₦airaland Forum

pro01: People like you would be the first to accuse the government of witch-hunting and 'over- heating the polity' - if and when the government decides to prosecute the likes of OBJ for corruption, or the likes of Buhari for terrorism.

There is nothing the Jonathan government can do to convince you naysayers.

Demdem: We will look around and see if we have REALISTIC alternatives that are READY and can defeat the killer party. If we can't, we will BEG him to change his mind and save our future generation

Hardfact: What happens if Buhari refuses to run?

Hardfact: What happens if Buhari refuses to run?

It would be a good idea then to look at the ages of the presidents of the top 5 emerging economies in the world.
1. China           Xi Jiping                                              elected Nov 2012                    Born 1953 (60)
2. India            Manmohan Singh                                 elected 2004.                           Born 1932 (81)
3. Russia          Vladimir Putin                                     elected 1999-2007, 2011         Born 1952 (61)
4. Brazil           Dilma Vana Rousseff                          elected 2012                            Born 1947  (66)
5. Turkey         Dr. Abdullah Gül                                elected 2007                            Born 1950 (63)

I leave you to decide what to make of this statistic. You may also want to read up on how India’s economy is performing under the watch of the 81 year old Manmohan Singh. (Did someone once say Nigeria is similar to India in many ways?)Yet, the fact that a thriving economy like India’s is beginning to falter under an aging president does not mean that a faltering economy like Nigeria’s will not thrive under an aging leader.It therefore becomes necessary to examine some of the reasons why some persons feel a Buhari presidency may not be what Nigeria needs at this point in her history.
1. He was once military: Well Putin was ex-KGB but look how he followed up on gains Yeltsin made and set the Russian economy on the path of growth. He served two consecutive terms between 1999 and 2007 and has recently found his way back into the top seat of government.
2. He is too old: Well he was born 1942, same year as the last President of the People’s Republic of China. Let’s ignore the fact that the Chinese leader was elected in 2003, he steered China through the turbulent econoe.So let’s say this together slowly:

Age is nothing but a number (Good). Personally, I do not see any reason why the General should not contest if his party favours him. What that simply means is that he is the best they have and the one they believe can deliver. (It may also mean that intra party politics flows in his favour. Afterall Medvedev refused to contest against Putin in 2011 even though he had a right to.)But whether Buhari will win is another issue entirely.Let us not forget, if we want younger leaders with power to execute the interests on over 70% of Nigeria’s population, then younger people should be interested in getting into politics. And since intra party politics often involves several years of serving in various capacities and paying dues, entering politics at between 20 and 25 may be a little more like it  if a person chooses to be a career politician.We have had leaders, social commentators, and public affairs analysts analyse our problems: we need water, light, good roads, good services, we need to kick out corruption and in recent times kick out terrorism. This song has been on auto replay for as long as I can remember. Nigeria does not need a leader to point out what is wrong. Even a child who shouts ‘up NEPA’ knows what one of our problems is.What Nigeria really needs is a leader with an action plan, a blue print of reforms that will sanitize the system and one that is borne out of wide consultations. His action plan would have a plan A, B and even C because things definitely will not look the same from inside as it looks when you are outside.We need a leader who has the courage and boldness to implement this blue print to the letter when given the opportunity but at the same time has the flexibility to adjust this blue print to suit prevailing circumstances when he gets into power.Indeed, if you cannot picture your leader in a shirt, sleeves rolled up, ready to dig out survivors from the debris of a burning plane, or eruditely defending his reforms in  a room full of international reporters; if you picture him turning down a chance at presenting or defending his manifesto or stammering a response to questions about things he did in his past; if you picture him leaving behind a trail of contentious comments or only surrounding himself with sycophants willing to sing his praise, then I  must confess, you haven’t found the leader yet. That is why come 2015, Nigeria may again be left with what I choose to call The 2011 Situation. We will be forced to choose between the devil we know and the devil we choose not to know.But then again, it’s our choice.

truth4meal: seriously can we just put this "major" achievements of GEJ in variance with that of Buhari in less than two years - maybe major achievements will have a proper meaning because so far these listed "achievements" is nothing but crumbs.

naptu2: The thread title, "British High Commission Visits Tinubu" is very funny. When I read it, I had a mental image of the high commission building (with all the high commission staff in it) moving and going to see Tinubu.

PPBT (Permanent Post Biafra Trauma) is throwing the Biafra blackmail & irrational tantrum when an opinion of Ndi Igbo is raised by NON-IGBOS. It does not serve the interest and cause of the Igbo people, it is not only self defeatist but meant to blur issues; no one is holding Ndi Igbo down in Nigeria.

No law stopping a Nigerian of Igbo extraction from contesting for the highest office in the land, it is left to that candidate to build alliances, sell his or programmes to Nigerians and break barriers, Igbos are evidently thriving very well in South West Nigeria, conducting businesses un harassed and melting very well with the host community, Lagos State government was blessed with a Nigerian of Igbo extraction who rose to become State commissioner for Finance. Joe Igbokwe is also the spokesperson for ACN in Lagos state.

The more you try to raise that PPBT blackmail, the more you alienate people from open discussion about the state of the Igbo union. I certainly agree that Biafra needs to be discussed in an open and transparent manner and that the issues that brought the civil war are still in existence, but to simply shout civil war when genuine critique of a Nigerian in government of Igbo extraction is raised does not serve a good purpose. I have said my own now resort to the usual call me an ‘ANTI IGBO’
On BB 21659292 on Twitter @ogundamisi

phantom: stop being a fool! why must you keep embarrasing your 'old man'.... .do you realise lagos is the entry point into naija and a 'courtesy visit' is paid to the governor as such.get your head outta your 'stuff' abeg....

Bélla3: This one wey i late what can i do to make it up to you Anonymous?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

blackchild09: : SWIFT KEY for me that's the best

Kamanda: That is the Problem.

Our President just cashed in on this OP to score cheap points.
For all the Kangaroos Jumping to the gallery watch out.

Our Presido if he truly cares should have sacked somebody on the Spot.
The Head of the Colledge,the Police Service Commission,Ministry of Police Affairs,IGP.
I don't expect jonathan to know about the state of the College neither do I hold him responsible for the state of the school but he has seen it for himself.Will he take action and do the needful?........Well,you all know your President..........committee....

The evil-protector came to Lagos unannounced and people thought he came to question those who reduced the college to this level of mockery. They didn't know he came to find out if it was a lie so he can punish Channels TV. Jonathan is the shame of this country. For the 1st time, I was almost getting excited that Jonathan had acted smart...only for him to question why they allowed the filming. I've always known this. I've been to about 3 police barracks myself. They are worse than slums. I expected a query to Police authorities responsible for police welfare immediately after that visit, not an accusing finger at Channels TV!

Prof Corruption: That tells it all. GEJ is too narrow minded.

Sincere 9gerian: You call those PAY-AS-YOU-GO critics "average Nigerians"? They are not average Nigerians but few persons who are PAID to criticise and those who criticise because their party or tribesman is not in power.

Akshow: Dint we all know?

Ekekeee: How do you rate the performance of the present administration led by Dr Goodluck and what would you have done differently at the helm?

GMB: There is no government to rate. The absurdity in government runs wild every day. So much corruption everywhere, and you call this a government? There is nothing to rate about this because this is not a government. We were in court after the 2011 elections where we brought in forensic experts to prove that not all who registered to vote in some parts of the country where rigging was massive voted. The president of the appeal court then Justice Ayo Salami agreed for us to bring in the experts. All of a sudden, he was removed and another person was brought in just to reverse the decision of Ayo Salami and you ask me to rate this government? What is there to rate?

Ekekeee: There is this talk of Northern leaders like yourself not speaking strongly against the Boko Haram menace. People assume this as a tacit endorsement of the terrorist sect. What’s your take on this allegation, Sir?

GMB: Dada, this is an unfair question to ask me. I have openly spoken against the activities of this dreaded sect in public more times than I can remember. Islam is a religion of peace and anyone who claims to kill in the name of Allah is not a Muslim. The same reason why I rejected the offer when it was claimed that the sect named me their chief negotiator. Some people tried to frame me up by appointing me their negotiator.

Ekekeee: Your reputation as an anti-corruption crusader precedes you. How will you fight corruption today given Nigeria’s systemic difficulties?

GMB: I agree that there is a serious systematic rise in corruption today than it was 10years ago. It may be difficult to curb but it is definitely not impossible.

Ekekeee: President Obama visited Ghana and made the statement “Africa needs Strong institutions not strong men”. You were reported to have disagreed with that statement. Why?

GMB: Only strong men can make strong institutions. If the founding fathers were not strong men, we wouldn’t have been where we are today. Ironically, other strong men got this country into what it is today and only strong men can save it. The institutions cannot be strong without the input of strong people.

Ekekeee: 2015 is around the corner. Will you contest as president again?

GMB: I said in 2011 that I wasn’t going to contest again. My party and supporters have been sending representatives. Up till today, they haven’t stopped. But what I tell them is, if the conditions are right…. but we are in the process now of reorganizing the party and perhaps, come into an alignment with other parties. Whatever the parties decide, whether my party or the new party that align and we are hoping to develop; if they give me the ticket or recommend me, I will consider it. That is the position we are now.

Ekekeee: What is the situation with the merger now? Most Nigerians await with bated breath regarding the state of the merger:

GMB: The merger with other political parties has gotten to a very good stage right now. The CPC has named a merger committee and I will be inaugurating them in Abuja later this week. ACN and ANPP will do the same and I am very positive that by March 31st 2013, we will have a good outcome and the merger will be complete.

Ekekeee: What is your message to young people out there sir?

GMB: [size=16pt]Young people must participate more in governance. Young people must demand for free and fair elections and learn more about their country[/size].

seunfly: It's like you don't know about the case and what is going on in Abuja. What the minister and the senator did to them is total wickedness, FCT will allocate land to developers in diffrent undeveloped locations, area without infrastructures and amenities. Imidiately government see the rapid infrastructral development in the area that is when the ministers, senators or other peaple in power will reallocate it for themselve. That is the case of airport road in Abuja. The question is why can't average citizen enjoy good infrastructure in Abuja, they alway reallocate it for themselves. GOD dey watch O!

2Legit2Qui: Una don see this this President finish. Make him apologise to una because una contravene the law, abi? f una no contravene the law, why dem go demolish una estate? Abi de go just wake up one day say dem wan demolish una estate without any reason?

pheesayor: those blaming subsidy should note that if subsidy is removed those areas will sell for close to 200. I was in the south east this time last year and liter sold for almost 200 in abia state Subsidy removal is not the answer, fighting corruption is the answer but the question is when will this start?

titanictide: why then do we fight against fuel subsidy removal when it is sold for prices higher than the subsidized rates in most states of the federation? where r d labour leaders?

bolayei: Anyone who has been abroad will know navy town is just as good as any town in western countries, Lagos fine sha o, over population naim deface am. Nice one fashola, But please do something about ajegunle roads

Rhino.5dm:
Bros, no be today yansh don dey for back. He is clearly a member of 40 laptop fools that was posted to Lagos. He should check my records.

Watching Lagos my long black dicck!