₦airaland Forum

zPixel:
is dis an interview? anywayz, if dey r d only ones d government listen 2, then dey r doing a great job.

LOL.

okooyinbo:
The Federal Government, according to the minister, received the lion share of the distributed excess crude of $841.911 million while the 36 states got $799.648 million. The 774 local government councils accounted for the balance of $358.440 million of the excess crude.

He forgot to make bold the above - FG's lion share. We all know that the bulk of ''FG'' share will be ''shared'' to some projects in selected places in the North and FCT. But ask what the FG and other states getting millions of dollars contributed to that amount (excess crude fund) in the first place, you will get[b] NOTHING [/b] answers.

I will take some time to write out my views about this Niger Delta palava. It's very bad to make blanket generalisations about what's going on in that place without giving concrete proof or evidence.

When we complain about Niger Delta neglect, some of you will say the neglect traverse the whole country and not the Niger Delta alone. Why are the Niger Delta people complaining bla bla bla? Ok. We then say we're seeing some improvements in the area. Amaechi is doing something, Uduaghan is building an airport as Asaba. Beaf even showed the fountain at the entrance to Effurun/Warri. Others came up with pictures of some development efforts everywhere in the Delta, albeit small. Even Alams established the Niger Delta University before he was sacked by the king kong OBJ. YET, you folks come here and say our leaders are bad people and after their selfish gains?!

You exonerate your own thieving leaders. Alao Akala is and always will be the burden of the people of Oyo state. The other day he awarded contracts for the construction of public toilets for some bogus amount of money. He's looting the treasury of Oyo state blind. Same goes for the northern governors, who marry several wives with state allocation. No one talks about these folks who contribute nothing to the state's purse but use state resources for personal gains.

Talking about the neglect in the Niger Delta areas, you all forget that it was just recently (1999) that allocation to the state jumped to 13% - 10 years ago! - compared to the over 50 years of oil exploitation from the area.. You also forget that the cost of doing some massive construction work in the area is almost 5 times what obtains in other part of the country. Come up with facts and prove your case.  Don't stay in far away lands and say things you have no first hand idea about. For example, aside from making you look stupid, statements like ''Aondoakaa is from the Niger Delta'' goes a long way to prove how ignorant some of us are about what's on ground.  Listen to Chimamanda Adichie's talk about making good generalisations and have a rethink about what you want to post before posting it.

It's amazing how so many non Niger Delta folks come up here to talk about ''where the money ends up''

Can I ask you lot to please tell us where your own respective state money ends? More than 95% of all the states in the Federation have their allocations ending up in pockets of selected individuals who run the affairs of the state. So, why single out the Niger Delta states for this?. . . . . . . . . or is this a case of jealousy (like my brother, Beaf, stated) and an avenue for you guys to quash a good initiative at the Federal level?

Whatever the case, this is one BOLD step in the right direction. I agree with Beaf that what we really need is ''true federalism'' - but like someone countered, a journey of a million miles starts with one bold step in the right direction.

I have been wondering what Egbogah was up to ever since his appointment as Special Adviser of Petroleum Matters - Little did I know that the man was really up to something good. Bless him. Good things takes time.

I just hope that some disgruntled elements in other parasitic parts of the country will not kick against this wonderful initiative. If they do, that will definitely take us millions of miles back into the abyss of doom!

I think experience is the best teacher - and will give you the best advise. ekoboy and Radiant have said most of what there is to know. It's up to you to ''change tactics''.

Well I support his quitting but I don't quite agree with his generalising the defects with youth football in Africa. I'll rather he makes it a Nigerian thing. All the bad stuff he said about African youths are mostly found in Nigerian youths.

Anyways, Ghana just proved him wrong in his assertions.

All said, I wish him luck in his quest to move up.

Pro Anti:
If it is the NDDC states, then fmr Gov. Agagu, Gov. Mimiko, Gov. Ohakim and Gov. Orji should be ready to respond to Bankole.

Thumbs up!

It's amazing that someone of Bankole's standing can spew forth such gibberish for the Nigerian people to ''feed'' on. I watched him made that speech of his on AIT.  I must confess that for the first time in many years, I was ashamed (worst than when I, davidylan and others posit that the country should split up) of being a Nigerian.

It seemed to me that Bankole wanted to get the ''favour'' of the northern folks who were many at the event - whatever that favour could be. I want to believe that Bankole knows more about this country than to say all that thrash at that event. Well, if he doesn't, then I'm the more convinced that ''our'' leaders know little or nothing about the people they claim to be leading. They do not even have the what it takes to lead in the first instance.

I will not dignify Bankole's statements with any reply.


Beaf,
What do you expect? Someone in far away Ohio knows so much about this country more than those of us on ground. Remember my entry about these group of people on Timipre Sylva?

We argue blindly. We talk about places we have never seen as if we've been there. Ask some of them where Ekeremor is now, they will point at Ohio or philadelphia, or even Ikeja.

You need not bother about them. Just ignore them.

Hmnn. . . . we have BIG problems in this country.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/oct/17/national-17-10-2009-001.htm

I don't know how true the above interview with Mobolaji Johnson is. But I think there is indeed more to the Aburi conference than most of us know. And except we ''read'', ''hear'' and probably ''view'' a recording of the events at that conference (both the one done with the outside world and the one done in the closet), I will henceforth take Eziachi's original post with some level of reservation - except I'm convinced to the contrary.

On a second thought, when it became clear (Ojukwu asking his hordes of secretaries) to Ojukwu that the other folks at the Aburi negotiating table did not understand him (so I think), why did he not go the extra lenght of explaining the consequence of their decisions so that everyone is clear on what's going to give at the end?

Anyways, all that's past now. More than ever before, we need to have every ethnic group represented at a conference - big or small. The Igbos will have to repeat what feat they performed at Aburi again - this time around with brilliant minds from around the country. The time is ripe for that and it's now or never, like someone affirmed.

naijaking1:
Old boy how now
How was the arms surrendering ceremony? I thought I saw you besides Tompolo shaking Yar'dua's hand in one picture so.

Omo Nna, You sure say na me you see? Shine your eyes well well.

udezue:
Ono,
utoro gbari kwa gi na venom.

You just confirmed what all else have said. You lack that needed ability to reason before typing.

So, what was the outcome of the match btw Kenya and Tunisia? Abi dem never play?

I have never used any foul word to address anyone on Nairaland. I have tried very hard not to. But for some sane Igbo guys on this board whom I have regard and respect for, I'll have unleashed some venom on the recalcitrant Udueze.

SapeleGuy:
Aburi was okay for its time. Today, we need a new sovereign national conference that recognises the diversity and rights of all ethnicities and also acknowledges that 3 out of 250 can never be a pass mark.

Bros, they were even more than three. Ejoor was there to represent the midwest. But in matters like these, even 20/250 is not good enough. Every ethnic nationality that makes up a nation must be represented and heard and even negotiate their stake in the nation.

For me, this post shed some light on what transpired at Aburi. If it's in the National Archives, then I will go and read/hear more.

Just 100 miles??

Well, after watching yesterday's match with Germany, I concluded that we're finished.

Iranoladun,
I have been reading through some of your entries on NL. Find them very interesting. Can I get to meet you? You'll see my e-mail address in my profile.

Ono

FG May Sell NNPC Joint Venture Stakes to China
By Ejiofor Alike with agency report, 10.01.2009



The Federal Government has said it may sell part of its interests in the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and some multinational oil companies to China.
The Financial Times had reported on Tuesday that China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) was bidding for 6 billion barrels of Nigeria’s oil in a deal worth about $30 billion.
Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, in a chat with Reuters in Abuja yesterday, confirmed this development, but pointed out that China would not be given all the reserves it was seeking.
He, however, stated that the NNPC could sell stakes in joint ventures with existing oil partners if Beijing offered the right price. NNPC has 55 - 60 per cent interests in the joint ventures with international oil companies.
He said: “It's true that the Chinese have made a proposal which we are considering. They are asking for six billion barrels of oil from our reserves, but I can tell you that we are not going to give them all of that.”
Asked if the NNPC could sell its stakes to China, Ajumogobia said: “It's an option we are also looking at. Why not? If the offer is very good and very attractive, why not? NNPC has the right to do whatever it likes with its own share.”
Ajumogobia had earlier said the Federal Government was in talks with CNOOC.
“We are talking to them about their quest to buy proven reserves. This is not new; this predates this administration,” adding “we are not offering leases that are up for renewal in the middle of negotiations to renew. That is not happening,” he said.
Ajumogobia said the Chinese had identified a number of blocks in which they would be interested, including licences operated by Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron and ExxonMobil which originally expired last November and December 2008.
Chevron and Exxon won a year’s extension, meaning their licences are due to expire this year, while Shell successfully sought a court injunction allowing it to continue to operate while it challenged the expiry, an industry executive said.
Analysts have expressed the feelings that if the Chinese bid is successful, it could place the company in competition with major western groups including Total, Shell, Chevron and ExxonMobil, which operate the 23 blocks under discussion.
An industry source said the 23 oil mining leases identified as targets by CNOOC included Shell's Bonga field and Chevron's Agbami.
The Bonga licence does not expire until 2023, while Agbami expires in 2024.
The source said the ExxonMobil-operated Erha field is one of the Chinese targets.
“We have not invited anyone to discuss the possibility of leasing these proven reserves. The Chinese made an offer and said they had identified certain blocks including some already being exploited by some of our partners,” Ajumogobia had earlier said.
THISDAY had reported that CNOOC refused to comment on reports that it was negotiating lucrative oil blocks with the Federal Government.
President of CNOOC Ltd, Yang Hua, the listed arm that has been the main vehicle for the company's overseas investment, had declined to comment.
In a recent Chinese acquisition of Nigerian oil assets, Sinopec paid $7.24 billion for Swiss-based Addax Petroleum, which operates in Nigeria and other African states.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has warned Chinese firms not to invest in the oil-rich region until a permanent peace deal has been achieved.
Spokesman of MEND, Jomo Gbomo, warned the Chinese firm in an emailed statement on Tuesday not to go ahead with the deal until permanent peace is attained in the region.
MEND said: “The Chinese should be careful about investments until there is justice in that region. We can guarantee that if the government of Nigeria fails to address the root issues, the Chinese will regret they were negotiating with the wrong people.”





Well, what do we stand to gain from selling our resources to outsiders?

Ibime:
relax. . . . MEND encouraged Tompolo et al to drop their arms cos they are too well known. . . they will all be replaced by other commanders. . .

Hmnn . . . . , food for thought.

But when are we going to stone OBJ, IBB, and others to death for their misdeeds? Just wondering.

I'm not one given to posting/saying much about my transactions on this forum. But I want to thank Inspired men and Jenju for helping out with the purchase and delivery of my car from the US. The transactions took some time though, and I got worried some things could go wrong. But these two guys handled everything profesionally. Kudos to them.

22nd.

Bad thing na bad thing. If Ibori is/was this evil, well, let the long arm of the law ''catch am'' - otherwise, he will be vindicated - just like we have all witnessed in the not too distant past, abi?

Hmnn. . . . Nothing much to say again - Beaf and Sapele guy have done all in a very neat way.

Abagworo:
I'm glad that this horrible experience has been stopped through the intervention of Rivers state government.

Could you please quote the source? I paid almost NGN25,000 to get my vehicle released to me the other day.

Jakumo:
Me !  me !  me teach !  I know the distinction.   Theft occurs when a poor man steals a handful of fish in any Nigerian marketplace, and the penalty for that is an instant bludgeoning death by an ululating lynch mob, followed by public ceremonial roasting on an open fire, just like a marshmallow.

Mismanagement, on the other hand, can be said to have transpired when kleptomaniac Nigerian government officials or their tenured miracle pastors help themselves to a few million dollars of public funds, which naturally only warrants a reprimand and a polite refund request, at the convenience and discretion of the culprit, of course.

Praise the Lord, and pass the loot.

I did not know that brother Jakumo has taken it upon himself to solely update the very popular davidylan's political dictionary in david's absence. David will fine you for this o. Particularly apt definition of theft and mismanagement in Nigeria, by the way.

Debo,
You're too smart to be delivering this type of dull response ke, han han. You normally argue with facts, why join the bandwagon of people who sit in other places, do little or no research and come over here to show us how ignorant they are about the situation of things on ground. Go and edit that your response so that we can ''talk'' sensibly. I'm waiting. Got little time though.

Some of us would rather hear that Bayelsa is now as beautiful and comparable to New York state overnight - abi? With the resources available at their disposal, right?

We argue blindly. We talk about places we have never seen as if we've been there. Ask some of them where Ekeremor is now, they will point at Ohio or philadelphia, or even Ikeja.

I await response from someone who's spent a lot of his youthful and adult life in Yenagoa to post something here. While I do not rule out the possiblity of having people who are angry at their government coming to post here, quite a lot of others are thankful to God for the little progress they've seen around them in the past 10 years.

Hmnn. . . . seems some of us just like going round in circles.

BOTTOM LINE IS THAT:
1. Sylva along with ALAMS and GOODLUCK have done some good stuff in Bayelsa - call it anything you want -  blue elephant, gree elephant or yellow elephant projects. I, because I've got some things going on in Yenagoa, do not care what someone in Ohio, Disneyland, Hell, or somewhere else thinks is right. Like I stated earlier, that place could not even be compared to Ughelli way back in 1999. Today, Yenagoa is fast developing, and I've see the place grow from a village setting to one with some good things one can live with.

2. What Sylva did was good. If CNN set out to humiliate him, I bet they've got the wrong guy for that. And even with his Seven Stars of David - where wishes come true after going around it seven time works for him, well, what can I say? I believe his is better than OBJ feeding OGD in some secluded spot like homosexuals and some wizards and fetish people that they are!! And what he's even feeding OGD with is the proceeds from the sale of the chicken meat in his poultry farm, which is the result of his stay at Aso Rock for 8 years and which ultimately is the proceeds from the sale of the resources of the people of the Niger Delta!! You bet.

3. Haters should go bury their head somewhere. You go Gov Sylva, fire on!