names are contained in the Okija Priest Register? Have you seen it? I was under the impression the list has not been released. Could it be that those in fact are simply more assumptions?

Well, why have they not released the names of the people on that Okija list for all to see up till now?