₦airaland Forum

@buluti,
He pleaded guilty under duress. This happens everywhere everytime. Nothing new.


@Laudate,
My dear friend, that's the way I see this matter o. OBJ is a very crude and ruthless man. I know how far he can go to have his way with anything. In anycase I believe he was the lynchpin of all of Alams' travails as a governor in Bayelsa.

This hype about him stealing us blind does not sway me in anyway. I'm not a fan of Alams, anyway, it's just that I like asking myself questions when I'm fed with some bogus information. And when I wear my objectivity cloak and look at issues critically, what I come up with does not often please many people. But I've made my point anyway.

chidichris:
how many people confess to things they did not do in nigeria especially under the hard hands of nigerian police?
what is the difference between the money laundary case against alams, Dariye and Andy Uba? and what punishments were melted on each an everyone of them? how many constitutions are in place in nigeria?
what of atiku's confession that he did but alongside our able obj?
what about turaki's confession?
what happened to Chris Uba's confession before obj that he rigged anambra's election to install ngige?
all these questions are here to address the issue of confession.
if we must call a spade a spade, in fighting corruption, the constitution shld be at work to spell out punishments of offenders.
if death sentence is a punishment for a drunkard let it be for all.

Nice one. So many questions begging for answers.

Lets all be objective for once. That Alams stole while he was at Creek Haven is a fact that's known to all Naija people, and his fellow thieves at the time.

I personally don't listen to the accuser alone before drawing a line. I also love to hear the accused too to get a grip on what actually transpired between the two.

I have always known that Alams will be freed one day. What I didn't know was ''when'' I wanted to read his own side of the travails he was subjected to by Federal authorities under OBJ. He has done just that. It's left for sensible people to read up his statements, look at them in the light of all that happened two years back and draw a line.

I have done this and I believe that Alams would have served his terms fully as Governor in Bayelsa if he had supported OBJ's third term ambition - even if that does not come to fruition at the end of the day. I don't doubt the fact that he stole. But that he stole so much, as depicted by EFCC is what I don't believe. But then, that's my personal opinion.

Lets all be objective for once. That Alams stole while he was at Creek Haven is a fact that's known to all Naija people, and his fellow thieves at the time.

I personally don't listen to the accuser alone before drawing a line. I also love to hear the accused too to get a grip on what actually transpired between the two.

I have always known that Alams will be freed one day. What I didn't know was ''when'' I wanted to read his own side of the travails he was subjected to by Federal authorities under OBJ. He has done just that. It's left for sensible people to read up his statements, look at them in the light of all that happened two years back and draw a line.

I have done this and I believe that Alams would have served his terms fully as Governor in Bayelsa if he had supported OBJ's third term ambition - even if that does not come to fruition at the end of the day. I don't doubt the fact that he stole. But that he stole so much, as depicted by EFCC is what I don't believe. But then, that's my personal opinion.

Methink Alams is innocent of many of the charges brought against him by the EFCC and OBJ at the time. As I see it, all of his dressing as a woman to escape from London, tummy tuck and all other bull crap are the handiwork of people who were paid to ''rubbish'' the name of Alams when OBJ was the Lord in the Manor.

Jokes aside, I believe Alams fell out out of favour with OBJ at the time. That's why OBJ sent the bulldog, [EFCC] after him.

But in retrospect, I think Alams should thank his stars that he's still alive to tell the story of how he survived the ordeal.

I think OBJ cannot measure up to what Mandela went through to have his name written in gold. He just does not posses what it takes to get there. To get there, stealing the nation's treasury for selfish inordinate gains - including arm twisting people to build a library for him, is unheard of. Mandela never stole from the treasury of the RSA.

It takes selfless service to your fatherland first, then humanity in general. OBJ failed woefully in that regard. I expected that he'll be content with rearing sheep and goats, plus keeping quiet and living a ''low profile'' life at Otta, given the kind of disgrace and shame he brough to the average Nigerian and African throughout his twelve years sojourn in the seat of power of the most populous black nation on earth!

Octupus:
Weebee,
Note and consider the following points;
1. All male creatures of God are polygamous by nature.Think of the animals-from Lizards to Lions.The arrangement is one male, sexually overseeing several females in a location called "territory".Any male intruder is fought to a standstill.One must leave for the other.Unfortunately,the same "gene" runs in Homo Sapiens.However,due to religious and social influences,man has managed to be "civilized" about his sexual conduct.But that urge to try other females lurks somewhere waiting for the opportunity to manifest.This is the truth.A married man who has plenty of cash will have several such opportunities presenting.Unfortunatley, a man's willpower is insufficient to stop him from adultery when trully challenged.The only guarantee against adultery is the power of the Holy Spirit which is given only to believers.Adultery can only be cured supernaturally and never naturally.A man who is not born again and is not commiting adultery-its either he has not been challenged enough or he does not have the requisite wherewithal.period.

2. Unfortunately also,the incidence of adultery in women has shot up recently.Its inexplicable,but its happening.It's much more common than most people think.Its just that women are much more discrete about their affairs and they tend to stick to one extramarital partner for long.

3. Finally I want to submit that even marriage is not a cure for promiscuity.If that is one's reason for getting married,he or she will be sorely disappointed.I have seen men who are thoroughly satisfied sexually by their spouses and yet they commit adultery,and vice versa.

Hmnn. . . . . . . . .what an interesting analysis of the situation.

Methink the thing (stealing) is exclusively a male thing in Nigeria. Now I know better. I'm waiting for the outcome of the House investigation on the matter. If she's found culpable, she should be expunged immediately.

If I could, I'd rather go for:

Naijacutee.

But I know I can't.

@InCar_Nav
But I remember sighting several threads on this political board where people of all walks of life bared their hearts and minds on how this country could/should be governed - I'm talking about people who have seen how other places were governed, not people with some vicarious experience. They came on this board to talk about the practice of true federalism, fiscal federalism, the rule of law, freedom of the judiciary, adequate funding for the security apparatus of state, investment in education, provison of basic infrastructure like good roads and hospitals. Respect for peoples rights etc. And even those of us in Naija corroborated their views. Certain things are fundamental to the peaceful co existence of humans.

No one here will grumble about anything if they don't have the facts to back up their claims. Things are pretty bad with the way the country is being run, and if we pretend it's ok and continue to display some I-don't-care attitute, then we're forever doomed.

And these things are well known to the folks at the top. How else do you want people to contribute? Do you want them to start building their own windmills and fixing lift where ever they go - just like Chxta and his apostles are wont to do? Please tell me, I'm all ears now.

NaJa HaJe:
@POSTER

have u heard of the adage ' washing your laundry in public'. If you have any pride for where you come from you would not have titled this thread as 'The True Picture of Nigeria' and if you really live in Nigeria presently then you are very stupid.

_{*****long hissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss*****}

its just like Dissing your family in public. HAVE SOME PRIDE

But, isn't the story up there the true picture of this country? If it's not, then show us how the picture looks like - with facts and figures.

@ Oriki,
That's an interesting picture you have up there. Keep it up!

So then, we must all sit together at a round table do a frantic face to face talk about ourselves, people, goals, aspiration, leadership and all that which affects us as a people. We must fashion out the way we'll like to live together as brothers or separate without raising any dust - peacefully!

The way things stands now, only a bias-free, sincere constitutional reform conference with clearly mapped out objectives and goals will save us. Otherwise, we're only postponing the evil day, just as 925 said earlier!

Interesting answers to thesame questions by 925 and david( I hope you don't mind calling you that). Thanks guys.

To my last question: Any way out. 925, why do you think there will be anarchy, system deterioration and revolution? Beside, that's not a clear cut answer; it seems you have an answer but feels it will lead to all of the bad stuff stated before.

As things stands, this fear of ''loosing out'' on free oil money seems to be the bane of most feudal lords in the North and Western part of the country. Truly, the South East and South South regions have stated categorically that they want out of the present arrangement, if the country cannot practice true federalism. Isn't there something people from the South East and South South can do to sway the minds of the prople from the other regions?

925, some questions:
1. Who are these people preventing Nigerians from running the regions as autonomous entities?
2. What do they stand to gain by doing so?
3. Is there any way out?

Hmnn. . . . . . excellent write up, debosky.

But, reading though 925 write up, I tend to agree with him that we need a system in place such that with a good or bad leader at the helm of affairs in the country, we need not bother much about whatever he/she is up to at any time.

But a good and effective system requires leaders and followers alike who are ready to commit to rules, regulations and guidelines clearly spelt out on the pages of a well thought out constitution (the system) and agreed to by all. These are the things lacking in Nigeria, and which must be instituted in order to bring about the desired change.

Somehow, in the case of Nigeria, matters have gone past the governed. The wishes of the people are well known to all. People are willing and ready to do all within their powers to do what is just and right. To obey the rule of law. Your example about OBJ, his AG and the ruling of the Supreme Court on Lagos State funds is a good example. The elite and ruling class must work assiduously to restore peoples confidence in them.

I still maintain that what's happening in PH is just a storm in a tea cup - and nothing more! Some hoodlums of Kalabari and Okrika extraction felt they could muster the courage to face the security apparatus of Nigeria, that they could not put up with Omehia's good plans for Rivers State. They, according to some well informed sources, said they will make Portharcourt ungovernable for Omehia. Well, we know better now. They've lost out on all fronts. Let them come out again with those their bullet-proof costume and face the fire power of the Nigerian military. Yeye fetish people.

And my friend Otokx, where I dey stay off East West road, me I never hear one gun shot fired into the air yet. Places like Rumuodomaya, Eneka, Igwuruta, Rumuokwurushi, Rumuobiakani, Rumuomasi, Rumuola, Elekahia, Market road, Airforce base, even Rumuola, Olu-Obasanjo, Ist and second Artillery, some sections of Okporo - all these places and others I have not mentioned are very safe. It was only when I went to Rumuodomaya, at the Obio-Akpor local govt. secretariat that I saw Police people asking people to raise their hands in surrender to superior fire power. But there was no sign that the place had been a theatre of war of some sort.

Let us not add to the negative impression people are having out there of the city. It's in our best interest.

Because police engage robbers and criminals at Oshodi and Ikorodu areas of Lagos does not translate to complete war in Victoria Island, Lagos Island and the entire Lagos city!

I just don't understand all these noise about some 2 cult leaders in Portharcourt. I should let all of you guys know that the area(s) in Portharcourt where all these troubles are coming from constitute just a tiny fraction of the entire city! Over here where I live, we only hear of the crises at Borikiri, Lagos street, Aggrey Road and nearby streets. Fair enough, that should jolt anyone into action, but we decided to wait patiently and see if the crises will spread to our areas. Alas! this is not to be. As a matter of fact, electrical power levels which have been very low for a while now has suddenly picked up. I mean, we even watch RSTV news every evening.

I think the press guys should just not blow this matter out of proportion.

The city of Portharcourt is too big for some cultists to want to claim rulership of the place. At best, they can claim ''rulership'' of such hideouts as Borikiri, Market road, and other Riverine portions of Okrika and Kalabari areas of the state capital, but even those areas have been taken away from these recalcitrant lot. They've practically lost out on all fronts. Their actions amount to just a storm in a tea cup. Nothing more than that.

Omehia's decision to keep the military guys on ground at the troubled spots in the city is fair enough. I think they should take the battle to where ever these people are and flush them out!

[quote author=I-man link=topic=72296.msg1408531#msg1408531 date=1187543886]Don't mind the blithering hermaphrodite.Her reluctance to acknowledge her feminity is indicative of her sexual orientation. [/quote]LOLOLOL!!

Oya, hermaphrodite, defend yaself!!

So, Donzman, if you can reason this good, why on earth were you against me on the Biafran thread? I mean, I just can't understand why you joined the ''bandwagon'' of tribal bigots to attack my person other than the issue at stake.

This time around, this one is for real. Although a large part of Portharcourt remains calm, it has been confirmed that ''political thugs'' are flexing muscles with ''military personel'' at the Moscow Road axis of PH. There's sporadic gunshot exchange between those two, and those who love their lives should avoid the said areas.

Dem fit they dey change their skin, name and spots. But for me, I remain one and only. No camouflage of any type.

willywilly:
u don see sey na mistake, our PAPA them do, go invite Western and Northern Thieves

But, how our papa take invite them na im me never understand. Even If person invite you to ''come and chop'' for ya house, does that mean say the visitor go just take over your house and property?

As usual, hilarious Jakumo on the prowl!

This is heart warming! TayoD and my good ''friend'' of the Biafran fame, Donzman, finally accepted that our problem in Nigeria is largely that of leadership. It's all well and good.

What I don't like is people like Chxta expressing few vague ''points'' in so many words to score cheap popularity and command some sort of discipleship!

Isn't it amazing that folks like Sijien have been entangled in the web of ''many words with few meanings'' to the extent that they now see these things as the Holy Grail (as PTH rightly stated).

Well Laudate, it's been said time and again that some people are born leaders, while others are get leadership bestowed on them. . . . . I too can't remember where I read that; I'll read it up later.

In this thread:

Chxta is of the view that:
(1) Nigerians are ignorant people, generally. Probably he's the only enlightened one amongst us, because he helped fix a lift and managed to get a 'C' in programming through ''sheer hardwork and determination''. He's also widely traveled, and has seen a lot about the country. So, only he can talk about Nigeria.

(2) People canvassing for a breakup of Nigeria needs to have their brain examined (my understanding of his statement as regards breakup of Nigeria).

Then, he finally said Nigerians need to change their attitude towards the problems they face.

Remember I said in my initial reply that changing our attitude can only scratch the problems at the surface. I did not completely rule out that fact. There abound several cases where good Nigerians go out of their way to help rescue dying accident victims and take them to hospitals in this country, only to be told by the doctors that ''you cannot just bring an accident victim to this hospital without a law enforcement officer'' Please go tell Chxta to help us pass this attitude change gist to the doctors nurses, police, governors and others in positions of authority. Might be of help somehow.

No one can feign ignorance of knowing how to do that which is good - even the devil knows that which is good. This is why I faulted his (Chxta's) claim that Nigerians are generally ignorant because they careless about what happens around them; they rarely move around (North and West). Almost all Nigerians know how to do that which is good and in this day and age of infotech, everyone is enlightened to a large extent.  This forum alone hosts more than a hundred thousand Nigerians, all over the world. You don't have to travel to Siberia to know which company is trying to set up an oil company in there. What ignorance is Chxta talking about?

Nigerians need people to lead them by example. They need morally upright people to take the mantle of leadership from the corruption-infested lot that sits in the core of the nations[b] strategic positions[/b]. Corruption is another bane of Nigerians. Until then, our problems will largely continue to stare us in the face.


And by the way, I need to know if I'm dealing with a woman or a man here!

The problem with Chxta is that he talks[b] too much[/b]. Two things are evident in his write up:

1.0 Ignorance and its effect on the Nigerian masses.
2.0 The folly inherent in advocating for a break up of the Nigerian State.

These are purely his opinions - the way he sees issues within the larger Nigerian society. And thank God they're not binding on all of us. We all have our views about Nigeria, shaped largely by what experience we all have in one part of the country or the other.

Attitudinal change will not go far to help bring about the needed reforms we so much crave in Nigeria. At best it will only scratch the surface. What we need is leadership change and the earlier we have this the better for this country of ours. We need credible, forthright, sincere and visionary leaders to take us to the next level in all facets of human endeavour in Nigeria. Soludo has been doing a lot in that regards in Economics; same with Akinyuli in drugs administration. We need more people of this calibre to move on.

Well, I expected a soft touch from you on this topic, if you are truly a[b] lady[/b]. But with the way you come up with your entries, I'll wager one's dealing with an elderly man.

All I know is that if EFCC is after corrupt people, they should start with all the big fishes. If I cast my fishnet into a river during any fishing operation, my net normally brings up the big fishes first before the small ones.

EFCC case has defied natural order of events.

@grafikdon,
Na wah o!

@Laudate,
I must say you're a toughie. And if you truly are a lady, you have earned my respect. Impressive.

Yeah. God dey.

Well, I didn't know Laudate is a lady.

1. I don't know what you mean by this constant referral to an 'enclave', any location to host an LNG plant will have to undergo massive infrastructural development to accomodate the plant, be it in the Delta or elsewhere. Olokola is a bit farther from the 'core' ND shoreline, making it less susceptible to the malaise of ocean pirates and rebels in the creeks - more succinctly, it  is a safer location for both the plant workers and the ships to carry the gas. In addition, there is an existing Jetty in the location that is being upgraded to accomodate larger vessels and support the increased traffic. moreso, the location- that is Olokola created an environment suitable for such an investment by creating a free trade zone and beginning to provide supportive and conducive environment for the project

2. The power plant comment has been answered many times over, but let me repeat for emphasis - the 9 NIPP power plants being built in the Delta will supply power to the villages and settlements in the immediate 5km radius before serving power to the grid, this is the new paradigm for all new power stations including the Papalanto one, so to try to paint a picture of a dichotomy between an ND project and one elsewhere is inaccurate. Furthermore - NLNG has a scholarship program EXCLUSIVE to Rivers state/gas gathering communities, no others benefit, so it is not always a 'come and chop' scenario as you painted, local indigenes are always given preference in such cases, another example is the reserved quota for Rivers state indigenes in the recent LNG recruitment drive

3. Can you show one shred of evidence supporting this claim that it was supposed to be sited in Escravos? Even if it was, given the political and other disturbances that are going on in the delta, the 'Niger Delta Premium' being factored now into the construction and other costs due to kidnappings and work closures by community protests  may have led a more neutral location being a more cost effective option. again I point to the Free Trade Zone and other local incentives given to make Olokola a more attractive choice. and as I mentioned earlier, why do you think that this LNG plant would be the magic wand to 'soothe the pains' or 'create the needed employment' in the Delta? There is the EGTL construction going on in Escravos at the moment, not to mention the EGP that has been completed and the export terminal, is that not enough in a single location? and wouldn't it make more sense to locate an new asset away from the current problems in the Delta?

4. The points above that I have given should suffice in that regard, Olokola is suitable due to economic factors surrounding the Free Trade Zone, the existing Jetty and the willingness of the state governments to assist the project take off smoothly with few interruptions from the community. In addition, Oil and Gas Royalties are not paid based on the point of export, but rather on the source of extraction, if not only Escravos, Brass, Bonny and QIT would receive any money for crude oil production, since they are the only export terminals. One more point, there is no crude oil production at all on Bonny Island, it was chosen as a good location for export of products, that was the final determinant. Olokola's proximity to Chevron's large Agbami offshore field and subsequent deep offshore discoveries also increase its appeal as a good technical location for the project.

@debosky,
Well, I just finished reading up all these.

1.0 Like I said sometimes ago, I don't have any beef against Olokola as long as the gas fields that will supply that plant with the needed gas will be at Ogun and Ondo state. Since, as you put it, ocean pirates might attack the pipeline that will take gas from the Niger Delta to Olokola. So, I suggest that plant should be built for the gas fields in the said states.

I did not know that a hitherto sparsely populated area can create an enabling environment suitable for a free trade zone. Please educate me for I know very little about these things.

2.0 I need the stats about these 9 Independent Power Plants (IPPs) in the Delta. But I should let you know that most times, when government change hands in Nigeria, laudable project set up by a prevoius administration often turns to white elephant projects. The contract for the dualisation of the East-West Road has been awarded several times - since the early 80s. It wasn't until of late that we've seen some progress of work on that road. I just hope they will complete it.

3.0 Most times, political moves don't come out as publications and facts. That Escravos was the place meant for the gas plant cannot be disputed. The disagreement between Ondo and Delta states government over the location of the gas plant generated so much heat two years ago. They were on the pages of most newspapers for all to see. If OBJ at the time wanted a neutral location, I guess a town in Abia or Imo states which share a common boundary with Rivers and Delta states would have been appropriate for that plant. Why choose a place hundreds of kilometres away from the raw material site to locate a plant.

I guess the planners and designers of the Ewekoro Cement factory at Sagamu should have built the plant at Ijebu-Ode instead of Shagamu. It wouldn't have made any difference, abi?

4.0 Those points of yours don't hold water anywhere. From this picture http://www.rigzone.com/news/image_detail.asp?img_id=3774&a_id=44560 of the location of Chevron's Agbami field, please tell me if it's economically justifiable to site a plant so huge as OKLNG in Olokola or in Escravos. Obviously, Olokola is a bad deal. It should not be allowed to fly.